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The Quincunx of Time
First UK hardcover edition with unclipped dust jacket, in good condition. Jacket is scuffed and worn, and edges are creased and nicked. Page block head is tanned, and board corners and spine ends are bumped. Pages and text are clear and unmarked throughout. LW
112 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1973
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129 people want to read
About the author
James Blish
455 books329 followersJames Benjamin Blish was an American author of fantasy and science fiction. Blish also wrote literary criticism of science fiction using the pen-name William Atheling Jr.
In the late 1930's to the early 1940's, Blish was a member of the Futurians.
Blish trained as a biologist at Rutgers and Columbia University, and spent 1942–1944 as a medical technician in the U.S. Army. After the war he became the science editor for the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. His first published story appeared in 1940, and his writing career progressed until he gave up his job to become a professional writer.
He is credited with coining the term gas giant, in the story "Solar Plexus" as it appeared in the anthology Beyond Human Ken, edited by Judith Merril. (The story was originally published in 1941, but that version did not contain the term; Blish apparently added it in a rewrite done for the anthology, which was first published in 1952.)
Blish was married to the literary agent Virginia Kidd from 1947 to 1963.
From 1962 to 1968, he worked for the Tobacco Institute.
Between 1967 and his death from lung cancer in 1975, Blish became the first author to write short story collections based upon the classic TV series Star Trek. In total, Blish wrote 11 volumes of short stories adapted from episodes of the 1960s TV series, as well as an original novel, Spock Must Die! in 1970 — the first original novel for adult readers based upon the series (since then hundreds more have been published). He died midway through writing Star Trek 12; his wife, J.A. Lawrence, completed the book, and later completed the adaptations in the volume Mudd's Angels.
Blish lived in Milford, Pennsylvania at Arrowhead until the mid-1960s. In 1968, Blish emigrated to England, and lived in Oxford until his death in 1975. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford, near the grave of Kenneth Grahame.
His name in Greek is Τζέημς Μπλις"
In the late 1930's to the early 1940's, Blish was a member of the Futurians.
Blish trained as a biologist at Rutgers and Columbia University, and spent 1942–1944 as a medical technician in the U.S. Army. After the war he became the science editor for the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. His first published story appeared in 1940, and his writing career progressed until he gave up his job to become a professional writer.
He is credited with coining the term gas giant, in the story "Solar Plexus" as it appeared in the anthology Beyond Human Ken, edited by Judith Merril. (The story was originally published in 1941, but that version did not contain the term; Blish apparently added it in a rewrite done for the anthology, which was first published in 1952.)
Blish was married to the literary agent Virginia Kidd from 1947 to 1963.
From 1962 to 1968, he worked for the Tobacco Institute.
Between 1967 and his death from lung cancer in 1975, Blish became the first author to write short story collections based upon the classic TV series Star Trek. In total, Blish wrote 11 volumes of short stories adapted from episodes of the 1960s TV series, as well as an original novel, Spock Must Die! in 1970 — the first original novel for adult readers based upon the series (since then hundreds more have been published). He died midway through writing Star Trek 12; his wife, J.A. Lawrence, completed the book, and later completed the adaptations in the volume Mudd's Angels.
Blish lived in Milford, Pennsylvania at Arrowhead until the mid-1960s. In 1968, Blish emigrated to England, and lived in Oxford until his death in 1975. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford, near the grave of Kenneth Grahame.
His name in Greek is Τζέημς Μπλις"
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 17, 2015
Very enjoyable science fiction romp, tongue in cheek most of the way. Published in 1970, this slim novel has the definite feel of a golden age" short story, not surprising since it began as just that. Expansion to a novel (or probably more accurately, a novella) hasn't hurt it in the least.
September 27, 2010
Can't say I understood all the physics but really enjoyed the book. Now I remember why I have so many James Blish books in my bookcase. Great classic sci fi.
April 18, 2022
I bought this book used at a "Friends of the LSU Library" sale for a buck. It is a slender volume of only 112 pages, but even given its brevity it seemed overlong. The "action", such as it is, takes place mostly in a single office and involves a lot of tedious man-splaining about cause and effect, determinism, multiple dimensions, and free will. Yawn. Three out of five stars.
April 8, 2019
A genuinely intriguing concept that was ultimately smothered by the long winded writing of its time, suggesting places the writing could go, but never quite taking off. I tend to prefer my science fiction without pulp.
May 20, 2025
A thought-provoking tale that doesn't quite fit the novelette form.
In the preface, Blish mentions that The Quincunx of Time began life as a short story titled Beep. He was encouraged by his editor Larry Shaw to extend the plot to long prose form. As I understand it, this mostly involved surrounding the core concept with a lore-deepening framing device. While it did add value to the story, I feel that connection is loose.
Focusing on the plot itself, this is mostly concerned with explaining the concept of the Dirac Transmitter, a communications device used to pass on information across the gulf of space. However, when Captain Robin Weinbaum learns from journalist Dana Lje that a transmission has been intercepted by a rogue agent, the ensuing investigation leads to discovering an exciting new feature of the device that will improve government efficiency, provided that those in charge can maintain full control of it.
Essentially The Quincunx of Time leads on its sci-fi premise and theme of communication. The characters, while quippy lateral thinkers, are essentially mouthpieces for a greater debate. The twists create engagement but they also reinforce antiquated gender roles and, indeed, stereotypes. Overall it feels like Blish broadened the story with adornments that just about balance around each other without ever really joining up.
That being said, I really enjoyed the ideas that powered this story. When it comes to sci-fi, I can forgive one-dimensional characters and unabashed Socratic dialogue for a well-crafted paradigm shift. The Quincunx of Time certainly has its storytelling failings, but I nevertheless found it a pleasing short book.
I recommend it to like-minded readers and Blish completionists.
