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Dangerous Visions, No.3
Dangerous Visions is the most dazzling science fiction anthology ever published. Between them, the stories it showcases have won two Hugo Awards, two Nebula Awards, two Hugo Award runner-up places and one Nebula Award runner-up position. Originally published as a single volume, this anthology was later republished in three volumes. This is the third volume of that series.
Contents:
New Introduction by Harlan Ellison
If All Men Were Brothers Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? by Theodore Sturgeon
What Happened to Auguste Clarot? by Larry Eisenberg
Ersatz by Henry Slesar
Go Go Go Said the Bird by Sonya Dorman
The Happy Breed by John T. Sladek
Encounter with a Hick by Jonathan Brand
From the Government Printing Office by Kris Neville
Land of the Great Horses by R. A. Lafferty
The Recognition by J. G. Ballard
Judas by John Brunner
Test to Destruction by Keith Laumer
Carcinoma Angels by Norman Spinrad
Auto-da-Fé by Roger Zelazny
Aye and Gomorrah . . . by Samuel R. Delany
Contents:
New Introduction by Harlan Ellison
If All Men Were Brothers Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? by Theodore Sturgeon
What Happened to Auguste Clarot? by Larry Eisenberg
Ersatz by Henry Slesar
Go Go Go Said the Bird by Sonya Dorman
The Happy Breed by John T. Sladek
Encounter with a Hick by Jonathan Brand
From the Government Printing Office by Kris Neville
Land of the Great Horses by R. A. Lafferty
The Recognition by J. G. Ballard
Judas by John Brunner
Test to Destruction by Keith Laumer
Carcinoma Angels by Norman Spinrad
Auto-da-Fé by Roger Zelazny
Aye and Gomorrah . . . by Samuel R. Delany
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
7 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Leo Dillon
124 books34 followersLeo Dillon was a celebrated African-American magazine and book-cover artist, and a children's book author and illustrator. The vast majority of his work was done collaboratively with his wife, Diane Dillon, with whom he won his many awards, although a few early titles were solo projects.
Born in Brooklyn in 1933, Lionel John Dillon was the son of Trinidadian immigrants, and was educated at the Parsons School of Design, after serving in the US Navy for three years. Here he met Diane Sorber, who was initially a fierce artistic competitor. Eventually the two married, and commenced a fifty-year collaborative career that produced over one hundred speculative fiction book and magazine covers, and numerous picture-book illustrations. They were jointly awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1976 and 1977, the only artists to be so honored twice in a row. The Dillons had one son, Lee Dillon, who also became an artist, and with whom they collaborated on Nancy Willard's Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch. Dillon died of lung cancer in 2012.
Born in Brooklyn in 1933, Lionel John Dillon was the son of Trinidadian immigrants, and was educated at the Parsons School of Design, after serving in the US Navy for three years. Here he met Diane Sorber, who was initially a fierce artistic competitor. Eventually the two married, and commenced a fifty-year collaborative career that produced over one hundred speculative fiction book and magazine covers, and numerous picture-book illustrations. They were jointly awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1976 and 1977, the only artists to be so honored twice in a row. The Dillons had one son, Lee Dillon, who also became an artist, and with whom they collaborated on Nancy Willard's Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch. Dillon died of lung cancer in 2012.
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November 28, 2018
-De los tres tomos, el más irregular.-
Género. Relatos.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Visiones peligrosas III (publicación original: Dangerous Visions, 1967) es la tercera parte de una famosa antología, que en español se publicó en tres volúmenes como su edición de 1969, y que en la actualidad todavía se valora bastante, por más que el tiempo le haya pasado cierta factura, debido a la naturaleza del proyecto (pueden saber más aquí), con el recientemente fallecido Harlan Ellison como responsable de la selección, del proyecto y de la introducción (que en este volumen es muy breve y habla de las implicaciones futuras de la antología), pero también del comentario al inicio de cada uno de los relatos (que, al final, tienen comentarios de sus propios autores). La primera parte es Visiones peligrosas I y la segunda Visiones peligrosas II.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Género. Relatos.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Visiones peligrosas III (publicación original: Dangerous Visions, 1967) es la tercera parte de una famosa antología, que en español se publicó en tres volúmenes como su edición de 1969, y que en la actualidad todavía se valora bastante, por más que el tiempo le haya pasado cierta factura, debido a la naturaleza del proyecto (pueden saber más aquí), con el recientemente fallecido Harlan Ellison como responsable de la selección, del proyecto y de la introducción (que en este volumen es muy breve y habla de las implicaciones futuras de la antología), pero también del comentario al inicio de cada uno de los relatos (que, al final, tienen comentarios de sus propios autores). La primera parte es Visiones peligrosas I y la segunda Visiones peligrosas II.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
July 13, 2013
De igual manera, repito aquí la reseña del primer tomo, como hice para el segundo:
No es fácil decir cuándo empezó la Ciencia Ficción. Me adscribo a la opinión del Buen Doctor (Asimov) que define a Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) como la primera novela de CF. Una novela que extrapola un tema científico y desarrolla el efecto del mismo en la historia y en sus personajes. Pues coincide bastante bien con la definición del género para mi. Y pronto siguieron muchos. Verne por ahí cerquita, Wells que le dio un gran empujón. Burroughs, que la impregnó de aventura.
Hasta que empezaron las publicaciones exclusivas de CF, sobre todo en el mundo anglosajón, en los años 30 y que desencadenaron la Edad de Oro, hasta los años 50 y 60. Con el poderoso eje de Campbell y los nombres que conocemos todos (Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke, Dick, Heinlein, Simak, Sturgeon) y que aún son leídos. Es la época de la inocencia, en que la historia es lo que vale, los personajes se van construyendo y el estilo está puliéndose recién. Pero que hipnotiza y encanta, por la increíble profusión de ideas nuevas, frescas, sorprendentes.
Pero el género evoluciona. Personajes complejos, historias atípicas que se adentran en temas inexplorados e íntimos, estilo sofisticados que podrían provenir de cualquier rama de la literatura, empezarán pronto a asomar la nariz. Y algunos, como Harlan Ellison, tienen el suficiente genio para sentir que las cosas están cambiando. Así que, a fines de los 60, tiene la idea de crear una antología de cuentos nuevos, nunca publicados, que rompan esquemas, inesperados, que toquen temas que antes la CF no abordaba (como el sexo o la religión). Que provoquen.
El resultado es una pequeña revolución. Leyéndolos ahora, no suenan tan provocadores. Tienen aún el fuerte aroma de la Edad de Oro. Pero sí hay un cambio. Hay provocación, aunque se le vea la intención tan claramente ahora. Como la incorporación del sexo, que se ve tan ruidosamente provocador, como del adolescente que busca imponerse, pero que no termina de perder la inocencia. Y la experimentación de estilos, que ya no son planos y puramente instrumentales a la poderosa historia, pero no tienen la sutileza que tendrán después.
Es una exploración disparada en 100 direcciones diferentes. Con nombres antiguos, como no, pues el talento existía y puede adaptarse. Asimov escribió la introducción y caballerosamente se puso a un lado. Para dejar paso a otros, a todos esos nombres nuevos que dominarían el campo los siguientes años (Niven, Ballard, Delany, Leiber, Silverberg, Farmer, Pohl), junto con algunos de los antiguos. Es casi una una segunda Edad de Oro. Un segundo tomo seguiría unos pocos años después. Ya en plena Nueva Ola, como se llamaría el periodo, durante los 70.
Así, Ellison y sus visiones enlazan dos de mis épocas favoritas. Los gigantes, eternos e indestructibles de la edad de oro, y los más sofisticados y profundos de la nueva ola. En todo caso, el resultado es que la CF ya nunca fue la misma.
En mi caso, ya no pude seguirla tanto luego de eso. Me estanqué en los 80. Leí Gibson, claro, aunque me perdí lo grueso del movimiento ciberpunk. Y algunos como Philip K. Dick seguían produciendo cosas excelentes. Pero no mucho más.
