Itemize Books To Stand on Zanzibar
| Original Title: | Stand on Zanzibar |
| ISBN: | 1857988361 (ISBN13: 9781857988369) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | Hugo Award for Best Novel (1969), Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (1968), British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel (1969), Prix Tour-Apollo Award for Best Novel (1973) |
John Brunner
Paperback | Pages: 672 pages Rating: 3.96 | 13759 Users | 558 Reviews
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| Title | : | Stand on Zanzibar |
| Author | : | John Brunner |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 672 pages |
| Published | : | August 12th 1999 by Gollancz (first published September 1968) |
| Categories | : | Science Fiction. Fiction. Dystopia |
Commentary Concering Books Stand on Zanzibar
Norman Niblock House is a rising executive at General Technics, one of a few all-powerful corporations. His work is leading General Technics to the forefront of global domination, both in the marketplace and politically—it's about to take over a country in Africa. Donald Hogan is his roommate, a seemingly sheepish bookworm. But Hogan is a spy, and he's about to discover a breakthrough in genetic engineering that will change the world ... and kill him. These two men's lives weave through one of science fiction's most praised novels. Written in a way that echoes John Dos Passos' U.S.A. Trilogy, Stand on Zanzibar is a cross-section of a world overpopulated by the billions. Where society is squeezed into hive-living madness by god-like mega computers, mass-marketed psychedelic drugs, and mundane uses of genetic engineering. Though written in 1968, it speaks of 2010, and is frighteningly prescient and intensely powerful.This edition comes with a tipped in collectors' note and an introduction by David Brin.
Rating Appertaining To Books Stand on Zanzibar
Ratings: 3.96 From 13759 Users | 558 ReviewsRate Appertaining To Books Stand on Zanzibar
Reading this before discovering DosPassos' U.S.A., I was mightily impressed by Brunner's originality of technique. Discovering U.S.A., I was even more impressed by DosPassos, of course, but did not fault Brunner's employment of the other's proven methods for painting an enormous, richly textured picture of a possible future.The book was anxiety-provoking in 1969. The accuracy of many of Brunner's predictions makes one wonder about the increasingly large subgenre of science fiction books whichWell, what an amazing novel. Totally unique and ahead if its time. I was intrigued by the fact it was written in 1968 and the story was set in 2010!I loved the phrases the author invented - codders and shiggies (men and women), mockers, sheeting hell (I say that a lot myself now!), pint of whaledreck.I loved the vast array of colourful characters - especially the inimitable Chad C Mulligan.Some of the scenes (most of them very short and shocking) will stick in my memory for a long time. Such as
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner is an amazing book. First of all, the title comes from the idea of putting all the people on the planet in one place. A nineteenth century commentator speculated that if everyone were to stand, and have maybe a couple feet square around him or her, then everyone could stand together on the Isle of Wight. Some time later this concept was expanded due to population increases to speculate that the same experiment could be done on the Isle of Man. Brunner, setting
I first read this in the 1980s, and reread it for a local science fiction book club.If you haven't come across it before, Stand on Zanzibar is a science fiction classic and a blast to read. The style is manic, an attempt to recreate an emerging media environment in prose. So the book twists language in many ways (neologisms, media production, sound effects), jumping around rapidly between plot lines and observations. It does so to both build up an elaborate and convincing world while also
A lot of folks love this book, and I really tried to like it, and maybe I just wasn't in the right mood, but these characters, and the way they treated women, was just too annoying to me. I gave up.
That was 600+ pages of sheer eccentricity! Not in a bad way, but wow. I love books like this, that push the boundaries in some way, play around with indirect narrative. As long as they know why they're doing it. This one did.Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
One of the best SF dystopias from the late 60s about overpopulation in the future, and deserving of a much broader audience. One of my early high school favorites.
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