Details About Books The Instrumentality of Mankind (Instrumentality of Mankind)
| Title | : | The Instrumentality of Mankind (Instrumentality of Mankind) |
| Author | : | Cordwainer Smith |
| Book Format | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | #27716 |
| Pages | : | Pages: 238 pages |
| Published | : | May 1979 by Del Rey / Ballantine (first published 1979) |
| Categories | : | Science Fiction. Fiction. Short Stories. Anthologies |
Cordwainer Smith
Mass Market Paperback | Pages: 238 pages Rating: 4.12 | 1442 Users | 37 Reviews
Rendition During Books The Instrumentality of Mankind (Instrumentality of Mankind)
14 short stories set in a universe of scanners, planoforming ships and animal-derived Underpeople.1 No, No, Not Rogov! (1959)
2 War No. 81-Q (1928)
3 Mark Elf (1957)
4 The Queen of the Afternoon (1978)
5 When the People Fell (1959)
6 Think Blue, Count Two (1963)
7 The Colonel Came Back from the Nothing-at-All (1979)
8 From Gustible's Planet (1962)
9 Drunkboat (1963)
10 Western Science Is So Wonderful (1958)
11 Nancy (1959)
12 The Fife of Bodidharma (1959)
13 Angerhelm (1959)
14 The Good Friends (1963)
"First Edition: May 1979" stated on the copyright page.
Define Books Concering The Instrumentality of Mankind (Instrumentality of Mankind)
| Original Title: | The Instrumentality of Mankind |
| ISBN: | 0345277163 (ISBN13: 9780345277169) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Instrumentality of Mankind, L'Instrumentalité #1 |
Rating About Books The Instrumentality of Mankind (Instrumentality of Mankind)
Ratings: 4.12 From 1442 Users | 37 ReviewsPiece About Books The Instrumentality of Mankind (Instrumentality of Mankind)
I just love this collection of short stories. Often, when I recommend a book, I tend to gravitate towards perfect books, carefully crafted with no flaws to be noticed. This one is full of flaws, all kind of them, but the final result is nevertheless stunning and moving. Do I feel at ease recommending it, knowing that most will at least like it? No, I don't. Do I still recommend it? Yes, absolutely: maybe you will not like it one bit, but for others this may be the book of their life.Excellent group of eccentric stories set in the early years of space travel. Smith does an exceptional job at world building in limited space. Nowhere else will you find ceramic laminated mouse brains, two dimensional men, or German speaking bears. Really great collection of short stories covering areas from ancient India to alien planets, including extra-dimensional planes, life after death, and psychic phenomenon. Also, man killing Nazi robots. A classic collection.
It is always hard to rate and discuss collections. Some are five-star, some are three, and each is so unique that it is even difficult to categorize or group the stories. I will say, though, that I will look for more of Cordwainer Smith to read. Recommended for SF fans in generalsomething for everyone, from techie to social to mental to alien creatures. Also recommended to those interested in psychological fiction, as many of the stories deal with the effects space travel can have on the mind.A
This is awesome classic sci-fi. It foretells our future by extrapolating the real science of his day. It's a good combination of detail and concept. Each short story tells a full story and explores different ideas.
It's hard to tell what I liked most out of these stories. From Gustible's Planet was probably one of the most memorable for big ideas and big action, but DrunkBoat was seriously creepy and delicious. I'm always of a mind to pity all of his characters to one degree or another, and it looks like it is well deserved pity. Of course, I'm reminded of Bester's work, but this was sufficiently clever and taking a different path entirely that I cannot fault it in the slightest. (I'm only referring to
Some of it is a bit old hat (published 1979) but well written and a new, interesting view of a possible future of mankind.
Some of the stories are amazing (like the classic "The Game of Rat and Dragon")... I was indifferent to some, and a few of them I disliked but the universe depicted is a consistent one and the theme of human behavior toward animals a very dear one to me.
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