Robert Silverberg has been a prolific writer for 60 years. The 25-page double-columned bibliography included in Other Spaces, Other Times of just Silverberg’s science fiction publications prove that. Silverberg’s soft-core novels, non-fiction, and mysteries aren’t included in this bibliography. But what is included are Silverberg’s reminiscences of the people he met during his long career as a writer. Harlan Ellison pops up several times, Fredrick Pohl, John W. Campbell, Larry Shaw, Isaac Asimov, Ed Emshwiller, all make appearances. There are plenty of photos of Silverberg interacting with editors, writers, and fans. Dozens of color reproductions of the book jackets and paperback covers of Silverberg’s works are fun to look at. Silverberg’s narrative captures a magic time in publishing that is just about extinct. GRADE: A
Okay, I’m convinced. I ordered my copy this morning.
Nonstop Press did a wonderful job, Bill. You’ll be pleased by the book.
P. S. My copy of the Jack Vance autobiography is already on its way to me.
I’m counting the minutes until that Vance autobiography arrives, Bill. I’m hoping it clears up the nagging issue of whether Vance wrote FACE TO FACE.
I loved that sub-title: A Life Spent in the Future.
I loved that subtitle, too, Patti. In a lot of ways, Silverberg was ahead of his time, especially his work in the late Sixties and early Seventies.
I don’t see FACE TO FACE in Clute, and I assume by your capitalization it’s a novel. Written as by ?? Enjoy the autobiography. He was always pretty close-mouthed, I think, so I wonder how much is contained in the book.
Silverberg makes it clear in his “Introduction” that he wasn’t going to write a detailed memoir. He said he didn’t want to embarrass or hurt people. So OTHER SPACES, OTHER TIMES is really a recollection of his science fiction career. FACE TO FACE is the “Ellery Queen” that some think was written (at least in part) by Vance. I’m one of them.
From what I’ve heard the Vance book is mostly about his life as lived, not the writing.
I’ve heard the same thing, Bill. It was almost too much to ask that Vance’s autobiography would clear up a minor controversy like the authorship of FACE TO FACE.