Dimensions of Sheckley : The Selected Novels of Robert Sheckley [Hardcover]

Robert Sheckley (Editor), Sharon L. Sbarsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

A collection of five novels: Immortality, Inc.; Minotaur Maze, Journey Beyond Tomorrow, Mindswap, and Dimension of Miracles.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dimensions of Sheckley: The Selected Novels of Robert Sheckley, edited by Sharon L. Sbarsky, gathers five of the author's novels published over three decades in a tome certain to please devotees and whet the appetites of newcomers to his distinctive and endlessly inventive brand of sci-fi-cum-satire. Brains get swapped, spots in heaven must be purchased, cities can think and a "squat, ambulatory shrub" infects passersby with paralyzing metaphysical doubt in Sheckley's tales, all of which boast solid plots and knife-sharp humor. Introduction by Mike Resnick.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

A new volume in the NESFA's Choice Series.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 538 pages
• Publisher: Nesfa Pr; 1st edition (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886778299
• ISBN-13: 978-1886778290
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compilation of selected novels by a master science fiction, August 9, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dimensions of Sheckley : The Selected Novels of Robert Sheckley (Hardcover)

Dimensions Of Sheckley is a compilation of selected novels by master science fiction author Robert Sheckley, and include several of his works which had fallen out of print. All these terrific stories are collected under one cover and newly accessible for the discriminating science fiction connoisseur. The novel and novella titles comprising Dimensions Of Sheckley include "Immortality, Inc.", "Journey Beyond Tomorrow", "Mindswap", "Dimension of Miracles", and "Minotaur Maze". An informative introduction by Mike Resnick and an informed afterword by Tom Gerencer round out this mind-bending collection of future worlds ever-so-slightly askew from the evil realities of the present. A classic compilation by one of the most gifted science fiction authors of the 20th Century, Dimensions Of Sheckley is a "must-read" for every dedicated science fiction enthusiast!

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Guide to the Hitchhiker, February 22, 2003

By 

Gordon Asquith (NY, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dimensions of Sheckley : The Selected Novels of Robert Sheckley (Hardcover)

Apparently when he was asked how he compared himself to Robert Sheckley, whose work he had borrowed from extensively, Douglas Adams (Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy) had the grace to say 'he's better than me'. I'd be inclined to agree with that. These stories, which are all from the period when Sheckley was in the opinion of many the very best in the business, form a superb introduction to his work.
Satire, farce and old-fashioned black humor abound. Someone else who admired Sheckley and was strongly influenced by him was Philip K. Dick and you can see in these novels, which preceded Dick's most seminal work, many of Dick's origins. The only difference is that Sheckley is a whole lot funnier. When
informed by people who don't know science fiction that the genre lacks a sense of humor - this is what I recommend them to read. And it's a whole lot easier to do now that the books are back in print. May they stay in print forever. They are as fresh and as on the ball as they were when they were first written and an absolute fundamental must for anyone's basic library of sf classics.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Political Polemics Disguised as Science Fiction, December 31, 2002

By 

R. Platten "rsvpdock" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dimensions of Sheckley : The Selected Novels of Robert Sheckley (Hardcover)

Sheckley is an entertaining writer whose stories stretch the imagination while making some potent points about our political landscapes and social conventions. He really is cynical about it all, without a lot of redemption for his characters. Since the situations are so preposterous you sort of don't care about the characters, but laugh at the disasters that befall them. He really makes some strong points in this compilation of stories, but you have to think about how to apply the allegories. If you could read one or two of the stories in a reading club it would be interesting discussing them.