Qué vendrá luego? Paradójicamente, y de la mano de Gardner Dozois, pasé directamente a los 2000, con poca transición. La CF actual (por lo menos los cuentos que elige Dozois en su monstruosa selección anual -- lo que es un cierto peligro al no permitirme otras visiones, pero poco margen de exploración tengo ahora!) es sofisticada, estilizada y densa. Conocí nuevos nombres, algunos notables, como Vernon Vinge, Greg Egan o las excelentes Nancy Kress o Catherynne Valente. Disfruto muchos sus nuevas obras, son buena literatura, con buenas ideas. Pero ya no siento que son de la familia.
Seguiré leyendo esos textos pulidos, con personajes densos, en historias nuevas. Y lo haré con placer. Pero recordaré con nostalgia la sencilla pero profunda alegría de descubrir una historia nueva como una moneda, brillante como el sol, y sencilla como la vida, del Buen Doctor y del resto de la familia. Esas historias que se reflejan y se transforman al mismo tiempo en estas Visiones Peligrosas.
No es fácil decir cuándo empezó la Ciencia Ficción. Me adscribo a la opinión del Buen Doctor (Asimov) que define a Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) como la primera novela de CF. Una novela que extrapola un tema científico y desarrolla el efecto del mismo en la historia y en sus personajes. Pues coincide bastante bien con la definición del género para mi. Y pronto siguieron muchos. Verne por ahí cerquita, Wells que le dio un gran empujón. Burroughs, que la impregnó de aventura.
Hasta que empezaron las publicaciones exclusivas de CF, sobre todo en el mundo anglosajón, en los años 30 y que desencadenaron la Edad de Oro, hasta los años 50 y 60. Con el poderoso eje de Campbell y los nombres que conocemos todos (Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke, Dick, Heinlein, Simak, Sturgeon) y que aún son leídos. Es la época de la inocencia, en que la historia es lo que vale, los personajes se van construyendo y el estilo está puliéndose recién. Pero que hipnotiza y encanta, por la increíble profusión de ideas nuevas, frescas, sorprendentes.
Pero el género evoluciona. Personajes complejos, historias atípicas que se adentran en temas inexplorados e íntimos, estilo sofisticados que podrían provenir de cualquier rama de la literatura, empezarán pronto a asomar la nariz. Y algunos, como Harlan Ellison, tienen el suficiente genio para sentir que las cosas están cambiando. Así que, a fines de los 60, tiene la idea de crear una antología de cuentos nuevos, nunca publicados, que rompan esquemas, inesperados, que toquen temas que antes la CF no abordaba (como el sexo o la religión). Que provoquen.
El resultado es una pequeña revolución. Leyéndolos ahora, no suenan tan provocadores. Tienen aún el fuerte aroma de la Edad de Oro. Pero sí hay un cambio. Hay provocación, aunque se le vea la intención tan claramente ahora. Como la incorporación del sexo, que se ve tan ruidosamente provocador, como del adolescente que busca imponerse, pero que no termina de perder la inocencia. Y la experimentación de estilos, que ya no son planos y puramente instrumentales a la poderosa historia, pero no tienen la sutileza que tendrán después.
Es una exploración disparada en 100 direcciones diferentes. Con nombres antiguos, como no, pues el talento existía y puede adaptarse. Asimov escribió la introducción y caballerosamente se puso a un lado. Para dejar paso a otros, a todos esos nombres nuevos que dominarían el campo los siguientes años (Niven, Ballard, Delany, Leiber, Silverberg, Farmer, Pohl), junto con algunos de los antiguos. Es casi una una segunda Edad de Oro. Un segundo tomo seguiría unos pocos años después. Ya en plena Nueva Ola, como se llamaría el periodo, durante los 70.
Así, Ellison y sus visiones enlazan dos de mis épocas favoritas. Los gigantes, eternos e indestructibles de la edad de oro, y los más sofisticados y profundos de la nueva ola. En todo caso, el resultado es que la CF ya nunca fue la misma.
En mi caso, ya no pude seguirla tanto luego de eso. Me estanqué en los 80. Leí Gibson, claro, aunque me perdí lo grueso del movimiento ciberpunk. Y algunos como Philip K. Dick seguían produciendo cosas excelentes. Pero no mucho más.
Qué vendrá luego? Paradójicamente, y de la mano de Gardner Dozois, pasé directamente a los 2000, con poca transición. La CF actual (por lo menos los cuentos que elige Dozois en su monstruosa selección anual -- lo que es un cierto peligro al no permitirme otras visiones, pero poco margen de exploración tengo ahora!) es sofisticada, estilizada y densa. Conocí nuevos nombres, algunos notables, como Vernon Vinge, Greg Egan o las excelentes Nancy Kress o Catherynne Valente. Disfruto muchos sus nuevas obras, son buena literatura, con buenas ideas. Pero ya no siento que son de la familia.
Seguiré leyendo esos textos pulidos, con personajes densos, en historias nuevas. Y lo haré con placer. Pero recordaré con nostalgia la sencilla pero profunda alegría de descubrir una historia nueva como una moneda, brillante como el sol, y sencilla como la vida, del Buen Doctor y del resto de la familia. Esas historias que se reflejan y se transforman al mismo tiempo en estas Visiones Peligrosas.
February 24, 2019
Una colección algo irregular, pero interesante de todos modos. Está quizás más dirigida a los fans consagrados de la ciencia-ficción, más que a los principiantes como yo. Si este tomo es un buen ejemplo de lo que es este género, me quedo con la impresión de que es mucho más diverso y profundo de lo que creía, pues esperaba entretenimiento puro, sin demasiado fondo... Prejuicios de una!
March 18, 2017
En general, esta ha sido una antología de 4, en sus tres tomos.
Lo que más me sorprendió en este tercer tomo es como los relatos fueron de gustarme prácticamente nada a encantarme, en los status podrán ver una pequeña opinión sobre cada uno.
Como siempre, este libro se comento de los temas más variados, pero en todos hay un toque de lucha contra algo, ya sea un determinado tipo de sociedad, máquina y otra cosa.
Lo que más puede sorprender es la forma como algo tan simple como una enfermedad o un deseo pueden desencadenar innumerables hechos en tan pocas páginas, y ese es mérito exclusivo de los grandes autores que ha presentado aquí Harlan Ellison.
Como he pensado y/o dicho desde el inicio con esta revolucionaria antología de ficción especulativa, creo que no es algo para todo público, pero sí es algo a lo que todo el público debería prestarle atención, al menos para descubrir unas cuantas plumas de oro entre sus páginas.
Para finalizar, si saliera una edición especial de esta Antología, con todas las de la ley, en un tomo, me la compraría sin dudarlo, creo que eso es bastante recomendación.
Lo que más me sorprendió en este tercer tomo es como los relatos fueron de gustarme prácticamente nada a encantarme, en los status podrán ver una pequeña opinión sobre cada uno.
Como siempre, este libro se comento de los temas más variados, pero en todos hay un toque de lucha contra algo, ya sea un determinado tipo de sociedad, máquina y otra cosa.
Lo que más puede sorprender es la forma como algo tan simple como una enfermedad o un deseo pueden desencadenar innumerables hechos en tan pocas páginas, y ese es mérito exclusivo de los grandes autores que ha presentado aquí Harlan Ellison.
Como he pensado y/o dicho desde el inicio con esta revolucionaria antología de ficción especulativa, creo que no es algo para todo público, pero sí es algo a lo que todo el público debería prestarle atención, al menos para descubrir unas cuantas plumas de oro entre sus páginas.
Para finalizar, si saliera una edición especial de esta Antología, con todas las de la ley, en un tomo, me la compraría sin dudarlo, creo que eso es bastante recomendación.
August 28, 2018
Al igual que con el primer tomo de estas visione speligrosas acaba por ser algo que no me convence para nada porque solo parecen historias rechazadas en su mayoria que acabaron siendo publicadas aqui por casualidad del destino pero que en su mayoria no tiene que ver con el titulo ni la tematica que supuestamente engloba este recopilatorio.
February 7, 2026
Me gustó más el primer libro de antologías, Visiones peligrosas I, .... este estuvo OK.
