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Science Fiction
Complete with everything: aliens, giant ants, space cadets, robots, one plucky girl.
- GenresScience Fiction
58 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1981
28 people want to read
About the author
No Frills Entertainment
4 books1 followerCreated by Terry Bisson who was editor and copy chief with Berkley/Jove. Bisson thought of the idea and sold it to Jove. He wrote the copy. The writers got $750 for all rights.
The books got lots of reviews in papers all over the country including the New York Times Book Review (reviewers loved the idea) but almost no sales.
The books got lots of reviews in papers all over the country including the New York Times Book Review (reviewers loved the idea) but almost no sales.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 10, 2013
This was a little gimmick series put out in 1981. There were 4 books in the series. Mystery, Romance, Western, and of course Science Fiction. They were supposed to be no-frill versions of each of the genre types. There is no author listedor even a blurb on the back. The cover is white with black printing like the generic brand of foods that flourished for awhile.
Science Fiction is supposed to be complete with everything: aliens, giant ants, space cadets, robots, and one plucky girl. It does deliver all these things. The plot is very juvenile and reminds of a cross between a dated 1950's science fiction movie and a bad anime premise. I did get a good laugh when they said there was a station on Pluto and the year was 2003.
This is better as a jokey collectible than a book to read. I got my copy at the library booksale for 25 cents. I wouldn't really pay too much more than that though.
Science Fiction is supposed to be complete with everything: aliens, giant ants, space cadets, robots, and one plucky girl. It does deliver all these things. The plot is very juvenile and reminds of a cross between a dated 1950's science fiction movie and a bad anime premise. I did get a good laugh when they said there was a station on Pluto and the year was 2003.
This is better as a jokey collectible than a book to read. I got my copy at the library booksale for 25 cents. I wouldn't really pay too much more than that though.
November 12, 2015
A space cadet is called to the commander's office at the moon academy. His father is the lone known survivor of the Pluto colony, and asks for his son to join him in the search for what happened. They assemble a crew and blast off to Pluto, where they stumble upon few clues but several surprises.
Formulaic, and fulfilling all words on the cover ("Complete with everything: aliens, giant ants, space cadets, robots, one plucky girl). The "one plucky girl" line suggests to me that this story wasn't intended for women, but I don't think the story was demeaning or exclusive. There is no listed author, but there appear to be several other genre books in the "No-Frills" series. I like what they did here (true to title, certainly), but I'm not very interested in the other genres, so I think I'm through with the series. Aside from the that happily end the book, it was pretty pleasant for an hour or two read.
Formulaic, and fulfilling all words on the cover ("Complete with everything: aliens, giant ants, space cadets, robots, one plucky girl). The "one plucky girl" line suggests to me that this story wasn't intended for women, but I don't think the story was demeaning or exclusive. There is no listed author, but there appear to be several other genre books in the "No-Frills" series. I like what they did here (true to title, certainly), but I'm not very interested in the other genres, so I think I'm through with the series. Aside from the that happily end the book, it was pretty pleasant for an hour or two read.
June 27, 2014
This gets a 3-star rating simply because of how awesome it is. It's literally a generic science fiction book. That's the title: "Science Fiction." There's no author, there's no plot synopsis (although on the front it does say it has everything science fiction fans want). This is by far the weirdest, coolest book that I've found.
Unfortunately, the story is just as generic as the rest of the package. On the plus side, it's short (only 57 pages) so you can be done with it in under an hour. If this had an actual title and author and cover art, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. So it's a weird collectible, but not a great read.
Unfortunately, the story is just as generic as the rest of the package. On the plus side, it's short (only 57 pages) so you can be done with it in under an hour. If this had an actual title and author and cover art, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. So it's a weird collectible, but not a great read.
August 1, 2019
My least favorite of the "No Frills" series of books, but still very important.
Readers: Read this work slowly. Ditch all your speed-read tricks and tics. Savor each sentence.
Writers: Study this work carefully. Look beyond the "parody" camouflage, and learn the essence or the quintessence of the genre.
