In the 1940s, the Golden Age of science fiction flowered in the magazine "Astounding". Editor John W. Campbell, Jr., discovered and promoted great new writers such as A. E. van Vogt, whose novel "SLAN" was one of the basic works of the era. "SLAN" is the story of Jommy Cross, the orphan boy mutant, outcast from a future society prejudiced against mutants, who grows up to be a superman and to represent the next stage in human evolution. Throughout the forties and into the fifties, "SLAN" was considered the single most important science fiction novel, the one great book that everyone had to read. Today, it remains a monument to pulp science fiction adventure, filled with constant action and a cornucopia of ideas.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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"Over fifty years on from when it first saw print, van Vogt's "Slan" is still one of the quintessential classics of the field that other SF novels will inevitably be measured against." --Charles de Lint
"Van Vogt was creating the mythology of science, writing stories of science as magic or magic as science." --James Gunn
"Along with Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein--and to a lesser extent L. Sprague de Camp and L. Ron Hubbard--he seemed nearly to create, by writing what Campbell wanted to publish, the first genuinely successful period of U.S. SF; only in this 'Golden Age' did it begin to achieve [success], in literary terms...." --"The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
"Van Vogt was creating the mythology of science, writing stories of science as magic or magic as science." --James Gunn
"Along with Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein--and to a lesser extent L. Sprague de Camp and L. Ron Hubbard--he seemed nearly to create, by writing what Campbell wanted to publish, the first genuinely successful period of U.S. SF; only in this 'Golden Age' did it begin to achieve [success], in literary terms...." --"The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
About the Author
A. E. Van Vogt was a SFWA Grand Master. He was born in Canada and moved to the U.S. in 1944, by which time he was well-established as one of John W. Campbell's stable of writers for "Astounding Science-Fiction." He lived in Los Angeles, California and died in 2000.
--This text refers to the
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His mother,s hand felt cold, clutching his. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By W. G. Hardy
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I generally seem to find that sci-fi from the 40's, 50's and 60's to be more rewrading than those which are more recent. Slan reinforced that view.
There's little doubt that this novel shows some sign of age, but the quality of the ideas presented still shine through. So much of what lies between these covers has influenced much of what came later. There are plenty of other novels and short stories which explore the possibility of the next evolutionaty step that humans may take, which doubtless explore it more deeply. However, this was amongst the first.
Additionally it explores racism, and the dangers of mob-intolerance. On top of that, it's actually a good story.
There's little doubt that this novel shows some sign of age, but the quality of the ideas presented still shine through. So much of what lies between these covers has influenced much of what came later. There are plenty of other novels and short stories which explore the possibility of the next evolutionaty step that humans may take, which doubtless explore it more deeply. However, this was amongst the first.
Additionally it explores racism, and the dangers of mob-intolerance. On top of that, it's actually a good story.
Charming, and a rewarding read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Slan is excellent, especially when you consider it was written over 50 years ago. When you read it, you will think "Hey, I have seen these ideas and plot devices before." That's how much influence Slan had on the formation of SF. If you want to understand where SF came from, the book that sets all the conventions is Slan.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Van Vogt is a fairly rated writer among SF officianados, and at the time of its release, this novel was well received. Philip Dick picked him as the model for his early writing and says repeatedly in his autobiographs that Vogt is one of his favourite SF writers, and this book, one of his favourite SF novels: high praise in deed from one of the finest writers of the 20th century. If that isnt reason enough to check it out, then i dont know what might convince. Personally, i prefer PKD's work, however, you can feel many of the elements of his style in this little novel, from the tongue-in-cheek naming, to the twists and turns of the plot.
Overall, the writing is action orientated, fast paced, and because of that, pretty damn exciting. I finished the book in a handful of hours and was a bit disappointed that the ending felt premature. In Van Vogts defense, few SF books of the time (40s) ran to more than 300 pages, and some publishers even used to cut a book at 200 or so pages, irrelevant of how it was setup, or where the end should lay. One reviewer here claims that the characters are one dimensional, and im not sure i could totally disagree with them, but they over state themselves by comparing the character quality to X-men, of all things, it is far better than that.
Give it a chance, and if you can pick it up secondhand, i would do so, save you moaning about it when you realize it isnt Stross, or god forbid, Banks. No, this is definitely a forgotten classic, influentially, interesting, relevant, well written, and certainly as good as Wells et al.
Overall, the writing is action orientated, fast paced, and because of that, pretty damn exciting. I finished the book in a handful of hours and was a bit disappointed that the ending felt premature. In Van Vogts defense, few SF books of the time (40s) ran to more than 300 pages, and some publishers even used to cut a book at 200 or so pages, irrelevant of how it was setup, or where the end should lay. One reviewer here claims that the characters are one dimensional, and im not sure i could totally disagree with them, but they over state themselves by comparing the character quality to X-men, of all things, it is far better than that.
Give it a chance, and if you can pick it up secondhand, i would do so, save you moaning about it when you realize it isnt Stross, or god forbid, Banks. No, this is definitely a forgotten classic, influentially, interesting, relevant, well written, and certainly as good as Wells et al.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
A childish book with delusions of adolescence
I hate it when you wade through to the end of a book just so you can write a negative review in good conscience. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Allen Baird
3.0 out of 5 stars
Weak Characterizations a la The X-Men
I bought this book from amazon.com because of the popular opinion that it was one of the classics of the golden age of science fiction. I was very disappointed. Read more
Published on 24 July 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book written by a wonderful person.
Slan is such a great tale! It moves so fast and is quite absorbing, and deals with racial hatred in an extremely subtle way that remains current today. Read more
Published on 22 July 1999
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