- Hardcover: 505 pages
- Publisher: DOUBLEDAY & CO INC; [1st ed.] edition (1968)
- ASIN: B0006BVDB8
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.5 x 4.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This has to be one of the all time classics of the sci-fi genre, and has certainly earned its place in the Masterworks collection, though it is perhaps not as well known as other classics like The War of The Worlds or The Chrysalids. There is a reason for this of course, Stand On Zanzibar is not an 'easy' book. It's very easy to read the first few pages and give up - in fact, this is what I did the first time my father recommended it to me. All the same, I now consider it to be high up in my top ten books of all time.
The thing that deters one is that Brunner's style here is like no other you have ever encounted, although one can trace its influence to modern science-fiction works like Otherland. Brunner is painting for us the picture of an entire society - a complete and vibrant vision of the future, and to do so he weaves together the complex threads of individual unconnected lives; the messages sent out by the media; greater world plot; and insightful comments on how people are effected by living in such a society given through the guise of Chad C. Mulligan - an eminent and enigmatic socioligist in the book.
Like many visions of the future created decades ago one can find fault with predictions that have not happened, and easily declaire that this will not be the way of the world in 2010; however, the truth is, some of those predictions are surprisingly accurate, and even if the situation has not gone as far yet as Brunner predicted, one can see evidence of it heading that way. His discussion of the pressures imposed on man by over-population, and the progress, or lack thereof, in the developing world is interesting, and his comments on the effect of our genetics on social prejudice must be relivant today.
Besides being exceedingly clever and insightful, however, this is above all a good read! With believable and colourful characters as well as a wonderful dry sense of humour, you cannot help but become gripped by this book, and once you have become accustomed to the style you will wonder why you ever found it difficult in the first place.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Over-population threatens Earth, political struggles and conspiracy movements sprout, people are turning into terrorists out of pure boredom... TV does its best to keep people alienated in an artificial reality...
Written in Brunner's characteristic style, the book is witty, sarcastic and really really bitter.
If you're into dark humor and pessimistic bitter views of reality (as I am) this is the book to read.
One of the (undeservedly) forgotten great classics of SF.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Stand On Zanzibar is a very good book - but complex. With an incredibly unique style it is very engaging and intriguing but unfortunately, too many people marvel on this rather than the story. While Brunner's predictions are impressive and his prose somewhat stylish, his story is laborious. When reading this book I found that I just wanted to get this whole ordeal over and done with. There are pages devoted to futuristic adverts and, just as I do when watching television, I found that all I wanted was a cup of tea and the program to begin again. However, this form is very intelligent and defines the world in which this book is based more accurately. For the casual reader this book isn't mainstream enough, but for the person with patience a truly good thing will come to the one who waits.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Massively Brilliant
This book is a perfect example of how very good science fiction can remain relevant, even when the 'future' it is set in has passed us by. Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. I. Sundquist
It's already 2010, when Stand on Zanzibar was set
I'm re-reading Stand on Zanzibar because I'd suddenly remembered is was set in this year, 2010. It's something I've always been fascinated by, comparing the predictions of SF with... Read more
Published 18 months ago by KJ44
A vision of the future.
In Stand on Zanzibar Brunner explores the effects of overpopulation, supercomputers and genetic manipulation of humans, without going over the top. Read more
Published 19 months ago by HeecheeRendezvous
Hilarious now, but in the 60's this was taken seriously.
This book is worth reading for anyone interested in the attitudes and expectations of the late 1960s. Read more
Published 20 months ago by J. Stephens
Brilliant service again!
This was a serendipity purchase in that I had read the book 40 years ago and I took the risk that it would be worth investing my time and money in a second read. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by David R. Wood
a masterpiece
What more can one say about this novel? Science Fiction at it's finest and not to be missed.
Published on 28 Dec 2009 by Mr. Stephen Parkin
No Man is an Island
I've known of this book for years and have been meaning to read it for as long. And I really wanted to rave about it. It's a classic, after all, so it ought to be good. Read more
Published on 26 April 2009 by sft
Better? Than?
The thing with fortune tellers, is that people tend to remember the things they get right and forget what they get wrong. So it is with this book. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2007 by C. A. Gallagher
The best example of a future dystopia!!
Stand on Zanzibar is a must-read for anyone who considers themselves knowledgeable and interested in published science fiction. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2006 by A. Morley
Dated but still a great story
Im not a big fan of SF from the 50s and 60s, generally because I find it a bit to "worthy" and full of its own importance (that said the Dune series is one of my favourites!). Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2003 by Laura Hogan
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