Author Archives: originalliterature

(Pre-)Golden Age Science Fiction Free Online

Posted on May 21, 2013 by originalliterature

Instead of continuing to discuss the development of science fiction as a genre of literature, this post is going to talk about resources for finding Golden Age and pre-Golden Age science fiction, whether short stories, novellas or novels, freely available … Continue reading →

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Jules Verne and the birth of science fiction proper

Posted on May 19, 2013 by originalliterature

The first writer I would identify as writing what can be properly termed science fiction is the French author Jules Verne. Admittedly, a case could be made for Mary Shelley who penned the novel Frankenstein, but in my view that … Continue reading →

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Science fiction in its time and place

Posted on May 12, 2013 by originalliterature

Like any literary genre, science fiction is a product of its time and place. As author Frank Herbert (as reported in the book The Road to Dune) quipped, “[A]liens don’t buy books. Humans buy books.” Moreover those books are sold … Continue reading →

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The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

Posted on May 3, 2013 by originalliterature

Part 1: The Book Review Proper Book cover of the edition I read I’ve been away from blogging for a while and that will likely continue for a bit more for the most part. Other things for the time being … Continue reading →

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The Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke (the novel, not the short story)

Posted on September 16, 2011 by originalliterature

While I had initially intended this blog to be discussing primarily classics of the genre of literary science fiction, especially ones I have read previously, what I am finding is that I am mostly addressing books which I happen to … Continue reading →

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The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Posted on March 12, 2011 by originalliterature

I’ve been off-line for at least a few weeks and so have a few books I could review, though I need get back to my blog doing the Odyssey as well. The book I want to start with is hands-down … Continue reading →

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The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove

Posted on February 2, 2011 by originalliterature

I just finished reading the title novel, The Guns of the South by science fiction author Harry Turtledove. The novel offers a different and more modern take on the notion of an alternate history in which the Confederate States of … Continue reading →

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The other science fiction of Pierre Boulle

Posted on January 30, 2011 by originalliterature

Continuing perhaps the trend of discussing lesser known works of various science fiction authors, I am turning my attention to an omnibus volume (in French) of the four books (apart from Le planète des singes which in English is called … Continue reading →

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Mr. Adam by Pat Frank

Posted on January 30, 2011 by originalliterature

While Pat Frank is rightly well known for his classic novel Alas, Babylon, he is also the author of the humorous novel Mr. Adam, which was in fact his first. One should recall that at the time the latter book … Continue reading →

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The Jungle by David Drake

Posted on January 17, 2011 by originalliterature

The novella I actually bought the book I have just been reading for was the classic Clash by Night by Henry Kuttner. One would never know from the cover that this ground-breaking work was included in that book at all; … Continue reading →

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