false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167171283m/18948.jpg 18948 4 The third story in this volume takes place 16,000 years in the future. When you realize that the 33 stories are ordered chronologically, you begin to grasp the scale of Cordwainer Smith's creation. Regimes, technologies, planets, moralities, religions, histories all rise and fall through his millennia. <p> These are futuristic tales told as myth, as legend, as a history of a distant and decayed past. Written in an unadorned voice reminiscent of James Tiptree Jr., Smith's visions are dark and pessimistic, clearly a contrast from the mood of SF in his time; in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s it was still thought that science would cure the ills of humanity. In Smith's tales, space travel takes a horrendous toll on those who pilot the ships through the void. After reaching perfection, the lack of strife stifles humanity to a point of decay and stagnation; the Instrumentality of Mankind arises in order to stir things up. Many stories describe moral dilemmas involving the humanity of the Underpeople, beings evolved from animals into humanlike forms. <p> Stories not to be missed in this collection include "Scanners Live in Vain," "The Dead Lady of Clown Town," "Under Old Earth," "The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal," "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons," and the truly disturbing "A Planet Called Shayol." Serious SF fans should not pass up the chance to experience Cordwainer Smith's complex, distinctive vision of the far future. <I>--Bonnie Bouman</I> 20288 book 1988 The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith total:133|5:83|4:32|3:14|2:3|1:1| 133 592 225 19 5 2 false false Fri Nov 23 16:24:31 -0800 2007 Fri Nov 23 16:35:00 -0800 2007 more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Tue May 22 10:48:25 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 10:53:32 -0700 2007 Foundation books, but I honestly believe th...more...]]> 5 2 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Apr 30 21:41:31 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 30 21:56:52 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 09:26:51 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 09:26:57 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Apr 12 03:15:55 -0700 2008 Sat Apr 12 03:17:22 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 1 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 09:24:45 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 09:24:53 -0700 2007
]]> 5 0 false false Fri Nov 21 13:25:54 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 01 21:01:03 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1987 Wed Jul 25 09:00:18 -0700 2007 Wed Jul 25 09:01:54 -0700 2007 5 1 false false Tue Oct 14 13:28:10 -0700 2008 Thu Jan 24 09:09:44 -0800 2008 Tue Oct 14 13:28:10 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Fri Mar 21 08:22:20 -0700 2008 Fri Mar 21 08:36:08 -0700 2008
These stories were written in the late 50s, early 60s, and are so intelligent and forward thinking, I'm still stunned. I don't know if there's a real connection, but it would seem he had a trem...more...]]> 4 0 true false Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Sun May 06 09:12:00 -0700 2007 Thu Dec 04 13:50:10 -0800 2008
The stories individually are often gorgeous, well-shaped...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Dec 02 23:54:04 -0800 2008 Sun Dec 28 20:39:52 -0800 2008
I find each of his tales to be individually gripping and aston...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2006 Sat Jul 11 20:16:28 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 11 20:17:40 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Wed Jun 11 09:15:51 -0700 2008 Wed Jun 11 09:16:00 -0700 2008 more...]]> 0 0 false false Tue Jun 17 21:54:50 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 01 20:33:16 -0700 2008
I'd be embarrassed, slightly, if I weren't completely and suddenly kind of obsessed.]]> 0 0 false false Fri Oct 24 00:26:39 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 24 00:28:24 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Wed Jan 09 20:25:58 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 09 20:58:11 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Fri Aug 22 03:08:28 -0700 2008 Fri Aug 22 03:08:28 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Sun Aug 24 14:28:56 -0700 2008 Sun Aug 24 14:30:32 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Thu Nov 19 01:27:19 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 19 01:27:19 -0800 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=18948