- Paperback: 544 pages
- Publisher: ibooks; Reissue edition (30 Oct 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1596870648
- ISBN-13: 978-1596870642
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.6 x 3.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,190,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
If you write science fiction, you will like "Science Fiction 101s" witty, thought-provoking essays, revealing the secrets, the craft and the art of science fiction. If you read science fiction, you will enjoy the thirteen classic works of modern science fiction included. These works include wondrous stories by Alfred Bester, Philip K Dick, Jack Vance, Frederick Pohl and many others.
About the Author
Robert Silverberg's many novels include the most recent volume in the most recent volume in The Majipoor Cycle, Lord Prestimion, the bestselling Lord Valentine trilogy, and the classics Dying Inside and A Time of Changes. He has been nominated for the nebula and Hugo awards more times than any other writer; he is a five-time winner of the Nebula and a four-time winner of the Hugo.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This anthology of Silverberg's favourite science fiction from a period spanning roughly 1953 to 1966 includes a great number of stories regarded by many as genre classics. Some I love, some I love perhaps not so much, but what makes it stand out far ahead from the pack and makes it an absolutely vital addition to the library of anyone seriously thinking about becoming a writer is Silverberg's extensive commentary; every story is accompanied by an essay in which he picks the story apart in order to figure out not only why it ticks, but what it is about the story that makes it so highly-regarded. This makes it invaluable to anyone wanting to write long or short-form science fiction (as a matter of fact, one of the things that decided me to buy it was a review by Joe Haldeman on the book's Amazon.com page which said pretty much the same thing). The lengthy opening autobiographical essay, in which Silverberg recounts the ways in which he obsessively analyzed fiction as a teenager in his drive to become a professional author, is worth the price of the book alone.
There's some great stories in there - Day Million, The Light of Other Days, PK Dick's Colony - and one or two others I can't help but find terribly creaky and old-fashioned, such as Cordwainer Smith's Scanners Live in Vain. Even so, when treated purely as an anthology of sf stories and momentarily disregarding the essays on writing, what you have here is also an excellent overview of some of the most influential science fiction published in the middle part of the 20th Century. Highly recommended, particularly if you want to learn at the feet of one of the grand old men of the genre.
There's some great stories in there - Day Million, The Light of Other Days, PK Dick's Colony - and one or two others I can't help but find terribly creaky and old-fashioned, such as Cordwainer Smith's Scanners Live in Vain. Even so, when treated purely as an anthology of sf stories and momentarily disregarding the essays on writing, what you have here is also an excellent overview of some of the most influential science fiction published in the middle part of the 20th Century. Highly recommended, particularly if you want to learn at the feet of one of the grand old men of the genre.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
For Science Fiction Lovers (And Writers)
6 Dec 2011
Format:Paperback
There are no words to convey the brilliance of this book. Silverberg collects about 15 of the finest SF short stories and then analyses why they are so good. Some criticism can be dry and dull but not with Silverberg. It's also true that it's easier to be funny and witty when blasting a novel or film. Silverberg is just as witty and insightful when praising a story and detailing how the author made it work. He is as good a critic as he is a writer, and that is very good indeed. His introduction is wonderful too.
If anyone is interested in writing science fiction (or other types of fiction) this book is especially valuable. You learn many techniques of writing.
An excellent book that every Sf fan should read.
If anyone is interested in writing science fiction (or other types of fiction) this book is especially valuable. You learn many techniques of writing.
An excellent book that every Sf fan should read.
Excellent stories
14 Mar 2009
Format:Paperback
I found the variety and quality of these stories to be excellent and the critiques were a great bonus. You don't have to be a S-F fan to read these. If you simply enjoy good, imaginative short stories, this is a worthwhile buy.
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