TABLE OF CONTENTS:
In his INTRODUCTION, Robert Silverberg writes about why he prefers to write Science Fiction in the novella format over short stories (he’s written over 400 of them) and novels (he’s written over a 100 of them).
These six novellas are presented in chronological order so you can see Silverberg’s development as a writer from the 1950s to the 1990s.
“The Valley Beyond Time” presents a group of humans and aliens kidnapped from across the Galaxy and held on an unknown planet by The Watcher. “How It Was When the Past Went Away” shows what happens when people lose their memories. “Going” follows a composer who is a hundred and thirty-six years old in a Future where population control encourages older people to “Go.”
The title story, “This is the Road” is a harrowing story of a small group of people trying to escape from an invading army. “Lion Time in Timbuctoo” concerns a Future set in an alternate history where the Black Death of 1348 devastates Europe, leaving Western civilization too weak to colonize Africa.
“In Another Country” is the best-known story in this collection. It was written as a “sequel” to C. L. Moore’s “Vintage Season” and published as TOR Double #18. Time travel is tricky…
If you’re a Robert Silverberg fan, you might already have all of these novellas in other collections. But, if you’re a reader who wants to explore the excellence of Robert Silverberg, This is the Road is the perfect book to do that. GRADE: B+
Laser-Focused Science Fiction (Foreword by John Shirley) — vii
Introduction by Robert Silverberg — ix
I. Valley Beyond Time (1957) — 1
II. How It Was When the Past Went Away (1969) — 41
III. Going (1971) — 99
IV. This is the Road (1973) — 147
V. Lion Time in Timbuctoo (1990) — 203
VI. In Another Country (1990) — 267
About the Author — 337
On my list!
Toby, you’ll enjoy THIS IS THE ROAD and Robert Silverberg’s INTRODUCTION where he discusses his writing process.
I probably do have them all in other collections. I remember reading “In Another Country ” back to back with the C. L. Moore story.
Jeff, I read the TOR Double back in the early 1990s. I’d read most of the satires in THIS IS THE ROAD when they first appeared but I enjoyed rereading them.
Even if you have read the stories before, Silverberg’s introductions and comments for these “recycled” collections are usually well worth the price.
Jerry, I totally agree with you. Silverberg’s introductions reveal plenty about his writing process…which is exceptional!
He’s an inspiration again these years in keeping his wits about him at a very advanced age. And continuing to do good work.
Not that anyone loses their wits with intent.
Todd, Silverberg used his wits to stop writing when he did.
Todd, welcome back! We missed you!
Thanks….back io the hospital, on this less than happy anniversary, as blood is going to unfortunate places in my body post-gall-bladder removal. As Jerry noted, I still have gall, but while I can divide it in three parts, there seems little safe place to put it…
Todd, I’m the only one of the Kelley Kids who still have a gall bladder. I attribute it to eating pizza regularly!