Star maker olaf stapledon science fiction masterworks volume 21 egod enter the sf gateway in the last years of the twentieth century as wells might have put it, gollancz, britains oldest and most distinguished science fiction imprint, created the sf and fantasy masterworks series. Nov 20, 2016 after witnessing the fates of myriads of planets and intelligent species, stapledon, now a cosmic spirit, has a brief encounter with god the star maker. Star maker olaf stapledon wesleyan university press, 2004. Star maker unabridged edition by william olaf stapledon. First published in 1937, olaf stapledons descriptions of alien life. The story details the mental journey of an unnamed narrator who is transported not only to other worlds but also other galaxies and parallel universes, until he eventually becomes part of the cosmic mind. The main characters of this science fiction, fiction story are. Widely regarded as one of the true classics of science fiction, star maker is a poetic and deeply philosophical work. The book describes a history of life in the universe, dwarfing in scale.
Sep 26, 20 it all begins with a man staring up at the stars. Star maker is a science fiction novel by olaf stapledon, published in 1. It is obvious that someone simply imported another version of the book and saved it in epub format, without even the most cursory proofread. Masterworks by stapledon, olaf from amazons fiction books store. Star maker, by olaf stapledon, is an incredible novel by an author whose contributions to science fiction are unique and serve as inspiration to many of the greatest works in the field. Star maker olaf stapledon 1937 preface at a moment when europe is in danger of a catastrophe worse than that of 1914 a book like this may be condemned as a distraction from the desperately urgent defence of civilization against modern barbarism. The supermind composed of many individual consciousnesses forms a recurring theme in his work. Star maker olaf stapledon preface audiobook youtube. It doesnt fit well in the sfcategory or among philosophicalreligious books. Freeman dyson credits the novel with giving him the idea, even stating in an interview that stapledon sphere would be a more appropriate name. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Preface to olaf stapledons star maker 1937 an introduction to what is arguably one of the most important works of early science fiction.
Jan 27, 2008 star maker olaf stapledon wesleyan university press, 2004. Star maker tackles philosophical themes such as the essence of life. Star maker is the science fiction classic about a human who is transported. Even stapledon s other great work, last and first men, pales in ambition next to star maker, which presents nothing less than an entire imagined history of life in the universe, encompassing billions. Buy star maker book online at best prices in india on. It was stapledons fourth novel and was first published in 1937. Star maker, by olaf stapledon preface at a moment when europe is in danger of a catastrophe worse than that of 1914 a book like this may be condemned as a distraction from the desperately urgent defence of civilization against modern barbarism. Bvalltu, for such approximately was the philosophers name, the 11 being pronounced more or less as in 27 welsh, bvalltu effected a cure by merely inviting. Star maker by olaf stapledon, first edition abebooks. At a moment when europe is in danger of a catastrophe worse than that of 1914 a book like this. Star maker is a science fiction novel by olaf stapledon, published in 1937. Star maker is a science fiction novel by british writer olaf stapledon, published in 1937. Star maker by olaf stapledon 1937 read in february 2011 this novel is narrated by an anonymous englishman who one midnight climbs a hill behind his house to look at the stars and finds his consciousness transported from the earth far out into the galaxy. First published in 1937, olaf stapledons descriptions of alien life are a political commentary on human life in the turbulent interwar years.
The book describes a history of life in the universe, dwarfing. May 12, 2018 the physicist freeman dyson, after whom the dyson sphere is named got this idea from star maker, and has gone on record stating that a better name for it would really be stapledon spheres. First published in 1937, olaf stapledon s descriptions of alien life. Star maker tackles philosophical themes such as the essence of life, of birth, decay and death, and the relationship between creation and creator. Stapledon lead a remarkably interesting life and despite his limitations as a writer though i personally have no problem with his style and even virginia woolf told him that star maker is the kind of book she wished she could write and political thinker, his. Pdf star maker book by olaf stapledon free download 272.
It therefore marks a great step forward in stapledon s art, the thought unfolding with little sense of strain through chapter after chapter. A buried treasure of 20th century literature reemerges in this splendid and practical edition. Stapledon is one of science fictions greatest thinkers, and this book is a bit of a slogi had to keep going back a page to reread each time i got lost. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub. The book describes a history of life in the universe, dwarfing in scale stapledons previous book, last and first men 1930, a history of the human species over two billion years.
