Jack Williamson has been writing groundbreaking science fiction since 1929, on topics as diverse as time travel (The Legion of Time), anti-matter (Seetee Shock), genetic engineering (Dragon's Island), and cybernetics (The Humanoids), earning him the title of Grand Master from the Science Fiction Writers of America. He's also produced seminal fantasies like Darker Than You Think and Golden Blood, a part of his oeuvre that won him the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.
Roger Zelazny, one of the most acclaimed writers of fantasy and science fiction, has brought together some of today's greatest SF writers to honor Williamson with terrific original stories either about Williamson himself or inspired by his works, coupled with original afterwords from the authors sharing their own fond remembrances of Williamson.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
The Williamson of the title is Jack ("With Folded Hands," etc.), who began his SF career before the advent of the Golden Age and is still at it as he nears 90. It's no surprise, then, that this all-original fictional Festschrift is bylined by some other giants of the field, including Frederick Pohl, Poul Anderson, Ben Bova, Fred Saberhagen, John Brunner, Andre Norton and editor Zelazny. The 14 stories and two poems here riff on Williamson's work, play off his best known character, Giles Habibula and his "bad" robots, the humanoids, and also fictionalize Williamson himself. The best use Williamson's ideas as jumping off points: Brunner's "Thinkertoy," a short, sharp and nasty piece concerning a father and his damaged children, brings the idea of a bad robot all too close to home; Pati Nagle's "Emancipation" is reminiscent of Golden Age SF but adds several modern touches as it tells a tale of star travel and spirituality. Jane Lindskold's chilling "Child of the Night" adds a dimension by acknowledging that Williamson also writes fantasy. The collection is bleak, however, despite the injection of humor that is Jeff Bredenberg's "The Human Ingredient," and too many of its entries disappoint, like "Nonstop to Portales," which isn't up to Connie Willis's usual snuff. Ultimately, this work is nobler in aim than in execution-and reading it serves as a poor substitute for another run through the best work of its legendary subject.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Before his death in 1995, Zelazny, a legend in his own fashion, completed most of the work on this homage to one of the most influential sf writers, Jack Williamson. Still very active in sf circles, Williamson, now 87, recently had an asteroid christened with his name and will certainly relish these appreciative short stories from such other prominent sf figures as Ben Bova, Connie Willis, and Fred Saberhagen. Frederik Pohl's volume-opener charts an alternative career path for Williamson, on which he wins fame as a moon explorer rather than as a writer. Poul Anderson offers a grisly tale of otherworldly beings in Alaska that resemble Williamson's famous were-creatures. Under the influence of Williamson's robotic humanoids, John Brunner's "Thinkertoy" recounts the woeful fate of a parent who buys chip-driven minirobots for his motherless children. After each story, its author respectfully outlines "the Williamson effect" on his or her own writing and career. A feast of entertainment, even for those who aren't Williamson fans, and a welcome tribute to Williamson's impact on sf. Carl Hays
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 5.00
Within U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 6.95
Within U.S.A.
Seller: Basement Seller 101, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: Good. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). Seller Inventory # 221225096
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). 1st ed. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 7896657-75
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). 1st ed. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 406827-6
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Boomer's Books, Weare, NH, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good+. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). First Edition. A crisp, clean, tightly bound copy appearing unread - uncreased - with very light chipping to edges and presenting light shelf wear only. Read descriptions carefully. Avoid GLASSFROGBOOKS, ERGODOBOOKS, MORE BOOKS, IRISH BOOKSELLERS, PRO QUO/BAYSIDE BOOKS, BOOKSPLEASE, RIA CHRISTIE, DISCOVER BOOKS, BOOKS2ANYWHERE, BOOKS EXPRESS, CHIRON MEDIA! These "Booksellers" have no books of their own. they buy honest booksellers' books, upcharge you and have no idea what the book is really like. Support your local and small bookstore owners!. Seller Inventory # 30129
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: All-Ways Fiction, DAYTON, NV, U.S.A.
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). First Edition. SIGNED by David Brin on the Introduction page. Signature only First Edition, First printing Book is in Very Good condition. Covers are clean, not bumped front cover has page crease on edge Fore edges have a tiny bit of reading wear. Interior is clean and legible. No store stamps. Not remaindered. All-Ways well packaged, All-Ways fast service. Thanks. Signed by Author(s). Book. Seller Inventory # 041105
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Zed Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). 1st Edition. 8vo. 349 pp. Book condition: Fine. Dust jacket condition: Fine. Seller Inventory # x01755
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Cider Creek Books, Newark, NJ, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). First Edition; First Printing. [352] pp. Pritned black cloth binding/boards. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 352 pages. Seller Inventory # 28273
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Rob & June Edwards, Salem, OR, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Nicholas Jainschigg (illustrator). First Ed. First ed. Fine/Fine condition. Book. Seller Inventory # 039125
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: William L. Horsnell, Aylesford, NS, Canada
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good +. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good +. Jainschigg, Nicholas (illustrator). 1st Edition. A solid spine with no edge wear. The dustjacket has no edge wearand has price intact. Contents : Frederik Pohl -The Major of Mare Tranq, Paul Dellinger - Before the Legion, Poul Anderson - Inside Passage, Ben Bova - Risk Assessement, Scott E. Green-Williamson's World (poem), Pati Nagle - Emancipation, John Brunner - Thinkertoy, Fred Saberhagen - The Bad Mahines, Jeff Bredenberg - The Human Ingredient, Jane Lindskold - Child of the Night ,David Weber - A Certain Talent, Connie Willis -Nonstop to Portales, Andre Norton - No Folede Hands, Mike Resnick - Darker Than You Wrote, Scott E.Green - New Portales___Freedom Shouts (poem), John J. Miller- Worlds That Never Were : The Last Adventure of the Legion of Time. Seller Inventory # 001790
Quantity: 1 available