Mi historia favorita fue la de Keith Laumer: "Prueba para la destrucción".
Tb fue un gusto leer "El reconocimiento" por J. G. Ballard, la historia es normal, pero es por como escribe el lo que la hace cool, el cuento fue sombrío,... y eso se siente y se saborea.
En fin, gracias Harlan Ellison.
Mi historia favorita fue la de Keith Laumer: "Prueba para la destrucción".
Tb fue un gusto leer "El reconocimiento" por J. G. Ballard, la historia es normal, pero es por como escribe el lo que la hace cool, el cuento fue sombrío,... y eso se siente y se saborea.
En fin, gracias Harlan Ellison.
October 2, 2022
Una serie maravillosa de la que ahora me sobran las introducciones grandilocuentes del antólogo y, la mayor parte de las veces, el epílogo-explicación del autor.
https://liblit.com/harlan-ellison-vis...
https://liblit.com/harlan-ellison-vis...
May 19, 2020
* Judas - John Brunner 4.5 estrellas / 19-05-2020
May 28, 2017
Hace años que quería leer esta compilación, más aún después de leer la historia de Harlan Ellison I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream que me pareció increíble. Además Ellison fue guionista de una de mis series favoritas, Star Trek.
Comencé por el volumen 3 porque lo conseguí en una librería de usados en la otra cuadra de casa; por cierto, no me salió nada barato. ¬¬
Las primeras historias son muy buenas, pero rápidamente el libro decae y los últimos relatos son realmente zonzos, bordeando en una estupidez. Tampoco me resulta muy claro lo de "Dangerous Visions", cabría esperar distopías terroríficas, justamente como el relato de Ellison que mencioné arriba. Nada de eso: algunas son relatos de ciencia ficción bastante corrientes, y lo de Dangerous... me lo queda debiendo.
Si a eso le sumo que Ellison dedica un par de carillas a presentar a los autores con anécdotas personales de muy poco interés, la realidad es que me terminé salteando bastante más que un par de páginas. Ese recurso, que yo sepa, sólo le funciona a Asimov (y a mis magníficas reseñas de Goodreads, *guiño guiño*).
Para peor, la edición de los 80s de Hyspamérica que idolatré en mi infancia, ahora noto que está plagada, infestada! de errores tipográficos y de traducción. No ha envejecido bien, con lo cual creo que sepulto para siempre mi proyecto megalómano de coleccionar los 100 volúmenes (y no sé si de leer los otros dos libros de Dangerous Visions...)
Comencé por el volumen 3 porque lo conseguí en una librería de usados en la otra cuadra de casa; por cierto, no me salió nada barato. ¬¬
Las primeras historias son muy buenas, pero rápidamente el libro decae y los últimos relatos son realmente zonzos, bordeando en una estupidez. Tampoco me resulta muy claro lo de "Dangerous Visions", cabría esperar distopías terroríficas, justamente como el relato de Ellison que mencioné arriba. Nada de eso: algunas son relatos de ciencia ficción bastante corrientes, y lo de Dangerous... me lo queda debiendo.
Si a eso le sumo que Ellison dedica un par de carillas a presentar a los autores con anécdotas personales de muy poco interés, la realidad es que me terminé salteando bastante más que un par de páginas. Ese recurso, que yo sepa, sólo le funciona a Asimov (y a mis magníficas reseñas de Goodreads, *guiño guiño*).
Para peor, la edición de los 80s de Hyspamérica que idolatré en mi infancia, ahora noto que está plagada, infestada! de errores tipográficos y de traducción. No ha envejecido bien, con lo cual creo que sepulto para siempre mi proyecto megalómano de coleccionar los 100 volúmenes (y no sé si de leer los otros dos libros de Dangerous Visions...)
September 25, 2013
Ok what can I really say? This is the third and final part of the Dangerous Visions trilogy that is now treated as a single volume. It is seen by many as a landmark anthology which marked the evolution of science fiction from one era to the next - or as Harlan Ellison likes to suggest the transition of one generation of authors to the next (though many of the authors wrote both before and after the anthology).
The book is a real mix of styles and subject matter, so you can pretty much be guaranteed that you will like some and not so like others (ok hate). However the introductions of many of the entries are almost as interesting as the stories themselves. This is a book to read if you are interested in science fiction as a subject and not just a genre.
The book is a real mix of styles and subject matter, so you can pretty much be guaranteed that you will like some and not so like others (ok hate). However the introductions of many of the entries are almost as interesting as the stories themselves. This is a book to read if you are interested in science fiction as a subject and not just a genre.
December 23, 2015
Harlan Ellison is in love with the sound of his own voice. The stories themselves feel B-side. Only the mysterious carnival and the cancer ones are really worth it. I'd deem it "disappointing."
May 16, 2015
Dangerous Visions? That sounds... interesting. And yet, I've had this book for years without trying to read it. I couldn't, for the love of God, tell you why. I mean, the first story is one by Theodore Sturgeon! If you've read a science fiction anthologies, you must surely have come across his name, as well as J.G. Ballard, Harlan Ellison, John Brunner and Samuel R. Delany... they have all had a hand in the making of this anthology. So with those words... it is time to delve into the secrets of one of the most explosive science fiction anthologies ever published.
This is a review-in-progress, and I will post short reviews of all the stories within, as I read them. As always, I shall start at the very beginning, because... is there somewhere better to start?
If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? by Theodore Sturgeon (52 pages)
A man, Charli Bux, has come to a small planet - Terratu - to see the Master of Archieves. He has a tale to tell, about a certain planet that doesn't really exist. Well, it does exist, of course, but for some reason, people seem to shun it or better yet, simply try and forget that it even exist at all. I better stop here, because if you know Theodore Sturgeon, then you know that he likes to surprise you. This story is no different, although you'll see the surprise slowly approaching in the horizon. I will say this, though, this story is controversial, and while I can see some of his points have merits, I don't agree. But thats what a good story can do, provoke you into thinking about the world and your life... a little differently. This certainly does that, in a very down-to-earth way, no pun intended. Anyways, don't cheat yourself... go find this book or this story in another anthology and get something to think about! (4.5 stars)
What Happened to Auguste Clarot? by Larry Eisenberg (7 pages)
A journalist is writing a story about a chemist who disappeared, one... Auguste Clarot. He finds him, and finds the thing that he has been working on. A very... short story, which comes with a warning. I might not have understood the story, because I don't understand the warning... at all. The writer himself says that this story might be riddled with symbolism, but... that was certainly lost on me. Perhaps if I had read it at the time when it was written, it might have been clearer. (1 star)
Ersatz by Henry Slesar (8 pages)
An atomic war has changed America, if not the entire world. Soldiers wander the wastelands, only occasionally finding shelter in one of the few Peace Stations where civilians take care of them. But the world is changing, and so are its people. Another short shortstory, but this one manages to create a fully-understood setting in just a few pages. And the ending... scary and... lonely. (3.5 stars)
Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird by Sonya Dorman (8 pages)
The world has collapsed and people have lost themselves. A woman is fleeing for her life. People are hungry. While she runs, she looks back on her life, remembering how one of her own children were killed and eaten. This story is not as unbelievable as all that. We only have to go back... 300 years to find something similar in human history. However, let's hope that the world will never fall from grace like this. (3 stars)
The Happy Breed by John T. Sladek (23 pages)
Imagine a society where everyone is happy, or at least, where everyone pretends to be happy. Imagine a society where Man is rules by Machines. This story tries to create a utopia, but the question is... is that even possible? The story is a bit confusing at times, as it switches between so many narratives, but the idea that it proposes is an interesting one. (2 stars)
Encounter With a Hick by Jonathan Brand (7 pages)
This story is about... hmm... a man? who goes to some kind of intergalactic conference? to... to... no. I didn't understand much of this story, and there was nothing to get excited by or even worth remembering. The only good thing, really, is that it is short... very short and therefore quickly read and quickly forgotten. Onwards! (0 stars)
From the Government Printing Press by Kris Neville (9 pages)
We are inside the head of a young boy in the future. He is three and a half, but to him, he seems to have been this old like... forever. His life consists of thoughts of candy, his parents, fears of the world and losing his penis. If only he could hurry up and become four, so he could forget and get his personality. A very interesting story, or rather... a very interesting perspective. To me the child's thoughts sounded a little too knowledgeable, and I entertained the idea of this boy being invaded by an alien, or rather... an alien being trapped within this boy. However, after reading the afterword section, you know that the author's idea is so much more... grounded. I'd really like to recommend this story, but if you are a hard science fiction aficionado, then this might not be for you. (3 stars)
