originally started by Danlo:
Posted: 09 Apr 2007 22:24 Post subject: Bester-The Stars My Destination & The Demolished Man
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
in the thread: Was The Stars My Destination inspiration for Neverness? I wrote:
Bester is also called the grandfather of cyberpunk, you'll see that style in The Stars My Destination and, from what I hear, The Demolished Man his other major book, which won the first Hugo award. I'm looking to buy that book, Monday. These original two books were first published in Galaxy Magazine in 1956 and before.
According to Neil Gaiman's introduction: Alfred Bester had a varied career, he also wrote Superman and Green Lantern comics (He created the Green Lantern Oath), and then switched to radio, writing for Charlie Chan and The Shadow.
in another post I wrote:
I think I read in an interview that David Zindell said he owed a great deal to Bester.
Steven Donaldson told me last Summer that while he didn't get to meet Bester before he died he acknowledged the debt Sci-Fi owes him. Apparently Bester had quite a personal reputation as a "bastard". To think that this book (The Stars My Destination) came out in 1957!!! That's utterly amazing! Surely it inspired all the great masters, from Heinlien to Assimov, Herbert to Brin!!
The man was way, way ahead of his time--I just put an original paperback in mint condition of The Demolished Man on reserve at Don's Paperback. Right now I'm reading one of his later books, The Deceivers-I've heard so-so things about it--I'll let you know how it goes--I'll tell you! If The Demolished Man is half as good as Stars-I'm in for a serious treat!
Duchess of Malfi
Lady Scryer
Joined: 17 Nov 2002
Posts: 5974
Location: Michigan, USA
Posted: 10 Apr 2007 23:47 Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was trying to figure out why Bester's name was so familiar. I finally figured it out.
http://ahirashangar.ihugny.com/phpBB2/v ... .php?t=191