Philip Jose Farmer's work has never failed to delight me, and this book is no exception. Once again, Farmer puts his own unique spin on a classic literary character, this time featuring Ishmael from Herman Melville's MOBY-DICK (which honesty compels me to admit I have not read yet, though I certainly plan to) in Earth's remote future. Although this novel does not contain quite as much world building detail as many of Farmer's novels, he more than makes up for this in his excellent characterization of Ishmael and in many exciting action scenes.
Some reviewers, as noted by Farmer's great-nephew Danny Adams in his excellent afterword, have described this as a "lightweight" novel by Farmer's standards. Perhaps. But to this particular Farmerphile, even lightweight work by Peoria's finest author is better than a lot of books being produced by authors today, in the science fiction genre or otherwise. While ISHMAEL is perhaps more straightforward than most of his works despite its unique premise (something one can always find in books by Farmer, who after all wrote biographies of Tarzan and Doc Savage that treated them as real people whose lives were fictionalized by Burroughs and Dent respectively, and tied them genealogically to dozens of other pulp and adventure heroes and villains,) and does not shatter any taboos as do many, the book does not suffer for it, and you could certainly never confuse Farmer's writing for anyone else's.
I am thrilled that Titan Books is reprinting so much of Farmer's output, as one can no doubt deduce from my reviews of all their previous releases of same. Farmer was a groundbreaking author whose work needs to be introduced to a new generation of fans, and I applaud Titan for taking up that gauntlet.
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The Wind Whales of Ishmael (Grandmaster) Paperback – March 12, 2013
by
Philip Jose Farmer
(Author)
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Philip Jose Farmer
(Author)
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Print length208 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherTitan Books
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Publication dateMarch 12, 2013
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Dimensions5.11 x 0.53 x 8.01 inches
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ISBN-101781162972
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ISBN-13978-1781162972
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About the Author
Philip José Farmer was a multiple award-winning science fiction writer of 75 novels. He is best known for his Wold Newton and Riverworld series. In 2001 he was awarded the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Grand Master Prize and a World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award. He passed away in 2009.
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Product details
- Publisher : Titan Books; Revised ed. edition (March 12, 2013)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1781162972
- ISBN-13 : 978-1781162972
- Item Weight : 6.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.11 x 0.53 x 8.01 inches
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Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2013
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Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2013
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Philip Jose Farmer, stylistically, is the finest writer of the English language of the 20th Century. Period. He can write an English sentence better than any other writer. That he chose to write science fiction is a bonus for science fiction fans. This book, though pure fantasy, will grab you, force you into its world, and, by the time you are finished, will have you believing that it is possible and that you were just there.
If you liked this book, you might be interested in The Stone God Awakens and its amazing view of an Earth without humans, save one, or his Lava Lamp Worlds series with its lead character, Kick-a-ha. Of course, he is the imaginer of the Riverworld Series and many, many other wonderful stories.
But read this first. If you loved Melville, you will really love Farmer.
If you liked this book, you might be interested in The Stone God Awakens and its amazing view of an Earth without humans, save one, or his Lava Lamp Worlds series with its lead character, Kick-a-ha. Of course, he is the imaginer of the Riverworld Series and many, many other wonderful stories.
But read this first. If you loved Melville, you will really love Farmer.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2012
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Wind Whales of Ishmael isn't Farmer's best work by far, it's a light read, fun and some might consider it silly, given it's a supposedly a sequel to Moby Dick, one of the greatest literary works in modern times.
Anyone not familiar with Farmer's work may not see the charm of it. But if you are already a fan of Mr. Farmer's works involving his homages to Tarzan, Doc Savage, Phileas Fogg, and other author's characters, in books such as "A Feast Unknown" or "The Other Log of Phileas Fogg, Hadon of Ancient Opar, Lord Tyger" if you liked these by all means you must read this book! As a fan of these indulgences it will be great fun. You will enjoy it immensely. Again if you've read and enjoyed his other similar works will you will be able to see past the flaws, and maybe glimpse a little into Farmer's mind. Anyone looking for some serious sequel to or even the author's commentary on Moby Dick will likely be disappointed.
Anyone not familiar with Farmer's work may not see the charm of it. But if you are already a fan of Mr. Farmer's works involving his homages to Tarzan, Doc Savage, Phileas Fogg, and other author's characters, in books such as "A Feast Unknown" or "The Other Log of Phileas Fogg, Hadon of Ancient Opar, Lord Tyger" if you liked these by all means you must read this book! As a fan of these indulgences it will be great fun. You will enjoy it immensely. Again if you've read and enjoyed his other similar works will you will be able to see past the flaws, and maybe glimpse a little into Farmer's mind. Anyone looking for some serious sequel to or even the author's commentary on Moby Dick will likely be disappointed.