Land of the Great Horses by R.A. Lafferty (13 pages)
Two men are walking in the desert somewhere in India, when they see a mirage. One of them, Smith, sees something more, and proclaims that it is time to go home, home to the Land of the Great Horses. Soon after more weird disappearances happen all around the world. I am not sure I would ever classify this story as being Science Fiction, nor would I call it... dangerous. The words I would use would be more akin to... weird, confused and... hard to understand. This might be a true gem, but honestly, I didn't (and don't) get it. (1 star)
The Recognition by J.G. Ballard (15 pages)
A circus is coming to town, but the narrator does not really understand what they are... selling. The animals are nothing special, and the smell is horrible. Ok, the build-up for this shortstory is awesome, but the ending is just... horrible and enormously disappointing. I am not even sure why this story is here... in a science fiction anthology called... Dangerous Visions. And here I was... finally thinking that I had found a Ballard story that I might actually like. I'll just have to keep looking. (1.5 stars)
Judas by John Brunner (12 pages)
Somewhere in the world, a God sits on his throne. This is not The God that people have worshipped for centuries, but a metal god that Man made himself. One day a man comes to talk to the God, a man named Karimov. He helped build the metal God, but has come back now, with different intentions. I've already said too much, perhaps, but with a name like Judas, I guess you know where this is going. I like the writing of John Brunner, especially his complex cyberpunk settings. This one almost lost me in the beginning, written in a much too complicated language, but unlike the previous story, this one got much better by the end, and even ended up sounding like some of the Brunner stories I had already read. (2.5 stars)
Test to Destruction by Keith Laumer (31 pages)
Earth is in a bad shape with a robotic president at the front. Among the humans, a man named Mallory fights for the free elections that will possible allow him to rule. However, somewhere in space, an alien is nearing earth in his Ree Dreadnought, bend on destruction. It is also searching for a mind to probe, so that it can learn more about the planet. This shortstory is quite chaotic, shifting between the stories in chapters of varying sizes. I found certain things interesting, like the state of our earth, but not much is explained as the story rushes ahead towards its point at the end. With a little less focus on the ending, and a bit more focus on building the setting of the story, this could have been a very nice shortstory. (2 stars)
Carcinoma Angels by Norman Spinrad (15 pages)
This is the story of Harrison Wintergreen, a boy who became a man, a filthy rich man, who then became a man who put his mark on the world, but whom the world turned its back on. This story is very different from all the others, and there is nothing in here that would constitute either science fiction, nor could it ever be classified as being dangerous. Maybe because cancer is much more common today than it was back then, and something that we can treat. Anyways, the ending is tragic enough to make the story worth reading, but it will always remain a mystery why it is part of such an anthology. (2 stars)
Auto Da-Fe by Roger Zelazny (10 pages)
Ever been to a proper bullfight? Well, imagine how they would make these in the future... with cars instead of bulls. It felt a little weird, but thinking about how they are currently working on giving cars memory and AI... it might not be all that crazy afterall. I especially liked how the author, in his afterword, tried to make this story much more than it actually is. (2 stars)
Aye, and Gomorrah... by Samuel R. Delany (14 pages)
This story brings you a weird world of spacers and frelks, people who have allowed themselves to be changed physically, to be able to live in space, and the (aliens?) who love and worship them, and who are willing to pay a lot to have sex with them. Yes, this is that kind of science fiction story, the different and weird kind, in case you are wondering what that meant. I've only ever read one other Samuel R. Delany story, and I've never been able to finish it, although I have really wanted to. His voice is certainly special, and although I don't proclaim to understand why he wrote this exact story... I do know that I will have to go back to it at least once. (3 stars)
Final thoughts
So, was this anthology as dangerous as they say? The answer is, and you might have guessed this from my short reviews... no. There are a few dangerous and interesting stories, like the ones by Theodore Sturgeon and Henry Slesar (I actually went back and raised his score after reading the rest of the stories), but far too many of these does not have what it takes to be in such an anthology, and honestly, it felt like they were here to sell a book, not to provoke and show us some dangerous visions of the future. So yes, my final thoughts on this anthology are those of... disappointment.
This is a review-in-progress, and I will post short reviews of all the stories within, as I read them. As always, I shall start at the very beginning, because... is there somewhere better to start?
If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? by Theodore Sturgeon (52 pages)
A man, Charli Bux, has come to a small planet - Terratu - to see the Master of Archieves. He has a tale to tell, about a certain planet that doesn't really exist. Well, it does exist, of course, but for some reason, people seem to shun it or better yet, simply try and forget that it even exist at all. I better stop here, because if you know Theodore Sturgeon, then you know that he likes to surprise you. This story is no different, although you'll see the surprise slowly approaching in the horizon. I will say this, though, this story is controversial, and while I can see some of his points have merits, I don't agree. But thats what a good story can do, provoke you into thinking about the world and your life... a little differently. This certainly does that, in a very down-to-earth way, no pun intended. Anyways, don't cheat yourself... go find this book or this story in another anthology and get something to think about! (4.5 stars)
What Happened to Auguste Clarot? by Larry Eisenberg (7 pages)
A journalist is writing a story about a chemist who disappeared, one... Auguste Clarot. He finds him, and finds the thing that he has been working on. A very... short story, which comes with a warning. I might not have understood the story, because I don't understand the warning... at all. The writer himself says that this story might be riddled with symbolism, but... that was certainly lost on me. Perhaps if I had read it at the time when it was written, it might have been clearer. (1 star)
Ersatz by Henry Slesar (8 pages)
An atomic war has changed America, if not the entire world. Soldiers wander the wastelands, only occasionally finding shelter in one of the few Peace Stations where civilians take care of them. But the world is changing, and so are its people. Another short shortstory, but this one manages to create a fully-understood setting in just a few pages. And the ending... scary and... lonely. (3.5 stars)
Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird by Sonya Dorman (8 pages)
The world has collapsed and people have lost themselves. A woman is fleeing for her life. People are hungry. While she runs, she looks back on her life, remembering how one of her own children were killed and eaten. This story is not as unbelievable as all that. We only have to go back... 300 years to find something similar in human history. However, let's hope that the world will never fall from grace like this. (3 stars)
The Happy Breed by John T. Sladek (23 pages)
Imagine a society where everyone is happy, or at least, where everyone pretends to be happy. Imagine a society where Man is rules by Machines. This story tries to create a utopia, but the question is... is that even possible? The story is a bit confusing at times, as it switches between so many narratives, but the idea that it proposes is an interesting one. (2 stars)
Encounter With a Hick by Jonathan Brand (7 pages)
This story is about... hmm... a man? who goes to some kind of intergalactic conference? to... to... no. I didn't understand much of this story, and there was nothing to get excited by or even worth remembering. The only good thing, really, is that it is short... very short and therefore quickly read and quickly forgotten. Onwards! (0 stars)
From the Government Printing Press by Kris Neville (9 pages)
We are inside the head of a young boy in the future. He is three and a half, but to him, he seems to have been this old like... forever. His life consists of thoughts of candy, his parents, fears of the world and losing his penis. If only he could hurry up and become four, so he could forget and get his personality. A very interesting story, or rather... a very interesting perspective. To me the child's thoughts sounded a little too knowledgeable, and I entertained the idea of this boy being invaded by an alien, or rather... an alien being trapped within this boy. However, after reading the afterword section, you know that the author's idea is so much more... grounded. I'd really like to recommend this story, but if you are a hard science fiction aficionado, then this might not be for you. (3 stars)
