The God Box [Paperback]

Barry Longyear (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2000

A less-than-honest merchant in the Iskandar market inherits a little box that will give him anything he needs, which is not always what he wants. It's a spiritual adventure through time and existence.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

When Korvas the merchant's "flying carpet" business comes to an abrupt standstill, an unexpected gift falls into his lap: a many-drawered box that has the power to provide for a person's needs--regardless of his wants. Pursued by the relentless Captain Shadows across a land filled with nomads, mystics, and magical creatures, Korvas follows his "god-box" through perils and dangers to fulfill a prophecy in which he only half believes. Longyear's compulsively readable fantasy-fable belongs in most fantasy collections.-- JC
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Longyear has captured a joy...of life and love--even though the odds and the gods are stacked against you." -- 2am Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (October 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595121152
• ISBN-13: 978-0595121151
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,091,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hugo & Nebula winning author of Enemy Mine (made into a major motion picture by Fox)

BARRY B. LONGYEAR is the first writer to win the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer all in the same year. In addition to his acclaimed Enemy Mine Series, his works include the classic Sea of Glass and Infinity Hold series, SF & fantasy novels, recovery and writing instruction works, and numerous short stories.


Nominations and Awards*:

1979 (Nomination) John W. Campbell Award for best new writer.
1979 John W. Campbell Award for best new writer.
1979 Hugo Award, best novella, "Enemy Mine."
1979 Nebula Award, best novella, "Enemy Mine."
1979 Locus Award, best novella, "Enemy Mine."

1979 (Nomination) Hugo Award, best novelette, "Homecoming."
1980 (Nomination), Hugo Award, best novelette, "Savage Planet."
1980 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novelette, "Savage Planet."
1980 (Nomination), AnLab Award, best novelette, "Savage Planet."
1981 (Nomination) Locus Award, Single Author Collection, Manifest Destiny.

1981 Distinguished Achievement Award, University of Maine at Farmington.

1982 (Nomination), AnLab Award, best short story, "Collector's Item."
1984 (Nomination) Prometheus Award, best novel, The Tomorrow Testament.

1990 (Finalist) Philip K. Dick Award, best novel, Infinity Hold.

1990 (Nomination) Prometheus Award, best novel, Infinity Hold.
1991 (Nomination) Prometheus Hall of Fame, Circus World.

1993 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novelette, "Chimaera."
1994 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novelette, "The Death Addict."

1999 (Nomination) Prometheus Hall of Fame, Circus World.

2002 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novella, "Silent Her."

2006 AnLab Award, best novella, "The Good Kill."
2007 AnLab Award, best novella, "Murder in Parliament Street."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real pleaser; should be reprinted!, February 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The God Box (Signet) (Paperback)

Barry Longyear can be serious or funny and in this wonderful fantasy book he is both. The trials and tribulations of the main character, Korvas, as he deals with every fantasy contrivance from magicians to godesses to monsters to armies had me laughing and crying. Through it all Korvas is master of the God Box, which gives him everything he needs, whether or not it is something he wants.I loved this book and I reread it every so often. Hidden in the narrative are endless truths about real life in this non-fantasy world. A similar book, although much darker and violent, might be Longyear's Infinity Hold. Otherwise, I have never read anything like it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, thoughtful fantasy, January 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The God Box (Signet) (Paperback)

One of my favorite fantasy books of all time. Good for a read two or three times a year. Really makes you think about how you approach your life. The main character is a devious but good-hearted merchant, swept into a progressively more dangerous exploits by an unassuming little box - the god box.

Charming, smart and convoluted. And out-of-print. I loaned my copy to someone who hasn't seen fit to return it. (and if I remember who, I'll pummel their pointy head - I want it BACK!)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fairy tale for grown ups, January 6, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The God Box (Signet) (Paperback)

A really nice, intricate tale that reminds its readers of the miracles that happen all around them but they never acknowledge. What you most need is not necessarily what you most want.