The Iron Dream
by Norman Spinrad
published
2000
(first published 1972)
by Oldcastle
edit
binding
Paperback, 256 pages
isbn
1902002164
(isbn13: 9781902002163)
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 67)
recommends it for:
People who like insane over-the-top dystopia satire, black humor, strange mirrors of the human soul
The Iron Dream is one of the true classics of science fiction. It is a core work in what I can only describe as a microgenre of sorts that appeared during the late 60's and early 70's -- Science Fiction as seriously black humor and revolutionary social commentary. The principle writers (that I can recall offhand -- I make no claim to this list being exhaustive) were Norman Spinrad and Harlan Ellison ( I Have No Mouth But I Must Scream, Dangerous Visions), but ...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in May, 2007
An amazing but not entirely entertaining book, Spinrad's Nabokovian turn sees him inhabiting an alternate history where Hitler emigrated to NY and became an sf illustrator and writer; but The Iron Dream isn't the story of Hitler's alternative life -- rather, it's the science-fantasy novel that he would have produced in that alternative life, his Hugo-winning Lord of the Swastika (1953), which tells the story of Feric Jaggar's pure-blood crusade against mutants and mind-controllers ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1997
The premise is interesting: after a brief stint in radical politics, Hitler moves to New York, disenfranchised with the German political system yet not with the radical ideas of racial purity. He becomes a hack illustrator, yet his biggest work is that of a science fiction book called "Lords of the Swastika".
Spinrad's writing is harsh, often hackish and unkempt - just as a German speaking SciFi illustrator would. His portrayal of a world 1000 years past the nuclear holocaust and pr...more
Spinrad's writing is harsh, often hackish and unkempt - just as a German speaking SciFi illustrator would. His portrayal of a world 1000 years past the nuclear holocaust and pr...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 1984
recommended to erik by:
no onerecommends it for: alternative history buffs, Hitler buffs
This book is terrible, its author an overcompensating neurasthenic dwelling on past injuries and indignities. Were it not for the generally low standards of science fiction publishing and science fiction readers, this book would not exist.
The author of the Iron Dream is Adolf Hitler.
The author of this Adolf Hitler is Norman Spinrad, a generally well-regarded sf author who, in this book, takes a clever excursion into the subgenre of alternative history.
The edition I read had introduc...more
The author of the Iron Dream is Adolf Hitler.
The author of this Adolf Hitler is Norman Spinrad, a generally well-regarded sf author who, in this book, takes a clever excursion into the subgenre of alternative history.
The edition I read had introduc...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1973
recommends it for:
Hard Core SF fans
Well, since there is no review of this book, I'd better add at least one since I still own an (ancient) copy of this book.
The Iron Dream is a SF novel "By Adolph Hitler". For Spinrad fans, that says it all. It is a transcendant satire of the theory of racial purity, featuring inferior races in a slobbering profusion and a blond haired, physically and mentally perfect leader who will stop at nothing to defend all that is right and pure.
It actually ends up being a rollicking go...more
The Iron Dream is a SF novel "By Adolph Hitler". For Spinrad fans, that says it all. It is a transcendant satire of the theory of racial purity, featuring inferior races in a slobbering profusion and a blond haired, physically and mentally perfect leader who will stop at nothing to defend all that is right and pure.
It actually ends up being a rollicking go...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
What if Hitler became a pulp science fiction writer instead the mass-murdering leader of the Third Reich? This is the book he would have written. Very twisted, and very funny.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This book sounds surprisingly similar to Bolano's "Nazi Literature in the Americas." It will be interesting to see how they differ.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Not really SF, more alternate universe Nazi thing. Well written, I think, but I didn't care for it much.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
An alternate history where Hitler immigrated to America and became a pulp fiction writer.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Dolph writes a good one. Ferric Jagger Saves the world. Doom impends in reality.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
