Theodore Sturgeon
Paperback | Pages: 387 pages Rating: 4 | 412 Users | 40 Reviews
Describe Containing Books The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume 1: The Ultimate Egoist (The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon #1)
| Title | : | The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume 1: The Ultimate Egoist (The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon #1) |
| Author | : | Theodore Sturgeon |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 387 pages |
| Published | : | November 12th 1998 by North Atlantic Books (first published February 1995) |
| Categories | : | Science Fiction. Short Stories. Fiction. Fantasy. Horror |
Interpretation In Favor Of Books The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume 1: The Ultimate Egoist (The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon #1)
The Ultimate Egoist, the first volume of The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, contains the late author's earliest work, written from 1937 to 1940. Although Sturgeon's reach was limited to the lengths of the short story and novelette, his influence was strongly felt by even the most original science fiction stylists, including Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, and Gene Wolfe, each of whom contributes a laudatory foreword. The more than 40 stories here showcase Sturgeon's masterful knack with clever, O. Henry-ish plot twists, sparkling character development, and almost archetypal, why didn't I think of that? story ideas. Early Sturgeon masterpieces include "It," about the violence done by a creature spontaneously born from garbage and mud, and "Helix the Cat," about an inventor's bizarre encounter with a disembodied soul and the cat that saves it. Sturgeon's unique genius is timelessly entertaining.Table of Contents:
Forewords by Ray Bradbury,
Arthur C. Clarke, and Gene Wolfe
Stories:
Heavy Insurance
The Heart
Cellmate
Fluffy
Alter Ego (prev unpub)
Mailed Through a Porthole
A Noose of Light (prev unpub)
Strangers on a Train (prev unpub)
Accidentally on Porpoise
The Right Line (prev unpub)
Golden Day
Permit Me My Gesture
Watch My Smoke
The Other Cheek
Extraordinary Seamen
One Sick Kid
His Good Angel
Some People Forget
A God in a Garden
Fit for a King
Ex-Bachelor Extract
East is East
Three People (prev unpub)
Eyes of Blue
Ether Breather
Her Choice
Cajun Providence
Strike Three (prev unpub)
Contact!
The Call
Helix the Cat
To Shorten Sale
Thanksgiving Again (prev unpub)
Bianca's Hands
Derm Fool
He Shuttles
Turkish Delight
Niobe
The Long Arm
The Man on the Steps
Punctuational Advice
A Place of Honor
The Ultimate Egoist
It
Butyl and the Breather
Look Around You (poem)
Mahout
List Books As The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume 1: The Ultimate Egoist (The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon #1)
| Original Title: | The Ultimate Egoist |
| ISBN: | 1556432992 (ISBN13: 9781556432996) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon #1 |
Rating Containing Books The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume 1: The Ultimate Egoist (The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon #1)
Ratings: 4 From 412 Users | 40 ReviewsWrite-Up Containing Books The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, Volume 1: The Ultimate Egoist (The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon #1)
I can never put down one of Sturgeon's stories without pondering it for a long time after.This is a fascinating collection of Theodore Sturgeon's earliest published stories, from 1938-1940, when he was in his early 20s. Although he is remembered as an author of science fiction and fantasy stories, many of the works in this volume are short-short stories that are not science fiction or fantasy. These are stories that he sold mostly to the McClure syndicate and, while they are not his greatest works, they are interesting examples of a young, very talented writer honing his craft. Of
3.5 to 4.0 stars. I have not read all of the stories in this volume so this review is for the stories listed below (I will update the review periodically as I read more stories):Heavy Insurance - Sturgeon's first published story about an attempted insurance scam that has unintended consequences. 2.5 stars. Heart - Early short story about a lovers wish having disastrous consequences. 3.5 stars. Bianca's Hands - One of Sturgeon's best horror stories ever. Chilling, original and haunting. 4.5 to
I've been excited by the prospect of this book for quite some time. Imagine all the Sturgeon short stories collected in a series of volumes, and not just the ones that were published or previously collected, but all of them. Edited and with notes, to top it off, by that most meticulous of literary executors, Paul Williams (the man behind the Collected Philip K. Dick). Unfortunately, Sturgeon never attracted the same fanaticism that Dick did, and this project was on shaky ground for some time.
Included stories:Heavy InsuranceThe HeartCellmateFluffyAlter EgoMailed through a PortholeA Noose of LightStrangers on a TrainAccidentally on PurposeThe Right LineGolden DayPermit Me My GestureWatch My SmokeThe Other CheekExtraordinary SeamanOne Sick KidHis Good AngelSome People ForgetA God in a GardenFit for a KingEx-Bachelor ExtractEast is EastThree PeopleEyes of BlueEther BreatherHer ChoiceCajun ProvidenceStrike ThreeContact!The CallHelix the CatTo Shorten SailThanksgiving AgainBianca's Hands
I'm giving this book FIVE STARS in one sense and only TWO STARSin another sense.So, five stars because it's great that there is this magnificently done huge 13 book long series of the Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon. Along with five or six other SF writers, he deserves nothing less. Also, it's done with love and care - the story notes at the back are delightfully comprehensive. Really great stuff.Now the two stars. I read the first nine stories here and only one of them wasn't a turkey.
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