Thomas Ridgeley Duncan, physicist and second-in-command of the Garner Lunar Expedition. It turns out to be anything but the stupendous landmark achievement reserved for the history books. so had to be snapped up regardless.Īs editor of Astounding Magazine (still in curculation as Analog) Campbell “made modern science fiction what it is today.” The success of such SF greats as Asimov, Heinlein, Sturgeon and numerous others can be attributed to him. He is perhaps best known for the classic short story: Who Goes There? – twice filmed, once as The Thing (From Another World) (1951) and again as John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982).Īpart from being an influential figure in publishing, Campbell knew how to weave some thrilling tales. Sure enough, The Moon Is Hell is quite a distinctive piece of work. First published in 1951, it tells of the first manned mission to the M oon in the far-future of 1981.Įssentially, it is the diary account of Dr. Campbell.Īs someone who used to try SF novels based purely on the awesomeness of its cover art, this par ticular cover fails to either entice or excite any potential reader, but this happened to be the first time ever that my book quests have located any work by the legend that was John W. This gives just some idea of the chilling tone set by T he Moon Is Hell by John W. The men complain their batteries will not stay charged…” We cannot use more mantles, as they require the oxygen of six men, give little light… I sat up and watched the store-rooms for three hours, but could not remain awake longer. Le Guin has “gracefully developed” an absorbing and inventive read. An intriguing fusion of science and poetry, and reason and emotion, this “clever exercise in alternatives and ethics” should serve me well until The Left Hand of Darknesseventually finds its way into my eager mitts… “Patiently, and out of his own enormous vitality and talent, built up a stable of the best science-fiction writers the world had, till then, ever seen” – Isaac Asimov. Interestingly, each chapter begins with a quote from ancient Chinese philosopher: Chuang Tse, but one chapter leads with a staggering quote from Lafcadio Hearn. And his psychiatrist, William Haber, plans to benefit from this power… George Orr is the individual whose dreams possess the uncanny ability to alter reality. It is a truly prescient and startling view of humanity, and the consequences of playing God.” The Lathe of Heaven (1971) is “a dark vision and a warning – a fable of power uncontrolled and uncontrollable. Keen to read more female SF writers, you could not ask for a more prominent example than Ursula K. Those who cannot do it will be destroyed on the Lathe of Heaven – Chuang Tse: XXIII. “To let understanding stop at what cannot be understood is a high attainment. “Those whom heaven helps we call the Sons of Heaven. Highly and widely praised as “a brilliant creation of a weird alternative reality,” this enthusiastic bunny is beginning to agree. Upon the shoulders of the magus Lord Corwin falls the task of finding King Oberon – and foiling the sinister alternative reality threatening to destroy Amber… Monstrous evil forces emerge from the dark, alternative world of Shadow. The whole kingdom is set to plunge into chaos, for Oberon, Amber’s magical king, has gone missing. Is Amber treading the path to destruction? I sometimes think that this has something to do with a childhood spent listening to radio dramas” – Roger Zelazny.Īt the zenith of otherworldly wonders on the printed page, Lord of Lightby Roger Zelazny stands as one of the most astonishing SF masterpieces ever written.Įndeavouring to catch up with other scintillating works by this SF grandmaster, The Hand Of Oberon (1976) is an intriguing addition to his five-part Amber series – a foray into the fantasy genre, in keeping with his interest in myth, miracles and theatricality. I tend to hear the dialogue, also, when rehearsing it in my mind. If I cannot see a person or place clearly I cannot write about them too well. “I visualize eperything in my stories in considerable detail. So, 2018: the Year of the Black Panther is upon us.įirst and foremost, let it be a groovy one for you, dear reader.įor me, one major objective this year is simple, but imperative: Read More Science Fiction Novels and, thus, feature more book reviews on this site! Over this past year, my visits to secondhand bookshops have intensified, and some interesting titles have come my way. It is always the art of the possible, never the impossible” – Ray Bradbury. “As soon as you have an idea that changes some small part of the world, you are writing science fiction.
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