My old sci-fi book hunting grounds have proved abundant (again) — Half Price Books Austin, Texas….
1. Son of Man, Robert Silverberg (1971)
I’ve been on a Silverberg binge recently. This is not supposed to be one of his best Continue reading
1960s
Book Review: Bow Down To Nul (variant title: The Interpreter), Brian W. Aldiss (1960)
2/5 (Bad)
Ok, I admit, I bought this book because of the gorgeous red/helium-breathing alien/humans toting spears cover… Sadly, there’s very little behind the cover besides a standard uninventive pulp-ish romp. Aldiss expends little effort and as result the work lacks an interesting society or an involving plot and all the action takes place in the slip-shop last few pages. Continue reading
A Film (documentary) Rumination: The Atomic Cafe, Jayne Loader, Kevin Rafferty (1982)
8/10 (Very Good)
Atomic Cafe (1982) is a scathing documentary on the atomic age created from archival film from the 40s-early 60s. The scope of the material is extensive: military training films (often the most morbidly hilarious and poorly acted of the bunch), television news, various other government-produced propaganda films Continue reading
Book Review: Synthajoy, D. G. Compton (1968)
4.5/5 (Very Good)
I had not heard of the relatively unknown British sci-fi writer David G. Compton until I read a fantastic review by Ian Sales of Compton’s most famous novel, The Unsleeping Eye (1971) (his review and blog here). In my normal circuitous fashion, I decided to read a lesser-known work of Compton’s first, Synthajoy (1968). And, I was not disappointed, Continue reading
Book Review: Thorns, Robert Silverberg (1967)
4/5 (Good)
1968, Best Novel Hugo Award Nomination; 1968, Best Novel Nebula Award Nomination
Silverberg’s brooding, post-utopian, rumination has the makings of a great science fiction novel. This horrifically dark Continue reading
Update: Recent Science Fiction Acquisitions N. I
Oh the joys of amazon gift cards… And perusing dusty corners of local bookstores.
Here are my latest acquisitions.
1. Robert Silverberg’s World Inside (1971) (MY REVIEW HERE)
I’ve always enjoyed semi-dystopic works about the social ramifications of overpopulation (John Brunner’s Stand on Zanzibar is my all time favorite sci-fi novel). I wonder if Silverberg was inspired by Brunner’s work. I’ve yet to read a Silverberg novel and I’ve read that this is a pretty good effort. So, those factors contributed to my purchase.
2. Doris Piserchia’s Continue reading
Book Review: The Dark Light-Years, Brian Aldiss (1964)
(Bruce Pennington’s cover for the 1971 edition)
3/5 (Average)
Fresh off reading Brian Aldiss’ wonderful Non-Stop I eagerly picked up a battered copy of The Dark Light-Years (1964) from a local bookstore. I was sorely disappointed. The Dark Light-Years is disjointed, Continue reading
A Film Rumination: Damn the Defiant! (variant title: H. M. S. Defiant), Lewis Gilbert (1962)
7/10 (Good)
Damn the Defiant! isn’t the best naval action film out there however it’s definitely an under appreciated good film. That said, I have a weakness for the subject matter since I grew up on C. S. Forester’s Hornblower and Alexander Kent’s Captain Bolitho books (i.e Napoleonic era valiant British officers fighting the evil Frenchies!). Thus, Continue reading
Update: Hilarious 1960s/1950s sci-fi themed ads
I found a few hilarious sci-fi themed adds from the 60s which I had to share (well, the second might be somewhat later)….
That space suit makes her look like she has a strange neck disease...
