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Immortals of Science Fiction
David Wingrove
- GenresScience Fiction
113 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
15 people want to read
About the author
David Wingrove
50 books164 followersDavid Wingrove (born September 1954 in North Battersea, London) is a British science fiction writer. He is well-known as the author of the "Chung Kuo" novels (eight in total). He is also the co-author (with Rand and Robyn Miller) of the three "Myst" novels.
Wingrove worked in the banking industry for 7 years until he became fed up with it. He then attended the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he read English and American Literature.
He is married and, with his wife Susan, has four daughters Jessica, Amy, Georgia, and Francesca.
Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.
He started work on a new fictional project called A Perfect Art. Between 1984 and 1988, when it was first submitted, the title was changed twice, becoming first A Spring Day at the Edge of the World and then finally Chung Kuo, under which title it was sold to 18 publishers throughout the world.
A prequel to the Chung Kuo series, called When China Comes, was released in May 2009 by Quercus Publishing, which also re-released the entire series: "The series has been recast in nineteen volumes, including a new prequel and a new final volume. After a series launch in May 2009, Quercus will embark on an ambitious publishing programme that will see all nineteen volumes available by the end of 2012."
He has plans for a further a novels, a a first person character novel called Dawn in Stone City and three very different novels: The Beast with Two Backs, Heaven's Bright Sun, and Roads to Moscow.
Wingrove worked in the banking industry for 7 years until he became fed up with it. He then attended the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he read English and American Literature.
He is married and, with his wife Susan, has four daughters Jessica, Amy, Georgia, and Francesca.
Between 1972 and 1982 he wrote over 300 unpublished short stories and 15 novels.
He started work on a new fictional project called A Perfect Art. Between 1984 and 1988, when it was first submitted, the title was changed twice, becoming first A Spring Day at the Edge of the World and then finally Chung Kuo, under which title it was sold to 18 publishers throughout the world.
A prequel to the Chung Kuo series, called When China Comes, was released in May 2009 by Quercus Publishing, which also re-released the entire series: "The series has been recast in nineteen volumes, including a new prequel and a new final volume. After a series launch in May 2009, Quercus will embark on an ambitious publishing programme that will see all nineteen volumes available by the end of 2012."
He has plans for a further a novels, a a first person character novel called Dawn in Stone City and three very different novels: The Beast with Two Backs, Heaven's Bright Sun, and Roads to Moscow.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 15, 2024
There were a number of these - themed books - where the author tries to create a thin plot that justifies the visitation of several of the most famous - in this case science fictional characters - and form them in to a narrative of such (there was another were they visited locations for example). Its a great way of collecting a number of pieces of art together of seemingly unconnected artists and authors. So for me its a great tour de force of books I read in my early reading years but I will admit they are not all to my liking but you cannot have it all your own way I guess.
This is another one of those large format artwork books that take a particular artists works and then add a vague storyline to explain why you can be holding conversations with some of the most famous and influential fictional characters in science fiction - from Susan Calvin to the Illustrated man. The storyline is really only secondary to the artwork and the artists interpretations of the various scenes they have chosen as inspiration for their work. That said I am always interested in seeing the way other people imagine a character and the world they live in.
This is another one of those large format artwork books that take a particular artists works and then add a vague storyline to explain why you can be holding conversations with some of the most famous and influential fictional characters in science fiction - from Susan Calvin to the Illustrated man. The storyline is really only secondary to the artwork and the artists interpretations of the various scenes they have chosen as inspiration for their work. That said I am always interested in seeing the way other people imagine a character and the world they live in.
April 19, 2017
This fits in with the amazing Planet Story, Mechanismo and Alien Landscapes which Pierrot had previously published in the late 1970s.
Sadly it isn't up to the same standard. The writing and loose story (hopping through time and dimensions to visit various characters from different SF novels) is engaging enough, but the much of the artwork is distinctly sub par when it should be the standout feature of the book.
Pick up any of the others if you find them secondhand - Jim Burns' early work in them is outstanding - but only bother with this if you are a real completist.
Sadly it isn't up to the same standard. The writing and loose story (hopping through time and dimensions to visit various characters from different SF novels) is engaging enough, but the much of the artwork is distinctly sub par when it should be the standout feature of the book.
Pick up any of the others if you find them secondhand - Jim Burns' early work in them is outstanding - but only bother with this if you are a real completist.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews