Algis Budrys, een Litouws-Amerikaanse sciencefictionauteur, kenmerkte zich door scherpe inzichten in de menselijke psyche, vaak geplaatst tegenover innovatieve speculatieve achtergronden. Zijn werk dook regelmatig in donkere thema's zoals vervreemding, sociale onderdrukking en de ethische dilemma's van technologie, waarbij hij vaak een droge, kritische toon aansloeg. Budrys blonk uit in het creëren van meeslepende verhalen die lezers uitdaagden om de aard van de realiteit en de toekomstige koers van de mensheid te overwegen. Zijn nalatenschap ligt in zijn vermogen om intellectuele diepgang te combineren met meeslepende verhalen, waarmee hij een belangrijke stem in de sciencefiction vestigde.
The plague struck, and ninety percent of Earth's population died. Those who survived tried to maintain some sort of civilization...which meant more killing, as it turned out. But bit by bit, generation by generation, people began to succeed. With occasional setbacks.
The protagonist serves as a vendor of dreams, offering others access to fantastical worlds and experiences. However, he faces a profound personal challenge: he is blind to his own needs for growth and understanding. This internal struggle highlights the contrast between his ability to create and share dreams and his inability to confront his own reality, setting the stage for a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.
From the vaults of the SF Gateway, the most comprehensive digital library of classic SFF titles ever assembled, comes an ideal introduction to the work of acclaimed author Algis Budrys.
Budrys Bonanza!Seven classic excursions into the fantastic imagination of one of post-war America's greatest science fiction writers.Contents:- The End of Summer (1954)- The Distant Sound of Engines (1959)- Never Meet Again (1958)- The Burning World (1957)- First to Serve (1954)- Go and Behold Them (1960)- The Executioner (1956)Front cover illustration by Alun Hood
Laurent Michaelmas didn't get the information he needed as a reporter from the usual sources. With the aid of Domino, a highly sophisticated portable computer that could virtually think for itself, he had plugged himself into every electronic communications network in the world. He not only knew everything that happened the instant it happened, he could also make things happen the way he wanted. So how had the astronaut - believed dead in an horrific space shuttle accident - turned up in a Swiss sanatorium without them knowing anything about it? Why all the secrecy and subterfuge? Why did Domino hit a brick walll every time it tried to get close to the mystery? The answer was staggering - and it posed a direct threat to mankind's continued existence on earth. (Source: back cover)
All his life, Al Barker has toyed with death. So when the US lunar programme needs a volunteer to penetrate a murderous labyrinth, alien to all human comprehension, Barker's the man to do it. But what is required of Barker is that he withstand the trauma of dying, not just once, but time and time and time again.
The narrative explores a world where feudal structures reemerge, with Pennsylvania resembling a land of moats and nobles, while Manhattan is populated by vassals. Amidst this backdrop, barbarian hordes threaten to invade, creating a tense atmosphere of conflict and societal upheaval. The story delves into the cyclical nature of history, reflecting on how past systems of power and class dynamics resurface in contemporary settings, raising questions about civilization and survival.
Set in a distant future, this suspenseful novel explores the lengths one man will go to safeguard humanity from oppression. The narrative delves into themes of sacrifice and moral dilemmas, showcasing the protagonist's struggle against tyranny. Algis Budrys, known for his acclaimed works like Rogue Moon and Michaelmas, crafts a compelling story that challenges readers to consider the cost of freedom and the fight against authoritarianism.
The Furious Future At last available in paperback after many years out of print, a classic collection of stories which prompted the very highest praise from the leading SF critics.If all goes well, he may become the best science fiction writer since Wells - Kingsley Amis, ObserverThe themes cover aliens, time travel psionics, mutations - but treated in a cock-eyed way that is peculiarly Budrys's. A parasitic alien invades Earth, only the humans like it; a girl with psionic abilities is found by others with the talent, yet they must reject her; a man from a survey spaceship lands on a backwards planet, but finds he is incapable of understanding them... a completely unconventional treatment. Result: totally absorbing - Tom Boardman Jr., Books and BookmenCover Illustration: Jim Burns
