Product Description
Many books have been hailed as "in the tradition of" The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Not this one. It came first.
It may, however, be something of a precursor. A space-operatic comedy of manners and meditation on life, a cheerful noir thriller, New Celebrations comprises the first three, and so far only, novels about the enigmatic Anthony Villiers, a young man who trails both a mysterious past and a six-foot furred toad companion whose papers are not in order. From a space-station gambling resort, to a nice camping venue in a nature reserve, to the masquerade on Delbalso where arboreal peels grunt like clockwork, Villiers tours many odd social circles of the interstellar Nashuite Empire. Hounded by want of cash, by assassins and, worse, bureaucrats, he remains polite, has fun, and makes an impression. Meet him and see. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Welcome back, Anthony Villiers!
What a joy to see this back in "print". I read my original Ace paperbacks to tatters, and sealed what was left in plastic bags. I then read a set of (Ballantine?) reprints to tatters, and now they are lost in my mountains of boxes of books. I once offered Alexei Panshin $10,000 (back when $10k would buy a new car or so) just to TRY to write the fourth volume. He declined, so I guess these three (in one volume) will be it.

Happy Memories
These three books are old friends from years ago, and it is great to see them in virtual print!Villers is the character Dominc Flandry tries to be, and the always unpredictable Trog is a wonderful counterpoint.My only disappointment with this series was it's length - 3 is just not enough.But Panshin said "goodbye" to yesterday's tomorrows, and evidently that is where the next book remains - in some other today.If you haven't read these yet, they should be next on your list!Great fun!!

Three minor gems
I am tickled to see these three novels reissued electronically. They're very hard to find in paper, and I had actually started scanning them into an OCR program so I could share them with friends.
There are very few examples of the comedy of manners in science fiction, and these are perfect of their kind. They are not profound, but they are bright, witty, and wonderfully well constructed. Reading (and re-reading) them is a steady source of pleasure.

A unique blend of SF and light humor
I've read these books over and over in paperback form, and it's good to finally see these books made available to the public again.Always delightful and skillfully written, these three short novels are guaranteed to amuse you and convince you that life's not so bad after all.Anthony Villiers travels, staying one step ahead of creditors, side-stepping the villians and presenting an enigma to almost everyone else.Mr. Villiers travelling companion is a Trog, best described as a big furry toad with glowing blue eyes who believes in "lines of occurance" instead of causality.Note: the 4th book in this series was never written.Nonetheless, I still strongly recommend these books to anyone looking for a fun, light read. ... Read more

Product Description
In 2198, one hundred and fifty years after the desperate wars that destroyed an overpopulated Earth, Man lives precariously on a hundred hastily-established colony worlds and in the seven giant Ships that once ferried men to the stars. Mia Havero's Ship is a small closed society. It tests its children by casting them out to live or die in a month of Trial in the hostile wilds of a colony world. Mia Havero's Trial is fast approaching and in the meantime she must learn not only the skills that will keep her alive but the deeper courage to face herself and her world.Published originally in 1968, Alexei Panshin's Nebula Award-winning classic has lost none of its relevance, with its keen exploration of societal stagnation and the resilience of youth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Enjoyable, But I Failed to Appreciate It as Others Have
I was able to read the entire story, and I was interested in turning the page. But I was never riveted, and on multiple occasions I felt the story was disjointed.

I know this story won the 1968 Nebula Award, and so I am going against the popular opinion evidently.I did enjoy it, make no mistake, and I also recommended it to my 11 year old daughter. But, I found the story lacking in many ways when I compare it against what I expect from high quality science fiction.

The focus was on morality, and the story makes no bones about that. No problems there. But, while I accept that a teenage girl is unpredictable on the best of days, I found the sudden changes in Mia's personality a little jarring.One day she's a simple thing, playing sports and being adventurous and then suddenly she's a philosopher examining multiple morality systems, then she's back to a normal 13 year old.

What I found more interesting about this story than the primary topics of the author, was the absence of the familial system on the Ship. And yet, the author really never discusses it. He lays out the facts of the life on Ship, but never really speaks to how this system "works". I found it all rather depressing. I was also very curious as to how these children are supposed to develop without psychological issues (due to the manner in which they are - or are not as the case may be - raised).

I don't know quite what to say except that I fail to see how this was a Nebula Award winner.I can't even see it as a nominee. On a 5 star system, I give it 3 stars. I see that it has merit, but I just don't see how it rates 5 stars. It just is not a fully fleshed out story. I believe this may have originally been delivered as a series of shorts in SF magazines perhaps? That might explain what I felt as I read it.

I in no way felt I wasted my time or money.So, if this story interests you, I would give it a go. You may find it works better for you than for me, but even if not, I think you'll agree it was enjoyable in its way.

It doesn't pass Trial
Rite Of Passage is the story of a young girl in a future spaceship getting ready for "Trial", which is something of a space Bar Mitzvah, albeit manyfold dangerous. There are some interesting points in the novel: a fast pace, a refreshing first person POV, along with some poignant fables the heroes come up with. There is also a nod (but just a nod) to philosophy. However, what really spoils this book is the Trial itself. Suddenly, it seems like Mr. Panshin passed his writing torch to Harry Harrison to create 30 or 40 DeathWorld like pages. And while Harrison's characters justify suspension of disbelief, Panshin's 14 year olds going around, blowing up army bases in a totalitarian society is unbelievable as well as unacceptable. 1968 crop must have been pretty poor for this to win the Nebula.

YA Sci Fi Fans
I loved this book- again.I read it when I was eleven and remembered it fondly as a great story about a young girl who experiences a rite of passage in a futuristic world.The story would hold the interest of today's YA readers, as well.There is one love scene between fourteen year-olds and there is a rite of passage from which not everyone returns.The remote style of parenting that some of the kids experience will seem foreign or futuristic to most readers.Still, this is an excellent and timeless read that addresses social and global issues and raises questions about the face of future societies and whether or not they will truly be more advanced than our own.

Growing Up
At the end of the 22nd century, Earth has been destroyed and humanity has been divided into two distinct factions:those that live on Ships and those that live on a Colony.Residents of the Ships live in an advanced technological society that meets all a person's basic needs.Residents of a Colony live under conditions that are more akin to the 19th century instead of the 22nd.

Within this milieu, Mia Havero is growing up.As she comes of age aboard a Ship, Mia's notions of the world around her are reshaped and reformed from those of a child into those of an adult.When a member of a Ship reaches the age of 14, each member of the Ship undergoes Trial.A period of 30 days where they are dropped on a Colony world to fend for themselves.If they survive, they return to the Ship as a full adult and member of the Ship's community.

Rite of Passage is a wonderful coming of age tale.Mia's growth from a child who is upset at being uprooted from her traditional home -- being moved from one section of the Ship to another when she is 12 -- all the way to a young woman whose decision making processes mature into a very capable and thoughtful young adult are written exceptionally well.At every stage of Mia's growth, the decisions she was making and the explorations she was undertaking made sense given her age.

For Mia, her Trial coalesces all that she has learned aboard Ship.She no longer has to rely on what other people think and believe -- whether that be her father, her tutor, or even her friends -- but can now make up her own mind in a logical, reasoned process.In essence as well as in fact, she has become an adult.

Panshin's Rite of Passage is highly recommended to anyone who can relate to -- or remember -- the world at first slowly unfolding and then, as time passed, dramatically unraveling into the multi-faceted, multi-hued tapestry that any adult can recognize in the blink of an eye.

Not Very Memorable
Mia Havero is a budding adolescent leading a sheltered life on "The Ship", a city-state located inside a spaceship. In the millennia since the Population Wars destroyed Earth, many humans chose to live on these ships and preserve the legacy of science and technology, but even more are on the agrarian colonies scattered across the galaxy.

