Customer Reviews

Far from This Earth and Other Stories (Nesfa's Choice)

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I can't believe there aren't more reviews for this book on Amazon. If you are a fan of classic SF from the '40s, '50s, and '60s--in other words, in the era when SF wasn't all hung up on "character development" or on high literary concepts, but instead concentrated on telling fascinating, thought provoking stories filled with wonder, adventure and humor, this is the book for you. I happen to favor the short story idiom for SF--tasty little morsels which go down easily yet leave a lasting impression. I have been reading short form SF (and the longer works too) for about 40 years, and Oliver's short SF is among the very best I have ever read--by anyone, in any genre.

I can't thank NESFA enough for bringing Chad Oliver (and other great classic SF authors!!) back into print. NESFA's books are of the highest quality, hard bound, printed on acid free paper, good type size for easy reading, sturdy dust jackets with cover art by leading SF artists--books which will endure and be the pride of your collection. Check them out--if you like this style of SF, I am sure you will be very pleased.

Far From This Earth continues the omnibus with presentations of his North Wind, Rite of Passage, and Just Like a Man. Oliver focused on travel to other worlds and human struggles for survival: these collections offer a refreshing look at writing styles of the past and an interplanetary focus featuring human endeavor over politics, war, and cyberspace.

Never written a review like this one, but...

Imagine if you will, a collection comprised of stories ranging from mediocre to transcendent.

Some of the stories in this collection are mediocre attempts at humor and rate maybe one star unless you're a Boucher fan, in which case they may be right up your alley:

"Transformer": The revolt by the figures in an electric toy train display?

"Anachronism": A movie star vampire gets shut down by a starlet vamp?

"Pilgrimage": An old grump transports his town pioneer days parade to the old west frontier?

But... you will also find serious stories so good, so challenging, so reality altering, that they justify buying three of Oliver's NESFA collected works to read them.

"If Now You Grieve a Little" is perhaps the best SF story ever written. Is it fiction at all? or maybe a key to the true nature of reality, written by a scientist with no other way to tell it?

"North Wind" is one of the most mature stories I've ever read. Beautifully drawn study of a recurring theme in Oliver: the man doing what is right despite there being no easy answers and despite being despised by the world for doing what he does.

"Let Me Live In A House" is a story, yet again, of a man, sacrificing all he has for others in the full knowledge that they will never know what he has done.

If you're ready for them, Oliver's stories are waiting.

I collect classic SF and yet until recently I never heard of Oliver. WHY NOT?

These guys are every bit as good as the giants of SF.

Oliver writes like a cross between Chandler and Vance. He's truly a great writer.

His stories are clever, heartfelt, technical, plot and character driven and very satisfying. I'm in awe.

Both books of this series are now on my shelf alongside the other greats. Are they on yours?