- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (Jun 11 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0375706704
- ISBN-13: 978-0375706707
- Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 1.8 x 20.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 272 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #89,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
“One of the most complete and fully realized pictures of an interstellar society that I have ever read.” --Science Fiction Times
“As of this book [Samuel R. Delany] is the best science-fiction writer in the world.” --Galaxy
“A fast-action farflung interstellar adventure; [an] archetypal mystical/mythical allegory; [a] modern myth told in the S-F idiomÉand lots more.” --Fantasy and Science Fiction
“As of this book [Samuel R. Delany] is the best science-fiction writer in the world.” --Galaxy
“A fast-action farflung interstellar adventure; [an] archetypal mystical/mythical allegory; [a] modern myth told in the S-F idiomÉand lots more.” --Fantasy and Science Fiction
Book Description
Given that the suns of Draco stretch almost sixteen light years from end to end, it stands to reason that the cost of transportation is the most important factor of the 32nd century. And since Illyrion is the element most needed for space travel, Lorq von Ray is plenty willing to fly through the core of a recently imploded sun in order to obtain seven tons of it. The potential for profit is so great that Lorq has little difficulty cobbling together an alluring crew that includes a gypsy musician and a moon-obsessed scholar interested in the ancient art of writing a novel. What the crew doesn’t know, though, is that Lorq’s quest is actually fueled by a private revenge so consuming that he’ll stop at nothing to achieve it. In the grandest manner of speculative fiction, Nova is a wise and witty classic that casts a fascinating new light on some of humanity’s oldest truths and enduring myths.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Melville in the Future,
By
This review is from: Nova (Paperback)
I have a feeling this is going to be my summer of Delany. I read Nova on the heels of his short story collection Aye, and Gomorrah and the virtues that I found in that collection are also to be found in this novel in spades. Delany writes with an attention to detail, prose and character that is astounding, and in doing so he creates a scifi world that is truly natural and lacks the self-consciousness of much of the genre. Nova is to be compared with the great works of literature, both in theme and achievement. The story centers around a reckless quest by starship captain Lorq Von Ray, a figure reminiscent of Melville's Ahab in his oversized dimensions and emotional complexity. Von Ray hires a crew of "cyberstuds", men who interface with machines to navigate the vast distances between the worlds of their interspace confederation. The mission is to enter a sun as it novas, during the first few hours, to gather an element that is used as the basis of space travel. The element is mined on planets, but rarely found. However, in the core of a sun during a nova, the element is found in great abundance. As the quest continues though, Von Ray's darker obsessions become evident and the tale plumbs deeper themes of revenge, political freedom and the search for the Holy Grail. From the outset of the novel, Delany captures you with the originality of his prose style and the deeper resonance of his characters. Most of the tale is told through the eyes of a gypsy musician, the Mouse and his friend Katin, who is collecting notes for a novel he is destined not to write. These characters are fully drawn, but set up parallels to Melville's Ishmael and Quee Queg. Von Ray is introduced carefully, first by reputation, as an old mad former crewman in a bar describes him. The ties to Coleridge are unmistakable. Then, when Von Ray makes his appearance, he is already clothed in the stuff of myth that makes him such an unforgettable character. His nemeses in the book, Prince and Ruby Red, are every bit as oversized and yet as believable as Von Ray. Prince is rage personified, while Ruby is both sympathetic and devious. This is a work that will haunt the mind for days afterwards. And yet, it is also a first rate scifi yarn as well. Delany's attention to technology, and consistency within the world he creates is remarkable. Delany writes as if we too inhabit this world, artfully showing us the parallels to our own and pointing out the differences with elegance and wit. Anyone who enjoys scifi should make the acquaintance of this author. But even if you don't like the genre, Delany is a writer than should be read. His craft is impeccable and the themes underlying the book are universal, as all great literature should be.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but....,
By Tracy Deaton (Port Orchard, WA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Nova (Paperback)
Flashy, inventive, involving, fast-paced ... but it's over 2 soon, & everything happens SO FAST -- I wish it were longer, say as long as Delany's DHALGREN. I'd like some time 2 think over what happens here, or at least pause 2 catch my breath. Years after reading & re-reading all 3 of them, I still think EMPIRE STAR and EINSTEIN INTERSECTION R better....
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delany's Peak,
By A Customer
This review is from: Nova (Paperback)
This was the best of Delany's SF books, meaning before the sexual and philosophical excesses took over, ...Delany was at the height of his powers, drunk on language, myth, space opera. This is one of the best SF books ever written--and one of the most fun. We can only wonder what other wonderful gifts Delany might have given us, had he continued in this vein. Instead, he disappointed us all by moving into post-modern, post-sexual, deconstructive claptrap. Such a waste! I can't believe anyone actually ENJOYS "Triton" or "Dhalgren" YUCK!
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