Design for Great-Day [Mass Market Paperback]

Alan Dean Foster (Author), Eric Frank Russell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1996

When a strange starship appears mysteriously on a distant alien world, bearing only a single human and his bee-like extraterrestrial companion, the powerful warlord of that world laughs at the stranger's preposterous demand: End an all-out war with an interstellar rival, or face devastating consequences. But James Lawson, emissary from an intergalactic federation of advanced race, means every word he says, and has the power to back them up--whatever the cost.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Foster has expanded Russell's 1953 novella, "Design for Great-Day," to novel length. In it, James Lawson, troubleshooting emissary from an intergalactic federation of advanced and peaceful races, visits an unexplored frontier of space to defuse a full-scale war between two ruthless alien races.

"...intriguing renaissance of a work that otherwise might have been unjustly forgotten."-- Publisher's Weekly --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

In keeping with the practice of resuscitating standard works of the SF genre, Foster here expands Russell's 1953 novella Design for Great-Day to novel length. The story, related mainly through the perceptions of a major participant, is one of Russell's few works in which humans comprise part of a pacificist force instead of finding themselves subjugated by one. (Indeed, the original tale's resonance with the Korean conflict has itself been made new again by recent world events.) Though Foster's amplification, which notably makes the warring alien factions even more villainous, is generally no more than serviceable, his writing blends well with Russell's. He highlights his predecessor's disdain for authority?especially those intent on wreaking destruction in the name of "peace"?while maintaining the narrative's brisk pace. Also, he wisely has not attempted to update the original "scientific" explanations with more contemporary bafflegab. Readers drawn to this title by Foster's currently familiar name (novelizations such as Star Trek adventures and the Alien films) will be gratified by this intriguing renaissance of a work that otherwise might have been unjustly forgotten.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tor Science Fiction (March 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812524608
• ISBN-13: 978-0812524604
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,632,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alan Dean Foster's work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as "Star Wars", the first three "Alien" films, "Alien Nation", and "The Chronicles of Riddick". Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first "Star Trek" movie. His novel "Shadowkeep" was the first ever book adapation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel "Cyber Way" won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so.

Foster's sometimes humorous, occasionally poignant, but always entertaining short fiction has appeared in all the major SF magazines as well as in original anthologies and several "Best of the Year" compendiums. His published oeuvre includes more than 100 books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Remember, it's a Russell, not a Foster book!, December 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Design for Great-Day (Mass Market Paperback)

The title says it all, really. It's definitely not a Foster book; it's an _Eric_Frank_Russell_ book. Russell was a great read back when he was first published, and it's great to see it expanded! Think space-opera-ish when you read this. Also remember that while some of the ideas may seem cliched, odds are that Russell is the one who created them the first time. A very (sardonic is a good word) hero, one man against a bureaucracy.

A true joy to read, but please remember that Alan only added on to Eric's story. If you like Alan's ideas, rather than his style, you'll love it. If you like this, please scour used bookstores for any of Russell's others; Alan Dean Foster and Jack L. Chalker managed to get several reprinted in the 80's. All are great.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Avid Sci-Fi fan, June 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Design for Great-Day (Mass Market Paperback)

Riveting from the first page. Top read, Alan Dean Foster at his finest. Read half of the book in one day, couldn't put it down. Will there be a follow up? I hope so.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasant Read, July 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Design for Great-Day (Mass Market Paperback)

The story covers what sorts of things might happen when different cultures, er "species", encounter each other. War, obviously, is one possible result. The really interesting aspect that Foster delves into is fanatical narrow-mindedness. The antags in this story can't really see how to make use of their resources to prosper. The protags very much can, and do. Also, the protags are very open-minded - in more ways than one. Plus they are quite intelligent and quite well-equiped to deal with intergalactic relations. Prosperity in this book, doesn't come from power or wealth but in a state of mind, a noble pursuit, and the willingness and ability to communicate and cogitate.

The plot is very upbeat and yet at the same time not without its share of suspense. The characters are interesting and likeable.