Not an expert either, but you might try Triton, Nova and The Complete Nebula Award-Winning Fiction of Samuel R. Delaney (compiled in miid-80s,good used copies easy to find online)Combined edition of two novels and two short stories which won the Nebula Award. Babel - 17 (winner, 1966 Nebula, 1995 James Tiptree, Jr. Award, Classics; nominated, 1967 Hugo Award; 1975 Locus Poll Award, All-Time Best Novel (Place: 36)); A Fabulous, Formless Darkness (original title The Einstein Intersection) (winner, 1967 Nebula Award; nominated, 1968 Hugo Award); Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones (winner, 1969 Nebula Award, 1970 Hugo Award); Aye, and Gomorrah (winner, 1967 Nebula Award; nominated, 1968 Hugo Award).
― dow, Monday, 13 August 2012 23:47 (eleven years ago) link
triton!
einstein intersection!
drift glass seconded.
― the late great, Monday, 13 August 2012 23:47 (eleven years ago) link
iirc there is a complete short sci fi that's sweet
― the late great, Monday, 13 August 2012 23:48 (eleven years ago) link
that's...a lotta stuff! thanks y'all. with school starting in a few weeks i'll scarcely read a thing for the next nine months :[
― arby's, Monday, 13 August 2012 23:50 (eleven years ago) link
Try the short stories when you can catch a breath, usually works for me
― dow, Tuesday, 14 August 2012 00:11 (eleven years ago) link
The Neveryon stuff is fucking great. Also, it starts out broken up into novella-like chunks which may aid in digestibility...
― Lewis Apparition (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 14 August 2012 15:23 (eleven years ago) link
haven't read a word of this guy... saw him read from his Times Square nonfic book before a showing of an early '70s gay porn film tonight.
He's kinda bored by gay marriage. "Tolerance, not assimilation" is the key to advancing civilization, he said.
― playwright Greg Marlowe, secretly in love with Mary (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 7 July 2013 07:33 (ten years ago) link
every time this gets revived now i'm worried that he's ill or dead.
what was the film?
― the bitcoin comic (thomp), Sunday, 7 July 2013 07:43 (ten years ago) link
also is there another delany thread we alternate with because i swear i remember talking about all the piss-drinking in 'through the valley ...'
― the bitcoin comic (thomp), Sunday, 7 July 2013 07:56 (ten years ago) link
ask sam delany a question?
― WilliamC, Sunday, 7 July 2013 12:38 (ten years ago) link
ah yeah
― i better not get any (thomp), Sunday, 7 July 2013 15:02 (ten years ago) link
film was The Back Row
― playwright Greg Marlowe, secretly in love with Mary (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 7 July 2013 16:50 (ten years ago) link
I have no idea whether to recommend Delany to you, Morbs -- either the sf or the porn.
― WilliamC, Sunday, 7 July 2013 17:02 (ten years ago) link
I just reread his Times Square book in may.
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Sunday, 7 July 2013 23:24 (ten years ago) link
I recently started reading the tales of neveryon, i'm generally not a fan of short stories but since they're all set in neveryon, i'm interested in how the stories are going to relate to each other and if it's all going to fit together somehow.
― whos next with plex (prettylikealaindelon), Thursday, 22 August 2013 11:38 (ten years ago) link
saw him speak at the university of chicago for the second time tonight (he's just ending a visiting professorship). it was mostly sort of autobiographical this time; he told a great story about hooking up with a senegalese prince in paris in the mid-60s. i got him to sign my copy of trouble on triton
― 1staethyr, Saturday, 1 February 2014 03:52 (ten years ago) link
72nd birthday today
― Babby's on fiber (WilliamC), Tuesday, 1 April 2014 20:48 (ten years ago) link
The only one of his novels I have unequivocally enjoyed was Babel-17, of which the ebook is on sale for $1.99 today- as has been noted before, both Shakey and I find his style maddening - but the critical writings I have read from him are grebt.
― tl;dr5-49 (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 12 April 2014 20:25 (ten years ago) link
Good (first half of an) interview: http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2015/07/interview-samuel-r-delany-three-novels-launched-career-part-1/
He was also interviewed by Gary Wolfe for the Coode Street Podcast — http://jonathanstrahan.podbean.com/e/episode-241-samuel-r-delany/ — but it seemed a bit lightweight and inessential. Getting a bit of press/doing a bit of promotional work for the new Vintage edition of three early novels.
― dart scar rashes (WilliamC), Friday, 24 July 2015 15:45 (eight years ago) link
i have a book of interviews with him and it is endlessly fascinating even when he repeats himself over the years.
― scott seward, Friday, 24 July 2015 19:01 (eight years ago) link
Terrific how Delany was worked into this piece on Chaturbate
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 23 October 2015 15:15 (eight years ago) link
Emily Witt has now built a fine, fine portfolio of pieces on this intersection of sex and the interwebs.
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 23 October 2015 15:16 (eight years ago) link
I haven't read the whole thing so I can't judge but some stuff Delany has said about child abuse and nambla probably wouldn't have been received nearly as well if he wasn't considered such a hero and so good writing about race. He's in the comments too.
http://shetterly.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/a-conversation-with-samuel-r-delany.html
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 20:41 (seven years ago) link
I struggle so much with this - as a person who, when underage, had meaningful relationships with people who were above the age of consent, which, 35 years later, I still don't think of as wrong or hurtful - it's a difficult discussion to have without seeming like a monster. certainly when Delaney says that, at the age of nine, he was entering into consensual sexual relationships with adults...I'm a dad now, two boys: I can't accept that, viscerally I reject that. but at the same time, I got a letter from a Joan Crawford fan a month ago or so: a dude who's doing twenty years in prison. he was in his late twenties having a relationship with a sixteen-year-old boy, and the parents got wind of it, and they threw the book at him. I looked up his case: his victim insisted no victimization had ever taken place, but the southern judge didn't care at all, and put him away. where's the justice in that? I feel like this is Delaney's point broadly put, but the concept of an age of consent feels valuable.