Land of the Great Horses by R.A. Lafferty (13 pages)
Two men are walking in the desert somewhere in India, when they see a mirage. One of them, Smith, sees something more, and proclaims that it is time to go home, home to the Land of the Great Horses. Soon after more weird disappearances happen all around the world. I am not sure I would ever classify this story as being Science Fiction, nor would I call it... dangerous. The words I would use would be more akin to... weird, confused and... hard to understand. This might be a true gem, but honestly, I didn't (and don't) get it. (1 star)
The Recognition by J.G. Ballard (15 pages)
A circus is coming to town, but the narrator does not really understand what they are... selling. The animals are nothing special, and the smell is horrible. Ok, the build-up for this shortstory is awesome, but the ending is just... horrible and enormously disappointing. I am not even sure why this story is here... in a science fiction anthology called... Dangerous Visions. And here I was... finally thinking that I had found a Ballard story that I might actually like. I'll just have to keep looking. (1.5 stars)
Judas by John Brunner (12 pages)
Somewhere in the world, a God sits on his throne. This is not The God that people have worshipped for centuries, but a metal god that Man made himself. One day a man comes to talk to the God, a man named Karimov. He helped build the metal God, but has come back now, with different intentions. I've already said too much, perhaps, but with a name like Judas, I guess you know where this is going. I like the writing of John Brunner, especially his complex cyberpunk settings. This one almost lost me in the beginning, written in a much too complicated language, but unlike the previous story, this one got much better by the end, and even ended up sounding like some of the Brunner stories I had already read. (2.5 stars)
Test to Destruction by Keith Laumer (31 pages)
Earth is in a bad shape with a robotic president at the front. Among the humans, a man named Mallory fights for the free elections that will possible allow him to rule. However, somewhere in space, an alien is nearing earth in his Ree Dreadnought, bend on destruction. It is also searching for a mind to probe, so that it can learn more about the planet. This shortstory is quite chaotic, shifting between the stories in chapters of varying sizes. I found certain things interesting, like the state of our earth, but not much is explained as the story rushes ahead towards its point at the end. With a little less focus on the ending, and a bit more focus on building the setting of the story, this could have been a very nice shortstory. (2 stars)
Carcinoma Angels by Norman Spinrad (15 pages)
This is the story of Harrison Wintergreen, a boy who became a man, a filthy rich man, who then became a man who put his mark on the world, but whom the world turned its back on. This story is very different from all the others, and there is nothing in here that would constitute either science fiction, nor could it ever be classified as being dangerous. Maybe because cancer is much more common today than it was back then, and something that we can treat. Anyways, the ending is tragic enough to make the story worth reading, but it will always remain a mystery why it is part of such an anthology. (2 stars)
Auto Da-Fe by Roger Zelazny (10 pages)
Ever been to a proper bullfight? Well, imagine how they would make these in the future... with cars instead of bulls. It felt a little weird, but thinking about how they are currently working on giving cars memory and AI... it might not be all that crazy afterall. I especially liked how the author, in his afterword, tried to make this story much more than it actually is. (2 stars)
Aye, and Gomorrah... by Samuel R. Delany (14 pages)
This story brings you a weird world of spacers and frelks, people who have allowed themselves to be changed physically, to be able to live in space, and the (aliens?) who love and worship them, and who are willing to pay a lot to have sex with them. Yes, this is that kind of science fiction story, the different and weird kind, in case you are wondering what that meant. I've only ever read one other Samuel R. Delany story, and I've never been able to finish it, although I have really wanted to. His voice is certainly special, and although I don't proclaim to understand why he wrote this exact story... I do know that I will have to go back to it at least once. (3 stars)
Final thoughts
So, was this anthology as dangerous as they say? The answer is, and you might have guessed this from my short reviews... no. There are a few dangerous and interesting stories, like the ones by Theodore Sturgeon and Henry Slesar (I actually went back and raised his score after reading the rest of the stories), but far too many of these does not have what it takes to be in such an anthology, and honestly, it felt like they were here to sell a book, not to provoke and show us some dangerous visions of the future. So yes, my final thoughts on this anthology are those of... disappointment.
September 6, 2023
Este es el fin de las visiones peligrosas. El tercer tomo, uno que está a la altura de los dos anteriores.
Empieza con una historia rara como su nombre. Escrita magistralmente, tal y como me gusta. Y poco a poco va perdiendo su encanto y su misterio hasta convertirse en un intento de justificar el incesto. Aún sin olvidar nunca que esto es ficción, y que el autor nunca debería ser responsable de lo que piensen sus personajes esta visión para mí es la más incómoda.
Nos movemos de ahí a una graciosa y linda historia que aunque divertida es de lo más olvidable de la todas las visiones junto con la siguiente: Ersatz, que a penas leerlo lo olvidas.
Hasta este punto el sabor que sentí con esta tercera parte de la antología es inferior a todo lo anterior. Pero a partir de aquí comienzan a llegar las historias inolvidables. La primera que se nos presenta: Corre, corre, corre dijo el pájaro, que escrita desordenadamente nos conduce a la satisfacción y la admiración.
Luego una de mis grandes favoritas: La raza feliz. En palabras del autor: «Plantea una versión de lo que me gusta calificar de horrible utopía». No me extenderé, todos deberían leerla.
Bajamos de esa cúspide a cuatro cuentos que me encantaron de distintas formas y que son una preciosidad en todo sentido, dónde destaco particularmente: La región de los grandes caballos. Pero todas son una joya linda.
Pronto hace presencia (y como viendo a las demás visiones por encima del hombro) Judas, otro de mis grandes favoritos. Una historia donde se plantea la lucha del humano contra la inteligencia artificial, esta vez convertida en el mismísimo Dios. Tengan por seguro que se abordarán en sus conceptos cuestiones filosóficas imposibles de ignorar. Una narración riquísima.
En Prueba para la destrucción nos replanteamos conceptos importantes. Los héroes se corrompen. No importa que tan claras sean las causas, cuando se trata de poder las intenciones no interesan, todo es lo mismo. Otro de mis grandes favoritos.
Para Angeles de carcinoma no encuentro otro calificativo mejor que: adictivo. Está narrado de manera tan rápida que parece una inyección de adrenalina. Las últimas dos historias que cierran el libro son bastantes descartables la verdad, aunque tienen bonitas ideas.
Visiones peligrosas fue un viaje que disfruté muchísimo. Me encanta la ciencia ficción, y me encanta el hecho de que Harllan se va convirtiendo poco a poco en un personaje más, una narrador que nos acompaña y se hace querer. A todas las benditas manos que se involucraron en este hermoso proyecto les mando desde el 2023 un mensaje hacia el pasado de parte de un lector más: Muchas gracias, por ser atrevidos y plasmar en el papel todos los impulsos de sus mentes y sus corazones.
Top del tomo III:
* Judas
* La raza feliz
* Prueba para la destrucción
Empieza con una historia rara como su nombre. Escrita magistralmente, tal y como me gusta. Y poco a poco va perdiendo su encanto y su misterio hasta convertirse en un intento de justificar el incesto. Aún sin olvidar nunca que esto es ficción, y que el autor nunca debería ser responsable de lo que piensen sus personajes esta visión para mí es la más incómoda.
Nos movemos de ahí a una graciosa y linda historia que aunque divertida es de lo más olvidable de la todas las visiones junto con la siguiente: Ersatz, que a penas leerlo lo olvidas.
Hasta este punto el sabor que sentí con esta tercera parte de la antología es inferior a todo lo anterior. Pero a partir de aquí comienzan a llegar las historias inolvidables. La primera que se nos presenta: Corre, corre, corre dijo el pájaro, que escrita desordenadamente nos conduce a la satisfacción y la admiración.
Luego una de mis grandes favoritas: La raza feliz. En palabras del autor: «Plantea una versión de lo que me gusta calificar de horrible utopía». No me extenderé, todos deberían leerla.
Bajamos de esa cúspide a cuatro cuentos que me encantaron de distintas formas y que son una preciosidad en todo sentido, dónde destaco particularmente: La región de los grandes caballos. Pero todas son una joya linda.
