The Fall of the Towers: Out of the Dead City, the Towers of Toran, City of a Thousand Suns [Paperback]

Samuel R. Delany (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam Books (January 1986)
• ISBN-10: 0553256483
• ISBN-13: 978-0553256482
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,162,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Delany for beginners, March 5, 2004

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Jeremiah Boydstun (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Fall of the Towers: Out of the Dead City, the Towers of Toran, City of a Thousand Suns (Paperback)

Definitely one of Delany's more accessible novels, and a pure joy to read. Not nearly as polemical as some of his later work, although the novel does occupy an important moment in the history of the science fiction genre (although this novel toes the line of fantasy) as possibly a piece of anti-war fiction. It's interesting to note that a few years after this novel was published, Delany signed an anti-war petition that was published in Galaxy magazine. So, the novel can be seen as contributing to a movement within the science fiction community (followed by such writers as LeGuin, Haldeman, Spinrad, Ellison, and others) to oppose the war in Vietnam. Whether the novel is about the War or not only Mr. Delany can answer, but it is interesting when viewed in this context.
As far as the novel itself, it's amazing to think that Delany wrote this when he was just 21 years old! It's an extremely rich novel in terms of description (especially during the psychic battle scenes with the Lord of the Flames) and characterization. The plot is a little difficult to piece together at some points, but this detracts little from the overall reading experience which is, again, wonderful.
Finally, the novel also illustrates just how fast Delany's skill as a writer developed during his early twenties (which continues throughout the rest of his career)---but this is one of his first novels and it's amazing to witness the artistic progression of his subsequent novels and how fast Delany grows as a writer. A novel you'll want to come back to later.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonder of innocence cast in the stars!!, November 8, 2003

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Stuart M. Tanner "samiyam" (Silly-Con Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Fall of the Towers: Out of the Dead City, the Towers of Toran, City of a Thousand Suns (Paperback)

Those who don't understand Delany will say that this "triptych" of novels masquerading as one will confuse and annoy the reader, but Delany is a visionary who understands fully what Oscar Wilde said when he stated that "Anyone can write a trilogy who doesn't understand the nature of humanity". Delany is a master who has to be ingested like a good meal to be understood.

1 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DUMB dumberAND DULLER, July 16, 2003

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david (ALaMO usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fall of the Towers: Out of the Dead City, the Towers of Toran, City of a Thousand Suns (Paperback)

whats beneath the surface jeweled juvenile like most of his work cover blurb delivers more promise than reading descriptive of absoluetly nuthing.. the worse of the worse clap trap un ingenuine disgenius jenie genius.......or idiot saviant auto erratic pre seed pointing in delerium masking despair ....