Every member of Mia's society must pass "The Trial" at age fourteen before they are given the rights of adult citizenship. They must survive, alone, for thirty days on a "Mudeater" colony world.

Mia is a well-formed character, but more than a little snippy and hard to like. However, that is perfectly understandable for an adolescent who is too smart for her own good. My real problem was the plot. I thought the story was going to be about her Trial, and was unpleasantly surprised when it bogged down in the middle with details of her life aboard ship. I suppose the lengthy discussions of comparative moralities were supposed to be Mia's mental growth into an adult, but frankly, I couldn't see much difference between her character at the beginning of the book and her character at the end.In fact, I expected some outrage when she encountered slavery and genocide - not blase acceptance.
... Read more

Product Description
A small airless planetoid set deep in the heart of the Flammarion Rift. Due to its location, it is a minor hub of commerce within the Sashuite Empire, and though it is equipped with elegant dining rooms and casinos, luxury suites and expensive shops, Wu and Fabricant's GUIDEBOOK claims that Star Well is a dull place to visit and that travellers should avoid layovers if they can. But Wu and Fabricant had not been shown the secret basements, nor told the nature of the things stored there--if they had been, they might still have advised against layovers, but not because Star Well was dull. When our hero Anthony Villiers and his Traggish friend Torve arrive on the scene, it soon becomes evident that the truth must out: that Star Well has reached the end of an era...(thurb). ... Read more

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"An unbelievably wonderful book"-Isaac Asimov*****The World Beyond the Hill is a unique book-a story about stories. It tells not only where science fiction came from and how it got that way, but what science fiction means. *** Science fiction has been the myth of modern times. The World Beyond the Hill is the tale of that myth from Frankenstein to Galactic Empire. *** By setting forth this evolving story, The World Beyond the Hill sheds light not only on what modern culture has been thinking and doing, but where we are going next and what we need to become. *** The World Beyond the Hill won a non-fiction Hugo Award in competition with books by Arthur C. Clarke, Harlan Ellison, Ursula LeGuin and Robert Heinlein ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"Be careful what you wish for..."
Alexei and Cory Panshin's "The World Beyond the Hill" is quite properly subtitled "Science Fiction and the Quest for Transcendence." This is no mere listing of writers and their titles in this end of speculative fiction, but a deeply thought and well wrought history of myth building in science fiction.

This rather massive tome begins with Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto," a ghost story published anonymously in 1764 and the change of accepted myth from that typified by the magic of the fairy tale. It ends with that myth typified by the new magic of science as presented in Hugo Gernback's Amazing Stories magazine and ends in 1945. An impression is left of one set of superstitions being supplanted by a new set which is supplanted in their turn by yet another, ad nauseaum (as a history instructor once remarked, "History is just one damned thing after another.") At the point of 1945 and the dropping of the first atomic bomb, the Panshins appear to argue that there was a split between the myths of science fiction and SF (as opposed to sci-fi) and that SF continued from that point.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is the depiction of what some consider the height of the Campbell Era, the years 1939 to 1945. John Campbell and his stable of writers (Heinlein, Asimov, Simak, van Vogt, etc.) are studied closely. One is left with the feeling Campbell believed he was caught short by events--when told of the dropping of the first nuclear weapon on Japan, his reaction was, "Oh, my God! It's started."

Two nice features are the notes and references at the end of each chapter (a placement greatly appreciated) and an index that not only lists the authors but also their works.