Pronto hace presencia (y como viendo a las demás visiones por encima del hombro) Judas, otro de mis grandes favoritos. Una historia donde se plantea la lucha del humano contra la inteligencia artificial, esta vez convertida en el mismísimo Dios. Tengan por seguro que se abordarán en sus conceptos cuestiones filosóficas imposibles de ignorar. Una narración riquísima.
En Prueba para la destrucción nos replanteamos conceptos importantes. Los héroes se corrompen. No importa que tan claras sean las causas, cuando se trata de poder las intenciones no interesan, todo es lo mismo. Otro de mis grandes favoritos.
Para Angeles de carcinoma no encuentro otro calificativo mejor que: adictivo. Está narrado de manera tan rápida que parece una inyección de adrenalina. Las últimas dos historias que cierran el libro son bastantes descartables la verdad, aunque tienen bonitas ideas.
Visiones peligrosas fue un viaje que disfruté muchísimo. Me encanta la ciencia ficción, y me encanta el hecho de que Harllan se va convirtiendo poco a poco en un personaje más, una narrador que nos acompaña y se hace querer. A todas las benditas manos que se involucraron en este hermoso proyecto les mando desde el 2023 un mensaje hacia el pasado de parte de un lector más: Muchas gracias, por ser atrevidos y plasmar en el papel todos los impulsos de sus mentes y sus corazones.
Top del tomo III:
* Judas
* La raza feliz
* Prueba para la destrucción
August 25, 2024
It's easier to be reactionary than progressive when writing SF, which this collection exemplifies pretty well. Undoubtedly a fresher style at the time, but I was disappointed, especially as a fan of the New Wave. I would even go as far as to say that most of the stories here are actively bad.
Slesar’s proto-TERF story asks ‘what if men were forced to sleep with trans-women in the nuclear wasteland?’ (the horror!)
RA Lafferty conflates people of Romani / Traveller / Gypsy heritage and has them all decide to go back ‘home’ (more hokey than offensive).
Sturgeon wonders if encouraging incest could release all that pesky Freudian tension and unleash utopia. This was really poorly explored and felt completely divorced from real human experience (in contrast to Delany’s treatment of ‘perverse’ sexuality in Aye, and Gomorrah). Sturgeon's asks to reader to directly question what they know. I couldn't help but feel like Sturgeon needed to question Freud.
There was the occasional uninteresting but well-executed idea like Sladek’s story about how infantilising it would be if we all had immediate access to healthcare.
Several stories were of that light-hearted magazine-filler variety, which combined with Laumer’s distinctly golden age tale made me wonder if Ellison had any vision here, besides some vague notion of being ‘dangerous’. (Although I did enjoy Spinrad’s story about the guy that hallucinates himself into his own body to fight cancer’.)
Sonya Dorman’s ‘woman has horrible time in the wasteland’ story Go, go, go said the bird, was pretty good actually, and deserves a shout out for being the only feminist piece (and the most violent), but the Ballard and Delany stories were a cut above the rest. Ballard really nailed that weird, vaguely threatening vibe of Southern England, and Delany, the guilt-ridden awkwardness of picking someone up for an activity most consider ‘unnatural’. They were the only stories that weren't too certain of themselves, while giving something interesting to chew on.
I liked the story intro format as it provided a little breather between the stories and made reading in one go easier, but Ellison was terrible at it. He was constantly employing vague superlatives which gave the sense his words have no actual substance. He didn’t seem to know much about any of the authors beyond their provided copy, despite pretending to be chummy with all of them, and his casual sexism and homophobia was foul. I have finished this book with a newfound seething hate for the man.
Slesar’s proto-TERF story asks ‘what if men were forced to sleep with trans-women in the nuclear wasteland?’ (the horror!)
RA Lafferty conflates people of Romani / Traveller / Gypsy heritage and has them all decide to go back ‘home’ (more hokey than offensive).
Sturgeon wonders if encouraging incest could release all that pesky Freudian tension and unleash utopia. This was really poorly explored and felt completely divorced from real human experience (in contrast to Delany’s treatment of ‘perverse’ sexuality in Aye, and Gomorrah). Sturgeon's asks to reader to directly question what they know. I couldn't help but feel like Sturgeon needed to question Freud.
There was the occasional uninteresting but well-executed idea like Sladek’s story about how infantilising it would be if we all had immediate access to healthcare.
Several stories were of that light-hearted magazine-filler variety, which combined with Laumer’s distinctly golden age tale made me wonder if Ellison had any vision here, besides some vague notion of being ‘dangerous’. (Although I did enjoy Spinrad’s story about the guy that hallucinates himself into his own body to fight cancer’.)
Sonya Dorman’s ‘woman has horrible time in the wasteland’ story Go, go, go said the bird, was pretty good actually, and deserves a shout out for being the only feminist piece (and the most violent), but the Ballard and Delany stories were a cut above the rest. Ballard really nailed that weird, vaguely threatening vibe of Southern England, and Delany, the guilt-ridden awkwardness of picking someone up for an activity most consider ‘unnatural’. They were the only stories that weren't too certain of themselves, while giving something interesting to chew on.
I liked the story intro format as it provided a little breather between the stories and made reading in one go easier, but Ellison was terrible at it. He was constantly employing vague superlatives which gave the sense his words have no actual substance. He didn’t seem to know much about any of the authors beyond their provided copy, despite pretending to be chummy with all of them, and his casual sexism and homophobia was foul. I have finished this book with a newfound seething hate for the man.
April 12, 2023
B/B+
https://youtu.be/OQlDHjGY4T4 - video review of Dangerous Visions
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Some of the stories were amazing but most were just pretty good, and some were downright awful. Ellison’s little introductions to the stories were somewhat obnoxious. I know this was a sign of the times but there are way too many white male authors in this book. Many of the stories were not actually “dangerous,” and many that were “dangerous” were really just negative about Christianity, which I am more than fine with, but that shouldn’t qualify a story as unpublishable elsewhere or make it “dangerous.”
Maybe would give this 4.5 stars if I could.
Favorite stories rank:
1. Ballard
2. Dick
3. Farmer
4. Laumer
5. Dorman
Least favorite:
1. Pohl
2. Ellison
3. Neville
Evensong - Del Rey - B/B+
Flies - Silverberg - B/B+
The Day After… - Pohl - D/D+
Riders of the Purple Wage - Farmer - A-/A
The Malley System - De Ford - B/B+
A Toy for Juliette - Bloch - B+/A-
The Prowler… - Ellison - C/C+
The Night… - Aldiss - B/B+
The Man… - Rodman - B-/B
Faith of Our Fathers - Dick - A-/A
The Jigsaw Man - Niven - B/B+
Gonna Roll the Bones - Leiber - B+/A-
Lord Randy, My Son - Hensley - B-/B
Eutopia - Anderson - B/B+
Incident in Moderan - Bunch - C/C+
The Escaping - Bunch - B-/B
The Doll-House - Cross - B/B+
Sex and/or Mr Morrison - Emshwiller - B+/A-
Shall the Dust… - Knight - B-/B
If All Men… - Sturgeon - B/B+
What Happened… - Eisenberg - C+/B-
Ersatz - Slesar - B-/B
Go Go Go… - Dorman - A-/A
The Happy Breed - Sladek - B+/A-
Encounter… - Brand - B/B+
From the Government… - Neville - C/C+
Land of the Great Horses - Lafferty - B/B+
The Recognition - Ballard - A/A+
Judas - Brunner - B/B+
Test to Destruction - Laumer - A-/A
Carcinoma Angels - Spinrad - C+/B-
Auto Da Fé - Zelazny - B/B+
Aye, and Gomorra - Delaney - B/B+
https://youtu.be/OQlDHjGY4T4 - video review of Dangerous Visions
Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Some of the stories were amazing but most were just pretty good, and some were downright awful. Ellison’s little introductions to the stories were somewhat obnoxious. I know this was a sign of the times but there are way too many white male authors in this book. Many of the stories were not actually “dangerous,” and many that were “dangerous” were really just negative about Christianity, which I am more than fine with, but that shouldn’t qualify a story as unpublishable elsewhere or make it “dangerous.”
