"Man Against Tomorrow" edited by William F. Nolan is my favorite science fiction anthology with stories written by some of the masters of the genre including Ray Bradbury, Kris Neville, and William F. Nolan.
One of the best stories of the collection is also the shortest in length. "The Room" by Ray Russell is about a future not far removed from our own in which people are constantly bombarded with advertising.
"After The Sirens" by Hugh Hood is a terrifying real-time depiction of a nuclear attack.
"The Freeway" by George Clayton Johnson is one man's rebellion against a sterile, controlled, and mechanized society. The following passage is from The Freeway: "He looked at the automobiles flowing past him in a great tide and listened to the drum of engines on the still desert air. The reflected light from the sun-dazzled doors and fenders hammered at his eyes. Damn them, he thought, I don't need any of them! Setting his shoulders, he turned away, into the desert. The freeway dwindled behind him; the hurrying cars vanished into hot silence. Only the waiting land surrounded him now. Ahead, behind, to either side.
Arthur C. Danyluk moved out to face the enemy."
"Nobody Starves" is a satire in which a man finds himself hopelessly entangled in an uncaring,tone-deaf government bureacracy.
In my opinion, Man Against Tomorrow, is one of the most thought-provoking and entertaining collections you will ever read.
Showing posts with label science fiction books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science fiction books. Show all posts
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Book Reviewi The Wounded Planet edited by Roger Ellwood and Virginia Kidd
THE WOUNDED PLANET [originally published as SAVING WORLDS]
"The Wounded Planet" Edited by Roger Elwood and Virginia Kidd is a collection of science fiction stories that addresses the problem of pollution and the effects of man -made pollution on the natural world.The Wounded Planet was first published in the early 1970s when pollution was much more obvious.In the 1960s and 70s, many large cities like Los Angeles had regular smog alerts, and rivers and lakes across America were badly polluted.
New federal and state regulations such as the "clean air act"and clean water act, have helped to alleviate some of these problems. Modern pollution is not as easily recognizable as a smokestack belching out black smoke. Today, we have chemicals from plastics and other materials that can cause numerous physical disorders. Thousands of wildlife species are at risk of extinction mainly because of human encroachment. And then there is climate change. My favorite story in The Wounded Planet is "Beautyland" By Gene Wolfe. Sometime in the distant future, a man owns some of the last unspoiled land left in the world.Unfortunately, the owner of the land needs money and has to sell it. Even though "Beautyland" was written several decades ago, the ending is an accurate commentary on todays youtube and reality tv obsessed culture. I recommend The Wounded Planet for science fiction fans that also care about the Earth.
"The Wounded Planet" Edited by Roger Elwood and Virginia Kidd is a collection of science fiction stories that addresses the problem of pollution and the effects of man -made pollution on the natural world.The Wounded Planet was first published in the early 1970s when pollution was much more obvious.In the 1960s and 70s, many large cities like Los Angeles had regular smog alerts, and rivers and lakes across America were badly polluted. New federal and state regulations such as the "clean air act"and clean water act, have helped to alleviate some of these problems. Modern pollution is not as easily recognizable as a smokestack belching out black smoke. Today, we have chemicals from plastics and other materials that can cause numerous physical disorders. Thousands of wildlife species are at risk of extinction mainly because of human encroachment. And then there is climate change. My favorite story in The Wounded Planet is "Beautyland" By Gene Wolfe. Sometime in the distant future, a man owns some of the last unspoiled land left in the world.Unfortunately, the owner of the land needs money and has to sell it. Even though "Beautyland" was written several decades ago, the ending is an accurate commentary on todays youtube and reality tv obsessed culture. I recommend The Wounded Planet for science fiction fans that also care about the Earth.
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