😮 Cognitive estrangement? Sir I feel like I've snuck in the back of a college class and secretively learning things I oughtn't. There are so many things about science fiction that I didn't even know. I really appreciate these videos. I think it will help me to become a better science fiction reader as well as writer
Getting some theory under your belt aids enjoyment of SF, I find- often people are already reacting to theoretical concepts, but they just don't have the terminology for them.
When I first read Stanislaw Lem's Return From The Stars, especially the first chapter, I was completely disoriented and felt just like the protagonist, Hal Bregg. My cognitive dissonance was on high. That experience made me a Lem fan, and I have had similar experiences with some of his other books. It's interesting to note that the very first of your videos which I watched was the one you made about Stanislaw Lem.
Yes, this was such a change from the 'astronaut returns and there are some social changes but is oriented without any issues'. One of my faves by the great man!
Great exposition. "Babel 17" when I was young was puzzling, astounding, and I read it 3 or 4 times over 10 years. Recruiting a discorporate crew? Yes. "Scanners" I often recommend to people and the whole Instrumentality of Mankind, illegal military computers in the family vault, Norstrilia, etc. Like with you, the Weapon Shops was influential. Bester was most prolific as a writer of Radio mysteries. He wrote for comic books like Green Lantern and The Phantom. He had a refined style to jump right into a story with no page filling nonsense so common in today's trilogy collections. In radio he wrote the excellent "Nick Carter Master Detective" which I have been hearing lately through and old-time-radio streaming site. Also The Shadow and the New Nero Wolfe. Tight concise writing that has to hit the marks for advertising and show intro and and all that. A lot of well known writers and actors had been big in radio. Blake Edwards created and wrote Dick Powell's detective show "Richard Diamond Private Detective" and for the very good police show "The Lineup".
Within a few days, I have become an absolute fan of your chanel. It's clever, heartwarming, even nostalgic for some personal reasons (I am 32) and my to-read-list is exploding beyond measure :D Cheers from Austria!
Cognitive Estrangement is such a relative word. Thinking outside of SF for a moment, I can imagine the Cognitive Estrangement of normies reading Hunter S. Thompson gonzo journalism for the first time. Someone really being faced with outsider thinking. To answer your question I think, There Is No Antimemetics Division is a contemporary work that offers a mind bending idea. The writing is clunky but readable.
Very good point- it is applicable in other writing sometimes, agreed, but for truly great SF, it's fundamental and I think that's the difference - for in some story forms, it's relevance would be strictly emotional and individual character based, I feel. Thanks for your comment, as it's great food for thought.
I'm yet to get around to them, despite having read 'The Book of the New Sun' back in the 80s. I'm waiting to get decent copies in tiptop condition at a good price- a tough call! I have read that they are GS stories though.
I think that is what I experienced when reading Ellison's, The Beast that Shouted Love At the Heart of the World. What a mind bender on a first reading
I recently read Silverberg’s A Time of Changes (and Downward to the Earth). Great stuff! Love the New Wave writers. Also almost finished with Aldiss’ Hothouse and Carter’s The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman. Thanks for the recommendations!
New Wave and its associational areas are for me the finest in SF. When the raw energy of Genre meets the experimentalism of Modernism, the result is fireworks that change the inside of your brain forever. Sadly now, the legacy of New Wave has almost entirely deserted the genre due in my view to the crowd-pleasing conservative revisionism of the Space Opera revival of the late 1980s. Luckily, we have a few heirs still active - Hutchinson, Roberts, Allan, Beckett - and Priest & M John are still with us. Stick with me and I'll point you toward more of the best. My New Wave series will start late this year.
I've now read 4 Silverberg novels, all great (the two mentioned above plus Dying Inside and The Book of Skulls). Are there other books by Silverberg that you rate highly?
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Serendipitously, your video about Silverberg from 7 months ago just popped up on my feed. Damned algorithms are working overtime. LOL
A very interesting discussion. As a rule I avoided cognitive estrangement in my SF reading. I read SF as old fashioned romances; adventures in exotic lands. And yet perhaps my favorite SF book, Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey features cognitive estrangement from the first sentence.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Cool. I never thought I'd see a sequel until I learned this spring that he's writing one. However, it was postponed from last August to next June, and seeing how long some of his books take these days, I'd be delighted, and surprised to have it in hand next June (I have it on order). His last two books were... so so.
@@chucklitka2503 -he used to be massively popular, but his career took a big downturn with 'Shades' - i think it's a case of the mass of his audience wanting the same old thing and being scared off by innovation. Interestingly, although he's well known to SFF fans on the convention circuit etc, his work has never really been marketed or labelled as SFF in the UK - in this way, I think he's lost a lot of sales. I would really like to see his career recover for as I say, he's a lovely man, one of the most charming authors of the dozens I've met and someone who really cares about his fanbase.
My pleasure! If you're moved to do so (no pressure or obligation) there is a Super Thanks option on my channel, but your views and subscription are worth their weight in gold too!
Fascinating to watch and learn, many thanks. Delany’s “Aye, and Gomorrah” is one of my favorite anthologies. I’ve read “The Star Pit” several times, and WBAI in NYC did a reading, with Delany, in the 70s.
Another great video that's already impacting the way I view some of my science fiction. That including the Weapon Shops of Isher, which I just reread. I liked it more this time but still didn't love it... although it reminds me in the slightest of one of the better books I've ever read, The Hair-Carpet Weavers (or the Carpet Makers), a German book from the 90s which is about this strange exoplanetary culture where men make carpets out of the hair of their wives and daughters... one of my favorite, and it's definitely estranging, and one of the only books I would actually feel comfortable recommending to someone of your supreme outlooks. Thanks, and as you say, bye for now.
I read The Fall of Chronopolis when I was a kid, long ago. Loved that book. It belonged to someone else, and I've never been able to find it again... Until right now when your video reminded me of it - just bought a Kindle copy.
So am I! I'm sure you've probably noticed I mention him from time to time on the channel and there is one video- and there will be more - I agree he's an omission, but I made many of those in selecting material - I'll make it up to you, promise! :-)
I'd be interested in a video on your favourite time travel novels/stories. Have just been read David Gerrold's The Man Who Folded Himself, and a few of Silverberg's stories, and looking for some recommendations! P.S. Thanks for all your videos, it is great to be introduced to these older works.
Thank you. I'll think about that. I like 'The Man Who Folded Himself' - I've read it three times- though sylistically it is like a YA book despite the content.
A very Interesting and Informative Video Stephen.Your Enthusiasam for SF has invigorated My own. Well,you asked for a list,so here is mine,in no particular order of Merit:- J G Ballatd-The Atrocity Exhibition Thomas M Disch-Fun With Your New Head(short Stories) Michael Moorcock-The Final Programme Langden Jones-The Eye Of The Lens Ian Watson-The Embedding William Gibson-Count Zero(sprawl Series) Brian Aldiss-Barefoot in the Head Philip K Dick-Ubik William Burroughs-Nova Express Roger Zelazny=The Doors of his Face,The Lamps Of His Mouth and Other Stories I had to leave so many Good Books Out,so this was a Tough List to Make. All of the Above books Stretched my Reality Tunnel and have stayed in my head for many years. Make of it what you will.
This is all seminal material and of course all of it is New Wave or second generation NW. I think NW is characterised by masterful use of prose style and novum to instill cognitive estrangement as key. My New Wave series will start later this year. You, sire, are a man of taste!
Still on the subject of cognative estrangement,in my view it goes back a long way in SF, some of the early post golden age stories had it in spades, for example Robert Heinlein's All you Zombies and By His Bootstraps
Regarding Generation Starships,this Is a good one,not on the level of Aldiss,but woreth a read:- Spacebred Generations(AKA Target Generation) byClifford D Simak 1953 As I recall it was also made into a very early TV film in the" Out of the Unknown" series
Brain candy to the max, thank you sir. I was wondering if you'd read Michael Faber's Under the Skin and what you thought of it. I think the film is my favourite SF film since 2001.
Superb film- I watched it again a few hours ago. I'll be doing something about it soon. I've read it twice, once shortly after it was published. In short, excellent. but the video, which will be about 21st century SF cinema -will also discuss my views of how it was received by mainstream audiences/critics and its clear genre precursors.
Amazing video. Can you expand on what you are referring to when you mention that there is a wonderful section in the middle of Martian Time Slip? I've read it myself and I'm wandering to what you are referring to.
I've bought 4 books this week off eBay from your recommendations, so thanks for that - the only cognitive estrangement I'm feeling right now is the mystery of the last book you put on your book stand at the end of this vid - you put it back to front so, what is it?
Liked Malzberg's Novell "Universe day" wich he wrote under his pseudonym K.M. O'Donnell. It's a cynical view on a ruthless mankind conquering the galaxy.
As I made this video some time ago, I can't pinpoint without watching it again what you refer to, and since you make your comment without referring to the specific context, so an answer will be unforthcoming for now.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal in Sweden indeed, Stockholm! My recent reads include Slaughterhouse 5, Molly Zero, Roadside Picnic, Involution Ocean, A Scanner Darkly and Neuromancer. I loved them all. Currently reading Way Station. What do you think I should read next? Thanks again for the work you put in, happy to see the channel growing steadily!
@@felixskivor4487 -'Dr Adder' by K. W. Jeter, if you can find one, or 'Frontera' by Lewis Shiner. Thanks for your kind comments, you've read some great books recently!
Just started to read this and noticed (in the Gollancz Masterworks 2009) that the 4th paragraph of chapter 1 (not the prologue) starting : “The Creché itself....” made no grammatical sense. I read and re-read the paragraph and felt something was missing. I checked on-line and found a PDF of the text - and lo and behold there are about 2 lines of text missing in the middle of the paragraph (mentioning corridors and halls etc) until it finally gets to being right again with: “...except by way of a door...” which is where I always stumbled. The word “except” had to relate to something that seemed to be omitted. I just hope that’s the only cock-up in this edition - I’m only on chapter 3!
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Inverted World. The Gollancz Masterworks 2009 with intro from Adam Roberts. Yellow/pink cover with a picture of the tracks leading to the city in the distance.
@@ColinMcAlister-kilt Right, I thought it might have been that one. I don't own that edition (I have three others), but I'll take a look at a copy in work and get back to you!
@Outlaw Bookseller I understand that there were shortened versions - but I can hardly imagine that they would've taken a scapel in the middle of a paragraph thus rendering it grammatically nonsensical. Looks like a typo. But yeah - have a look if you can get this edition. You'll see what I mean. Keep up the good work Andrew. Always a pleasure to see your content. I've tried a few of your recommendations and was only disappointed just the once: M John Harrison's Light was pretty bad - but there have been lots of goodies!
@@ColinMcAlister-kilt - I suspect it's a typesetting error that wasn't corrected in proofing. The short version of 'Inverted World' is much shorter and substaintially different first appeared in 'New Writings in SF 22' and is entitled "The Inverted World" (please note, however, that in the USA, early editions of the novel are entitled 'The Inverted World' - confusingly, this makes it difficult to differentiate from the original novella- the correct title of the novel is just 'Inverted World'. A lot of people don't get on with 'Light' and it's not an easy book and definitely upturns Space Opera conventions, which is something I like about it. In that way, it meets the criteria for Cognitive Estrangement in a big way, but that is one of M John's things. He likes to challenge genre conventions, being a New Wave master. (PS- it's Steve by the way, not Andrew: no harm done though!)
Your prolific output of high-quality content is greatly appreciated sir! This post included. Cheers.
Many thanks, Rick!
Here here, great stuff! When I think I know a bit about SF, I watch the outlaw and soon realise I dont
@@paulm8253 -We're all learning more about SF, all the time. Only John Clute knows everything!
Glad you mentioned Zelazny there, I often feel this cognitive estrangement when I start to read his works. Very talented, great author.
Interesting as always.
Watching the video made me think of Rudy Rucker's Transreal novels, specifically 'White Light', and if they fit in somewhere.
Rucker, not read him for years - his stuff pretty much ALWAYS scores high on cognitive estrangement I find! Good mention.
This is great stuff - and it’s the first time I’ve seen RA Lafferty mentioned on TH-cam!
Thanks very much. I think it's the second time I've mentioned RAL!
This is one of the best channels on YT. Simply staggering insight. I’m very grateful you decided to record these.
You're very kind, more to watch here, more to come.
😮 Cognitive estrangement? Sir I feel like I've snuck in the back of a college class and secretively learning things I oughtn't. There are so many things about science fiction that I didn't even know. I really appreciate these videos. I think it will help me to become a better science fiction reader as well as writer
Getting some theory under your belt aids enjoyment of SF, I find- often people are already reacting to theoretical concepts, but they just don't have the terminology for them.
When I first read Stanislaw Lem's Return From The Stars, especially the first chapter, I was completely disoriented and felt just like the protagonist, Hal Bregg. My cognitive dissonance was on high. That experience made me a Lem fan, and I have had similar experiences with some of his other books. It's interesting to note that the very first of your videos which I watched was the one you made about Stanislaw Lem.
Yes, this was such a change from the 'astronaut returns and there are some social changes but is oriented without any issues'. One of my faves by the great man!
Great exposition. "Babel 17" when I was young was puzzling, astounding, and I read it 3 or 4 times over 10 years. Recruiting a discorporate crew? Yes. "Scanners" I often recommend to people and the whole Instrumentality of Mankind, illegal military computers in the family vault, Norstrilia, etc. Like with you, the Weapon Shops was influential.
Bester was most prolific as a writer of Radio mysteries. He wrote for comic books like Green Lantern and The Phantom. He had a refined style to jump right into a story with no page filling nonsense so common in today's trilogy collections. In radio he wrote the excellent "Nick Carter Master Detective" which I have been hearing lately through and old-time-radio streaming site. Also The Shadow and the New Nero Wolfe. Tight concise writing that has to hit the marks for advertising and show intro and and all that. A lot of well known writers and actors had been big in radio. Blake Edwards created and wrote Dick Powell's detective show "Richard Diamond Private Detective" and for the very good police show "The Lineup".
Yeah, I'm aware of his radio and comics work, but never seen or heard any- I must check out that stream, thanks!
Within a few days, I have become an absolute fan of your chanel. It's clever, heartwarming, even nostalgic for some personal reasons (I am 32) and my to-read-list is exploding beyond measure :D Cheers from Austria!
You're very kind, thanks very much!
Cognitive Estrangement is such a relative word. Thinking outside of SF for a moment, I can imagine the Cognitive Estrangement of normies reading Hunter S. Thompson gonzo journalism for the first time. Someone really being faced with outsider thinking. To answer your question I think, There Is No Antimemetics Division is a contemporary work that offers a mind bending idea. The writing is clunky but readable.
Very good point- it is applicable in other writing sometimes, agreed, but for truly great SF, it's fundamental and I think that's the difference - for in some story forms, it's relevance would be strictly emotional and individual character based, I feel. Thanks for your comment, as it's great food for thought.
The obvious example that comes to mind, because I just finished reading it, is "Lord of Light" by Zelazny.
My favorite generational ship story is Gene Wolfe's Book of the Long Sun. Plenty of cognitive estrangement in that story.
I'm yet to get around to them, despite having read 'The Book of the New Sun' back in the 80s. I'm waiting to get decent copies in tiptop condition at a good price- a tough call! I have read that they are GS stories though.
Another great collection of recommendations! Thank you!
An absolute pleasure, Kai Sun. Stick with me and I'll reveal more...
One of my favourite moments of cognitive estrangement is the end of “I am legend” by Richard Matheson.
Yes, a stunning Conceptual Breakthrough to end the book.
I think that is what I experienced when reading Ellison's, The Beast that Shouted Love At the Heart of the World. What a mind bender on a first reading
I recently read Silverberg’s A Time of Changes (and Downward to the Earth). Great stuff! Love the New Wave writers. Also almost finished with Aldiss’ Hothouse and Carter’s The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman. Thanks for the recommendations!
New Wave and its associational areas are for me the finest in SF. When the raw energy of Genre meets the experimentalism of Modernism, the result is fireworks that change the inside of your brain forever. Sadly now, the legacy of New Wave has almost entirely deserted the genre due in my view to the crowd-pleasing conservative revisionism of the Space Opera revival of the late 1980s. Luckily, we have a few heirs still active - Hutchinson, Roberts, Allan, Beckett - and Priest & M John are still with us. Stick with me and I'll point you toward more of the best. My New Wave series will start late this year.
I've now read 4 Silverberg novels, all great (the two mentioned above plus Dying Inside and The Book of Skulls). Are there other books by Silverberg that you rate highly?
@@thekeywitness -Video coming in about 2 weeks on this.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Serendipitously, your video about Silverberg from 7 months ago just popped up on my feed. Damned algorithms are working overtime. LOL
@@thekeywitness -Nice. As I say, another one to come in a few weeks
A very interesting discussion. As a rule I avoided cognitive estrangement in my SF reading. I read SF as old fashioned romances; adventures in exotic lands. And yet perhaps my favorite SF book, Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey features cognitive estrangement from the first sentence.
I hosted Jasper for an event in a bookshop I managed once -- lovely man, total professional.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Cool. I never thought I'd see a sequel until I learned this spring that he's writing one. However, it was postponed from last August to next June, and seeing how long some of his books take these days, I'd be delighted, and surprised to have it in hand next June (I have it on order). His last two books were... so so.
@@chucklitka2503 -he used to be massively popular, but his career took a big downturn with 'Shades' - i think it's a case of the mass of his audience wanting the same old thing and being scared off by innovation.
Interestingly, although he's well known to SFF fans on the convention circuit etc, his work has never really been marketed or labelled as SFF in the UK - in this way, I think he's lost a lot of sales. I would really like to see his career recover for as I say, he's a lovely man, one of the most charming authors of the dozens I've met and someone who really cares about his fanbase.
Thank you so much for the great work you’re doing. As a new reader of sf these kind of video is invaluable! Keep up the fantastic content. 💯
My pleasure! If you're moved to do so (no pressure or obligation) there is a Super Thanks option on my channel, but your views and subscription are worth their weight in gold too!
Of course ✅
Fascinating to watch and learn, many thanks. Delany’s “Aye, and Gomorrah” is one of my favorite anthologies. I’ve read “The Star Pit” several times, and WBAI in NYC did a reading, with Delany, in the 70s.
He's sui generis, great author.
Another great video that's already impacting the way I view some of my science fiction. That including the Weapon Shops of Isher, which I just reread. I liked it more this time but still didn't love it... although it reminds me in the slightest of one of the better books I've ever read, The Hair-Carpet Weavers (or the Carpet Makers), a German book from the 90s which is about this strange exoplanetary culture where men make carpets out of the hair of their wives and daughters... one of my favorite, and it's definitely estranging, and one of the only books I would actually feel comfortable recommending to someone of your supreme outlooks. Thanks, and as you say, bye for now.
Yes, I'm familiar with 'The Hair Carpet Weavers', it's in my collection. A fascinating book. Glad you liked the video!
I read The Fall of Chronopolis when I was a kid, long ago. Loved that book. It belonged to someone else, and I've never been able to find it again... Until right now when your video reminded me of it - just bought a Kindle copy.
I need to re-read it too. Bayley is just so good.
Amazing and magnificent video, Stephen. Bravo.
Cheers Daniel
I'm kinda surprised you made no mention of William Burroughs.
So am I! I'm sure you've probably noticed I mention him from time to time on the channel and there is one video- and there will be more - I agree he's an omission, but I made many of those in selecting material - I'll make it up to you, promise! :-)
Top quality
I'd be interested in a video on your favourite time travel novels/stories. Have just been read David Gerrold's The Man Who Folded Himself, and a few of Silverberg's stories, and looking for some recommendations!
P.S. Thanks for all your videos, it is great to be introduced to these older works.
Thank you. I'll think about that. I like 'The Man Who Folded Himself' - I've read it three times- though sylistically it is like a YA book despite the content.
A very Interesting and Informative Video Stephen.Your Enthusiasam for SF has invigorated My own.
Well,you asked for a list,so here is mine,in no particular order of Merit:-
J G Ballatd-The Atrocity Exhibition
Thomas M Disch-Fun With Your New Head(short Stories)
Michael Moorcock-The Final Programme
Langden Jones-The Eye Of The Lens
Ian Watson-The Embedding
William Gibson-Count Zero(sprawl Series)
Brian Aldiss-Barefoot in the Head
Philip K Dick-Ubik
William Burroughs-Nova Express
Roger Zelazny=The Doors of his Face,The Lamps Of His Mouth and Other Stories
I had to leave so many Good Books Out,so this was a Tough List to Make.
All of the Above books Stretched my Reality Tunnel and have stayed in my head for many years.
Make of it what you will.
This is all seminal material and of course all of it is New Wave or second generation NW. I think NW is characterised by masterful use of prose style and novum to instill cognitive estrangement as key. My New Wave series will start later this year. You, sire, are a man of taste!
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Thank You Kind Sir
Still on the subject of cognative estrangement,in my view it goes back a long way in SF,
some of the early post golden age stories had it in spades, for example Robert Heinlein's
All you Zombies and By His Bootstraps
Yes, it's fundamental, I'd say.
Regarding Generation Starships,this Is a good one,not on the level of Aldiss,but woreth a read:-
Spacebred Generations(AKA Target Generation) byClifford D Simak 1953
As I recall it was also made into a very early TV film in the" Out of the Unknown" series
That was one I couldn't recall - not that I've read it, I will one day as I love GS stories.
great listening
Glad you liked it!
Brain candy to the max, thank you sir. I was wondering if you'd read Michael Faber's Under the Skin and what you thought of it. I think the film is my favourite SF film since 2001.
Superb film- I watched it again a few hours ago. I'll be doing something about it soon. I've read it twice, once shortly after it was published. In short, excellent. but the video, which will be about 21st century SF cinema -will also discuss my views of how it was received by mainstream audiences/critics and its clear genre precursors.
Amazing video. Can you expand on what you are referring to when you mention that there is a wonderful section in the middle of Martian Time Slip? I've read it myself and I'm wandering to what you are referring to.
I can't describe it here without leaving a spoiler for others. Email me, you'll find the address in the 'about' section on the channel.
I've bought 4 books this week off eBay from your recommendations, so thanks for that - the only cognitive estrangement I'm feeling right now is the mystery of the last book you put on your book stand at the end of this vid - you put it back to front so, what is it?
That'a 'Martian Time-Slip' by Philip K Dick, a front-rank PKD. Glad you are enjoying the channel, thank you!
Liked Malzberg's Novell "Universe day" wich he wrote under his pseudonym K.M. O'Donnell. It's a cynical view on a ruthless mankind conquering the galaxy.
Yes, it's a good one -but then I'm a Malzberg nut, I love all his material.
😊
but … but, what if I've been following along and am also perverse? what then pray tell?
As I made this video some time ago, I can't pinpoint without watching it again what you refer to, and since you make your comment without referring to the specific context, so an answer will be unforthcoming for now.
Pi man, was this the basis for the film PI?
No.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal ta! Thanks for this list by the way.
Tack!
Tack to you too, Felix! I'm assuming you're in Sweden? Please . Your Superthanks is much appreciated!
@@outlawbookselleroriginal in Sweden indeed, Stockholm! My recent reads include Slaughterhouse 5, Molly Zero, Roadside Picnic, Involution Ocean, A Scanner Darkly and Neuromancer. I loved them all. Currently reading Way Station. What do you think I should read next? Thanks again for the work you put in, happy to see the channel growing steadily!
@@felixskivor4487 -'Dr Adder' by K. W. Jeter, if you can find one, or 'Frontera' by Lewis Shiner. Thanks for your kind comments, you've read some great books recently!
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Thanks will def seek them out!
Just started to read this and noticed (in the Gollancz Masterworks 2009) that the 4th paragraph of chapter 1 (not the prologue) starting : “The Creché itself....” made no grammatical sense. I read and re-read the paragraph and felt something was missing. I checked on-line and found a PDF of the text - and lo and behold there are about 2 lines of text missing in the middle of the paragraph (mentioning corridors and halls etc) until it finally gets to being right again with: “...except by way of a door...” which is where I always stumbled. The word “except” had to relate to something that seemed to be omitted. I just hope that’s the only cock-up in this edition - I’m only on chapter 3!
Colin, please clarify which book you'r referring to here and I'll respond in full, thanks.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Inverted World. The Gollancz Masterworks 2009 with intro from Adam Roberts. Yellow/pink cover with a picture of the tracks leading to the city in the distance.
@@ColinMcAlister-kilt Right, I thought it might have been that one. I don't own that edition (I have three others), but I'll take a look at a copy in work and get back to you!
@Outlaw Bookseller I understand that there were shortened versions - but I can hardly imagine that they would've taken a scapel in the middle of a paragraph thus rendering it grammatically nonsensical. Looks like a typo.
But yeah - have a look if you can get this edition. You'll see what I mean.
Keep up the good work Andrew. Always a pleasure to see your content. I've tried a few of your recommendations and was only disappointed just the once: M John Harrison's Light was pretty bad - but there have been lots of goodies!
@@ColinMcAlister-kilt - I suspect it's a typesetting error that wasn't corrected in proofing. The short version of 'Inverted World' is much shorter and substaintially different first appeared in 'New Writings in SF 22' and is entitled "The Inverted World" (please note, however, that in the USA, early editions of the novel are entitled 'The Inverted World' - confusingly, this makes it difficult to differentiate from the original novella- the correct title of the novel is just 'Inverted World'.
A lot of people don't get on with 'Light' and it's not an easy book and definitely upturns Space Opera conventions, which is something I like about it. In that way, it meets the criteria for Cognitive Estrangement in a big way, but that is one of M John's things. He likes to challenge genre conventions, being a New Wave master.
(PS- it's Steve by the way, not Andrew: no harm done though!)