R. A. Lafferty Boeken

Set in the corrupt Appalachian town of Lost Haven, the Dulanty family, who are actually alien Pucas, struggles with being outcasts on Earth. Frustrated by the townsfolk's disdain, the six Dulanty children devise a plan to eliminate humanity using unconventional weapons and mystical verses. Their clumsy attempts at mass murder lead to a mix of dark humor and unexpected warmth. R.A. Lafferty's imaginative storytelling creates a unique blend of horror and comedy, inviting readers to explore a bizarre and unforgettable world.

The story unfolds with a protagonist experiencing a surreal morning where ordinary objects behave oddly, such as a glass of water shattering slowly and clocks failing to function properly. This bizarre sequence of events hints at a deeper disturbance in reality, suggesting that something sinister is at play. As the narrative progresses, the protagonist's confusion and unease intensify, setting the stage for escalating tension and unexpected developments. The atmosphere is charged with a sense of impending doom, promising a gripping exploration of the uncanny.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Choctaw history, the narrative follows Hannali Innominee, a towering figure reminiscent of folklore giants. It explores the resilience of the Choctaw nation as they reestablish themselves in Indian territory, highlighting the tensions between wealthy, mixed-race Choctaws and the full-blooded freeholders. The story delves into the complexities of identity and division during the Civil War, revealing how external forces exploited these divisions to further their own agendas.

The narrative centers on a character grappling with the consequences of his choices, revealing a deep internal struggle and the weight of past decisions. As he navigates complex relationships and confronts his own beliefs, themes of regret, redemption, and self-awareness emerge. The story unfolds in a compelling manner, drawing readers into the protagonist's journey of understanding and growth.

"In this second volume of a two-volume set gathering the best American science fiction from the tumultuous 1960s, R. A. Lafferty's quirky and utterly original Past Master, an unjustly neglected classic, imagines Sir Thomas More transported to the colony Astrobe in the year 2535, where he is made president of a future Utopia. In Picnic on Paradise, Joanna Russ presents her indelible heroine, Alyx, who is hired to protect a group of tourists in a hostile alien world. Samuel R. Delany's proto-cyberpunk space opera Nova, reprinted here for the first time in a text corrected by the author, combines the pacing of a revenge story with the arc of a grail-quest legend. Jack Vance's dystopian thriller Emphyrio is the coming-of-age story of Ghyl, who has been raised in a world barring the use of automation but has a strong sense of subversive individualism. The novel has been restored to the author's original text, without later editorial interventions."--Provided by publisher

The book is a significant work in American and Canadian literature, recognized for its historical importance. Alpha Editions has undertaken the task of preserving it by republishing it in a modern format, ensuring clarity and readability through reformatting and redesigning rather than using scanned copies. This effort aims to keep the book alive for both present and future generations, highlighting its enduring relevance in the literary landscape.

Eine rätselhafte Krise bedroht den Planeten Astrobe. Anstatt in den goldenen Städten des Planeten ein sorgenfreies Leben zu führen, zieht es immer mehr Bewohner in die schmutzigen Slums von Cathead und Barrio, wo sie unter menschenunwürdigen Umständen dahinvegetieren. Warum nur tauschen so viele Einwohner der goldenen Städte Komfort und Überfluß gegen erniedrigende Arbeit, Seuchen, Schmutz und Tod? Die Herrscher auf Astrobe sind ratlos. Deshalb suchen sie nach jenem Mann, der allein die Probleme des Planeten lösen könnte, und sie finden ihn schließlich in der Vergangenheit der Erde: Thomas Morus, Staatsmann, Rechtsgelehrter und »Fachmann für Utopien«, wird auf Astrobe zum »Meister aus der Vergangenheit«. In seiner Macht liegt es nun, ob Astrobe und letztendlich die ganze Menschheit von einer tödlichen Krankheit kuriert werden kann ...

Inhalt: - Vorwort von Roy Torgeson - Das sternenerfüllte Meer liegt glatt heut nacht (The Star-Filled Sea Is Smooth Tonight) von Thomas F. Monteleone - Und sieht den Wald vor Bäumen nicht (The Wood for the Trees) von Leanne Frahm - Wer nennt mich Schurke? (Who Calls Me Villain?) von James A. Corrick - Mit gemischten Gefühlen von Vorfreude und Angst brechen die Emigranten von ihrer heimatlichen Erde zu einem weit entfernten Bestimmungsort auf (With Mingled Feelings of Anticipation and Apprehension the Emigrants Leave Their Native Earth for a Far-Off Destination) von Ward Moore - Ein sanfter Duft von Jasmin (A Lingering Scent of Jasmine) von Pat Murphy - Das Sportfeld (The Rec Field) von Bill Pronzini - Der Zauberer der Provinz Shensi (The Wizard of Shensi Province) von Glenn Chang - Versuch dich zu erinnern (Try to Remember) (1960) von R.A. Lafferty - Horatio Homblower und die Lieder der Unschuld (Horatio Hornblower and the Songs of Innocence) von Rick Wilber - Sechsunddreißig Bilder Ihrer toten Majestät (Thirty-Six Views of His Dead Majesty) von Barry N. Malzberg - Appolyon ex Machina (Apollyon Ex Machina) von Stephen Goldin - Ultima Thule (Ultima Thule) von Arline Todd - Die Last ihres Liedes (The Burden of Their Song) novella by Karl Hansen