Written while vogt was living in ottawa, slan recounts the maturation of a mutant with telepathic powers and enhanced intelligence in a. In a career spanning six decades, he penned 39 novels and many short stories. He was born alfred vogt and legally changed this to alfred elton van vogt. The novel was originally serialized in the magazine astounding science fiction septemberdecember 1940. It was subsequently published in hardcover in 1946 by arkham house, in an edition of 4,051 copies. Another slan is kathleen layton, a ostensible science project in the custody of keir gray himself, but in fact a pawn in the chess game of the gray dictatorship. During this time, he wrote thirtyeight novels starting with slan that was about a. It was an instant classic of the time, the story of the next step in evolution. Alfred elton van vogt was a bestselling science fiction author from canada who is. Author a e van vogts complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers. Years ago, mankind fought against the hated slan race in the fierce slan wars.
At the time of his death in 2000, van vogt left a partial draft and an outline for the sequel to his most famous novel, slan. Slan part four in astounding sciencefiction december 1940 by van vogt, alfred elton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Alfred elton van vogt was a canadianborn science fiction author who was one. Van vogts first novel, and perhaps still his best known, is slan. Van vogt s first sf publication was inspired by the voyage of the beagle by charles darwin.
One of the most influential and popular practitioners of the golden age of science fiction, his writing was also one of the most complex. In the 1940s, the golden age of science fiction flowered in the magazine asto. His first, and by some accounts his most famous, was slan. Lieutenant morton cargill was brought from the past to be punished for his crime, an accidental murder that. All of van vogts books from 1951 to 1961 were fixups, or collections of previously published stories. Slan part four in astounding sciencefiction december. Van vogt s slan is a historical piece of science fiction. Like the slans telepathic mutants hiding out in a hostile population science fiction fans considered themselves a haunted special minority, imbued with transcendent and visionary insight, sure to prevail in the.
His first novels were black destroyer and discord in scarlet. Slans are usually shot on sight, but that doesnt stop jommys mother from bringing him to see the world capital of centropolis, the seat of power for earths dictator, kier gray. Van vogts first and bestknown novel, back in print from tor books s orb imprint. In the 1940s, the golden age of science fiction flowered in the magazine astounding. Alfred elton van vogt was a canadianborn science fiction author regarded by some as one of. The chief exemplar is jommy cross, a boy nine years old. Alfred elton, 1912publication date 1946 topics science fiction, american.
Fans are slans, became the catchphrase of early science fiction fandom in the wake of this novel. Every 2 weeks we send out an email with 68 book recommendations. A tardigrade fused with a chicken, all naked except for a fish tank hat and a futuristic riffle this is a high class sf cover. The result was the extermination of almost all slans, and the establishment of a worldwide police state. Jun 26, 2007 slan is legendary science fiction author a. Jan 31, 2000 a e van vogt this article is more than 20 years old. First edition of van vogts first novel, the third work to be published by arkham house.
This startling sf adventure novel is a collaboration between the classic sf grand master a. During this time, he wrote thirtyeight novels starting with slan that was. The novel is the narrative of johnnys odyssey through the slan subsocieties and toward his final confrontation with kier gray. The story starts with a bang on the first page when the nineyearold slan hero gets a.
Author a e van vogts complete list of books and series in order, with the latest. All of van vogts books from 1951 to 1961 were fixups, or collections of. Jul 01, 2008 alfred elton van vogt was a prolific author from sfs postwar golden era. Van vogts first completed novel, and one of his most famous, is slan arkham. Alfred elton, 19122000 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A hundred other thoughts beat against his mind, from the.
Like the various dune sequels written by anderson and brian herbert, it really doesnt live up to the original but then not much fan fic does. He was the third child of heinrich and aganetha vogt, both of whom were born in manitoba and spoke dutch at home. Alfred elton van vogt was a bestselling science fiction author from canada who is best known for his bizarre fragmented narrative style. The struggle of a race of mutants engineered to be superhuman to avoid extinction under a totalitarian world government, from the points of view of a young boy growing up in the slums and a young girl growing up in the government leaders palace. Slan is a science fiction novel by americancanadian writer a. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Alfred elton van vogt was a prolific author from sfs postwar golden era. Slan by alfred elton van vogt was born in manitoba, canada. Slan was his first novel, serialized in astounding in the fall of 1940 and published in book form in 1946. Van vogts first completed novel, and one of his most famous, is slan arkham house, 1946, which campbell serialized in. Small octavo, original black cloth, original dust jacket. Alfred elton, 1912publication date 1968 topics cultural literacy and humanities, reading leveladult publisher. The witch by alfred elton van vogt magick books library.
Her fear as they walked hurriedly along the street was a quiet, swift pulsation that throbbed from her mind to his. Discover book depositorys huge selection of a e van vogt books online. Mar 31, 2017 alfred elton van vogt was born on a farm in edenburg, a russian mennonite community east of gretna, manitoba. Jommy cross is a slan, a genetically bred superhuman whose race was created to aid humanity but is now despised by normal humans. Slan by van vogt, slan not astounding, first edition. The five books below, as well as being some of my favorite novels, show how the subgenre evolved, and why i think its unlikely to go extinct.
A e van vogt slan is the story of a mutant variety of humanity, the slans. But on their latest trip to centropolis, the two slans are discovered, and jommys. He was born alfred vogt and legally changed this to alfred elton van vogt during. Van vogt, il fantastico economico classico newton on. His father was a lawyer and moved the family around several times while the young vogt was a child. Im reading slan at the moment, and i must say it moves at a cracking pace. A hundred other thoughts beat against his mind, from the crowds that swarmed by on either side. Van vogts first and bestknown novel, back in print from tor bookss orb imprint.
In grays palace lives the young, beautiful slan, kathleen layton,who gray spared from a mob so that a slan and her powers could be investigated at close quarters. The infuriating and essential science fiction of a. His books are more slapdash than sublime, yet they captivate readers through sheer manic energy. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Its easy to trace numerous concepts back to slan e. Van vogt if you like the pulp science fiction of the campbellian golden age from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, youre bound to run across a. Alfred elton van vogt was a canadianborn science fiction author who was one of the most prolific, yet. But slan jommy cross had escaped extermination and was now living in constant fear in the world of cruel humans.
His first, slan, dealt with a persecuted race of humanbred mutants and attempts to bring peace between normals and their physical and. In a career spanning six decades, he penned 39 novels and many. Alfred elton van vogt was a canadianborn science fiction author. Slan by a e van vogt arkham house signed bookorithms. Van vogt s first and bestknown novel, back in print from tor books s orb imprint. Slan is the story of jommy cross, the orphan mutant outcast from a future society prejudiced against mutants, or slans. Alfred elton van vogt was a canadianborn science fiction author who was one of the most prolific, yet complex, writers. After many years of creating well regarded but relatively unlucrative short fiction, van vogt turned his attention to the fulllength novel. Ive also recently read rogue ship and voyage of the space beagle, both assemblages of short stories into a novel, which shows in the narrative.
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