Scan barcode
the_other_yvonne's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jmcook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
electrozombie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
johnayliff's review against another edition
5.0
The 2012 Gollancz SF Masterworks edition of Dangerous Visions includes no fewer than six pieces of front-matter: an introduction to the new edition by Adam Roberts; a foreword by Michael Moorcock and an introduction by Harlan Ellison from 2002; and the original 1967 front-matter, two forewords by Isaac Asimov and an introduction by Ellison. Seeing these on the contents page, one gets the impression that this is not a mere short story collection but a historical document, to be published and re-published and to acquire new strata of introductions each time.
This impression speaks to the success of Ellison's original mission: to create not just a book, but "a revolution." Today, the book reads like a primer in New Wave SF. Read this, and if you like an author's story, go on to seek out their novels...
Of the pieces of front-matter, the best is the first of Asimov's two forewords, 'The Second Revolution'. In it he briefly sets out the history of SF: the Cambellian Golden Age was a revolution that displaced the raygun adventures and scientific monologues of the earlier pulps, but "all Golden Ages contain the seeds of their own destruction;" the first revolution had run its course, and the way was open for a second revolution to further develop the genre. Asimov places himself firmly in the camp of Golden Age writers unable to make the transition to the new age, and the foreword is sympathetic to both what has come before and what will come after. In contrast, Ellison's own introduction covers the same ground but in a more bombastic and loaded manner, and sometimes shows contempt for SF history before his own movement.
In addition to the front-matter of the volume as a whole, each of the 33 stories has an introduction by Harlan Ellison and an afterword by the story's author. The presence of these introductions and afterwords enhance the feeling that this book wants to be seen as important, with stories so dangerous that they must be separated from one another as if by cotton wool. The introductions sometimes contain interesting biographical information, but mostly consist of grandiose anecdotes about how Ellison knows the author and what he thinks of them. The afterwords mostly feel superfluous.
The stories themselves, while not as dangerous today as they would have been in 1967, still range from the good to the excellent. My particular favourites were Philip K. Dick's reality-bending conspiracy story, 'Faith of our Fathers'; John T. Sladek's story of soul-destroyingly benevolent computer caretakers, 'The Happy Breed'; and especially Samuel R. Delaney's poignant tale of a futuristic sexual fetish in 'Aye, And Gomorrah...'. Despite the front-matter, the book is well worth reading both as a historical artefact and as a collection of great stories.
This impression speaks to the success of Ellison's original mission: to create not just a book, but "a revolution." Today, the book reads like a primer in New Wave SF. Read this, and if you like an author's story, go on to seek out their novels...
Of the pieces of front-matter, the best is the first of Asimov's two forewords, 'The Second Revolution'. In it he briefly sets out the history of SF: the Cambellian Golden Age was a revolution that displaced the raygun adventures and scientific monologues of the earlier pulps, but "all Golden Ages contain the seeds of their own destruction;" the first revolution had run its course, and the way was open for a second revolution to further develop the genre. Asimov places himself firmly in the camp of Golden Age writers unable to make the transition to the new age, and the foreword is sympathetic to both what has come before and what will come after. In contrast, Ellison's own introduction covers the same ground but in a more bombastic and loaded manner, and sometimes shows contempt for SF history before his own movement.
In addition to the front-matter of the volume as a whole, each of the 33 stories has an introduction by Harlan Ellison and an afterword by the story's author. The presence of these introductions and afterwords enhance the feeling that this book wants to be seen as important, with stories so dangerous that they must be separated from one another as if by cotton wool. The introductions sometimes contain interesting biographical information, but mostly consist of grandiose anecdotes about how Ellison knows the author and what he thinks of them. The afterwords mostly feel superfluous.
The stories themselves, while not as dangerous today as they would have been in 1967, still range from the good to the excellent. My particular favourites were Philip K. Dick's reality-bending conspiracy story, 'Faith of our Fathers'; John T. Sladek's story of soul-destroyingly benevolent computer caretakers, 'The Happy Breed'; and especially Samuel R. Delaney's poignant tale of a futuristic sexual fetish in 'Aye, And Gomorrah...'. Despite the front-matter, the book is well worth reading both as a historical artefact and as a collection of great stories.
ppetropoulakis's review against another edition
4.0
This book was created in the sixties. It consists of thirty or so short stories edited by Harlan Ellison . It was all written before the moon landing and all the rest of the triumphs of the space age. Considering the age of the stories it is compelling to read. Most of the stories are made to shock an audience that had not confronted science fictional taboos until then. Some stories still shock and some have now become diffused into the pop culture.
nevr0mancer's review against another edition
3.0
An anthology is like a box of assorted Mike's Hard Lemonades; you never know what you're gonna get. This book was a pot of interesting concepts and a few duds for flavor, but I'm glad to have given it a chance.
absolutely's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
will_cherico's review against another edition
I loved the stories in here, but I need to come back to this when I can invest more brain power into it.
curiously_curious's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyed them all, but the ones that particularly stood out are:
Flies Robert Silverberg
The day after the day the martians came Frederik POHL
The man who went to the moon twice Howard Rodman
The Jigsaw Man Larry Niven
The doll house James Cross
Shall the dust praise thee? Damon Knight
Judas John Brunner
Flies Robert Silverberg
The day after the day the martians came Frederik POHL
The man who went to the moon twice Howard Rodman
The Jigsaw Man Larry Niven
The doll house James Cross
Shall the dust praise thee? Damon Knight
Judas John Brunner