futurerevisited.bsky.social
Revisiting a love of page-turning SF last enjoyed several decades ago… and so now in the process discovering many fine books for the very first time. 📚
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Only read the novella version of ‘Flowers for Algernon’ but was very impressed - will aim to get to the novel in time.
I was reminded too of Disch’s ‘Camp Concentration’ of a few years later. Haven’t reread this in decades, but remember it as quite a powerful piece of work.
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Ah yes, Robots of Dawn will certainly be one I’d love to get to in the near future.
I too like the framing device of the interview with Calvin in ‘I, Robot’ - I think she turns up in some slightly later stories too (Satisfaction Guaranteed, if I recall rightly)
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Baley and R.Daneel are definitely one of the great character pairings of the genre. And yes, a wonderful book which stands up extraordinarily well after over 70 years.
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Just discovering (to my eternal shame after so many years with my head in a good book) the works of H.G. Wells. I’m currently a third of the way through ‘The War of Worlds’ and completely captivated 👍
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I think it was this book that featured Aldiss’ reflection on how many of his stories emphasised particular ‘landscapes’ - either characters within a landscape (Greybeard etc.), or ‘swallowed’ by a landscape (Non-Stop or Hothouse). A great way of considering his immersive worldbuilding.
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Asimov’s The Naked Sun stands up so well - easily one of his finest novels.
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Yes, one that’s definitely intrigued me for a while. Really admire his range from this period.
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I only recently learned that Kurt Vonnegut’s recurring character ‘Kilgore Trout’ was a humourous reference to Sturgeon (apparently?)
Looking at the shelves, I was reminded that I have his 1953 short ‘A Saucerful of Loneliness’ to savour at some point in the near future 👍
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One book that’s certainly on my long term (and ever growing) TBR pile too. I’m gravitating towards ‘The Book of Skulls’ to kick things off though in a month or two.
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Ah yes, I recall seeing this one recently whilst browsing the bookshops - thanks for the prompt 👍
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Excellent, thank you.
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Thank you - I recall the title (always intriguing) but wasn’t aware of how this related to Wells’ work. Possibly out of print but I’ll certainly seek out a copy 👍
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Ah yes, Food of the Gods is another that I’d like to get to in time (and I’m curious as to whether this was one of the key works Brian Aldiss was referencing when he wrote his 1965 ‘homage’ ‘The Saliva Tree’)
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Absolutely - timeless works.
I recall one of his short stories entitled ‘The Inexperienced Ghost’ - fabulous tale with an unnerving final scene.
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Many thanks - I think ‘Moreau will probably be the next Wells novel in line 👍
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Most definitely - both novels have been quite a revelation. I’m certainly inspired to go on to explore his other works too.
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Yes, the stamp of the wonderful BBC Radiophonic Workshop is nicely evident throughout this episode 🙂
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Several audio-only clips of scenes which were not found in the recovered footage have also survived.
Here’s a short annotated reconstruction of one of these scenes, blending surviving audio with shots from the recovered video tape (2 of 2)
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Definitely a volume which is going to keep me happy for a long time. Likewise I started with the Heinlein tale, one of those fine stories whose brevity belies its complexity (and which prompted me to turn back a page or two to confirm I’d just read what I thought I’d just read! 😀)
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“When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere”.
Wyndham’s ‘Day of the Triffids’ 👍
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Beautifully written book - easy to see why it scooped the Hugo back in 1977 (very stiff competition too - particularly Pohl’s ‘Man Plus’)
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I vividly recall reading this circa 1979/80 (Sphere edition paperback). I’m very much looking forward to revisiting this some 40-odd years on… 🙂
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I was quite taken with Michael Frayn’s ‘Spies’ - a really engaging story.
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A little battered in comparison, here’s my one surviving edition from the smaller paperback format that seemed relatively easy to pick up back in the day (retained a few copies of the larger format issues from the late 60s too)
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For anyone who may have missed this, there’s a fine 2013 edition of the World Book Club podcast featuring Brian Aldiss answering questions on this novel. Wonderful.
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Another beautifully realised Bruce Pennington cover.
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His short story ‘The Yellow Pill’ is one of my favourites - such a cleverly crafted tale and a real ‘paradigm shift’ of an ending too. Easy to see why it was a firm favourite for adaptation on television (back in the 60s anyway).
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That’s great thank you - appreciate the link too 👍
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Likewise vivid memories of picking this up from the local newsagents one Saturday morning. Although the ‘updated’ Dan Dare was a big draw, my clearest memory is of the hunters travelling back in time to kill those poor ol’ dinosaurs 🙂 .
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Absolutely - a sad loss. And those clips are very tantalising!
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Yes, there are a number of absolute gems there. I have Haldeman’s ‘Forever War’ lined up in the very near future too - I’ve heard so very many good things about it.
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Absolutely 👍 Of her longer SF works, I’ve read both The Dispossessed and The Word for World is Forest to date - novels of ‘big ideas’ & superbly written. Enjoyed both immensely.
Looking forward to ‘Left Hand of Darkness’, which some argue remains her strongest work.
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25 glorious reasons to savour this particular season. A favourite of mine too for several years 🙂
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Enjoyed this edition - and very nostalgic it was too.
Recall seeing the original broadcasts of ‘Trousers & A Close Shave in the 90s. It was ‘event television’ for the family at Xmas!
Still have the VHS tapes, although I doubt they play well now! Oh yes, the name ‘Wendoline’’ clicked with me too 😄
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A re-read of his entire output sounds like a great idea. Heartening to know that so much of his work is still in print too.
I followed ‘Castle with Do Androids’ a few months ago, and I’m feeling the urge to select Ubik next - so much to choose from though, and they all sound equally enticing! 🙂
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Finally started getting acquainted with PKD last year - and this was my entry point. Adored this book - the closing chapter provided much ambiguous food for thought (and generated lots of conversations with others who had read the novel!).
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Asimov’s novel certainly stands up extraordinarily well - as does its sequel - The Naked Sun - which arguably is an even stronger story. Enjoyed them both immensely.
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It’s probably the first I can think of (although I’m sure it has its precedents in the likes of Clarke’s 2001). Looking forward to reading Man Plus in the near future too - Pohl was certainly hitting his stride again in this era.
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It is to be hoped that other works (alongside the wonderful Pavane), are back in circulation one day. As you say, a writer who knew his craft.
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Would dearly love to see the greater extent of Shaw’s work back in print - particularly the likes of ‘Other Days, Other Eyes’.
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I finally caught up with Hothouse a few months ago. I was intrigued to realise it was originally a series of linked stories (I can discern, up to a point, their place in the novel). When I go back for a re-read, I may be tempted to track down the original short pieces to better appreciate this!
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John Wyndham’s tale was adapted again by Richard Fell for BBC4 in 2006. Heartening to see the acknowledgment to Holder in the closing credits - a fitting testament to the quality of his original script for ‘Out of the Unknown’. (4/4)
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The success of the production prompted film producer Maurice Foster to ring Chris Barry to propose a feature version. Peter Rogers later took over the project, although elements of Terence Feely’s script (released as ‘Quest for Love’ in 1971) owes a great deal to Owen Holder’s adaptation. (3/4)
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Here’s of the many enthusiastic reviews of the play’s broadcast (clipping from the Watford Evening Echo).
John Wyndham also wrote to the BBC production team in praise of the adaptation, just a month before he died in March 1969. (2/4)