On the whole, a worthy effort. ... Read more

Product Description
*** The Phoenix Science Fiction Classics series has been designed for the convenience of students. Special margins provide liberal space for students to take notes.*** These distinctive trade paperbacks have also been priced to make them one of the most affordable critical series in the market today, making them easily accessible to students of all economic means.*** Each book includes notes, critical essays, chronologies, bibliographies and more. *** ***The Time Machine is widely credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using artificial constructs. The book has inspired a number of movies and television shows as well as countless other books and is still considered one of the finest tales in the genre.*** The book tells a tale of an unnamed amateur inventor who demonstrates the existence of a fourth dimension by using a specially built miniature machine. He then uses a full-sized apparatus to transport himself into the future and there meets the Eloi and the Morlocks-descendants of humans who have evolved, or devolved into sub-human creatures.*** This edition includes critical essays by acclaimed author and senior lecturer (Arizona State University) Paul Cook and by Alexei and Cory Panshin (adapted from their Hugo-winning work on science fiction, The World Beyond the Hill). ... Read more

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Featuring Mrs. Waldo Wintergood, the Indomitable Admiral Beagle, and a Veritable Army of Yagoots ... Read more

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An excellent companion to Alexei Panshin's novels, Farewell to Yesterday's Tomorrow collects twelve of his best stories, the last a novella written in collaboration with his wife, Cory. From the universe of the Nebula Award-winning Rite of Passage, where the hegemony of advanced ships over primitive worlds engenders complex moral dilemmas, to the first manned exploration of Neptune, to the interstellar quest of a fair lady and a noble beastman to find a home, these engaging fantasies turn the idea of SF as escape on its head, dramatizing how technology may give new expression to empathy and self-sacrifice but never replace them. In the afterword from which the collection takes its title, and which the Panshins updated in 2001, they sum up the vision that makes science fiction relevant and important to us all. ... Read more

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In Earth Magic, Alexei and Cory Panshin (Hugo winning authors of The World Beyond the Hill) create a mysterious world of shifting realities, arcane traditions and memorable characters. Haldane, son of the Get warlord Black Morca must flee for his life through a familiar landscape turned strangely alien, aided by a wizard of uncertain abilities and the hazardous favor of the Goddess Libera. His perilous journey will take him to a final battle amidst the standing stones of power of Stone Heath where he will discover his true destiny. An exciting, thought provoking tale by critically acclaimedand award winning masters of the genre. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A collection of short stories
Farewell to yesterdays tommorow is a collection of short New Wave Sci-Fi stories that all relate to one another.The central theme of the stories seems to be growing up.Be sure to read 'When The vertical World Turns Horizontal'.Its very odd.A great collection. ... Read more

Product Description
*** The Phoenix Science Fiction Classics series has been designed for the convenience of students. Special margins provide liberal space for students to take notes.*** These distinctive trade paperbacks have also been priced to make them one of the most affordable critical series in the market today, making them easily accessible to students of all economic means.*** Each book includes notes, critical essays, chronologies, bibliographies and more. *** *** The timeless cautionary tale of man's overreach with tragic consequences for all. Victor Frankenstein, obsessed with scientific studies, creates and brings to life a creature made from scavenged body parts. However, unable to deal with the hideous "monster" he has created, Frankenstein flees, setting in motion a series of events that ultimately destroys everything he holds dear.*** This edition includes critical essays by acclaimed author and senior lecturer (Arizona State University) Paul Cook and by Alexei and Cory Panshin (adapted from their Hugo-winning work on science fiction, The World Beyond the Hill). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Heinlein as literature: A serious, worthy critical exercise
Frankly, I don't understandwhy this book does not have a higher rating here at Amazon, since it is a worthy effort that merits close study and thoughtful reflection.Panshin's work was the first close reading of any modern science fiction writer and stands as a serious--and largely successful, in my view--attempt to consider Heinlein's work to that date (1968, through "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress").As he writes in his introduction, Panshin's goals included tracing Heinlein's development as a writer, analyzing the characteristics of his writing, and teasing out both what makes his works successful _as literary works_ and fail _as literary works_.I suspect it is non-recognition of this latter point that accounts for some of the less-than-favorable reviews here; if you are looking for a book that says, "Gee, what neat ideas Heinlein had!" you're better off looking elsewhere.This is a work of literary criticism; its goals are to (1) consider Heinlein's work as a whole and tease out those characteristics that make it "Heinlein's work" and not someone else's and (2) probe and reflect on the works that comprise the whole and what makes them work well or not as science fiction and and as works of fiction more generally.