The target genre here is "juvenile science fiction," along the lines of Heinlein's juveniles (excepting Starship Troopers!) or Asimov's "Lucky Starr" series. This is an important distinction, since a reader who wants anything else, like Orwellian Dystopia or Beastman Utopia or Robot Revolution, et al., will suffer some degree of disappointment.
Consider it "The Bluffer's Guide to Sense of Wonder."
Some non-spoiler gems: In the story their trip from Earth to Pluto takes months. Holy Hard Science--this ain't Star Trek! Sounds like maybe 1-G constant acceleration for a middle range (39 AU) to far range (49 AU) Pluto, voyages that would clock in at 42 days and 54 days respectively.
Next gem, a character is injured when Pluto ETA is 26 days. This character is up and about when Pluto ETA is 4 days, implying that recovery time was 22 days. This ain't Star Trek!
Third gem, the science of "psychoceramics." This might sound like a lame takeoff of Asimov's famous "psychohistory" (c. 1942), but in fact it is part of Brown University lore since 1929. This lore ties in with the story's supporting character Professor Josiah Carberry, apparently based upon the figure at Brown, who has his own Wikipedia page!
Readers: Read this work slowly. Ditch all your speed-read tricks and tics. Savor each sentence.
Writers: Study this work carefully. Look beyond the "parody" camouflage, and learn the essence or the quintessence of the genre.
The target genre here is "juvenile science fiction," along the lines of Heinlein's juveniles (excepting Starship Troopers!) or Asimov's "Lucky Starr" series. This is an important distinction, since a reader who wants anything else, like Orwellian Dystopia or Beastman Utopia or Robot Revolution, et al., will suffer some degree of disappointment.
Consider it "The Bluffer's Guide to Sense of Wonder."
Some non-spoiler gems: In the story their trip from Earth to Pluto takes months. Holy Hard Science--this ain't Star Trek! Sounds like maybe 1-G constant acceleration for a middle range (39 AU) to far range (49 AU) Pluto, voyages that would clock in at 42 days and 54 days respectively.
Next gem, a character is injured when Pluto ETA is 26 days. This character is up and about when Pluto ETA is 4 days, implying that recovery time was 22 days. This ain't Star Trek!
Third gem, the science of "psychoceramics." This might sound like a lame takeoff of Asimov's famous "psychohistory" (c. 1942), but in fact it is part of Brown University lore since 1929. This lore ties in with the story's supporting character Professor Josiah Carberry, apparently based upon the figure at Brown, who has his own Wikipedia page!
September 6, 2022
It's a spoof of the science fiction genre. If you are into spoofs then you'll enjoy it. If not then it is best to stay away from it.
No "date read" is provided because I bought and read this book at least 30 years ago.
No "date read" is provided because I bought and read this book at least 30 years ago.
December 11, 2018
Entertaining and fun. It was like watching an episode of a Sci-Fi TV show. Not bad for a quarter from the Library Book Sale.
January 10, 2014
I was intrigued by the no frills approach. The story is only 58 pages long but claims to have all of the main elements of a science fiction story: aliens, robots and adventure. I was a little surprised that the story had a decent plot and was a likable tale. There were several rough spots in the plot that my brain tripped over but I am glad that I took the time to read this short, no-frills book.
December 22, 2016
Very short book, at around 50 pages (or less, cant remember). Good for a laugh or two.
To see my full review, check my blog at: http://ozmosisbookmarked.blogspot.com...
To see my full review, check my blog at: http://ozmosisbookmarked.blogspot.com...
September 29, 2009
more like a short story that was neat and action-packed, but then i got really angry with the ending, so... yeah. it was fun. beach read. under a hundred pages.
March 17, 2014
Bought a copy of this brand new when the craze for "generic" stuff was at its height. Woo hoo! It is indeed science fiction.
March 29, 2017
Let's say....two and a half stars....
Didn't suck...for what it was.
I liked the idea of a generic science fiction book...As a joke novelty....but the story moved along ok and it was short and to the point.
Didn't suck...for what it was.
I liked the idea of a generic science fiction book...As a joke novelty....but the story moved along ok and it was short and to the point.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews