false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174076966m/358901.jpg 358901 3 Having more stories from A.E. van Vogt repackaged & reprinted can only be good news: along with Heinlein & Asimov, this prolific, wild-eyed author deserves much of the credit for pioneering sf's golden age back in the '40s & '50s. As a sort of crazy old uncle of modern sf, tho, he doesn't always get his due: his writing wasn't always spectacular, his plot & pacing fell somewhere between harum-scarum & willy-nilly, & his ideas were delivered in relentless salvos, each more outlandish than the last. But an embarrassment or not, the visionary van Vogt is indisputably part of the family, an entertaining & daring author whose influence can be seen in the work of countless other writers. This paperback binds together two of van Vogt's better stories, "The Weapon Makers of Isher" & "The Weapons Shops of Isher," published in sequel-prequel order back in 1946 & '51. These time-hopping, politically convoluted tales follow the struggle between the beautiful oppressive Empress Innelda & the superadvanced libertarian Weapon Shops ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free," reads the storefront sign). Much of the melodramatic plot revolves around the Shops' immortal, ultragenius founder Robert Hedrock, his conflict with the Empress, & their differing visions for the future of humanity, but don't fret too much over the details: van Vogt keeps your head comfortably aswim in a steady stream of whiz-bang gadgetry, plot twists & breakneck action.--Paul Hughes 349025 book 1994 The Empire of Isher: The Weapon Makers/The Weapon Shops of Isher total:26|5:8|4:8|3:10|2:0|1:0| 26 102 42 4 4 0 false false Mon Nov 16 20:19:43 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 16 20:21:11 -0800 2009
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