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2008
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i sometimes tend to read books with concurring themes..such as ahab's wife, moby dick and this book which a very handsome bartender named william let me borrow when i was finishing moby dick.
i think it's great to jump from contemporary fiction to classic fiction to little known (to me) sci-fi. i really got into this book and enjoyed the lush visual imagery and the sailor's new adventure in a new, unique world.
i think it's great to jump from contemporary fiction to classic fiction to little known (to me) sci-fi. i really got into this book and enjoyed the lush visual imagery and the sailor's new adventure in a new, unique world.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2017
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This is the
The Wind Whales of Ishmael (Grand Master)
I have read in Farmer's Wold Newton Universe series and I must say I through enjoyed it.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2013
Even if you've never read it, almost every reader know the story of Moby Dick. Opening with "Call me Ishmael[,]" Hermann Melville's novel is the tale of the white whale and obsessed Captain Ahab's quest to kill it, a hunt that does not end well for anyone. Only Ishmael, the narrator, survives to put the story down, drifting on the coffin of his bunkmate, Queequeg.
And that's where Philip José Farmer begins The Wind Whales of Ishmael. As he floats adrift, Ishmael finds himself falling out of our time and into the future, the far future, landing adrift in a future Earth dramatically different from our own. The oceans have nearly evaporated, life has evolved to the air, and man survives in air balloons hunting the leviathans of the air.
The Wind Whales of Ishmael is an intregeuing and fun story, if a bit dated. I recently read Edgar Rice Burrough's A Princess of Mars, and I couldn't help but see echoes of John Carter in the Farmer's Ishmael. He arrives in a strange and foreign world, is saved, and saves, a beautiful princess, and soon rises to prominence using his specialized knowledge and skills. The tale is short and exciting, the plot creative and the setting strange and exotic. Ishmael is an every man, a hero that survives and thrive a hundred thousand years in the future.
First published in 1971, Titan Books has put out a new edition of The Wind Whales of Ishmael with a foreword by Michael Croteau and an afterword by Danny Adams.
And that's where Philip José Farmer begins The Wind Whales of Ishmael. As he floats adrift, Ishmael finds himself falling out of our time and into the future, the far future, landing adrift in a future Earth dramatically different from our own. The oceans have nearly evaporated, life has evolved to the air, and man survives in air balloons hunting the leviathans of the air.
The Wind Whales of Ishmael is an intregeuing and fun story, if a bit dated. I recently read Edgar Rice Burrough's A Princess of Mars, and I couldn't help but see echoes of John Carter in the Farmer's Ishmael. He arrives in a strange and foreign world, is saved, and saves, a beautiful princess, and soon rises to prominence using his specialized knowledge and skills. The tale is short and exciting, the plot creative and the setting strange and exotic. Ishmael is an every man, a hero that survives and thrive a hundred thousand years in the future.
First published in 1971, Titan Books has put out a new edition of The Wind Whales of Ishmael with a foreword by Michael Croteau and an afterword by Danny Adams.
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Top reviews from other countries
Steve
3.0 out of 5 stars
don't think too much
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2014Verified Purchase
I ordered the book for the graphic cover as I had lost my origional from my collection.
I was disapointed as the book I received had a different cover.
if you want a review on the story without giving too much away the author must have been on something when writing this it certainly wouldn't win any prizes but I suppose at the time of publication it was way ahead of it's time.
just don't take itbtoo seriously (as with his other stories)
I was disapointed as the book I received had a different cover.
if you want a review on the story without giving too much away the author must have been on something when writing this it certainly wouldn't win any prizes but I suppose at the time of publication it was way ahead of it's time.
just don't take itbtoo seriously (as with his other stories)
christopher walton
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Whale of a time.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2016Verified Purchase
It's been a very long while since I've read a PJF novel. And why not start with this one, (only cost £3.80 and shrunk wrapped too) a real page turner reminded me of Brian Aldiss 'Hothouse' -earth in the very far future, could have been a tad longer.
Perceptive Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
Work of a Master
Reviewed in India on March 16, 2015Verified Purchase
This novel is in many ways a rather un-PJF work. It doesn't go massively Wold Newton. Neither does it show much of crossover, except using the last line of a classic, to begin itself. Most importantly, it's practically devoid of sex. Now, PJF was a great author, but he just HAD TO use sex, titilating or thought-provoking (entirely subjective, you might appreciate) in his narrative, as a MAJOR force/theme/trope/(bloody everything). However, this novel is more celebate than a monk. And staggering fact is that, even without going commando, PJF creates a visually stunning world full of unearthly beauty, primal as well as new terrors, mind-blowing imagination, and a story that's testament of the resilience of mankind, in the face of adversity. Recommended, heartily.
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