More SF joins the ranks that cover my shelves, from a Jack Vance Demon Princes sequence novel to a promising Orbit anthology with early Vernor Vinge, Carol Emshwiller, Harlan Ellison, etc.
And the covers! Powers and Lehr at their best…
And what happened to SF art the 80s? (the Rudy Rucker novel cover terrifies — in a bad way).
As always, thoughts/comments are appreciated!
1.The Palace of Love, Jack Vance (serialized 1966)
(Richard Powers’ cover for the 1967 edition) Continue reading
As is my wont, a wide range of authors, SF styles, and covers…. From Harlan Ellison’s collection with the first expanded and non-magazine publication of his famous 1970 Nebula Award-winning and Hugo-nominated novella “A Boy and His Dog” (1969) to Barbara Paul’s best-known SF novel.
And, how can you resist the gorgeous Karel Thole cover for Fast’s collection? I know little about the author….
And finally, in my youth I was a cyberpunk fanatic and I adored (perhaps I was misguided, hah) Bruce Sterling’s Islands in the Net (1988). At last I have his first novel in my hands!
As always, thoughts and comments are welcome!
1. The General Zapped an Angel, Howard Fast (1970)
(Karel Thole’s cover for the 1970 edition) Continue reading
It’s been too long since I’ve read anything by Delany. I polished off Triton (1976), Nova (1968), The Einstein Intersection (1967), and Babel-17 (1966) long before I started my site. For a SF reading group I reread Nova a few years back but never wrote a review. One of the few SF novels I’ve reread. And yes, I do not own a copy nor have I tackled the behemoth that is Dhalgren (1975).
As a teen I was obsessed with Delany’s first collection Driftglass (1971), although I probably did not understand the important of the stories. It is hard to forget the images in “Aye, and Gomorrah…” (1967) or “We, in Some Strange Power’s Employ, Move on a Rigorous Line” (1968) even if the message was lost on my younger self. Now I have an excuse to reread one of Delany’s best known stories, originally collected in Driftglass (1971) — “Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones” (1968) — in a fascinating anthology with other luminaries of the field, Disch, Sladek, and Zelazny.
I confess, I was seduced by Powers’ gorgeous cover for G. C. Edmondson’s novel despite the terrifying back cover blurb: “Good, Old-fashioned Science Fiction Adventure at its best!”
A few months ago I read and reviewed Somtow Sucharitkul’s Starship and Haiku (1981). Although I did not care for the novel, I need more strikes against before I give up on an author completely. And, why not a fix-up comprised of his best known stories?
Same thing with Edward Bryant… His attempts at channeling extreme decadence, fascinating cityscapes, and odd hybrids come off as inarticulate and forced. Albeit I have only read “Jade Blue” (1971) and “The Human Side of the Village Monster” (1971). As with Somtow Sucharitkul, I need to read more of his stories to come to a firm stance on his abilities.
As always, thoughts and comments are welcome.
(Ron Walotsky’s cover for the 1971 edition) Continue reading
The Clarion Science Fiction Writers’ Workshop, started in 1968, continues to this day as one of the successful workshops for authors with instruction by the best the genre has to offer. The alumni list is massive including Vonda N. McIntyre, Octavia Butler, Ted Chiang, Lucius Shepard, Bruce Sterling, etc. For more on the workshop consult the SF Encyclopedia entry. Robin Scott Wilson, the original director, published three anthologies decked out with the distinctive art of Gene Szafran. I am now the proud owner of all three!
Stories by Ursula Le Guin, Kate Wilhelm, Octavia Butler, George Alec Effinger, Edward Bryant, among others and reflections by the greats of the day, Frederik Pohl, Joanna Russ, Harlan Ellison, etc.
And many many many less familiar authors whose stories I will be keen to explore.
And, last but not least, A Frederik Pohl collection with a stunning Richard Powers cover. He was in fine form in the early 60s.
As always, thoughts and comments are welcome.
1. The Abominable Earthman, Frederik Pohl (1963)
(Richard Powers cover for the 1963 edition) Continue reading
Digression: I have been thinking about “best of” lists and why I seldom approach an author by reading their “best known” work first. Caveat: I compulsively read the Hugo list as a kid and was exposed to many wonderful authors.
Reading “the acknowledged best” reinforces our notions of what is canon or not canon. And I am all about puncturing holes in our self-perpetuating notions of canon and SF grand narratives of what is “classic” SF and what is not. The following dialogue often plays out:
A) “Have you read the best SF novels of the 1970s?”
B) “Yes, I have, from this great top 15 novels list!”
A) “What would you say are the best novels from the 1970s?”
B) “Oh, here you go!” Regurgitates original list.
A) “Have you read other SF novels from the 1970s?”
B) “Umm.”
I am guilty of this as well! My top 1960s novels list undergoes regular revisions. The original list was a product of my lack of knowledge. Regardless, it remains to this day the most popular and commented upon post on my site! Alas!
Sometimes “the less known” novels are a way to get a feel for what an author is capable of and seeing an author through their body of work leads (at least for me) to greater appreciation for their best (which might not be the ones anointed by the majority). Barry N. Malzberg: I read In the Enclosure (1973) before Beyond Apollo (1972). Doris Piserchia: Doomtime (1981) before A Billion Days of Earth (1976). Robert Silverberg: Thorns (1967) before Downward to the Earth (1970). Christopher Priest: Indoctrinaire (1970) before The Affirmation (1981).
