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Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

678.0. "ROBERT SHECKLEY" by CRUSHA::WILLIAMSI () Wed Aug 24 1988 08:56

    I cannot belive that there are so few references to Robert Sheckley
    in this conference. He is apparently not widely read in the USA,
    which is a tremendous shame as he is one of the sharpest, funniest
    SF writers around (I know little of his biography and assume he
    is still alive - anyone know any more ?).
    
    If you like Douglas Adams then Sheckley is for you, he was writting
    "Hitchhikers" material long before DA came on the scene (it has
    even been suggested that Sheckley is the direct source for some
    of Adams' ideas, especially his book "Dimensions of Miracles" which
    has some astounding similarities to HHGG).
    
    If you find Adams a little too flip, then you will also enjoy Sheckley,
    his humour is laced with a sharply satirical edge, and his books
    often leave me aching with laughter, but with a terrible feeling
    of gloom as well.
    
    If you are want to get into Sheckely, my favoutite works are :
    
    		The "Victim" series (Victim Prime, The Tenth Victim)
    		Dimensions Of Miracles (possibly his most famous novel)
    		Mindswap (less funny, but very good SF)
    
    Anyway, end of the totally biased advertisment for Sheckley. All
    I can say is that if you haven't come across him yet then you really
    have missed out on one of SF's most intelligent and humourous authors
    
    A British Fan, Daniel Crow
    
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678.1Another English Sheckley FanLOOKIN::DOYLEWed Aug 24 1988 12:2510
    Bravo ! I couldn't agree more.MINDSWAP is my favourite,DIMENSION
    OF MIRACLES is lovely too,but try reading some of his short stories.His
    style lends itself well to short,sharp,witty stories;there are possibly
    more anthologies of his short stories than novels.He is one of the
    funniest SF authors alive (yes,I believe he IS alive),possibly better
    than Leiber,Harrison or Sladek in a funny mood.I wish he was a bit
    more prolific.
    
    Ian D.
    
678.2An American Sheckley FanANKH::KIRSCHBAUMNo Personal NameThu Aug 25 1988 11:0010
    I read a (very) short story by Sheckley in some sf magazine, I don't
    remeber which, but I *loved* the story.  It was hilarious, but like
    .0 said, it managed to be quite cynical as well.
    
    I've been looking for other Sheckley stories ever since! But I haven;t
    found any :-(  Anyway, thanks for the titles, now I have something
    to look for that I *know* is out there!
    
     /\
    /--\ndy
678.3Another FanDRUMS::FEHSKENSThu Aug 25 1988 11:415
    A good collection of Sheckley shorts is "Untouched by Human Hands",
    probably out of print?
    
    len.
    
678.4More Recommended ReadingCRUSHA::WILLIAMSIThu Aug 25 1988 15:437
    In addition to my note .0 a friend of mine who is also heavily into
    Sheckley has just finished a book of his called "Damoclese" (sp ?)
    which he says is one of the man's best. I trust this man's opinion
    and can thus pass on the recommendation. I will also read the book
    as soon as I can get my hands on it.
    
    Daniel
678.5A Few UCOUNT::BAILEYCorporate SleuthThu Aug 25 1988 17:4910
    My handy Books in Print (86-87 ed) says the following are out there
    in the USA:
    
    Dramocles: An Intergalactic Soap Opera (Holt)
    The Game of X (Ace)
    Is that What People Do? (Holt)
    
    (Newer editions of BIP might list more...)
    
    Sherry
678.6DEADLY::REDFORDThu Aug 25 1988 18:359
    Another long time fan.  My paperback copy of "Dimension of Miracles" 
    is losing pages from being read so often, or maybe it's the cheap
    English binding (:-)).  Does anyone know if a hardback ever came out?
    I've also been looking for a non-sf novel of Sheckley's, "The Man 
    in the Water".  It's a mystery set in the Caribbean, and I read 
    just enough to whet my interest before the book got lost in a move.
    His latest books about the assassination game have not been up
    to par, though.
    /jlr
678.7Race you to the second-hand shops!COGMK::FUSCIDEC has it (on backorder) NOW!Fri Aug 26 1988 01:1024
My personal Sheckley collection has only three titles, they are:

Pilgrimage to Earth
Notions:  Unlimited
Can You Feel Anything When I Do This?

These are all short-story collections.  In the front of these books are 
listed the following:

White Death
The Shards of Space
Dead Run
Calibre 50
Gray Flannel Armor
The Store of Infinity
Untouched by Human Hands
Citizen in Space
The Big Blow
Live Gold
Immortality, Inc.

Sure hope I find some more of his work!

Ray
678.8DRAMOCLES and OPTIONSLOOKIN::DOYLEFri Aug 26 1988 08:148
    re: .4
    
    DRAMOCLES is indeed very funny.I think it's still in print in paperback
    by New English Library (in the UK).It SHOULD be,'cos it was only published a
    couple of years ago (I think ?).More generally,OPTIONS is another
    of his works that's well worth reading (Pan in the UK).
    
    Ian D.
678.9DRAMOCLES in the Ermine Sports JacketERIC::WILLIAMSILeeds UniversityThu Sep 01 1988 07:1610
    re .-1 .4
    
    I read DRAMOCLES last weekend, and it is extremely funny. The scene
    when Dramocles is going on the "mystic trip" with his daughter is
    and absolute killer, one of the funniest scenes Sheckley has ever
    done. Read this book. It is still in print, I believe, in the UK.
    Definitely one for the collection
    
    Daniel Crow
    
678.10SCOMAN::RUDMANAmateur Hour goes on and on...Fri Sep 02 1988 18:0615
    re: .0
    
    You're right!
    
    It's been awhile since I've read anything by him.  I can recommend
    oldies:  Can You Feel Anything When I Do This?
             Pilgramage to Earth
             Notions: Unlimited
             Untouched by Human Hands
    
    All collections.
    
    I have 3 other books, but haven't read them yet.
    
    						Don
678.11ANT::JLUDGATEBorribles Rule OkayTue Sep 20 1988 10:3711
    RS - inspiration to all who have played The Assassin Game.
    
    he even gives himself a pat on the back for it in a recent book
    which nobody has mentioned yet: "HUNTER/VICTIM"
    
    i liked it, and always try to remember his name when i visit book
    stores and/or libraries. (it's the only book by him i've found so
    far)
    
    
678.12Early RSIRT::BOWERSCount Zero InterruptTue Sep 27 1988 17:0712
    My first contact with RS was a novel call "The Status Civilization",
    a story with some similarities to RAH's "Coventry".  It contained
    the following memorable quote:
    
    "Oh, we've done away with social classes. We're ALL middle class
    now.  The question is: is one lower middle, middle middle or upper
    middle?"
    
    "The Game of X" - a wild tongue-in-cheek James Bond send-up.
    
    
    -dave
678.13mun mun!EAGLE1::BESTR D Best, sys arch, I/OWed Dec 21 1988 00:0312
Robert Sheckley is indeed one of the funniest SF writers I've encountered.

I don't believe that I've read any of his novels, but I've devoured many
of his short stories with delight.

I particularly like the misadventures of Greg and Arnold (proprietors of the
'AAA Interplanetary Ace Decontamination Co.', so named to be the first in
the telephone directory :-)).  Remember tangreese ? Remember Ghost V ?

Favorite short story: 'Shall We Have a Little Talk?'

Well, it's time to go off and elikate mushkies forsically :-)
678.14Me tooCSC32::L_GORANOWSKIMon Jan 23 1989 20:085
    Because of this note, I wandered down to my local used bookstore
    and bought $3.00 worth of his books (about 12 of them). My husband
    keep wondering what it is I'm snickering at night.
    
    I'm keeping an eye out from now on.