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"read this. Cordwainer Smith is timeless." - Terry Pratchett "a sophisticated, often poetic writer... these stores rank among the finest of all time." - Publishers Weekly."
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
In a far-flung future, planoforming ships knit together a galaxy ruled from Earth by the ruthless benevolence of the mysterious Lords of the Instrumentality, who presided over a utopia without death, danger-or freedom. The Underpeople, humanlike beings created from animals to do the work of utopia, had no rights, and could be disposed of at the whim of a human. But they had become more humanlike than their creators, and their leader, the cat woman C'Mell, had a plan for gaining their freedom-which made her much too dangerous a person to be permitted to live. Elsewhere in the galaxy, the planet Norstrilia had power of its own, for it was the only source of stroon, the drug which arrested aging and made humans immortal. Its inhabitants were wealthy beyond comprehension, and one of them, a boy named Rod McBan, with the help of his computer, had manipulated the galactic economy until he completely owned the planet Earth-which made him much too dangerous a person to be permitted to live. But when Rod came to Earth and joined forces with C'Mell and the Underpeople, the petrified utopia of the Instrumentality began to crack and fall apart as freedom was reborn in the galaxy. . . .
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Cordwainer Smith is a cult figure for SF fans, and one of the weirdest and most gifted to emerge from the golden age apart from Philip K Dick. He imagined all kinds of things that might well come to pass, including the genetic adaptation of animals into a race of humanoid slaves, or Underpeople.
The moment these show any sign of illness or disability, they are killed. The Lords of the Instrumentality rule the universe with benign intentions, but having eradicated disease, war, hunger and unhappiness it all goes badly wrong.
Many of the best stories have been repeatedly anthologised (The Game of Rat and Dragon, in which a telepathic pilot works with a cat in order to destroy the deep space predators he perceives as dragons and she perceives as rats being one.) Smith's weird prose style was apparently influenced by knowing Mandarin, and he apparently worked for the US Pentagon. Apparently the other SF writers of the 1950s werre so spooked by him they thought he might himself be an alien.
What is especially fun is that each rich, densely imagined story links up to others. So in the story of how the dog person Joan (or dJoan) inspires the Underpeaole to love their oppressors, and shame them into seeing them as fellow beings, we get the seeds of future tales. There are computers imprinted with the memories and personality of dead people, machines which are gods, planets defended by psychopathic mink and many more. If you enjoy the playfulness of a mind steeped in many cultures and don't object to some appalling pop lyrics, this is one to try.
The moment these show any sign of illness or disability, they are killed. The Lords of the Instrumentality rule the universe with benign intentions, but having eradicated disease, war, hunger and unhappiness it all goes badly wrong.
Many of the best stories have been repeatedly anthologised (The Game of Rat and Dragon, in which a telepathic pilot works with a cat in order to destroy the deep space predators he perceives as dragons and she perceives as rats being one.) Smith's weird prose style was apparently influenced by knowing Mandarin, and he apparently worked for the US Pentagon. Apparently the other SF writers of the 1950s werre so spooked by him they thought he might himself be an alien.
What is especially fun is that each rich, densely imagined story links up to others. So in the story of how the dog person Joan (or dJoan) inspires the Underpeaole to love their oppressors, and shame them into seeing them as fellow beings, we get the seeds of future tales. There are computers imprinted with the memories and personality of dead people, machines which are gods, planets defended by psychopathic mink and many more. If you enjoy the playfulness of a mind steeped in many cultures and don't object to some appalling pop lyrics, this is one to try.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Best introduction to Cordwainer Smith
28 Nov 2006
Format:Paperback
Smith wrote relatively few short stories and only one SF novel, mostly in the 1960's. Even so, he is one of the great SF writers with a style that is unique. His entire work is available in two hardback books, but this edition gives you his novel, Norstrilia, and the associated short stories (a large fraction of his total output). This is the most cost effective way get an introduction to his work, but you may end up wanting his complete short stories too and there is obviously overlap. I think this is better than the stand-alone Norstrilia because it includes the relevant short stories in one edition.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Great science fiction from a past master
29 Nov 2006
Format:Paperback
I have been rereading Cordwainer Smith since I first discovered his writing in the 60's. For those who do not know Cordwainer Smith was the pen name of Paul Linebarger who passed away at the age of only 53.
