Canopy of Time [Paperback]

Brian Wilson Aldiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2001

'Brian Aldiss seems to have always had a more oceanic sense of time than most science fiction writers, an almost measured vision of what will transpire in the long run, a time-sense which is reflected both in his fiction and in the pace and course of his career.' Norman Spinrad These nine stories from 1960, early in Brian Aldiss's long and productive career, were originally conceived as a single entity, and form a chronicle of the next forty million years. They are arranged sequentially, beginning with the near-future and ending, with 'The Ultimate Millennia', hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years later. 'One cannot help being struck by the variety of concepts, the mastery of style, the sureness of the dialogue, the depth of characterization, the fertility of ideas, and the urbanity of the wit ... here is a major talent at work.' Science Fiction Writers

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Aldiss, born in 1925, is one of the most prolific authors of both general and science fiction. In a writing career stretching from 1955 to the present he has published over seventy books. He has also been an influential compiler of science fiction anthologies. A Science Fiction Omnibus is available as a Penguin Modern Classic. Faber have reissued six of his best science fiction titles: Earthworks, Cryptozpoic!, Barefoot in the Head, Galaxies like Grains of Sand, The Dark Light Years and The Shape of Further Things. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus Ltd (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755113373
• ISBN-13: 978-0755113378
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,656,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of those books you never forget, August 28, 2000

By 

Daniele Mezzetti (Perugia, PG Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galaxies Like Grains of Sand (Paperback)

I read this book as a teenager, and then many other times. It's a story of mankind spanning millions of years. This book is one-of-a-kind, for the gigantic scale on which is projected, the bold imagination, the long silences between flashes of history that let yor mind fascinated for the untold but imagined. And there is a subtle sadness for those million lives, their joys and despairs... but always life flourishes in unexpected ways. Reading this book is like looking at the sky in a clear night and wondering at the immense universe.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, September 30, 2008

By 

M "CultOfStrawberry" (I wait behind the wall, gnawing away at your reality) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Galaxies Like Grains of Sand (Paperback)

This is easily one of the best sci-fi novel, or just book, that I have ever read. This book is old and I had to obtain my copy via eBay, but it was worth it. The eight interconnected stories come to a surprising conclusion, and overall is very thought-provoking. I liked how each chapter focused on a different part in human history. While I do feel that this book could have used some more detail (the book is fairly slim compared to other books such as say, Dune) it is still a wonderful and thought-provoking read, with some juicy nugget of philosophy or thought in each section. My favorites were the 'Mutant' and the 'Ultimate' Millennia chapters.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gigantic scale combined with small human moments..., November 29, 2000

By 

"phyed-rautha" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galaxies Like Grains of Sand (Paperback)

A series of short stories, each dealing with a specific era in the human development and future histoy. Alldis is known in his intelligent and philosofic works and this one is not only keeping those high standarts , but stands out as a wonderfull, imaginative story of our race , millions of years into the future. super recommended. enjoy.