Third, I put great value on individual exploration. It is humorous and ironic that I have run this review site for six or so years but am reluctant to immediately follow-up on the reading suggestions of others. I am sorry frequent readers! I devour the reviews of others for sure (see Part I and Part II for worthwhile resources). Well-argued reviews with evidence and an understanding of the work’s time and place and reflections on interactions with/or within genre, are more likely to remain with me. And then, when I am in the book store, I remember what others have said.
The questions I have been pondering: Do I put together a best 20 novels of the 1970s list? When do I decide whether I have read enough? Or, do I play the “caveat” game and state that this is bound to change (which it is as I read more)?
Post proper: My mapping of the contours of Kit Reed’s early oeuvre continues. Her first SF novel Armed Camps (1969) and her stories in Mister Da V. and Other Stories (1967) demonstrate a knack for humanistic exploration of characters trapped in manifestations of cyclicality—be it social constructions or the forces of history.
David Gerrold’s novels do not inspire….. At least so far: Space Skimmer (1972) + Yesterday’s Children (variant title: Starhunt) (1972). Which means, time for short stories! And yes, his acknowledged best The Man Who Folded Himself (1973) waits in the wings [From Couch to Moon’s review —> here].
Non-English language SF other than Stanislaw Lem and Arkady and Boris Strugatsky: the biggest hole in my SF knowledge.
And perhaps the find/risk of the bunch, a satirical pseudo-governmental pamphlet that generated endless debate about its authenticity.
As always, thoughts and comments are welcome.
1. With a Finger in My I, David Gerrold (1972)
(Mati Klarwein’s cover for the 1972 edition) Continue reading
September will be a slow month, my apologies in advance. The review backlog grows and grows–reviews of Poul Anderson’s Tau Zero (1970) and The Best SF Stories from New Worlds #2 (1968) should be appearing soon. Although, there are many unreviewed volumes less fresh on my memory…
At least I have a massive review INDEX to keep you all busy.
I am diligently posting all the KWG volumes I snagged from a local Half Price Books—this shadowy person had a spectacular collection.
I am rarely interested in SF series, but, I’ll make an exception as Suzy McKee Charnas’ Walk to the End of the World (1974) was so darn amazing!
More Sheckley!
More Tucker! Fresh off the very satisfying The Long Loud Silence (1952)…
And finally, a novel from an author I’ve never read before—Alfred Coppel.
As always, thoughts/comments are welcome.
1. Motherlines, Suzy McKee Charnas (1978)
(Doug Beekman’s very bland cover for the 1979 edition) Continue reading
I can’t pass up a Sheckley collection!
Nor can I pass up a rather unknown “discovered manuscript” type 1960s feminist dystopia by Marya Mannes. She wrote for Vogue and The New Yorker over her career….
Nor can I pass up a Sturgeon collection (perhaps I will appreciate his more radical SF short stories?)….
And finally, a best of collection by an author who might not be worth exploring, but, sometimes short stories give a better impression of an author’s capabilities than a novel-length work.
As always, thoughts/observations/comments are welcome!
1. They, Marya Mannes (1968)
(Stanley Zuckerberg’s cover for the 1970 edition) Continue reading
Another batch of volumes from the mysterious person with the initials KWG who ditched their entire collection at the local Half Price Books.
I have rarely seen the New Writings in SF series edited by John Carnell on used bookstore shelves. But, as I am a fan of discovering new authors who might not have collected volumes of short stories, it pretty easy to justify snatching them up…. A while back I featured the covers of David Mccall Johnson, and now I have my first physical copy with his art!
More Algis Budrys… Is it my need to read the major “classics” so I can “rewrite” the canon? Certainly not out of any love for his SF (or criticism for that matter) —> see my review of The Falling Torch (1959) and my short review of Michaelmas (1976). I will probably read his short story collection I recently acquired before another one of his novels.
As always, thoughts and comments are welcome/appreciated.
Enjoy!
1. Rogue Moon, Algis Budrys (1960)
(Richard Powers’ cover for the 1960 edition) Continue reading
(José Cruz’s cover for The Traveling Soul (1978), Hugh C. Rae; Carl Lundgren’s cover for Weeping May Tarry (1978), Raymond F. Jones and Lester del Rey)
Around three years ago I put together a list of sites and resources that exerted an appealing gravitational pull…. drawing me into their SF depths. And it is time to add to the list! If you haven’t seen the original and you like my site I recommend checking it out.
Unfortunately, a few from the original list have gone defunct or are on hiatus. I will echo (and amend) my earlier call to arms!
“I love the idea of a community of science fiction reviewers–so I’ve put together a list of a handful of book review blogs focused on classic/slightly more esoteric science fiction. Obviously there are plenty of great sites I’ve omitted that focus on new releases or visit vintage science fiction only occasionally…. Or, blogs that refrain from reviews of vintage science fiction unless participating in certain reading challenges….
Please visit them, comment on their reviews, and browse through their back catalogues.”
1. From Couch to Moon: Megan’s site focuses on classic SF (in addition to worthwhile read-throughs of newer award slates etc). What perhaps delights me the most, other than her voracious SF passion and intellect that shows through in every review, are her stylistic pastiches—for example, her review of John Brunner’s Stand on Zanzibar (1968) in his style: “This is sensory overload. Polemics in the form of ADHD. Part oracle, part Anarchist Cookbook. A graduate of The Space Merchants Academy, hold the cheese.”
A sample of her reviews: a mini-flash paragraph Continue reading
Science Fiction and Other Suspect Ruminations 