American Science Fiction: Nine Classic Novels of the 1950s [Hardcover]

Various (Author), Gary K. Wolfe (Editor)

Book Description

Release date: September 27, 2012

Contains:
American Science Fiction: Four Classic Novels 1953—1956
Frederik Pohl & C. M. Kornbluth / The Space Merchants
Theodore Sturgeon / More Than Human
Leigh Brackett / The Long Tomorrow
Richard Matheson / The Shrinking Man
978-1-59853-158-9

American Science Fiction: Five Classic Novels 1956—1958
Robert Heinlein / Double Star
Alfred Bester / The Stars My Destination
James Blish / A Case of Conscience
Algis Budrys / Who?
Fritz Leiber / The Big Time
978-159853-159-6

Following its acclaimed three-volume edition of the novels of science fiction master Philip K. Dick, The Library of America now presents a two-volume anthology of nine groundbreaking works from the golden age of the modern science fiction novel. Long unnoticed or dismissed by the literary establishment, these “outsider” novels have gradually been recognized as American classics. Here are genre-defining works by such masters as Robert Heinlein, Richard Matheson, James Blish, and Alfred Bester. The themes range from time travel (Fritz Leiber’s The Big Time) to post-apocalyptic survival (Leigh Brackett’s The Long Tomorrow), from the prospect of a future dominated by multinational advertising agencies (Pohl and Kornbluth’s The Space Merchants) to the very nature of human identity in a technological age (Theodore Sturgeon’s More Than Human and Algis Budrys’s Who?). The range of styles is equally diverse, by turns satiric, adventurous, incisive, and hauntingly lyrical. Grappling in fresh ways with a world in rapid transformation, these visionary novels opened new imaginative territory in American writing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Here's the heart of the heart of where those who take American science fiction seriously would want to begin -- the genre's equivalent of Hollywood's classical period, and the books subsequent creators like Thomas Pynchon and Stanley Kubrick used to bend their brains -- as well as a selection of novels as fresh and evocative as any hungry reader could hope to discover." 

(� Jonathan Lethem )

About the Author

GARY K. WOLFE, editor, is Professor of Humanities in Roosevelt University’s Evelyn T. Stone College of Professional Studies and the author, most recently, of Evaporating Genres: Essays on Fantastic Literature and Sightings: Reviews 2002–2006. He has received numerous awards for his critical writing including the British Science Fiction Association Award and the World Fantasy Award. He writes a monthly review column for Locus Magazine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1750 pages
• Publisher: Library of America; First Edition edition (September 27, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598531573
• ISBN-13: 978-1598531572
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 3.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 99 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Is it too much too ask? October 1, 2012

By William Davis

Is it too much too ask that Amazon list the nine novels in the collection? Here they are:
*Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth, The Space Merchants
*Theodore Sturgeon, More Than Human
*Leigh Brackett, The Long Tomorrow
*Richard Matheson, The Shrinking Man
*Robert A. Heinlein, Double Star
*Alfred Bester, The Stars My Destination
*James Blish, A Case of Conscience
*Algis Budrys, Who?
*Fritz Leiber, The Big Time
I had to go to the LOA website to find out.
They're great books and I have other Library of America books that are beautifully made so 5 stars

UPDATE: Amazon responded to this comment by changing the listing to show the titles...Thanks Amazon!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid set October 1, 2012

By Wayne Dynes

Amazon Verified Purchase

For too long, science fiction has been banished to the margins of American literature. This splendid set goes a long way to repairing this injustice. The selections are varied and representative, the annotation is helpful, and the printing quality is exceptional. The dust jackets and box are works of art in themselves. Surely this set deserves an award as one of the best publications of 2012. Buy the set: when it arrives it will make your day. It certainly did mine.

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous edition and great value September 27, 2012

By Reader

Amazon Verified Purchase

I received this collection today as promised, having ordered it when the first announcement was made some months ago. I have not read the novels again but wish to comment on the presentation. The books are produced to the same standard as other LoA books, with clean typography, high-quality paper and Brillianta cloth binding. The end notes explain the sources of the texts (for example the multiple versions of Alfred Bester's The Stars my Destination, originally published as Tiger, Tiger) and define many names and places that might be unfamiliar. There also is a web site with essays on the novels and other information (loa.org/sciencefiction).

In my opinion the nine novels are all among the best science fiction novels of the 1950s. There are some favorite authors missing, including Kurt Vonnegut, who has his own set of Library of America volumes, and Ray Bradbury, who may someday also have his own volume. But the selections are excellent and the presentation fine.

Plus, to buy the least expensive mass market paperbacks of the nine would cost significantly more than the price of these volumes.