Panshin lays out his biases at the start--not about Heinlein, but rather about what he feels constitutes good science fiction, good storytelling, and good writing.He then runs through Heinlein's works up to the time of writing and assesses them in light of the standards he has laid out.Heinlein's writing, he argues, may be broken down into three periods: the period of his apprenticeship as a writer, lasting to 1942; the period of his greatest success--both monetarily and, in Panshin's view, artistically--lasting to 1958; and a period of "confusion" still ongoing at the time of writing, in which Heinlein seemed to forget, as Panshin would have it, that the goal of his writing was to tell a story rather than lecture.Following this chronologically themed overview/review, Panshin then takes up Heinlein's craft and concludes with a section addressing a number of problematic thematic issues that recur in his work (sexual relations, libertarian politics, mysticism) and why Panshin believes they are problematic.The thrust of his comments here is generally guided NOT by whether Panshin agrees with Heinlein's apparent views on the matters at hand, but again more on how Heinlein's handling of these themes enhances or more often detracts from his fiction _as fiction_.

Personally, I find most of Panshin's assessments to be quite on the mark and even those places where I disagree with him, it is largely only a matter of degree.It does not lessen my enjoyment of Heinlein's work--if anything I think it will enhance it.At the same time, I believe he puts an unerring finger on many aspects of the late writer's output that I have variously found interesting, troubling, pleasing, perplexing, or simply dumbfounding (in both the positive and negative senses) over the years.The book is quite fair-minded, meaning that Panshin adheres rather rigorously to the program he has laid out for himself.He gives this particular emperor credit where credit is due, and tells him he is naked on those occasions when his R.A.H. forgot to put on his robe (or silk bathrobe, which apparently in Heinlein's case would have been more appropriate according to those who knew him).If your interest in Heinlein goes beyond the "gee, what neat ideas!" or "gee, riproaring adventures!" level and you are interested in considering Heinlein's output in terms of craft and as a body of work, then this book is recommended.

If you hate Heinlein, read this book. You'll love every page.
I have wanted to read this book for a long time. I have heard about it from the various Heinlein reviews and web sites. It is usually panned by people who are Heinlein fans, and I thought that I should read it. I think Heinlein is a great author, but not without his flaws. It would be interesting to see what a structured review that was generally thought to be critical of Heinlein would have to say.

Panshin is a writer of some talent, I don't think that he's as good as Heinlein, but he has some talent, he writes as if he had a degree in English while Heinlein is not so polished. Panshin would probably have something meaningful to say.

My first impression was that Panshin was one of those adults blind to social skills, inadvertently saying insulting things when he means to be positive. He would actually say that he really enjoyed this story or that one, but that it was really very badly flawed. After reading this comment over and over you begin to believe that he saying he enjoyed the story so that he isn't constantly negative, that his positive comments are just to keep you from putting the book down in disgust with the constant negative drone.

Panshin will praise Heinlein for some facet he says Heinlein does well, such as his technical knowledge, since, after all, Heinlein was an engineer. Panshin however, will then slowly denigrate such skill as being unimportant in writing, not really something a good story needs. By the time you are near the end, it is obvious that none of Heinlein's writing is good enough for Panshin, everything that was good, such as his ability to construct a good story plot, really is one of his weaknesses!

The last 10% of the book is really wearying, a trial to read. I skimmed much it, but there really wasn't much there except more shoveling of dirt onto the supposed grave.

You really have to wonder what Heinlein ever did to Panshin. Since Panshin is really disparaging of Heinlein's libertarian heroes and philosophy, it could be that Panshin is just a statist and is angered by Heinlein's success with libertarian themes, or maybe he just is angered that he will never be remembered as an important writer as Heinlein will be. Whatever the reason, it is clear that Panshin doesn't like Heinlein.

