Series: Alternatives | Publication Date: March 1, 1984
Other stories in this anthology are “Old Man Henderson,” “The Hunter,” “Underground Movement,” “The Forest of Zil,” and “From the Government Printing Office.”
In most of the stories Neville writes of loneliness, isolation, alienation, intolerance of anything or anyone different, and of insanity created by the pressures of living. Along with madness of various kinds, his stories explore the essence of human nature and individuals interacting with one another as well as with society. As Malzberg notes, Neville, unlike many science fiction writers, was a serious author interested in “Big ideas.”
“‘Bettyann,’ ‘Overture,’ ‘The Price of Simeryl,’ ‘Ballenger’s People,’ ‘New Apples in the Garden,’ and ‘Cold War,’ at least, are masterpieces. They center this field. Given half a chance Neville would have made everyone know what a few of us already know: he was the best of us.”—Barry N. Malzberg from the Preface
About the Author
Barry N. Malzberg is a science fiction writer with more than 75 novels to his credit.
Martin H. Greenberg has been the editor or author of over 40books.
