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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
One word to describe this novel: 'PhiloSciFi'.
An amazing novel, but not for the faint of heart.
[b:Star Maker|525304|Star Maker (SF Masterworks, #21)|Olaf Stapledon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175538594s/525304.jpg|1631492] is definitely not a standard novel in any sense of the word. In fact, I'm sure it wouldn't even be classed as a novel by definition. It's more of a science fiction based philosophical adventure (hence, PhiloSciFi!), where he (Stapledon) jumps from one amazing concept to the next. The novel(?) really appealed to the "Wow, what if that were true?" part of my mind, and it appears to have done the same to the following generation of sci-fi writers, with many borrowing some of his concepts. It is even more amazing when considering his lack of influences - H.G. Wells offering only humanoid aliens from Mars and giant ants (no disrespect intended, H.G.), Verne with deep sea monsters, etc. - all while Stapledon imagines the biologies and minds of whole civilisations, many fundamentally different to our own. Amazing!
An amazing novel, but not for the faint of heart.
[b:Star Maker|525304|Star Maker (SF Masterworks, #21)|Olaf Stapledon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175538594s/525304.jpg|1631492] is definitely not a standard novel in any sense of the word. In fact, I'm sure it wouldn't even be classed as a novel by definition. It's more of a science fiction based philosophical adventure (hence, PhiloSciFi!), where he (Stapledon) jumps from one amazing concept to the next. The novel(?) really appealed to the "Wow, what if that were true?" part of my mind, and it appears to have done the same to the following generation of sci-fi writers, with many borrowing some of his concepts. It is even more amazing when considering his lack of influences - H.G. Wells offering only humanoid aliens from Mars and giant ants (no disrespect intended, H.G.), Verne with deep sea monsters, etc. - all while Stapledon imagines the biologies and minds of whole civilisations, many fundamentally different to our own. Amazing!
My favourite book of all time. I first read it around the age of 12, read it and Last and First Men several times in the same year, the rest of his novels soon after, and read Star Maker once a year for the next several. I'm likely closing in on having read it 10 times, and it has lost none of the lustre it held for me the first time. If anything, it has grown in depth and beauty. The day I no longer want to read Star Maker is the day I stop reading for good.
Stapledon certainly isn't for everyone. If you want characters or conventional narrative, there is nearly nothing for you here (but read Sirius or A Man Divided, please). But for us who Stapledon speaks to, there is no comparison. After nearly a century, he has yet to be equalled, let alone surpassed. Stephen Baxter has come close in expansive visions of life permeating the universe across massive spans of time, but he lacks the universal sympathy, the yearning for a purpose to our suffering, the desire to stoically meet tragedy with joy and acceptance (though in retrospect Baxter's Manifold: Space comes close, maybe I should give him another shot).
Though this book can be read alone, the fullest reading experience is to read this, Last and First Men, and Last Men in London. This book's cosmic scale is unmatched, but even though Stapledon conveys the diversity of the forms and mentalities of the many races forming his multi-galactic utopia, he necessarily has to leave a lot unsaid of their history, and can give the impression those were all broadly similar. Last and First Men gives a close in view of one species, giving an idea of the extent of the unique convolutions possible in the millennia long struggle for each successive level of utopia. Last Men in London goes even closer, with as one of its two principal characters a single one of the last men.
All of Stapledon's novels develop similar themes, but these three form the most coherent whole (and take place in the same universe). One can extend a little further, with Humpty from Last Men in London obviously being one of the submerged supermen of Odd John, and Sirius references Odd John as Sirius' father wonders what his superdog experiment could create if applied to a human being. The Flames of The Flames could easily be a type of the stellar vermin described in Star Maker, and nothing would stop A Man Divided from fitting in either. The rest are clearly incompatible future histories.
Despite this, certain images reverberate. The ineffable god-smell of Sirius is reflected in the Other Men of Star Maker. The image of the universe as a snowstorm of galaxies, and the pre-utopian brute-men eaten by rats, are elaborated in different contexts in Darkness and the Light. The idea of the human spirit as music suffuses all his works. I really should bite the bullet and read his non-fiction, his doctoral dissertation, his letters, everything.
Stapledon certainly isn't for everyone. If you want characters or conventional narrative, there is nearly nothing for you here (but read Sirius or A Man Divided, please). But for us who Stapledon speaks to, there is no comparison. After nearly a century, he has yet to be equalled, let alone surpassed. Stephen Baxter has come close in expansive visions of life permeating the universe across massive spans of time, but he lacks the universal sympathy, the yearning for a purpose to our suffering, the desire to stoically meet tragedy with joy and acceptance (though in retrospect Baxter's Manifold: Space comes close, maybe I should give him another shot).
Though this book can be read alone, the fullest reading experience is to read this, Last and First Men, and Last Men in London. This book's cosmic scale is unmatched, but even though Stapledon conveys the diversity of the forms and mentalities of the many races forming his multi-galactic utopia, he necessarily has to leave a lot unsaid of their history, and can give the impression those were all broadly similar. Last and First Men gives a close in view of one species, giving an idea of the extent of the unique convolutions possible in the millennia long struggle for each successive level of utopia. Last Men in London goes even closer, with as one of its two principal characters a single one of the last men.
