The comet story was the only one that wasn’t basically a safari story and definitely the best one. Probably the Kuttner influence. The moonshine helps with the comprehension of these stories 😆
Glad to hear that you have come out the other side of your reading slump! 🤗 The first time I can recall reading Silverberg was over 20 years ago and it was _Edge of Light,_ a huge UK paperback omnibus of five of his novels from the late '60s and '70s. And, yeah, that blew me away. 🤯 In fact, I clearly recall thinking at the time, "I could happily read another five of this guy's novels right now!" Last year I not only acquired individual vintage paperback editions of those five novels but also ever single one he published from the mid-'60s to the mid-'70s. Some two dozen. I have since read three of them and have not been disappointed. I love SF novels from those two decades: writers could knock your socks off in 250 pages or less. Compare that to now where everything is not only 500 pages or more but is part of an interminable series! 🙄
I'm really loving Silverberg, and looking forward to years of reading his stuff! You put it well! Those were the days of really great stories and ideas delivered in just the right length.
You've definitely hit your Silverberg moment and my advice is 'Just keep on reading him'. 'Downward...' is one of his big four and it seems to blow everyone away -the other three for me are 'Dying Inside', 'The Book of Skulls' and 'A Time of Changes'. 'Tower of Glass' and 'Man in the Maze' are also key books for me. All have been reviewed on my channel and my respect for him has grown enormously since I first read his work in the early 80s. Between 66 and 76 he could do no wrong and there is good stuff before that too. 'Hawksbill' is equally effective in its original short story form, one of the best SF penal colony tales. I've always felt it would make an amazing film- the harsh grey barrenness of that prehistoric era, all grey and featureless, in the hands of a good scriptwriter, director and actors it would be a smash. Looking forward to collabing with you and Richard and Ira late in December...
I have seen the light, and finally been converted to a Silverberg fan! Now with a little more context i can re watch your Silverberg videos. The PKD video will be a lot of fun!
Coelacanths! It's pronounced like see luh canth. Think of the oe as in Phoebe or Phoebus. I believe it's a prehistoric fossil fish or something like that. Silverberg 45:30 Yes! And that's what makes him amazing. I found The Saliva Tree to be very similar to H.P. Lovecraft's The Colour Out Of Space, almost like a remake.. Nice batch of books. The Beyond Singularity themed-collection sounds worth looking out for. You can have the bleak post-apo books set in Britain. Try Drought by J.G.Ballard or Inferno by dad and son Hoyle. I think I'll go myselffor a utopia that my bookstore SF specialist was just raving about. The Ministry Of The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. Cheers!
So glad for the review; Planetary Hunter sounds like I can pass after all. 😅 That one story 'touched by Kutner' sounded interesting. Sorry about the 'landmines' in this month's reading too. Nuff said.
I picked up Yarbro's False Dawn in well-read condition this year after seeing Stephen E. Andrew's video - and I read it in two sittings. Soon after I bought the hardback, knowing it would be a keeper. A moving, emotionally nuanced counterpart to Earth Abides and The Road.
Thanks for the recommendations! The comet story sounds cool! And the moonshine made me laugh.
The comet story was the only one that wasn’t basically a safari story and definitely the best one. Probably the Kuttner influence. The moonshine helps with the comprehension of these stories 😆
Glad to hear that you have come out the other side of your reading slump! 🤗 The first time I can recall reading Silverberg was over 20 years ago and it was _Edge of Light,_ a huge UK paperback omnibus of five of his novels from the late '60s and '70s. And, yeah, that blew me away. 🤯 In fact, I clearly recall thinking at the time, "I could happily read another five of this guy's novels right now!" Last year I not only acquired individual vintage paperback editions of those five novels but also ever single one he published from the mid-'60s to the mid-'70s. Some two dozen. I have since read three of them and have not been disappointed. I love SF novels from those two decades: writers could knock your socks off in 250 pages or less. Compare that to now where everything is not only 500 pages or more but is part of an interminable series! 🙄
I'm really loving Silverberg, and looking forward to years of reading his stuff! You put it well! Those were the days of really great stories and ideas delivered in just the right length.
Thanks for another interesting Review episode, Matt. Pretty darn good for just "winging it"!. Cheers
@@rickkearn7100 Thanks Rick!
Great reviews on the Silverberg's. Hope you can make it on the Werewolf Principle video with Shawn D. Standfast, those are a lot of fun.
You've definitely hit your Silverberg moment and my advice is 'Just keep on reading him'. 'Downward...' is one of his big four and it seems to blow everyone away -the other three for me are 'Dying Inside', 'The Book of Skulls' and 'A Time of Changes'. 'Tower of Glass' and 'Man in the Maze' are also key books for me. All have been reviewed on my channel and my respect for him has grown enormously since I first read his work in the early 80s. Between 66 and 76 he could do no wrong and there is good stuff before that too. 'Hawksbill' is equally effective in its original short story form, one of the best SF penal colony tales. I've always felt it would make an amazing film- the harsh grey barrenness of that prehistoric era, all grey and featureless, in the hands of a good scriptwriter, director and actors it would be a smash. Looking forward to collabing with you and Richard and Ira late in December...
I have seen the light, and finally been converted to a Silverberg fan! Now with a little more context i can re watch your Silverberg videos. The PKD video will be a lot of fun!
Downward to the Earth is one of my favourite books ever and definitely the best out of the 5 Silverberg books that I've read. Great video as always
I'm really looking forward to reading Silverberg for years to come! Thanks, Jack.
Love all the Silverberg reviews… Born with the Dead is on my near-term TBR as well.
I'm absolutely loving Silverberg. Pleased I have so much of his to discover over the coming years!
Coelacanths! It's pronounced like see luh canth. Think of the oe as in Phoebe or Phoebus. I believe it's a prehistoric fossil fish or something like that.
Silverberg 45:30 Yes! And that's what makes him amazing.
I found The Saliva Tree to be very similar to H.P. Lovecraft's The Colour Out Of Space, almost like a remake..
Nice batch of books. The Beyond Singularity themed-collection sounds worth looking out for.
You can have the bleak post-apo books set in Britain. Try Drought by J.G.Ballard or Inferno by dad and son Hoyle.
I think I'll go myselffor a utopia that my bookstore SF specialist was just raving about. The Ministry Of The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. Cheers!
"Coelacanths were thought to have been extinct for 70 million years until one was found alive in 1938".
I haven't read any Robinson in quite awhile. Let me know what you think of that one!
So glad for the review; Planetary Hunter sounds like I can pass after all. 😅
That one story 'touched by Kutner' sounded interesting.
Sorry about the 'landmines' in this month's reading too.
Nuff said.
The Kuttner influenced one was fun! The others were just alright.
I really loved Born with the dead and the saliva tree. Hope you enjoy the silverberg!
Tower of Glass is amazing, one of Silverberg's best works imo. So much going on there!
He continues to impress me!
I picked up Yarbro's False Dawn in well-read condition this year after seeing Stephen E. Andrew's video - and I read it in two sittings. Soon after I bought the hardback, knowing it would be a keeper. A moving, emotionally nuanced counterpart to Earth Abides and The Road.
Well said! I loved Earth Abides. Still need to read The Road!