Maybe would give this 4.5 stars if I could.
Favorite stories rank:
1. Ballard
2. Dick
3. Farmer
4. Laumer
5. Dorman
Least favorite:
1. Pohl
2. Ellison
3. Neville
Evensong - Del Rey - B/B+
Flies - Silverberg - B/B+
The Day After… - Pohl - D/D+
Riders of the Purple Wage - Farmer - A-/A
The Malley System - De Ford - B/B+
A Toy for Juliette - Bloch - B+/A-
The Prowler… - Ellison - C/C+
The Night… - Aldiss - B/B+
The Man… - Rodman - B-/B
Faith of Our Fathers - Dick - A-/A
The Jigsaw Man - Niven - B/B+
Gonna Roll the Bones - Leiber - B+/A-
Lord Randy, My Son - Hensley - B-/B
Eutopia - Anderson - B/B+
Incident in Moderan - Bunch - C/C+
The Escaping - Bunch - B-/B
The Doll-House - Cross - B/B+
Sex and/or Mr Morrison - Emshwiller - B+/A-
Shall the Dust… - Knight - B-/B
If All Men… - Sturgeon - B/B+
What Happened… - Eisenberg - C+/B-
Ersatz - Slesar - B-/B
Go Go Go… - Dorman - A-/A
The Happy Breed - Sladek - B+/A-
Encounter… - Brand - B/B+
From the Government… - Neville - C/C+
Land of the Great Horses - Lafferty - B/B+
The Recognition - Ballard - A/A+
Judas - Brunner - B/B+
Test to Destruction - Laumer - A-/A
Carcinoma Angels - Spinrad - C+/B-
Auto Da Fé - Zelazny - B/B+
Aye, and Gomorra - Delaney - B/B+
March 12, 2026
Mi reseña solo sera sobre el relato corto de judas.
Judas es un relato corto en donde John logra mostrar, de manera sutil pero impactante, cómo la tecnología puede convertirse en un arma de doble filo sin que nadie lo busque realmente.
En la historia vemos una sociedad que llega a idolatrar a un robot tan perfecto que lo considera una especie de dios. El autor nos lleva a reflexionar sobre nuestra propia dependencia de las máquinas; hoy la inteligencia artificial nos ayuda en muchísimos aspectos y es una herramienta valiosísima, pero existe el riesgo latente de caer en el facilismo, de dejar de pensar y razonar por nosotros mismos, delegando todo a la IA hasta que perdamos la capacidad de discernir lo esencial.
Brunner parece advertirnos en profundidad precisamente sobre eso, que cualquier creación nuestra, por más brillante que sea, puede volverse letal si no le ponemos límites claros o no sabemos detenernos a tiempo.
A mí en lo personal, este relato me dio una dosis de conciencia, me hizo cuestionarme hasta qué punto estamos dispuestos a ceder el control y autonomía de nuestras vidas.
La recomendaría, ya que es una lectura corta y fluida.
Lectura realizada junto a @clasicoesleerte
Judas es un relato corto en donde John logra mostrar, de manera sutil pero impactante, cómo la tecnología puede convertirse en un arma de doble filo sin que nadie lo busque realmente.
En la historia vemos una sociedad que llega a idolatrar a un robot tan perfecto que lo considera una especie de dios. El autor nos lleva a reflexionar sobre nuestra propia dependencia de las máquinas; hoy la inteligencia artificial nos ayuda en muchísimos aspectos y es una herramienta valiosísima, pero existe el riesgo latente de caer en el facilismo, de dejar de pensar y razonar por nosotros mismos, delegando todo a la IA hasta que perdamos la capacidad de discernir lo esencial.
Brunner parece advertirnos en profundidad precisamente sobre eso, que cualquier creación nuestra, por más brillante que sea, puede volverse letal si no le ponemos límites claros o no sabemos detenernos a tiempo.
A mí en lo personal, este relato me dio una dosis de conciencia, me hizo cuestionarme hasta qué punto estamos dispuestos a ceder el control y autonomía de nuestras vidas.
La recomendaría, ya que es una lectura corta y fluida.
Lectura realizada junto a @clasicoesleerte
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2017
I don't know what he's like now, but, going off his introductions to the tales contained herein, in the late sixties and early seventies Harlan Ellison was fond of himself and his own voice. He was also evidently homophobic (there is talk of 'faggotry' and 'pathetic little homosexual'[s] (this last raised a sardonic smile with me as it is taken from the introduction to Samuel R Delany's contribution!)). Hopefully he's changed now, but it cannot be denied that the man did edit good SF.
Some of the stories here have dated badly, but nevertheless retain nostalgic value ('So that's what scared us then!'). Some can hardly still be termed 'dangerous'. However, quite a few remain the eye-openers they must have been on publication (notably the first (an argument in favour of incest), and the last (the Delany, and the only one here I've read before, which addresses sexual perverted(?) predilection). All are certainly worth reading, and I will be seeking out Dangerous Visions 1&2
Some of the stories here have dated badly, but nevertheless retain nostalgic value ('So that's what scared us then!'). Some can hardly still be termed 'dangerous'. However, quite a few remain the eye-openers they must have been on publication (notably the first (an argument in favour of incest), and the last (the Delany, and the only one here I've read before, which addresses sexual perverted(?) predilection). All are certainly worth reading, and I will be seeking out Dangerous Visions 1&2
July 18, 2021
Horriblemente aburrido. Este es el tercer volumen del proyecto que se titulo "Visiones Peligrosas".
Es una compilación de cuentos de los mas diversos autores de ciencia ficción, algunos ya famosos y consagrados, otros no tanto.
El creador del proyecto es el respetado escritor del genero Harlan Ellison. Y la idea original era excelente, se cumple en los dos primeros tomos. Consistía en publicar aquellos cuentos que eran difíciles de publicar en la editoriales grandes, porque no eran comerciales y los editores aconsejaban no sacar, por tocar temas escabrosos o polémicos, o tuvieran mucha carga política, sexual o directamente eran un delirio.
Pero en este ultimo tomo, la idea estaba agotada. Estos cuentos son malos, y sus autores no los publicaron por su mala calidad, no por los temas que tocaban.
Lo único rescatable son las introducciones que hace el propio Harlan con cada autor. Son muy informativas y graciosas. Son mejores que los cuentos que prologan.
Es una compilación de cuentos de los mas diversos autores de ciencia ficción, algunos ya famosos y consagrados, otros no tanto.
El creador del proyecto es el respetado escritor del genero Harlan Ellison. Y la idea original era excelente, se cumple en los dos primeros tomos. Consistía en publicar aquellos cuentos que eran difíciles de publicar en la editoriales grandes, porque no eran comerciales y los editores aconsejaban no sacar, por tocar temas escabrosos o polémicos, o tuvieran mucha carga política, sexual o directamente eran un delirio.
Pero en este ultimo tomo, la idea estaba agotada. Estos cuentos son malos, y sus autores no los publicaron por su mala calidad, no por los temas que tocaban.
Lo único rescatable son las introducciones que hace el propio Harlan con cada autor. Son muy informativas y graciosas. Son mejores que los cuentos que prologan.
August 4, 2024
I really wanted to like this book more than I did -- I've been a Harlan Ellison fan since my teens (I will never be able to forget 'I Have No Mouth and I must Scream' as THE creepiest (due to its complete plausibility) ever. The preface gave a long explanation of why this last Dangerous Visions book is only coming out now in stead of the originally scheduled 1974 -- the editor asks that we not spill the beans but it was not terribly surprising. I didn't love all of the stories, though. They didn't have dates so I couldn't tell which were old or new but the ones that seemed old did not actually feel like they aged well to me. Still, I'm happy to see the trilogy completed, some of the stories appealed, and I appreciated the personal touches about an absolute legend of a science fiction writer.
