Robert Sheckley Livres

Will Barrent finds himself, without memory of any crime or of his previous life, being shipped to the planet Omega. Used to imprison extreme offenders, Omega has a hierarchical society of extreme brutality, where the way to advance & avoid dying is to commit endless crimes. The average life expectancy from time of arrival is three years. The story concerns his attempt to survive, escape & return to Earth to clear himself of accusations against him. Earth is a uniform utopian society based on mutual trust & conformity. It's sleepy & stagnant, developing neither socially nor technologically. Its social stability is maintained by robots brainwashing children in closed classes. The ideologies of both Earth & Omega are similar, differing only in words. On Omega, the citizens worship Evil in a cult dedicated to an entity called The Black One. On Earth, the world religion is an amalgam of all the good aspects of previous religions. Its institution is the Church of the Spirit of Mankind Incarnate. As Barrent comes closer to the truth about the reason for his incarceration, his Omegan consciousness conflicts with his subconsciousness which was programmed in the closed classes by the robots during his childhood. The subsequent psychological struggle is played out by repeating all of the previous fights & battles which he experienced throughout the book, eventually making clear the vision which the mutant girl on Omega foresaw of his death.

Analyse : Roman de science-fiction (anticipation). Nouvelles.

Recueil de nouvelles d'anticipation/science-fiction.On rencontre parfois d'étranges visiteurs. Parfois ils font peur, et parfois ils séduisent. Ils étonnent en tout cas par leur allure, leurs habitudes, ce qu'ils font deviner des mondes d'où ils arrivent, des civilisations d'ailleurs, d'hier, ou de nulle part. Christian Poslaniec en a réunis ici plusieurs, porteurs de mystères et de rêves, et de questions. A travers les histoires de Gérard Klein, de Bill Brown, de Robert Sheckley, de Julia Verlanger ou d'Erik Frank Russell, ou du plus ancien Théophile Gautier, on rit, on s'inquiète, on pousse des portes inattendues.

Featuring 14 short stories from the 1950s, this collection showcases Robert Sheckley's unique blend of wit and speculative imagination. Each narrative explores themes of technology, human nature, and the absurdities of life, often with a satirical twist. Sheckley's ability to blend humor with thought-provoking concepts makes these tales both entertaining and insightful, reflecting the era's fascination with science fiction. Readers will enjoy a diverse range of scenarios that challenge perceptions and provoke reflection on the future.

This anthology brings together a diverse collection of science fiction stories that explore the vastness of space and the complexities of interstellar travel. Featuring a range of authors, it delves into themes of exploration, the unknown, and the impact of advanced technology on humanity. Each tale presents unique worlds and characters, showcasing imaginative scenarios that challenge our understanding of existence and the universe. Ideal for fans of speculative fiction, it offers both thought-provoking narratives and thrilling adventures.

An NYRB Classics Original Robert Sheckley was an eccentric master of the American short story, and his tales, whether set in dystopic city­scapes, ultramodern advertising agencies, or aboard spaceships lighting out for hostile planets, are among the most startlingly original of the twentieth century. Today, as the new worlds, alternate universes, and synthetic pleasures Sheckley foretold become our reality, his vision begins to look less absurdist and more prophetic. This retrospective selection, chosen by Jonathan Lethem and Alex Abramovich, brings together the best of Sheckley’s deadpan farces, proving once again that he belongs beside such mordant critics of contemporary mores as Bruce Jay Friedman, Terry Southern, and Thomas Pynchon.

The story follows a group of uranium prospectors whose journey takes a perilous turn when their food supplies run low. Stranded on an abandoned planet, they land at a derelict warehouse facility in search of sustenance. As they navigate this desolate environment, the challenges of survival and the mysteries of the abandoned world unfold, testing their resourcefulness and resilience. The narrative explores themes of desperation, exploration, and the unknown.

Featuring a collection of ten imaginative science fiction tales, this book showcases the unique storytelling style of Robert Sheckley. The stories delve into themes of humanity, technology, and the absurdities of life, with titles like "The Monsters" and "Cost of Living" highlighting Sheckley's wit and insight. Each narrative invites readers to explore strange worlds and thought-provoking scenarios, making this anthology a must-read for fans of the genre.

Mark Rogers was a prospector and he went to the asteroid belt looking for radioactives and rare metals. He searched for years, never finding much, hopping from fragment to fragment. After a time he settled on a slab of rock half a mile thick. He called his slab of rock Martha, after no girl he had ever known.