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Bad Moon Rising: An Anthology of Political Forebodings
- GenresShort Stories
302 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
61 people want to read
About the author
Thomas M. Disch
378 books320 followersThomas Michael Disch was an American science fiction writer and poet. He won the Hugo Award for Best Related Book—previously called "Best Non-Fiction Book"—in 1999. He had two other Hugo nominations and nine Nebula Award nominations to his credit, plus one win of the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, a Rhysling Award, and two Seiun Awards, among others.
His writing includes substantial periodical work, such as regular book and theater reviews for The Nation, The Weekly Standard, Harper's, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Times Literary Supplement, and Entertainment Weekly.
As a fiction writer and a poet, Disch felt typecast by his science fiction roots. "I have a class theory of literature. I come from the wrong neighborhood to sell to The New Yorker. No matter how good I am as an artist, they always can smell where I come from".
Following an extended period of depression after the death in 2005 of his life-partner, Charles Naylor, Disch stopped writing almost entirely, except for poetry and blog entries, although he did produce two novellas. Disch fatally shot himself on July 4, 2008, in his Manhatten (NYC) apartment.
Naylor and Disch are buried alongside each other at Saint Johns Episcopal Church Columbarium, Dubuque, Iowa. His last book, The Word of God, which was written shortly before Naylor died, was published a few days before Disch's death.
His writing includes substantial periodical work, such as regular book and theater reviews for The Nation, The Weekly Standard, Harper's, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Times Literary Supplement, and Entertainment Weekly.
As a fiction writer and a poet, Disch felt typecast by his science fiction roots. "I have a class theory of literature. I come from the wrong neighborhood to sell to The New Yorker. No matter how good I am as an artist, they always can smell where I come from".
Following an extended period of depression after the death in 2005 of his life-partner, Charles Naylor, Disch stopped writing almost entirely, except for poetry and blog entries, although he did produce two novellas. Disch fatally shot himself on July 4, 2008, in his Manhatten (NYC) apartment.
Naylor and Disch are buried alongside each other at Saint Johns Episcopal Church Columbarium, Dubuque, Iowa. His last book, The Word of God, which was written shortly before Naylor died, was published a few days before Disch's death.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 14, 2021
Bad Moon Rising was an excellent (if little-known) anthology that didn't seem to find its audience. It seemed a very literary book, and the science fiction field took little notice of it; I don't believe there was ever a paperback edition. Subtitled "An Anthology of Political Foreboding," it contains mostly dystopian stories about ecological doom and political malfeasance, most of which fell short of the mark of pessimism compared to what became the reality the world experienced in the years that were forecast. John Sladek's story The Great Wall of Mexico seems particularly prescient. The book contains some poetry (notable ones from Marilyn Hacker, who was married to Samuel R. Delany), and very good stories by Kate Wilhelm, Michael Moorcock, Carol Emshwiller, Gene Wolfe, Robert Silverberg, and Kit Reed. I most enjoyed the contributions from George Alec Effinger, and Harlan Ellison's The Whimper of Whipped Dogs.
May 3, 2013
I found it sometimes eerie to read these science fiction stories, some of them prescient, from the early 1970s. The incipient eco-awareness, which even then felt urgent to some of the writers in this anthology, is particularly (should I say tragically?) touching after 40 more years of not-enough people listening.
But mostly I am writing this review to say that the two tales by Geoff Alec Effinger that collectively go by the title of Two Sadnesses very well may be the saddest things I've ever read.
For that alone, 5 stars.
But mostly I am writing this review to say that the two tales by Geoff Alec Effinger that collectively go by the title of Two Sadnesses very well may be the saddest things I've ever read.
For that alone, 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews