Jubilee [Paperback]

Jack Dann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2002

This collection showcases Dann's originality, range, and narrative power - as well as demonstrating why critics have compared his work to that of Jorge Luis Borges, Roald Dahl, J. G. Ballard, Philip K. Dick, and others. The book will include notes on the stories from the author.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The 17 stories in this volume indicate why Dann has been a conspicuous figure in literary sf for more than a generation. The title story is a dark fantasy that begins, deceptively enough, with a broken marriage. "Marilyn" does new things with a certain blonde icon and our notions of reality. "Tattoos" and "Camps" vary the theme of the Holocaust, while "Kaddish" shows Dann exploring his own serious Jewish identity. "Da Vinci Rising" takes the Renaissance inventor aloft in the air and served as the basis for Dann's novel The Memory Cathedral (1995). Meanwhile "The Diamond Pit" is, as much as it is anything, a homage to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Frankly, there is more concentrated, demanding literary excellence here than even the most dedicated Dann fan may choose to tackle at fewer than, say, half-a-dozen sittings. This is literary sf of the best sort. Lay in extra copies to accommodate readers taking it slowly and luxuriously. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“A reality magician...and just when you think he has inoculated you against surprise, he will surprise you again. He’s that good.” –Roger Zelazny

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Angus & Robertson (May 1, 2002)
• ISBN-10: 0732264855
• ISBN-13: 978-0732264857
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reminds the reader of the wonder of the short story, January 18, 2003

By 

J. A Magill (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jubilee (Hardcover)

Jack Dann's stories are sometimes scary, sometimes funny, but always provacative forcing the reader to think about what the author wants us to understand. In this way, Dann remains with this work among the great science fiction authors who for whatever vagaries of the market, were never able to "breakout" onto the larger milieu like Harlan Ellison or Neal Stephenson. That is the loss of readers everywhere.

Like a great craftsman, Dann understands that scifi's magic is to use a distant setting and wondrous event to explore very real challenges we all face in life. In one story of a judge haunted by a unicorn the author speaks to us emotionally about age and loss of identity. In another about a rabbi journeying to meet a race of alien Jews the author teaches about the strange symbiosis of Judaism, the larger culture, and anti-Semitism. Vivid characters bring each story to life but at the same time forces the thoughtful reader to become introspective, examining the world right here at home.

My greatest hope is that, with this fine collection, Dann will at long last receive the attention of the larger audience that he has for so long deserved. A wonderfully fun read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong speculative fiction anthology, January 18, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jubilee (Hardcover)

This seventeen-story anthology contains tales published over the last twenty-five years in a vast range of publications. The contributions are powerful entries that highlight how capable an author Jack Dann is in his ability to portray and describe the inhumanity of humanity. The tales never look out into the extended future, as they are either historical or present with even the near future feeling contemporary. They rarely leave earth, but even when Mr. Dann visits another orb, the characters are eerily earth-like. Besides the powerful tales that run much of the earthbound speculative fiction gamut, Mr. Dann includes a delightful introduction and afterward. Anthology fans will sing JUBILEE with this "best of" works from a strong science fiction author.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Australian SF Reader, July 31, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jubilee (Paperback)

Jubilee : Going Under - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Voices - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Fairy Tale - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Marilyn - Jack Dann

Jubilee : The Black Horn - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Bad Medicine - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Tattoos - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Camps - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Da Vinci Rising - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Kaddish - Jack Dann

Jubilee : The Extra - Jack Dann

Jubilee : A Quiet Revolution for Death - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Jumping the Road - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Blind Shemmy - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Tea - Jack Dann

Jubilee : Jubilee - Jack Dann

Downed pilots held in diamond mountain prison.

4 out of 5

The voyage of the Titanic, as adventure tourism and ending mechanism.

4 out of 5

Boys investigate deadspeak.

3 out of 5

Jewish schtickster marries sidhe.

4 out of 5

A story I didn't care for at all, just wanted it to finish. I suppose it would help if you did have some interest in Marilyn Monroe.

2 out of 5

Judged by unicorn.

3 out of 5

Jewish guy goes sweat lodge.

3.5 out of 5

Psychic tatooist's self-portraiture penance.

3.5 out of 5

A young man, sick in hospital dreams of war camp life.

3 out of 5

Leonardo Da Vinci works on flight and flying machines, with some assistance from Niccolo Machiavelli.

4 out of 5

A man's struggle with family brings on religion.

2 out of 5

Time voyeur.

2.5 out of 5

Even if you lose some family members in a cemetery, there are still some left.

2 out of 5

A human rabbi goes to the planet Ulim and learns why the local Jews cannot be seen by the majority of the planet.

4 out of 5

Casino gambling for organs, with players linked telepathically. Very hard-edged.

4.5 out of 5

Tinfoil window woman meets German soldier of that sort for tea for tea.

3 out of 5

Alien ocean dreaming overtakes humanity.

4 out of 5