This version brings together both the novel 'Norstrilia', aka 'The Planet Buyer', and short stories featuring the quest for freedom of the Underpeople. We get to look into the struggle for freedom through the stories of D'joan and C'mell. We meet the people of Norstrilia and the boy who bought Earth, Rod McBan the 151st.
Most of the science fiction and fantasy that I read make for good stories with plenty of action and well developed characters. But the fiction of Smith makes you enjoy his writing and think. This is especially true now that we are at the beginnings of gene engineering and cloning. These two things are the basis of his writing, even though these subjects were nothing more than Science Fiction 40 years ago.
I can only hope that a companion volume with the stories about the establishment of the Lords of the Instrumentality will be forthcoming. This is highly recommended for those who have never read any works by Cordwainer Smith and for those who wish to reread his works.
This version brings together both the novel 'Norstrilia', aka 'The Planet Buyer', and short stories featuring the quest for freedom of the Underpeople. We get to look into the struggle for freedom through the stories of D'joan and C'mell. We meet the people of Norstrilia and the boy who bought Earth, Rod McBan the 151st.
Most of the science fiction and fantasy that I read make for good stories with plenty of action and well developed characters. But the fiction of Smith makes you enjoy his writing and think. This is especially true now that we are at the beginnings of gene engineering and cloning. These two things are the basis of his writing, even though these subjects were nothing more than Science Fiction 40 years ago.
I can only hope that a companion volume with the stories about the establishment of the Lords of the Instrumentality will be forthcoming. This is highly recommended for those who have never read any works by Cordwainer Smith and for those who wish to reread his works.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Underpeople Liberation Movement Arises!
12 Jan 2010
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Cordwainer Smith is the pen name of Mr. Paul M. A. Linebarger, who lived a comparatively short (1913 - 1966) and difficult life.
He was educated in China, Germany and USA. He loose one eye in an accident being a child. Had a PH degree in Political Sciences, was a university professor and worked undercover for CIA. At the same time he wrote fascinating sci-fi stories.
My first contact with the author's stories was "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard". It was obvious for me that this was a fragment of a greater story, full of mysterious and provoking ideas as the Rediscovery of Man, the Eketeli and so on. I was captivated by the imagery and searched for more works from Cordwainer Smith. Little by little they were appearing in different sci-fi magazines and short stories collections.
With this book you have the opportunity to read many of the "fragments" constituting Cordwainer's universe, with consistent references to the underpeople, the Instrumentality and some of the interlaced icons of this particular Myth.
The entire present book stories are remarkable "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons", depicting the secret weapon of Norstrilla to keep intruders away and "Under Old Earth" telling the last expedition of an old man to the center of the Mysteries.
Nevertheless special mention must be done for "Ballad of Lost C'Mell" and "The Dead Lady of Clown Town" both dealing with the relationship of humans and underpeople. Mr. Smith had a very particular relation with cats and dogs. He loved them and his underpeople characters show this love.
As final note I may point out that "The Dead Lady..." is a forceful recreation of Joan D'Arc martyrdom.
This book contains a wonderful collection from an unjustly underrated author.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
He was educated in China, Germany and USA. He loose one eye in an accident being a child. Had a PH degree in Political Sciences, was a university professor and worked undercover for CIA. At the same time he wrote fascinating sci-fi stories.
My first contact with the author's stories was "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard". It was obvious for me that this was a fragment of a greater story, full of mysterious and provoking ideas as the Rediscovery of Man, the Eketeli and so on. I was captivated by the imagery and searched for more works from Cordwainer Smith. Little by little they were appearing in different sci-fi magazines and short stories collections.
With this book you have the opportunity to read many of the "fragments" constituting Cordwainer's universe, with consistent references to the underpeople, the Instrumentality and some of the interlaced icons of this particular Myth.
The entire present book stories are remarkable "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons", depicting the secret weapon of Norstrilla to keep intruders away and "Under Old Earth" telling the last expedition of an old man to the center of the Mysteries.
Nevertheless special mention must be done for "Ballad of Lost C'Mell" and "The Dead Lady of Clown Town" both dealing with the relationship of humans and underpeople. Mr. Smith had a very particular relation with cats and dogs. He loved them and his underpeople characters show this love.
As final note I may point out that "The Dead Lady..." is a forceful recreation of Joan D'Arc martyrdom.
This book contains a wonderful collection from an unjustly underrated author.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
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