Sat 13 May 2023
SF Diary Review: SAMUEL R. DELANY – The Einstein Intersection.
Posted by Steve under Diary Reviews , Science Fiction & Fantasy[5] Comments
SAMUEL R. DELANY – The Einstein Intersection. Ace F-427, paperback original; 1st printing, March 1967. Many reprint editions exist, but the Bantam paperback of April 1981 is the first US edition that includes a chapter missing from the Ace paperback original. Cover art by Jack Gaughan.
In a new Earth, peopled with new inhabitants, Lo Lobey leaves his village and travels to find Friza, to return her to life. He meets various characters: Kid Death, Spider, Green-eye, and the Dove.
Symbolic garbage, trailing off to meaninglessness. Some people might be impressed by this; not I. Read the back cover and forget the rest.
Rating: **½
[UPDATE.] The Einstein Intersection won the Nebula voting for 1968, and came in second for the Hugo award.
May 13th, 2023 at 9:11 pm
Well, I don’t know. I suppose I could have been wrong.
May 14th, 2023 at 9:45 pm
Not for yourself, but don’t read DHALGREN if this freaked you out.
May 14th, 2023 at 9:53 pm
Speaking for myself — and who better? — I finished EINSTEIN and enjoyed quite a few of Delay’s early novelettes and short stories, but yes, I knew well enough to stay well away from DHALGREN. And as I recall, nothing else by him after that.
May 15th, 2023 at 7:59 am
Still, 2 1/2 stars is pretty good for a back cover.
May 22nd, 2023 at 6:44 pm
FWIW: James Blish noted that when he heard this novel had won the Nebula, he stepped into his kitchen and bit his cat. I think that means he was not a fan of this novel.
I generally like the Delany I’ve read, of various sorts, but haven’t gone back to this one yet.