- Paperback: 1088 pages
- Publisher: Voyager; Omnibus edition edition (22 July 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006482236
- ISBN-13: 978-0006482239
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13.5 x 5.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 320,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Synopsis
The great drama of life on Helliconia is shaped by its cosmic limitations. In fierce contrasts of climate, whole seasons last for centuries and civilizations rise and fall as the planet orbits the giant sun Freyr every 3000 years. The trilogy won the J.W. Campbell Memorial Award.
From the Back Cover
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ONE VOLUME
THE GREAT YEAR OF HELLICONIA
A planet of binary suns, Helliconia has a Great Year spanning three millennia of Earth time: cultures are born in spring, flourish in summer, then die with the onset of the generations – long winter. The Helliconia books are Brian Aldiss's compelling masterwork.
"Propels the reader headlong into marvel. A trilogy which has acquired monumental nobility"
THE TIMES
"Science fiction has never before had this grandeur"
TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
"Brian Aldiss's towering imagination places his Helliconia Trilogy far above standard science fiction"
DAILY MAIL
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Helliconia is Big, not just in pages, size of planet or time scale covered, but in number of themes it tackles. Other reviewers have complained about the thinness of character development. I think they miss the point, the people in Helliconia are all too human, flawed and weak. Do we really need yet another scifi series full of epic all conquering heroes. Yes plotlines peater out, but isn't life like that, lots of incomplete experiences ? Early in the first volume the new leader of the town and a highly intelligent women's , initial closeness turns to astrangement, bitterness and eventual regret for what might have been. Who hasn't experienced sometime similar ?
Above all for me the books are about the context within which we and the characters live in. Helliconia's extremes means its peoples have to navigate a perilous course over generation upon generation with many setbacks. Most helliconians cannot see the context within which they live, just the consequences of the enormous forces at work. In contrast the humans that observe helliconia, do so from a serile technological world that never changes; they live within no context at all. These two themes
mend there way through much of the books. Though there's much more here for all sorts of readers.
Helliconia is a work of imagination and ideas. The very things I need from reading. Its almost the perfect Scifi paradigm, in comparison much modern scifi is just cowboys and indians in space or indeed therapists on starships.
Above all for me the books are about the context within which we and the characters live in. Helliconia's extremes means its peoples have to navigate a perilous course over generation upon generation with many setbacks. Most helliconians cannot see the context within which they live, just the consequences of the enormous forces at work. In contrast the humans that observe helliconia, do so from a serile technological world that never changes; they live within no context at all. These two themes
mend there way through much of the books. Though there's much more here for all sorts of readers.
Helliconia is a work of imagination and ideas. The very things I need from reading. Its almost the perfect Scifi paradigm, in comparison much modern scifi is just cowboys and indians in space or indeed therapists on starships.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Apparently, somebody just doesn't get it. This is one of the best SF trilogies ever, and I mean ever, written. Don't take my word for it, it won the John W. Campbell award.
This is world building at its very best. There is nothing 'unnecessary' about its rich, original and a diverse detail, that is at once 'alien' and disturbingly familiar. Helliconia is a world where biology, ecology and society is turned upside down and inside out the better to present a theme no less than the birth and death of civilization. What if winter lasted one thousand years? Would we come out on the other side with our technology intact? Or would we be doomed, like the Helliconians to a recurring and deadly cultural amnesia? This is a huge book, with a huge theme that is masterfully handled. The writing is beautiful and evocative and very thought provoking. But. It is not an easy read, I admit. For me the first 50 pages were pretty rough going. But after those first 50 pages I found myself in world I had never been to before (or since - and I have read a lot of SF).
I really can't do these books justice. I was just passing through and happened to spot the review below and couldn't leave without trying to set the record straight. This is not 'Clan of the Cave Bear' with funny critters. This guy totally missed it! Don't you miss it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this trilogy many years ago and it still lingers on in my memory of favorite fantasy writing. I won't try to compare it against another great series, Dune, as it is completely different, but I will say I enjoyed this tremendously and as much as the aforementioned. As previous reviewers have stated this is a 'big' read and requires an investment of patience early on for which the reader is subsequently rewarded. I don't know how successful Helliconia has been but it deserves a lot more recognition, I feel. Perhaps one day it might be made into a Film trilogy. If I had time on my hands I would re-read it !
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Inspired and Rewarding Trilogy
I have recently read all three volumes in the Helliconia Trilogy and was blown away by the sheer scope and imagination that Aldiss possesses. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. L. Chapman
Aldiss is all this and more..............
"Hellicona"-a title sadly missing from the sci-fi classic masterworks series is simply one of the best works of the genre you are ever likely to read. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2009 by Ivor Winters
Pointless "dietary fibre" writing - Avoid
This is one of those "dietary fibre" type of novels: it provides bulk and cleans out something (in this case part of your wallet and far far far too much of your time) but is dull... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2003 by upnorth
An uninspiring read
I'm sorry, but this has got to be the most boring book in the world. The only reason I continued reading it is because I started it, and I like to finish things I start. Read more
Published on 10 April 2002 by Lauren Taafe
absolutely a must for those who have an eye for word beauty
I read "winter" from the library, and I had trouble going to sleep, because I felt as if I would miss out on the action. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2001 by m.van.hilten@freeler.nl
An Astrophysical Fantasy
Helliconia is ground-breaking science fiction. Those who read it expecting to be able to identify with a particular character will be disappointed; the book presents a God's eye... Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2000
Odd, but breataking...
The helliconia trilogy are difficult books to like straight away - they are based on a world where sometimes we understand what's going on, sometimes don't, until the writer seems... Read more
Published on 4 Aug 1999
Helliconia is carelessly written and a frustrating read
Most reviewers have admired the texture and richness of detail and characterisation of the Helliconia trilogy but I have seen no serious appraisal of its narrative. Read more
Published on 21 July 1999
Hard going but very original
Without giving too much of the plot away, the trilogy is about a planet, Helliconia, where winter lasts a thousand years (or more?). Read more
Published on 18 Feb 1999
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