Panshin, Heinlein, and Beethoven :-)
Panshin is a problematic character in the history of Heinlein fandom and scholarship because although this work was the first book-length Heinlein study, as many have observed here, much of the book is simply a personal attack on Heinlein rather than objective literary criticism. That having been said, the book did contain some insights into Heinlein's work that I found valuable, and I basically ignored the other biased criticisms. I give the work three stars for a pioneering effort and for providing at least some useful insights on Heinlein and his works. But it could have been so much better if Panshin had been able to control his obvious personal dislike of Heinlein.

Panshin and I corresponded briefly some years ago on several topics related to Heinlein's work (mostly on his ideas relating to the Renshawing concepts in Citizen of the Galaxy). I was very critical of his ideas there, but I have to give credit to Panshin who accepted them without ire and the correspondence remained civil throughout.

Around that time, we got into another debate on the Heinlein SIG on the subject of Heinlein's first story, Lifeline, and I thought I would post that here in case people find it interesting, since Panshin has expended a great deal of effort criticizing Heinlein for his supposed faults. So I offer a perspective on that here for Heinlein, and artists in general.

During the discussion, several people commented that Panshin's criticism of Lifeline was nothing more than nitpicking and pettiness. It might be, but I can't disagree with his statement that a later, more mature Heinlein might have written the story better. But it's impossible to disagree with that statement for most artists--it could probably be said of any and all artists--no matter how great.

That having been said, I wanted to make a few more comments about this. I'm no literary critic, and since I am much more knowledgeable about music and art history than literary criticism, I'll use my background there to make my point, since I come at it from a somewhat different perspective.

At least in music and art, it is not the case that even the greatest masters of an art form or genre demonstrate their superiority at every turn. Take Beethoven, for example, arguably the greatest composer who ever lived. He often had technical problems with his musical transitions, those parts of a symphony that tie the other sections together and act as bridge elements.

On the other hand, Schubert and Mendelsohn composed transitions that were smooth as silk, and although they were great composers themselves, I wouldn't put either of them in the same league with Beethoven.

On the other hand, Schubert (arguably the second greatest composer, after his mentor, Beethoven), harmonically wanders around the circle of fifths as if he doesn't understand intermediate harmony at times. However, he is probably the greatest example of the "artesian well" stereotype of a composer. His melodies seem to "well up" from nowhere and he had no problem coming up with thousands of them.

In contrast, Beethoven often struggled with his melodic material. And yet he could create an entire movement in the 5th symphony from a musical phrase that doesn't even qualify as a melody (actually, it's only four notes), being more of small snippet or "idee fixe," as one historian has written. In other words, Beethoven could create a work of genius starting with source material that was quite modest and almost hum-drum, perhaps even minimalist, in a way no other composer could.

This is important, because although there are composers who could more easily come up with melodic material than Beethoven, they still didn't know how to develop it like he could. They might start out with better material, but the "finished product" wasn't as good because they lacked Beethoven's genius at thematic development and exposition.

There are other problems with Beethoven, but I'll leave it at that. If he was a times a little rough around the edges, as in his transitions, he can be forgiven for this relatively minor problem because his contributions in the most important areas were so amazing. To mention just two of these, he greatly increased the complexity and sophistication of harmonic and symphonic structure more than any other composer before or since.

Another way of thinking about it is that Beethoven, like Heinlein, was a pioneer and trail-blazer who revolutionized our thinking about music (or science fiction). If they're both a little rough around the edges at times, I don't mind that--as the refinement of a field can be left to the lesser artists and those who follow after (which is essentially what happened). And the same goes for the subsequent development of science fiction.

I'm sure this idea applies to great literary figures as well, and so I suspect the same thing could be said about Heinlein as about Beethoven. As I said, like Beethoven, Heinlein wasn't just another competent artist who just "upped the ante" a bit; he was a revolutionary who blazed new trails in SF writing, going where no man had gone before.