June 1, 2017
- If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? 2/5
- What Happened to Auguste Clarot? 2/5
- Ersatz 3.5/5
- Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird 4/5
- The Happy Breed 4/5
- Encounter With a Hick 3/5
- From the Government Printing Press 3/5
- Land of the Great Horses 1/5
- The Recognition (disappointing ending) 2/5
- Judas 4/5
- Test to Destruction 4/5
- Carcinoma Angels 2.5/5
- Auto Da-Fe 3/5
- Aye, and Gomorrah... 4/5
- What Happened to Auguste Clarot? 2/5
- Ersatz 3.5/5
- Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird 4/5
- The Happy Breed 4/5
- Encounter With a Hick 3/5
- From the Government Printing Press 3/5
- Land of the Great Horses 1/5
- The Recognition (disappointing ending) 2/5
- Judas 4/5
- Test to Destruction 4/5
- Carcinoma Angels 2.5/5
- Auto Da-Fe 3/5
- Aye, and Gomorrah... 4/5
February 27, 2024
Como muchas veces ocurre en las antologías, la calidad de los cuentos / relatos es muy heterogénea. Algunos de ellos, peligrosamente contingente. En particular recomiendo Judas, Prueba para la Destrucción, Angeles del Carcinoma, el Reconocimiento, la raza feliz y si todos los hombres fueran hermanos, ¿dejarías qué alguno se casara con tu hermana?.
June 24, 2024
Great stories in these anthologies. I don't read a whole lot of sci fi (the last sf book I read was Blindsight, now that's a dangerous vision), but I'm now inspired to seek out other works by these (many now classic) authors. Three paperback volumes in a box set. This was a singular reading experience.
December 20, 2022
Some entertaining ideas within the stories, but the casual sexism, racism and homophobia in both the stories and Ellison’s introductions - doubtless of their time - were distracting and at times highly distasteful.
December 18, 2018
5/10. Media de los 3 libros que he leído de este autor : 5/10
Son los tres libros de relatos de varios autores. De muy distintas calidades de unos a otros (como todas las recopilaciones, vamos)
Son los tres libros de relatos de varios autores. De muy distintas calidades de unos a otros (como todas las recopilaciones, vamos)
May 10, 2018
Tercera y última selección de relatos de ciencia ficción de Harlan Ellison, publicado en 1967. Es una selección de 14 relatos, de varios escritores, de los que el único autor que conozco de haber leído un libro, es J.G. Ballard, cuyo relato El reconocimiento destacaría del resto de relatos, casi todos bastante pobres, muy cortos y que no encajan en el género de ciencia ficción. Otros de los relatos que valen la pena es Prueba para la destrucción de Keith Laumer y como curiosidad para los que les gusten las corridas de toros, les aconsejo que lean Auto-da-fe de Roger Zelazny. De los tres libros que se publicaron de ésta esta antología, el 3º volumen es el más pobre, de los tres libros aconsejaría el segundo libro, el que desde mi punto de vista se ciñe más a una antología de relatos de ciencia ficción.
January 11, 2014
Harlan Ellison is an author who likes to shakes things up. He is well-known for his own dangerous visions and his skill at twisting the everyday and making it thought-provoking. And just when you think you've figured out what kind of writer he is...science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, horror, black comedy, psychological...he throws you a curve ball and does something completely different. Those qualities made him the perfect person to collect and edit the Dangerous Visions and Again, Dangerous Visions collections back in the 1960s.
Dangerous Visions #3 is the paperback version of one-third of the stories which appeared in the original hardback collection, Dangerous Visions. In it you will find stories by SF greats such as Theodore Sturgeon, Roger Zelazny, Norman Spinrad, J. G. Ballard and Samuel R. Delaney. You will also find names that may not be quite as well-known to you (this was at least the case with me): Kris Neville, Jonathan Brand, Sonya Dorman.... A total of fourteen stories which are every bit as disturbing and thought-provoking as when Ellison first tossed them out to the reading public in 1967.
My personal favorites:
"Judas" by John Brunner: where a man thinks he's defying and dismantling the mechanical "god" of his times...only to find that he's playing right into the myth.
"Test to Destruction" by Keith Laumer: A rebel leader is tested to the limit--both by his opponent and by alien forces. He manages to use one against the other...but at what cost to his own humanity?
"Encounter with a Hick" by Jonathan Brand: A young man's explanation to the court about why an elderly man dropped dead in a hotel bar. Some people just can't take the demolition of their cherished beliefs.
The stories are a mixture of styles and subject matter...as well as producing a mixture of reactions. There were a generous portion that I enjoyed and found interesting and through-provoking as well as those that just didn't touch a chord with me. And one that I just sat and thought "What?" the entire time I was reading it. Good solid science fiction selected by a master...three stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Dangerous Visions #3 is the paperback version of one-third of the stories which appeared in the original hardback collection, Dangerous Visions. In it you will find stories by SF greats such as Theodore Sturgeon, Roger Zelazny, Norman Spinrad, J. G. Ballard and Samuel R. Delaney. You will also find names that may not be quite as well-known to you (this was at least the case with me): Kris Neville, Jonathan Brand, Sonya Dorman.... A total of fourteen stories which are every bit as disturbing and thought-provoking as when Ellison first tossed them out to the reading public in 1967.
My personal favorites:
"Judas" by John Brunner: where a man thinks he's defying and dismantling the mechanical "god" of his times...only to find that he's playing right into the myth.
"Test to Destruction" by Keith Laumer: A rebel leader is tested to the limit--both by his opponent and by alien forces. He manages to use one against the other...but at what cost to his own humanity?
"Encounter with a Hick" by Jonathan Brand: A young man's explanation to the court about why an elderly man dropped dead in a hotel bar. Some people just can't take the demolition of their cherished beliefs.
The stories are a mixture of styles and subject matter...as well as producing a mixture of reactions. There were a generous portion that I enjoyed and found interesting and through-provoking as well as those that just didn't touch a chord with me. And one that I just sat and thought "What?" the entire time I was reading it. Good solid science fiction selected by a master...three stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
April 20, 2013
Tercer volumen de la recopilación de Harlan ELLISON entre los que destacan:
"Si todos los hombres fueran hermanos, ¿dejarías que alguno se casara con tu hermana?", de Theodore STURGEON Trata un tema ciertamente delicado
"La raza feliz", de John T. SLADEK ¿un precursor del guión de Matrix?, aunque lo mejor me parece el final del comentario que el propio autor hace sobre su obra.
"Encuentro con un rústico", de Jonathan BRAND Mi preferida de esta selección, realmente divertida y se lee en un suspiro.
"Desde la imprenta oficial del gobierno", de Kris NEVILLE Si los niños son nuestro futuro, ¿por qué tratarlos así?
"La Región de los Grandes Caballos", de R. A. LAFFERTY Realmente original, y da explicación a la constante migración de los gitanos por el mundo. Muy bueno.
"Si todos los hombres fueran hermanos, ¿dejarías que alguno se casara con tu hermana?", de Theodore STURGEON Trata un tema ciertamente delicado
"La raza feliz", de John T. SLADEK ¿un precursor del guión de Matrix?, aunque lo mejor me parece el final del comentario que el propio autor hace sobre su obra.
"Encuentro con un rústico", de Jonathan BRAND Mi preferida de esta selección, realmente divertida y se lee en un suspiro.
"Desde la imprenta oficial del gobierno", de Kris NEVILLE Si los niños son nuestro futuro, ¿por qué tratarlos así?
"La Región de los Grandes Caballos", de R. A. LAFFERTY Realmente original, y da explicación a la constante migración de los gitanos por el mundo. Muy bueno.
February 18, 2015
En este volumen final ya se pueden apreciar relatos de ciencia ficción más convencionales, donde se tocan temas no convencionales o de una forma no heterodoxa: un extraño relato acerca del cancer, una corrida de toros donde en vez de toros se usan automóviles, una Tierra futura donde los habitantes del espacio (espcianos) ya son otalmente asexuados, pero, de una forma extraña y pervertida, son altamente codiciados por los terrestres....
En fin, historias que entran dentro de lo que se puede definir como "Visiones Peligrosas".
En fin, historias que entran dentro de lo que se puede definir como "Visiones Peligrosas".
June 9, 2018
Chequear si esta es la del ISBN 8475300931
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