Tales of Nevèrÿon by Samuel R. Delany

[randy_byers]

The Fantasy of Origins and Identities

Tales of Nevèrÿon was first released in September 1979, which probably makes it the first book of Delany's that I read when it was new. (I became a Delany fan sometime after my first encounter with Seattle science fiction fandom in March 1979. Seattle was rife with Delanyites in those legendary days.) Over the

Comments

[holyoutlaw]

I think NOVA is my favorite, based on re-readings. But I've also read the "Driftglass" collection quite a few times.

[randy_byers]

Those are both great books too, which I've also read more than once. "The Star Pit" is a particular favorite of mine.

[ron_drummond]

This is a very good overview of the book, and thematically of the series as a whole. In recent years I've been nursing a growing desire to reread the series, and your essay definitely encourages me. The entire four-volume Return to Nevèrÿon series is in print in revised form from Wesleyan University Press, and if you haven't already you may want to pick up new copies of those editions (new because the latest printings incorporate many of Delany's further corrections).

Yes, in the last decade or so I've settled on Neveryóna as being my favorite among Delany's many novels, but based on memory rather than fresh rereadings of his most important titles. Nova is definitely one of the books I'm also keen to reread, as well as Aye, and Gomorrah and Other Stories, the Vintage Books collection that includes everything in the old Driftglass collection and adds a few stories to it.

[k6rfm]

I just picked up Triton (the title on my copy, being the one I bought when it was new.) I haven't read it since it came out. Haven't gotten far. I admired the structure of the opening scenes. First Bron walks around observing people, being the audience to a play the others are unwittingly forced to perform; then he wanders into the unlicensed sector and is forced to be become the unwitting audience to the Spike's troupe's performance.

Still can't decide if the cover is clever or stupid, though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Triton_delany_first.jpg

[randy_byers]

Yeah, that's the edition I have too. I guess I've always thought the cover was stupid, but maybe I'm shallow.

The first time I read the book I didn't realize that Bron was an anti-hero, and I really hated it. Second time was a revelation. Bron-R-Us.