When the People Fell (Paperback)

~ Cordwainer Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A sweeping saga of the centuries to come, from the new dark age that followed a global war, to the new civilization that arose from the ashes to colonize the stars. At first, the colonists use ships with gigantic sails, cruising on the waves of starlight, their captains having to become something part human and part machine; then later moving by planoforming ships which travel faster than light, but must defend themselves against the malevolent, mind-devouring creatures lurking in the dark between the stars. Then came the reign of the all-powerful Lords of the Instrumentality, who ruled Earth and its colony worlds with ruthless benevolence, suffocating the human spirit for millennia—until the time of the Rediscovery of Man, when the strange, lost concept of freedom was reborn. . . . An extraordinary vision of a future unique in science fiction, praised by readers, critics, and major writers in the field.

?Read this. Cordwainer Smith is timeless.? —Terry Pratchett

?. . . a truly unforgettable writer...? —David Brin

?. . . a sophisticated, often poetic writer . . . these stories rank among the finest of all time. . . .?—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Cordwainer Smith was the pseudonym under which Dr. Paul Linebarger wrote science fiction. His first story, ?Scanners Live in Vain,? appeared in 1950 and rocked the science fiction world as few first stories have. He was born in Milwaukee, and grew up in Japan, China (where he became the godson of Sun Yat-Sen, then president of China), France and Germany. He was a Professor of Asiatic Studies at Johns Hopkins University, was on the U.S. Operations, Planning and Intelligence Board during World War II, and became a Colonel in Army Intelligence. After the war, he was advisor to the British forces in Malaya and to the U.S. Eighth Army in Korea, and wrote the book Psychological Warfare, regarded for decades after as the most authoritative text in the field. He died in 1966.

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Baen (September 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416521461
• ISBN-13: 978-1416521464
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #330,717 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Collection of Classic Science Fiction, August 22, 2007

By	Phillip Nunemacher (Carson City, NV United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the second book in the Baen release of the collected works of Cordwainer Smith, pen name of Paul Linebarger. This volume contains the stories that deal with the Instrumentality of Mankind. A fascinating prolog by Frederik Pohl provides some background into the life of the author and the basis for the stories.

Some of my favorite --but less well known-- works are included, including "No, No, Not Rogov!" and the revised version of "War No. 81-Q."

In addition to the Instrumentality stories, the last six chapters include miscellaneous stories that don't fit into the universe created for the main. Included in this area is the original version of "War No. 81-Q" and the truly amusing "Western Science Is So Wonderful."

I can heartily recommend this collection as a necessary addition to the previous release We the Underpeople.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweeping epic saga, December 2, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Set centuries in the future, Cordwainer Smith's WHEN THE PEOPLE FELL tells of a new dark age on Earth, following global war, and then a civilization of colonists who arise to journey to the stars. These colonists use ships with big sails, cruising on waves of starlight and journeying faster than light - and fight against mind-eating creatures who lurk in space. A sweeping epic saga of this fantastic universe makes for a riveting drama perfect for science fiction fans of futuristic societies.