No artist or writer is perfect. Even if Heinlein had a few minor faults, as Panshin has maintained in this book, they pale into insignificance in contrast to the greatness of his overall contributions, just as Beethoven's do.

The good, the bad, and .. you decide
I waited a long time before deciding to to buy and read this book.Heinlein was the author of the first SF I ever read; I didn't read anything by Panshin until twenty years later.However, I like them both, indifferent ways and for different reasons.While I cannot say I agree withall of the observations, criticisms, and conclusions Panshin has made aboutHeinlein -- I don't -- "Heinlein in Dimension" *did* make methink a bit more about the Heinlein I've read. Seeing how Panshin viewedhim and his work has made me consider my own opinions on the matter. Ifyou're looking for an RAH cheerleading book, this isn't it.If you'relooking for a completely objective and unbiased book about Heinlein and hiswork, I don't think this is it either.If, however, you're familiar withHeinlein (even a fan), are looking for someone *trying* to be objectiveabout the subject, and can read it with the continual remembrance thatyou're reading someone's *opinion*, then you might find "Heinlein inDimension" worthwhile -- in viewpoint-stretching ways if not as pureanalysis.

How not to study an author
Alexei Panshin started off on the wrong foot with this book: he read some of Mr. Heinlein's mail without first getting Heinlein's permission.

This in turn led Heinlein to refuse to cooperate with him, or even speak with him when they met at a public event (Heinlein said: "You have read my mail. GOOD DAY, SIR!" and he turned his back on him).

Panshin demonstrates at length in this book that he doesn't like Heinlein, doesn't approve of his ideas, doesn't understand him, and thinks that Heinlein isn't a very good writer. How much of this opinion is personal animus, how much left-wing disapproval of a right-winger, and how much plain stupidity I wouldn't venture to guess, but to paraphrase the author of a review below, entitled "Panshin in Dimension" , it contributes very little of value to the study of Heinlein or his work.

I realize it is hard to be objective and insightful about someone you don't like, and it does have the occasional interesting insight into Heinlein's fiction, but mostly, it stinks. Not recommended, unless you read it first at the library and decide you want it. ... Read more

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Science fiction. Winner of the NEBULA AWARD. "An impressive portrayal of the psychological and moral coming- of -age of a young girl whose upbringing and background are truly of the future yet whose problems are universal". ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Bob Shaw, John Scalzi, David Langford, Earl Kemp, Harry Warner, Jr., Wilson Tucker, Ted White, Alexei Panshin, Susan Wood, Terry Carr, Andrew I. Porter, Mike Glyer, Richard E. Geis. Excerpt:Alexis Adams Panshin (born August 14, 1940) is an American author and science fiction (SF) critic. He has written several critical works and several novels, including the 1968 Nebula Award -winning novel Rite of Passage and the 1990 Hugo Award winning study of science fiction The World Beyond the Hill (written with his wife, Cory Panshin ) Panshin is also noted for the cult favorite Anthony Villiers series which consists of three books: Star Well , The Thurb Revolution , and Masque World . The fourth volume of the series, The Universal Pantograph , never appeared, reputedly because of conflicts between the writer and his publisher. Of the Villiers series, noted SF writer Samuel R. Delany writes "It ... examines the proposition that the world is composed of small communities of mutual interest ... is a gallery of gamblers, duels and double-crosses, a minuet of manners and manners mangled; the machinery of the universe is speculated upon; inspector generals arrive to inspect it. And Anthony Villiers, gentleman par excellence, dashes through it all, buckling a swash or two, bungling a couple of others." Panshin published a study of SF legend Robert A. Heinlein , Heinlein In Dimension . He also co-wrote Earth Magic with wife Cory Panshin . His general critical work SF in Dimension (1976) was also co-written with Cory Panshin, as was the lengthy theoretical-critical book, The World Beyond The Hill (1989). His works also include a short story collection, Farewell To Yesterday's Tomorrow . Heinlein In Dimension first brought Panshin to wide public notice. Robert A. Heinlein objected strongly to it... ... Read more

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This digital document, covering the life and work of Alexei Panshin, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 1095 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Customer Reviews (4)

A brilliant, lost series.
Masque World, Star Well, and The Thurb Revolution were the first three Anthony Villiers novels.