All of Stapledon's novels develop similar themes, but these three form the most coherent whole (and take place in the same universe). One can extend a little further, with Humpty from Last Men in London obviously being one of the submerged supermen of Odd John, and Sirius references Odd John as Sirius' father wonders what his superdog experiment could create if applied to a human being. The Flames of The Flames could easily be a type of the stellar vermin described in Star Maker, and nothing would stop A Man Divided from fitting in either. The rest are clearly incompatible future histories.
Despite this, certain images reverberate. The ineffable god-smell of Sirius is reflected in the Other Men of Star Maker. The image of the universe as a snowstorm of galaxies, and the pre-utopian brute-men eaten by rats, are elaborated in different contexts in Darkness and the Light. The idea of the human spirit as music suffuses all his works. I really should bite the bullet and read his non-fiction, his doctoral dissertation, his letters, everything.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good start and alright ending but so much tedious crap in there that should be cut out. Quite abstract but an experimental form would be better as a shorter book I’d say.
4.5/10
I think this book was ahead of it's time as far as cosmological theory. There are some very interesting ideas about how other races on other worlds could have evolved and how life could spread it's influence throughout the galaxy.
Unfortunately this book shows it's age in 2 ways, neither of which I liked. First: older books tend to take way too long to say anything, as if the author was being paid per page written - this book is no exception. Why say something in one sentence if you can drag it out for a paragraph, or even better a whole page?
Second, back when this book was written we didn't know much about the cosmos and cosmology was still heavy on philosophy. This book is also very heavy on philosophy and phychology in a science fictional setting.
Overall there were some very interesting ideas presented, it's too bad you have to dig so deep to find the occasional nugget.
I think this book was ahead of it's time as far as cosmological theory. There are some very interesting ideas about how other races on other worlds could have evolved and how life could spread it's influence throughout the galaxy.
Unfortunately this book shows it's age in 2 ways, neither of which I liked. First: older books tend to take way too long to say anything, as if the author was being paid per page written - this book is no exception. Why say something in one sentence if you can drag it out for a paragraph, or even better a whole page?
Second, back when this book was written we didn't know much about the cosmos and cosmology was still heavy on philosophy. This book is also very heavy on philosophy and phychology in a science fictional setting.
Overall there were some very interesting ideas presented, it's too bad you have to dig so deep to find the occasional nugget.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
For all the faults of classic scifi stories, I often find myself going back to Stapledon’s work. Almost a century later, it’s still unmatched terms of originality, intelligence, beauty and philosophy.
This book was a favourite of mine as a teenager, and I was looking forward to revisiting it as an adult, and I found myself looking back on the way sf really transformed me as a person, the way the character is transformed by his trip. It has been a very impactful story on my young mind, and it still moved me quite a lot at almost 30. The creativity, the nihilism, the questions, the immensity of such a small book.
What can I say.
I fucking love SF.
This book was a favourite of mine as a teenager, and I was looking forward to revisiting it as an adult, and I found myself looking back on the way sf really transformed me as a person, the way the character is transformed by his trip. It has been a very impactful story on my young mind, and it still moved me quite a lot at almost 30. The creativity, the nihilism, the questions, the immensity of such a small book.
What can I say.
I fucking love SF.
Olaf Stapledon's "Star Maker" starts as our narrator and guide finds himself a disembodied awareness with "a point of view." From that point of view he is joined first by another conscience, where he discovers he has access to their memories, feelings, all their mental awareness and activity is now shared with our human character. Then, one by one, more consciences join them until his a small bit of what he refers to as a "cosmical mind. ("Cosmical" is such an awkward word I read it as "cosmic" instead. Worked fine.)
This "mind" travels thru space and time witnessing the birth, life, and death of the stars and galaxies of the universe.
What he, and thus we, learn is that there is a "star maker" creating this galaxies. But this deity is unlike any you've encountered before.
Lessons learned, philosophy contemplated, and cosmic questions addressed. This novel has basically one character we learn anything about. Others are bit players at most and none, except the Star Maker given any attention. It's just our articulate, observant, educated, English gent.
I would recommend this to any sci-fi fan who isn't phased by an almost total lack of characters and are open to some pretty non-traditional views about deity.
This "mind" travels thru space and time witnessing the birth, life, and death of the stars and galaxies of the universe.
What he, and thus we, learn is that there is a "star maker" creating this galaxies. But this deity is unlike any you've encountered before.
Lessons learned, philosophy contemplated, and cosmic questions addressed. This novel has basically one character we learn anything about. Others are bit players at most and none, except the Star Maker given any attention. It's just our articulate, observant, educated, English gent.
I would recommend this to any sci-fi fan who isn't phased by an almost total lack of characters and are open to some pretty non-traditional views about deity.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes