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Regan #1
Regan's Planet
In 1492, Columbus discovered America and in 1992 Claude Regan had to make it happen again!
The U.S. needed a shot in the arm as the 20th Century went into its last decade--and a World's Fair celebrating 500 years of American civilization might turn the trick.
The President put the whole job in the lap of the trickiest, most ruthless promoter in the country--Claude Regan. And the first thing Regan realized was that Earth wasn't big enough to hold the kind of Fair he wants. . .
. . . so he built a new world.
The U.S. needed a shot in the arm as the 20th Century went into its last decade--and a World's Fair celebrating 500 years of American civilization might turn the trick.
The President put the whole job in the lap of the trickiest, most ruthless promoter in the country--Claude Regan. And the first thing Regan realized was that Earth wasn't big enough to hold the kind of Fair he wants. . .
. . . so he built a new world.
- GenresScience Fiction
141 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
About the author
Robert Silverberg
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Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 19, 2025
This is a fun novel from 1964, the year of the New York's World Fair, set in the future world of 1992, with another World's Fair being held to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus discovering America. Obviously, times have changed drastically as to the perception of what and how things should be celebrated, but Silverberg does make some sly comments about the accuracy of the word "discovery," and draws some parallels between the exploitation of Indigenous Peoples and the Martians who are to be "exhibited" at the Fair. Did I mention there are Martians? Or that the fair isn't held on Earth? Or that it has a nifty Ed Emshwiller cover? Or that the title was a frequent punch line of sf-centric jokes when the 40th president was in office? Silverberg isn't really known for his humorous work, but this one is a lot of fun. (Note: He wrote a sequel a few years later called World' Fair 1992, and for some reason they're frequently confused as being the same book. Totally different thing.)
September 25, 2019
This written in the 1960's as a publisher attempted to cash in in the 1964 worlds fair. This Edition has an interesting introduction by the author which describes the historical inaccuracies and how fudged his crystal ball was.
In any event Regan's Planet is the story of a US in decline. The former third world nations, such as Brazil, NIgeria and others in the former Third world are emerging as industrial giants. The President cons Claude Regan, Factor of Global Factors, (a huge conglomerate which emerged from the depression of 76 as a survivor of the economic collapse that occurred then) to run the World's Fair in 1992 after the committee resigns in a huff. Regan is modeled after the Scion of the public Parks and "urban renewal" in the 1930's through the 1960's Robert Moses. Moses' power struggles shaped New York City and the projects he commissioned which included bridges, parks, two Worlds Fair's 1939 and 1964 and so on and so forth. Regan is a ruthless businessman with a troubled life and having just recently seized control of this global company in a proxy battle from his uncle has to contend with this project foisted upon him by a President eager to reassert US dominance in a world where it has already faded away. Regan decides to junk the original site plans and build a huge satellite to hold the fair. His battle with his creditors and struggles to finance the fair from a world reluctant to fund the "whiteman's party" are a part of the struggle to bring the fair to fruition.
The only shortcomings to the contemporary reader is that we already know Mars, and Mars does figure prominently because Mares holds a secret which will make the Fair a success. IN the 1960's we could still read books about life on Mars and that will seem quaint by the standards of today. But the prospect of a fading US is remarkably prescient given our contemporary politics and although Silverberg does get his history wrong, thanks to his faded crystal ball, he does write an interesting tale of corporate intrigue, financial strongarm dealing and an international struggle that Regan has to make in order to bring the fair about. It makes for a fascinating read if one overlooks the quaint nostalgic view of Martians and the part they play.
Silverberg would write a sequel in the tradition of the Heinlein juveniles called World's fair 1992, which recycles Regan as a minor character running the fair, but detailing the journey of a different character and a different point of view. The two books are often confused, but considered together make an excellent read.
In any event Regan's Planet is the story of a US in decline. The former third world nations, such as Brazil, NIgeria and others in the former Third world are emerging as industrial giants. The President cons Claude Regan, Factor of Global Factors, (a huge conglomerate which emerged from the depression of 76 as a survivor of the economic collapse that occurred then) to run the World's Fair in 1992 after the committee resigns in a huff. Regan is modeled after the Scion of the public Parks and "urban renewal" in the 1930's through the 1960's Robert Moses. Moses' power struggles shaped New York City and the projects he commissioned which included bridges, parks, two Worlds Fair's 1939 and 1964 and so on and so forth. Regan is a ruthless businessman with a troubled life and having just recently seized control of this global company in a proxy battle from his uncle has to contend with this project foisted upon him by a President eager to reassert US dominance in a world where it has already faded away. Regan decides to junk the original site plans and build a huge satellite to hold the fair. His battle with his creditors and struggles to finance the fair from a world reluctant to fund the "whiteman's party" are a part of the struggle to bring the fair to fruition.
The only shortcomings to the contemporary reader is that we already know Mars, and Mars does figure prominently because Mares holds a secret which will make the Fair a success. IN the 1960's we could still read books about life on Mars and that will seem quaint by the standards of today. But the prospect of a fading US is remarkably prescient given our contemporary politics and although Silverberg does get his history wrong, thanks to his faded crystal ball, he does write an interesting tale of corporate intrigue, financial strongarm dealing and an international struggle that Regan has to make in order to bring the fair about. It makes for a fascinating read if one overlooks the quaint nostalgic view of Martians and the part they play.
Silverberg would write a sequel in the tradition of the Heinlein juveniles called World's fair 1992, which recycles Regan as a minor character running the fair, but detailing the journey of a different character and a different point of view. The two books are often confused, but considered together make an excellent read.
January 28, 2024
It's the far future, 1992, and the 500th anniversary of Columbus discovering America means a suitably large celebration. The only obvious answer is to hold this in space!
But this novel isn't a hard sci-fi "how to build a space station" style tale. What the kids want is the economics! Yes, prepare for 130 pages of share issues, boardroom battles and funding negotiations, it reads sort of like a business case.
I actually liked it though as Silverberg has been pretty prescient, the politics are fairly on the money. Large swathes of the world don't think Columbus is worth celebrating, plus many countries (eg Iceland and China) provide the evidence of how they actually got there first.
But this novel isn't a hard sci-fi "how to build a space station" style tale. What the kids want is the economics! Yes, prepare for 130 pages of share issues, boardroom battles and funding negotiations, it reads sort of like a business case.
I actually liked it though as Silverberg has been pretty prescient, the politics are fairly on the money. Large swathes of the world don't think Columbus is worth celebrating, plus many countries (eg Iceland and China) provide the evidence of how they actually got there first.
October 11, 2023
"Let the world gasp!"
Claude Regan is one of the most powerful business moguls on the planet. When he is asked by the President of the United States to organize the 1992 World's Fair, he formulates an audacious plan. He will build a giant, shiny satellite on which to stage the fair; it will be large enough to be seen by the naked eye, a second moon glittering in the night sky…
This new satellite will commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World. It will spur tens of thousands of people to take short-term space flights. It will restore the planet's confidence in a flagging US government. It will earn millions and millions of dollars in profit… but first he has to find the funding to make it happen…
This slim 1965 novel is unique in many ways. It is clearly intended for a YA audience, yet the plot is atypical for this age group. Regan finagles complex financing deals and fights boardroom shenanigans for corporate control. He figures out the economics of sending civilians to space for 24-hour tourist experiences. He counteracts libelous articles from an indifferent press.
Silverberg slips some sly political commentary into the plot as well. Just as Columbus exploited the Native Americans, so Regan eventually justifies a plan to kidnap a few Martians and put them on display as an exhibit:
"Regan had read the accounts of American Indians taken to Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They had caused a sensation, these visitors from a new world. Unhappily, most of the Indians exhibited in the courts of Europe had swiftly perished, of smallpox, measles, venereal infection, alcoholism, or simple overexcitement. It would be decidedly troublesome if any of Regans' Martians passed away…"
These Old Martians appear to be the same cave-dwelling gnomes from his 1960 children's novel Lost Race of Mars except here they do not exhibit their telepathic abilities.
Credit the author for assuming his intended readership of 12-year old boys are intelligent enough to engage with a story beyond mere space battles and alien monsters.
In 1968, Silverberg wrote a sequel to this novel called World's Fair 1992 about a student who wins a trip to visit the orbiting fair that Regan built.
Claude Regan is one of the most powerful business moguls on the planet. When he is asked by the President of the United States to organize the 1992 World's Fair, he formulates an audacious plan. He will build a giant, shiny satellite on which to stage the fair; it will be large enough to be seen by the naked eye, a second moon glittering in the night sky…
This new satellite will commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World. It will spur tens of thousands of people to take short-term space flights. It will restore the planet's confidence in a flagging US government. It will earn millions and millions of dollars in profit… but first he has to find the funding to make it happen…
This slim 1965 novel is unique in many ways. It is clearly intended for a YA audience, yet the plot is atypical for this age group. Regan finagles complex financing deals and fights boardroom shenanigans for corporate control. He figures out the economics of sending civilians to space for 24-hour tourist experiences. He counteracts libelous articles from an indifferent press.
Silverberg slips some sly political commentary into the plot as well. Just as Columbus exploited the Native Americans, so Regan eventually justifies a plan to kidnap a few Martians and put them on display as an exhibit:
"Regan had read the accounts of American Indians taken to Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They had caused a sensation, these visitors from a new world. Unhappily, most of the Indians exhibited in the courts of Europe had swiftly perished, of smallpox, measles, venereal infection, alcoholism, or simple overexcitement. It would be decidedly troublesome if any of Regans' Martians passed away…"
These Old Martians appear to be the same cave-dwelling gnomes from his 1960 children's novel Lost Race of Mars except here they do not exhibit their telepathic abilities.
Credit the author for assuming his intended readership of 12-year old boys are intelligent enough to engage with a story beyond mere space battles and alien monsters.
In 1968, Silverberg wrote a sequel to this novel called World's Fair 1992 about a student who wins a trip to visit the orbiting fair that Regan built.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews