4.25/5 (Very Good)
Nominated Hugo Award (1962) — narrowly lost to Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land
What an unusual read. I picked up a copy Continue reading
science fiction
Book Review: Meeting at Infinity, John Brunner (1961)
A wonderful creepy cover by John Schoenherr
4/5 (Good)
Readers from the first days of my blog might recall my rather dismissive comment in my review of John Brunner’s abysmal Born under Mars (1967),
“I have still yet to find in Brunner’s early pulp(ish) novels any solid indication of his future brilliance that manifests itself so poignantly in his great novels of the late 60s Continue reading
Book Review: The Horn of Time (collected short stories), Poul Anderson (1968)
2.5/5 (Average)
I was massively disappointed with this collection of Poul Anderson short stories from the late 50s and early 60s. Only two were worth reading: ‘The Horn of the Time the Hunter’ and ‘Progress.’ I guess if you are a Poul Anderson completest it might be worth the purchase but otherwise, stay away. The creepy Continue reading
Book Review: Doomtime, Doris Piserchia (1981)
Tedron (the green tree) looks like a huge piece of celery
3.75/5 (Good)
“The body of the woman was retrieved from the shiny pool and they all headed home. Two days into the journey the corpse sat up on the stretcher and screamed.”
and Continue reading
Book Review: The Fall of Chronopolis, Barrington J. Bayley (1974)
4.25/5 (Very Good)
The Fall of Chronopolis (The Last and Final Days of the Chronotic Empire) by the relatively unknown British sci-fi author, Barrington J. Bayley, is one the best time travel books I’ve ever read. Other reviewers have suggested that this is Bayley’s best as well — I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve read The Garment Continue reading
A Film Rumination: Five, Arch Oboler (1951)
4.5/10 (Bad BUT historically important for the sci-fi genre)
Although there are enough plot holes for glaciers and an assortment of national landmarks and buildings to waltz through, Arch Oboler’s Five (1951) is an underrated and historically important sci-fi Continue reading
Book Review: Double Star, Robert Heinlein (1956)
3/5 (Average)
Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1956
I’ve never been blown away by Heinlein — twenty-five Heinlein novels later, the trend continues (well, I must admit, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was very good). Supposedly deserving of the Continue reading
Book Review: Earthlight, Arthur C. Clarke (1955)
4.5/5 (Very Good)
This is one of my all time favorite Arthur C. Clarke books. Published in 1955, Earthlight still remains a practically unknown work in Clarke’s massive canon. The minimalistic Continue reading
Update: The Nebula Award for Best Novel (and the ones I’ve read)
Early in the history of the Nebula Award, the winning novels often corresponded to the Hugo award winning novels. In recent years, this has changed somewhat. The Nebulas — unlike the Hugos — are awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (so, by their peers). Of the Continue reading
