A. E. VAN VOGT —SLAN —hard cover book — Doubleday (1968)

Description: A. E. VAN VOGTSLANDoubleday (1968)SFBC 2145 CONDITION: Book is VERY GOOD, back of jacket is torn at top, front flap is clipped, old price mark on front flyleaf. In the 1940s, the Golden Age of science fiction flowered in the magazine Astounding. Editor John W. Campbell, Jr., discovered and promoted great new writers such as A.E. van Vogt, whose novel Slan was one of the works of the era.Slan is the story of Jommy Cross, the orphan mutant outcast from a future society prejudiced against mutants, or slans. Throughout the forties and into the fifties, Slan was considered the single most important SF novel, the one great book that everyone had to read. Today it remains a monument to pulp SF adventure, filled with constant action and a cornucopia of ideas. Comomentaries on line: I'm not going to judge this book by today's standards of SF, although it is superior in pacing and plot, if not characterization. It was also a phenomenon for about 15 years after it came out, being considered the best of the best. Popularity doesn't always mean quality, but this does have a lot of quality. Slan actually deals with a rather complicated theme, but in an almost simplistic fashion, the quick pace of the novel is testament to this. Latter authors, like Dick, instilled a much greater emotional impact into the same kind of thing. This, however, is fun. Anachronisms? Of course! I'd expect no less of a Science Fiction novel published in the 1940s. There is a feverish quality to much of the Van Vogt stuff I've read, and perhaps that's why he's not everybody's cup of tea. Me, I'd recommend this any day of the week. Some of it appears silly now, but Slan has certainly made its mark! What I enjoyed most in Slan is that, while there is a clear-cut protagonist, the sides of "right" and "wrong" are murky and indistinguishable right up to the very end - a far cry from the pulp adventures of the Lensmen or John Carter. My one complaint is that the hero, Jommy Cross, lacks anything like an equal or counterweight to play against. Still, it's a quick, enjoyable, Slam! Bang! and yet surprisingly thoughtful read. This is one of the earlier science fiction novels that was written and it shows. That being said, it has a very strong message and I believe it to be an important science fiction book. I am really glad that I read it and I will look into this author's other works. ______________________ {I'll always combine shipping costs and refund any excess shipping charges for multiple-copy book orders.}For all "buy it now" items, please use ADD TO CART if you plan to order more than one item at the same time.______________ WOW! I wrote a book!!! — Come on! Take a look!! ———Just go here:http://www.ebay.com/itm/CTHULHU'S-COUSINS-and-Other-Weirdnesses-W-Paul-Ganley-Wildside-Press-2016-/255154711891?hash=item3ace43fc32 ___________________________________________________________Want to look at my other fantasy & mystery offerings (including Brian Lumley first editions)? CLICK HERE(and if you like what you see there, why not bookmark it for future visits!)

Price: 8 USD

Location: Buffalo, New York

End Time: 2024-02-24T18:26:27.000Z

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