First published in 1930, olaf stapledon writes a history of mankinds future over a period of two billion years. This 1937 successor to last and first men offers another entrancing speculative history of the future. Wherein the author discusses the work in relation to. Star maker this bold exploration of the cosmos ventures into intelligent star clusters and mingles among alien races for a memorable vision of infinity. The key points of stapledons star maker theology are outlined in the passages below. What the star maker actually is, and the pure prevalence of life in the books universe, have been common among similar books which i have read in the past, but not done in this highly entertaining format of writing. Free download or read online star maker pdf epub book. Cited as a key influence by sciencefiction masters such as doris lessing, this classic has left its mark not only in modern literature but also in the fields of social anthropology and philosophy. Star maker by olaf stapleton audiobook star maker is a science fiction novel by british writer olaf stapledon, published in 1937. Olaf stapledon, quote from star maker either god is the universe, or he is the flavour of creativity pervading all things. The star maker by stapledon, olaf and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Do not buy the ebook version of this book star maker by olaf stapledon. In a dream within the dream, stapledon learns about the star maker and his creations. Cited as a key influence by sciencefiction masters such as doris lessing, its bold exploration of the cosmos ventures into intelligent star clusters and mingles among alien races for a memorable vision of infinity.
The two of them leave to find world after world, collecting awarenesses, and forming a collective mind. Its a mythical autobiography by the ultimate explorer of all time and all places. The rest of the book is a survey of what they found. Without intention, the narrator of olaf stapledons book, star maker, finds himself whisked away on a disembodied journey through the cosmos, moving with impunity through time and space to witness the history of the universe. Olaf stapledon 18861950 was born near liverpool and educated at balliol college, oxford and liverpool university. The star maker was published 1937 but a hundred years ahead of time. Year by year, month by month, the plight of our fragmentary and precarious civilization becomes more. In star maker, the atheism has become a faith in itself, so that it inevitably approaches higher religion, which is bodied forth on a genuinely new twentiethcentury perception of cosmology. Jun 09, 2016 preface to olaf stapledon s star maker 1937 an introduction to what is arguably one of the most important works of early science fiction. Mccarthys revealing introduction and notes display the genius of star maker to a new century. The book describes a history of life in the universe, dwarfing in scale stapledons previous book, last and first men 1930.
Covers of various editions of olaf stapledons star maker over the years. Cover has dj front pasted to cover by the publisher. Sep 27, 2019 star maker by olaf stapleton audiobook star maker is a science fiction novel by british writer olaf stapledon, published in 1937. Star maker by olaf stapledon book cover, description, publication history. An explorer whos been there, done that and seen it all. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 272 pages and is available in paperback format. After spending eighteen months working in a shipping office in liverpool and port said, he lectured extramurally for liverpool university in english literature and industrial history. A pervading theme is that of progressive unity within and between different civilizations. A story of the near and far future is a future history science fiction novel written in 1930 by the british author olaf stapledon. Star maker contains the first known description of what are now called dyson spheres. One moment a man sits on a suburban hill, gazing curiously at the stars. The wesleyan early classics of science fiction presents the first scholarly edition of olaf stapledons 1937 masterpiece, star maker, edited by patrick a. Star maker is a 1937 science fiction novel by olaf stapledon, and a sequel of sorts to last and first men. Even stapledons other great work, last and first men, pales in ambition next to star maker, which presents nothing less than an entire imagined history of life in the universe, encompassing billions.
Last and first men is probably the ultimate book of human evolution. Pdf last and first menstar maker book by olaf stapledon. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. A work of unprecedented scale in the genre, it describes the history of humanity from the present onwards across two billion years and eighteen distinct human species, of which our own is the first. The next, he is whirling through the firmament, and perhaps the most remarkable of all science fiction journeys has begun. Throughout this wonderful book star maker, i recognised many tropes which today seem commonplace among scifi literature. It therefore marks a great step forward in stapledons art, the thought unfolding with little sense of strain through chapter after chapter. Pdf star maker book by olaf stapledon free download 272 pages. The first edition of the novel was published in 1937, and was written by olaf stapledon. After witnessing the fates of myriads of planets and intelligent species, stapledon, now a cosmic spirit, has a brief encounter with god the star maker.
No cover or table of contents, and the page layout is one long stream of mess. Olaf stapledon audio books, best sellers, author bio. Browse olaf stapledons bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Star maker tackles philosophical themes such as the essence of life, of birth, decay. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 438 pages and is available in paperback format. Star maker ebook por olaf stapledon 9783961895670 rakuten. The wesleyan early classics of science fiction presents the first scholarly edition of olaf stapledon s 1937 masterpiece, star maker, edited by patrick a.
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