Nova

Rating:
Summary: Delany's Best
Review: A lot of people are put off by the strange bizzare, extreme, style in which Delany writes almost all of his stuff which is still in print. I know I am. But there are two (maybe 2.5) types of Delany fans. Fans from Dhalgren forward, and fans up to Dhalgren (though some "up to's" like Dhalgren). This was Delany's last novel before Dhalgren and it is far and away his finest work. It is about Captain Lorq Von Ray and the suicide mission which is his last chance for survival. The Von Rays and the Reds are two families fighting over their own survival in a game where the stakes are high. Who ever the winner is, half of the galaxy will be economically shattered. Lorq is in trouble, the Reds are far ahead in the race. If they win, the will destroy Lorq, if they don't murder him first. But Lorq has a long shot. The Reds are of Red Shift LTD., a company dealing in energy. If Lorq can pull off his longshot, he will flood the market with illyrion, the substance from which almost all energy is attained it this future world. The prices will drop, and the Reds will be destroyed. But Lorq has to fly his freighter into the heart of an exploding sun. Told primarily through the eyes of one of the men on board, this is an incredibly exciting thinking person's space opera. If you think a lot, there's a whole lot more to it. Regardless, read this, it's Delany's best, and some of the best SF in the history of the genre.

Rating:
Summary: This is not the Audio Book of Delany's Nova
Review: Although linked to the Sci Fi novel Nova, this CD is actually airy new age music, not an audio book. It is improperly linked and has nothing to do with the Delany's Nova.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Sci-Fi!
Review: Delany is one of the best known African American science fiction writers and this is one of his earliest works. He is currently on faculty at Temple University and teaching to this day.
Book Description
Given that the suns of Draco stretch almost sixteen light years from end to end, it stands to reason that the cost of transportation is the most important factor of the 32nd century. And since Illyrion is the element most needed for space travel, Lorq von Ray is plenty willing to fly through the core of a recently imploded sun in order to obtain seven tons of it. The potential for profit is so great that Lorq has little difficulty cobbling together an alluring crew that includes a gypsy musician and a moon-obsessed scholar interested in the ancient art of writing a novel. What the crew doesn't know, though, is that Lorq's quest is actually fueled by a private revenge so consuming that he'll stop at nothing to achieve it. In the grandest manner of speculative fiction, Nova is a wise and witty classic that casts a fascinating new light on some of humanity's oldest truths and enduring myths.

Rating:
Summary: Still holds up after all these years
Review: Delany is one of those fortunate writers whose prose sounds like poetry. Although I wouldn't rank this novel with something like Bester's _The Stars My Destination,_ it is most definitely a fine novel, and should not be out of print. It's a lot easier to understand than the author's _The Einstein Intersection_ (although not a fraction as eerie). And it is a precursor of the cyberpunk genre; as such it should be read by anyone interested in it.

Rating:
Summary: Eloquent space opera with a dash of cyber.
Review: Delany, considered by many to be the most complex and original sci-fi author out there, shines in this book. Nova is probably Delany's most mainstream work, meaning that he cranked the intellect and dialect dial down just a tad so us mortals can just enjoy a fun book for once. And Nova delivers. The story centers around a the haunted captain of the Roc (a ship) that is on a quest for the equivalent of his Holy Grail. Along the way he recruits arguably the most interesting ensemble cast of supporting characters I've ever encountered. The search takes the crew to many strange places and situations. I'm amazed at how much Delany can pack into such a short novel, quite amazing and something that modern sci-fi authors seem unable to do unless they have 700+ pages to work with.

Delany offers many innovative ideas in Nova, probably the most important being the pre-cursor to the cyberpunk movement. Man-machine interfaces abound in Delany's books, a decade or more before William Gibson ever wrote or thought of Neuromancer. It's a shame this book is out of print, but you can easily find it at any used book store. Do yourself a favor and pick up some of the classics of bygone days...this being one of them in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Eloquent space opera with a dash of cyber.
Review: Delany, considered by many to be the most complex and original sci-fi author out there, shines in this book. Nova is probably Delany's most mainstream work, meaning that he cranked the intellect and dialect dial down just a tad so us mortals can just enjoy a fun book for once. And Nova delivers. The story centers around a the haunted captain of the Roc (a ship) that is on a quest for the equivalent of his Holy Grail. Along the way he recruits arguably the most interesting ensemble cast of supporting characters I've ever encountered. The search takes the crew to many strange places and situations. I'm amazed at how much Delany can pack into such a short novel, quite amazing and something that modern sci-fi authors seem unable to do unless they have 700+ pages to work with.

Delany offers many innovative ideas in Nova, probably the most important being the pre-cursor to the cyberpunk movement. Man-machine interfaces abound in Delany's books, a decade or more before William Gibson ever wrote or thought of Neuromancer. It's a shame this book is out of print, but you can easily find it at any used book store. Do yourself a favor and pick up some of the classics of bygone days...this being one of them in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Open interpretations of a sci fi adventure.
Review: Each person will have a different reaction to this bizarre novel.

Attempt it only if you have mastered other Delany novels.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but....
Review: Flashy, inventive, involving, fast-paced ... but it's over 2 soon, & everything happens SO FAST -- I wish it were longer, say as long as Delany's DHALGREN. I'd like some time 2 think over what happens here, or at least pause 2 catch my breath. Years after reading & re-reading all 3 of them, I still think EMPIRE STAR and EINSTEIN INTERSECTION R better....

Rating:
Summary: Precursor of cyberpunk fiction
Review: Happened to read it just now (June '98) Quite surprised that Delany has propounded modern cyberpunk ideas very early. Flamboyant style of writing,vivid imagery......I recommend it for all cyberpunk fans.

Rating:
Summary: I've read it again and again
Review: I believe many of the people who reviewed Nova were too caught up in the novel being by Delany, rather than the novel itself. The reviewers seem to like its so called "Holy Grail" theme. I disagree, the story itself is not a strong one. It is only held together by the reader trying to figure out when or if the characters get to the nova. The Holy Grail theme is torn apart between the devloping of characters and situations through confusing description. The reviwers also seem to believe its strong characters make it interesting. This is not my opinion because, I think too many characters are being expressed at the same time. This makes it difficult to focus on the distant and unstable main character. I would not recommend this book to very many people. The story is very dry and, as I said, often confusing. The author almost expects the reader to understand what the fictional places and things are. Finally, it doesn't get interesting until the end. Unless this intrigues you, I would not read this book.