In the preface, Blish mentions that The Quincunx of Time began life as a short story titled Beep. He was encouraged by his editor Larry Shaw to extend the plot to long prose form. As I understand it, this mostly involved surrounding the core concept with a lore-deepening framing device. While it did add value to the story, I feel that connection is loose.
Focusing on the plot itself, this is mostly concerned with explaining the concept of the Dirac Transmitter, a communications device used to pass on information across the gulf of space. However, when Captain Robin Weinbaum learns from journalist Dana Lje that a transmission has been intercepted by a rogue agent, the ensuing investigation leads to discovering an exciting new feature of the device that will improve government efficiency, provided that those in charge can maintain full control of it.
Essentially The Quincunx of Time leads on its sci-fi premise and theme of communication. The characters, while quippy lateral thinkers, are essentially mouthpieces for a greater debate. The twists create engagement but they also reinforce antiquated gender roles and, indeed, stereotypes. Overall it feels like Blish broadened the story with adornments that just about balance around each other without ever really joining up.
That being said, I really enjoyed the ideas that powered this story. When it comes to sci-fi, I can forgive one-dimensional characters and unabashed Socratic dialogue for a well-crafted paradigm shift. The Quincunx of Time certainly has its storytelling failings, but I nevertheless found it a pleasing short book.
I recommend it to like-minded readers and Blish completionists.
March 5, 2026
Has some very cool ideas even if it is only about 15 pages and over before it really even begins.
So many of the long conversations that make up these chapters are pretty static and over-explanatory to a fault, but there’s a lot of fun intrigue and silliness below the surface.
So many of the long conversations that make up these chapters are pretty static and over-explanatory to a fault, but there’s a lot of fun intrigue and silliness below the surface.
August 14, 2025
I really enjoyed how James Blish used already real science and wove it into the the science fiction parts of the story to create something that felt genuinely real but still part of a fictional world
January 17, 2014
The book starts off with an interesting idea. When it goes into the second half of the book you might think it will get exciting now but then the solution comes within two pages and the rest is several chapters of dialogue between three people explaining the idea. It's a pretty boring read.
January 17, 2025
The extended version of the short story "Beep", which introduced the audience to the Dirac communicator, a transmitter capable of delivering a message throughout the universe instantaneously, although with some interesting trade-offs.
The novella reads as easily as the original had, and pleasantly adds to the background worldbuilding.
Perhaps because I now know much more about the author's work, but I could detect plenty more references to other timelines in it, this time around - stand alone though the story is.
Indeed, although the Dirac is featured in the Cities in flight tetralogy, some information which is given here makes it clear that there are no Okies about, and that the plot ties into other cycles by Blish.
(Birds?)
That said, this is hard sci-fi, in the sense that the action takes place in the mind of scientists and philosophers, and it rather feels like a play, where characters are gathered around in a few different acts so that the plot can play out. The outcome is fascinating.
The novella reads as easily as the original had, and pleasantly adds to the background worldbuilding.
Perhaps because I now know much more about the author's work, but I could detect plenty more references to other timelines in it, this time around - stand alone though the story is.
Indeed, although the Dirac is featured in the Cities in flight tetralogy, some information which is given here makes it clear that there are no Okies about, and that the plot ties into other cycles by Blish.
(Birds?)
That said, this is hard sci-fi, in the sense that the action takes place in the mind of scientists and philosophers, and it rather feels like a play, where characters are gathered around in a few different acts so that the plot can play out. The outcome is fascinating.
August 22, 2020
Le service intergalactique surveille les planètes et empêche les conflits. Mais par quel moyen ? Tout a l'air d'originer de l'invention du Dirac, qui permet une communication instantanée, à la grandeur de l'espace connu. Mais ne fausse t'il pas la relation entre cause et effet ? C'est ce que nous allons découvrir.
Un petit roman amusant qui mêle la relativité, les équations de Dirac et beaucoup d'humour.
Je me suis bien amusé.
Un petit roman amusant qui mêle la relativité, les équations de Dirac et beaucoup d'humour.
Je me suis bien amusé.
October 3, 2022
I picked this book up in the excellent Old Pier bookshop in Morecambe, a warren of a place. The name intrigued me and though I’ve read plenty classic sci-fi, James Blish had so far passed me by.
I enjoyed this book, the short novella format suited it as the characters were not well developed, but the concept was interesting. I enjoyed reading some proper sci-fi for the first time in a while.
I enjoyed this book, the short novella format suited it as the characters were not well developed, but the concept was interesting. I enjoyed reading some proper sci-fi for the first time in a while.
April 9, 2021
An interesting concept told in not the most interesting story. The book is mercifully short. The irony is I think a much more interesting story could have been expanded upon.
It's also worth bearing in mind the time this story was written as there is some sexist and homophobic language used.
It's also worth bearing in mind the time this story was written as there is some sexist and homophobic language used.
October 8, 2020
I don’t know about you, but this book was really boring to me
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September 14, 2021More thoughtful scifi than most. Interesting take on the block universe. I also enjoyed the plot. This was another book mentioned in Nahin's book, reviewed previously.
November 30, 2015
A shallow book, with paper-thin characters. The concept of the Dirac (a new communication device with a twist) kept me reading, but when all was said-and-done, all we get as readers is a weak, disguised moral about the way people, particularly governments should act. On the upside, unknown to the characters, that moral is a paradox.
February 23, 2026
Enjoyable although by the end I felt it had descended into less complex ideas than it seemed to be pursuing at the start. Relationships grew more simplified as it descended into speculative conversation. Still anything about the concept of time... is worth mine.
March 11, 2011
Grade B+
March 29, 2015
Philosophical look into the future and whether free will exists or not. Quick easy read, fun classic Sci Fi.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews