Dhalgren

Samuel R. Delany

Jan 2014 · Open Road Media

About this ebook

Nebula Award Finalist: Reality unravels in a Midwestern town in this sci-fi epic by the acclaimed author of Babel-17. Includes a foreword by William Gibson.

A young half–Native American known as the Kid has hitchhiked from Mexico to the midwestern city Bellona—only something is wrong there . . . In Bellona, the shattered city, a nameless cataclysm has left reality unhinged. Into this desperate metropolis steps the Kid, his fist wrapped in razor-sharp knives, to write, to love, to wound.
 
So begins Dhalgren, Samuel R. Delany’s masterwork, which in 1975 opened a new door for what science fiction could mean. A labyrinth of a novel, it raises questions about race, sexuality, identity, and art, but gives no easy answers, in a city that reshapes itself with each step you take . . .
 
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Samuel R. Delany including rare images from his early career.

Ratings and reviews

Absolutely one of a kind story. Post apocalyptic and psychedelic and violent and full of sex---this book has it all. This is a poetic journey of the mind and a gritty sweaty urban fantasy that will melt your brain in the best way. Fascinating book.

Why didn't I discover this sooner? A challenging, at times maddening opus, but always thought-provoking. If you like pat, easy plot resolution & loose ends all tied up, not the book for you. If you want something to think about and discuss with others, read it! Not just a sci-fi 'genre' work, a true masterpiece of 'literary' fiction.

Is it as wonderful as Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand? No. But is it an amazing entré to the author's incredible talent? Yes. Leave your middle class attitudes at the door. And prepare to have your mind blown.

About the author

Samuel R. Delany published his first novel, The Jewels of Aptor, at the age of twenty. Throughout his storied career, he has received four Nebula Awards and two Hugo Awards, and in 2008 his novel Dark Reflections won the Stonewall Book Award. He was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2002, named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 2014, and in 2016 was inducted into the New York State Writers Hall of Fame. Delany’s works also extend into memoir, criticism, and essays on sexuality and society. After many years as a professor of English and creative writing and director of the graduate creative writing program at Temple University, he retired from teaching in 2015. He lives in Philadelphia with his partner, Dennis Rickett.