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Rating: 
Summary: Early Silverberg, Phase II
Review: After Silverberg's first "retirement," he returned to science
fiction with this book--constructed out of a series of novelettes
published by Fred Pohl in _If_. It is colorful, almost gaudy
science fiction; in a way, it seems to bridge Silverberg's pulp
work of the 50's with his more thoughtful work of the later 60's
and early 70's.As is the case with most science fiction, it appears dated in
places. During the years 1964-65, when this book was written,
some of the concerns with mysticism and trancendence embedded in
the social unrest of the later 60's were already clearly in
evidence. Silverberg shows his awareness and sympathy for these
trends in this early book. While the themes of the book are very much of its time, the
pure inventiveness points farther back, to works like
Alfred Bester's _Tyger! Tyger!_ (aka, _The Stars My
Destination_). The "Electromagnetic Litany: Stations of
the Spectrum_" is clever and funny and ingenious enough
in its own right to sway me in the book's favor. The quality of the writing is more than competent, and sometimes
a great deal better than that. Silverberg, for all his excellent
novels (e.g., _Dying Inside_, _The Book of Skulls_, _Downward
to the Earth_), often seems to me happier at the novelette to
novella length. Thus a mosaic novel such as this one shows
him at his best advantage. At the same time, despite its several excellences, the book
is not devoid of a certain immaturity by later Silverberg
standards. There are a few stock characters, as well as stock
reactions here. During the ten years after this book, Silverberg
showed us how much better he could do. Still, all in all, I'm fond of this book. I *do* think it's
good entertainment of a high order. I'd really like to give
it 3.5 stars, because it isn't a masterwork. But it is diverting
reading, even if one isn't a devoted reader of Silverberg.
Rating:
Summary: I'd remember this book anywhere
Review: I first read this book while on holiday in Spain around 1996. I'd long ago forgotten the title, but the names of the characters stuck in my mind. Well needless to say I've found the book once again and intend to buy it. I was only 17 when I read the book and it made great reading, how it will do this time I really don't knowm so I'm giving it 4 stars - it at least deserves that if I can remember the character names after so long. Well worth reading!
Rating:
Summary: I'd remember this book anywhere
Review: I first read this book while on holiday in Spain around 1996. I'd long ago forgotten the title, but the names of the characters stuck in my mind. Well needless to say I've found the book once again and intend to buy it. I was only 17 when I read the book and it made great reading, how it will do this time I really don't knowm so I'm giving it 4 stars - it at least deserves that if I can remember the character names after so long. Well worth reading!
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