They began a brilliant, swashbuckling, aristocratic comedy series, which was never finished because, I have always assumed, Panshin fell in love with and married a politically correct SF woman writer who drew him in new directions and wrecked him as a writer.

So the next book was Earth Magic, by Alexei and Cory Panshin. This is a fascinating but ultimately flawed book about the magic of the Earth Goddess, first of a new series that was never continued. A promising career had been derailed.

Too bad, really. However their future lives turned out privately, the ending of the Anthony Villiers series was a real pity.

Still, Alexei Panshin left three books behind him. Anyone who missed them should repair the deficiency, and for those who know them they are good enough to bear periodic rereading.

"Given the right premises, any conclusion can be reached."
Some 30 years ago, Alexei Panshin authored a series of three science fiction novels that have achieved minor legendary status.These were about a somewhat venal nobleman - Anthony Villiers, Viscount Charteris - and his highly illegal traveling companion Torve the Trog.What Trogs look like are six foot tall fur bearing frogs, what they think like has made them persona non grata throughout the Nashuite empire.

Trogs believe, among other strange things, that events arise out of imminent conjugation, rather than cause and effect.They have a fine sense of when these intersections of time and space are going to occur, during which they are known to express themselves with "Thurbs" of appreciation.Since they are also known to behave unpredictably at these moments, the Emperor has seen fit to invite them to remain in the vicinity of their home planet, where the most likely victim of a "Thurb" is likely to be another Trog.

Villiers and Torve have come to Delbaso to pick up some forged papers for the Trog so that he will no longer have to baffle as many customs officers; in addition, the viscount wants to pick up the stipend that his family pays them to stay out of their way.While not as unpredictable as Torve, Villiers has a tendency to wander into adventures that his relatives find disconcerting.The current arrangement suits everyone.

Or it would if the post from Duden would arrive, and if Lord Semichastny, Villier's uncle, had not conveniently misplaced the bank draft.For there is more afoot that the disguising of illegal aliens.The Delbaso Monist Association's Xochitl society is seeking wonders and marvels.The peels are grunting, and the bells of the last Christian historian are pealing.Lord Semichastny plots defiance of Delbaso's Winter-Summer Laws (recently enacted to force his lordship to leave the planet) by planning a party and hefting rotten melons at Lady Oliphaunt.Obviously, conjugations are threatening to break out everywhere.

Panshin's style, which combines wit with a sublime sense of the ridiculous, is something I have missed dearly.But unfortunately, these works are given to momentary reappearances followed by long period out of print.At present, 'Masque World' is the only one available.Recently the three Villiers novels have appeared in electronic form, which will help them regain some well-deserved notoriety.Lacking that, keep an eye out for them on the shelves of used bookstores in the hope that you can conjugate with a copy imminently.

One of the best
Alexei Panshin's 'Anthony Villiers Adventures' are among the most treasured books on my shelves. They look at the world in a wacky way that is nevertheless perfectly reasonable.This one, the second in the series(which regrettably never got beyond the third volume), is as excellent asthe other two.If you can find a copy in your local public library, youshould check it out.If you can find a copy for sale, you shoulddefinitely buy it -- unless fun reading isn't your cup of tea.

A Marvelous Trilogy, both deep and funny.
Before there were Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett, there was Alexei Panshin. I think he was ahead of his time, I can't think of another reason why these weren't wild smash hits. One quote, as well as I remember it,went something like "Everyone ever born has extended the range ofhuman possibility- new music, new ideas, new fashions. Jerzy McBee, beinghuman, had extended the the range of human possibilities, but not bymuch". ... Read more