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American Science Fiction: Four Classic Novels 1968-1969: Past Master / Picnic on Paradise / Nova / Emphyrio (2019)

by Gary K. Wolfe (Editor)

Other authors: Samuel R. Delany (Contributor), R. A. Lafferty (Contributor), Joanna Russ (Contributor), Jack Vance (Contributor)

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1072256,943 (4.25)3
"In this second volume of a two-volume set gathering the best American science fiction from the tumultuous 1960s, R. A. Lafferty's quirky and utterly original Past Master, an unjustly neglected classic, imagines Sir Thomas More transported to the colony Astrobe in the year 2535, where he is made president of a future Utopia. In Picnic on Paradise, Joanna Russ presents her indelible heroine, Alyx, who is hired to protect a group of tourists in a hostile alien world. Samuel R. Delany's proto-cyberpunk space opera Nova, reprinted here for the first time in a text corrected by the author, combines the pacing of a revenge story with the arc of a grail-quest legend. Jack Vance's dystopian thriller Emphyrio is the coming-of-age story of Ghyl, who has been raised in a world barring the use of automation but has a strong sense of subversive individualism. The novel has been restored to the author's original text, without later editorial interventions."--Provided by publisher.… (more)
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Showing 2 of 2
In this LOA volume, Mr Wolfe introduces 4 sci fi novels which he believes to be the best of sci fi writing near the end of the 1960s. Unfortunately, these stories faded away unable to sustain the attention of readers. Historically, they were deeply influenced by the times the stories were. Perhaps it is what makes the stories more compelling and interesting. ( )
  walterhistory | Jun 17, 2023 |
These four novels are all considered classics of science fiction, or at least landmark books. I had never read either Lafferty's or Russ's. I found Past Master a bit of a let down, despite being very interested in both Thomas More and R.A. Lafferty. Picnic on Paradise was very good and has stood the test of time except for the fact that in today's context, it doesn't seem revolutionary to have a capable female protagonist. Nova was a reread for me and confirmed my memory of Delany's excellent. The same is true for Emphyrio. ( )
  nmele | Mar 20, 2023 |
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Wolfe, Gary K.Editorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Delany, Samuel R.Contributorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Lafferty, R. A.Contributorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Russ, JoannaContributorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Vance, JackContributorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
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"In this second volume of a two-volume set gathering the best American science fiction from the tumultuous 1960s, R. A. Lafferty's quirky and utterly original Past Master, an unjustly neglected classic, imagines Sir Thomas More transported to the colony Astrobe in the year 2535, where he is made president of a future Utopia. In Picnic on Paradise, Joanna Russ presents her indelible heroine, Alyx, who is hired to protect a group of tourists in a hostile alien world. Samuel R. Delany's proto-cyberpunk space opera Nova, reprinted here for the first time in a text corrected by the author, combines the pacing of a revenge story with the arc of a grail-quest legend. Jack Vance's dystopian thriller Emphyrio is the coming-of-age story of Ghyl, who has been raised in a world barring the use of automation but has a strong sense of subversive individualism. The novel has been restored to the author's original text, without later editorial interventions."--Provided by publisher.

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