― though she denies it to the press, (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 21:26 (seven years ago) link
one of the most struggly subjects there is. I have not even the faintest stab at encompassing it.
― I wish you could see my home. It's... it's so... exciting (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 21:28 (seven years ago) link
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, September 7, 2016 9:41 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
it's a very difficult topic but framing it this way is disingenuous garbage.
― until the next, delayed, glaciation (map), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 22:16 (seven years ago) link
delany isn't a race writer. did you mean "because he's black?"
― until the next, delayed, glaciation (map), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 22:20 (seven years ago) link
he's not a good writer either tbf
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 22:23 (seven years ago) link
I can't have much of an opinion on something I haven't finished but I doubt most other writers talking about similar things would be treated so well. The interview happened because it was being said too many big figures in the genre were getting a free pass while others were getting a ton of shit for relatively minor things, but nobody really knew a lot about Delany's stance on this stuff. Do you think I'm implying he should be dragged through the dirt for his opinions?
No, because he wrote some very good articles on racism in the past that have been heavily circulated and praised in the past several years when the topic has been at the forefront of sff discussions.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 22:42 (seven years ago) link
fair
― until the next, delayed, glaciation (map), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 23:40 (seven years ago) link
sorry i had my hackles up
― until the next, delayed, glaciation (map), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 23:41 (seven years ago) link
That's okay.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 23:44 (seven years ago) link
Happy 75th birthday.
― scattered, smothered, covered, diced and chunked (WilliamC), Sunday, 2 April 2017 00:18 (seven years ago) link
I'm always scared to open this thread.
― change display name (Jordan), Sunday, 2 April 2017 00:27 (seven years ago) link
This thread is v repetitive
― Οὖτις, Sunday, 2 April 2017 01:20 (seven years ago) link
In Glasgow for several events during the next Arika eisode:
http://arika.org.uk/events/episode-9-other-worlds-already-exist/programme
― Susan Stranglehands (jed_), Sunday, 29 October 2017 14:50 (six years ago) link
Just finished Dhalgren, my first trip into Delany. I really liked large chunks of it, but other portions were definitely a slog. Even aside from the tedious descriptions of underage orgies, it did feel like some of the same plot points just kept cycling through without moving the story forward. But many of the characters were terrifically drawn and I enjoyed his world-building, what's a good next step?
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 24 April 2019 13:14 (five years ago) link
I enjoyed Dhalgren alright but somehow that's where I got off the bus, many years ago--several people have told me I should have at least gone on to Stars In My Pocket Like Grains of Sand, and maybe I will, but right now thinking of re-reading his fun, imaginative debutThe Jewels of Aptor, published when he was 19, I think, also should dig up my copy of a chunky drugstore paperback, The Complete Nebula Award-Winning Fiction of Samuel R. Delany. which Amazon describes thusly:Combined edition of two novels and two short stories which won the Nebula Award. Babel - 17 (winner, 1966 Nebula, 1995 James Tiptree, Jr. Award, Classics; nominated, 1967 Hugo Award; 1975 Locus Poll Award, All-Time Best Novel (Place: 36)); A Fabulous, Formless Darkness (original title The Einstein Intersection) (winner, 1967 Nebula Award; nominated, 1968 Hugo Award); Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones (winner, 1969 Nebula Award, 1970 Hugo Award); Aye, and Gomorrah (winner, 1967 Nebula Award; nominated, 1968 Hugo Award) The cheapest (by far) copy they have of this is $24.03, but worth it, if condition is okay. They have a lot more by him.
― dow, Wednesday, 24 April 2019 21:24 (five years ago) link
that sounds like a good 'tracklist' for sure.
You might check out the Neveryon stuff, bronze age fantasy as vehicle for a dive into semiotics. I loved the two of them I read.
Triton is great also.
― valet doberman (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 24 April 2019 21:27 (five years ago) link
I enjoyed the Neveryon books on rereading a couple of years ago. Reread The Einstein Intersection last year and understood it better than the first time I read it. Nova, Triton, and Stars in My Pocket are all good.
― The Mod Who Banned Liberty Valance (WmC), Wednesday, 24 April 2019 22:47 (five years ago) link
imo triton and stars in my pocket are the masterworks
― the late great, Wednesday, 24 April 2019 23:52 (five years ago) link
Thanks! I think I'm leaning to Stars In My Pocket next, though it may come down to what the library has available.
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 25 April 2019 14:36 (five years ago) link
First living author to get a Dover Thrift Edition. Dark Reflections is kind of an odd choice in his oeuvre to get that treatment, but ok.
― Trussrippers WILL be persecuted! (WmC), Tuesday, 12 November 2019 22:21 (four years ago) link
https://dorisvsutherland.com/2019/09/23/samuel-r-delany-and-nambla/
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Saturday, 11 January 2020 22:40 (four years ago) link
Steve Smith@nightafternight·38mToday I learned that Samuel R. Delany is an operaphile, a Wagnerite, and a former supernumerary at the @MetOpera. Thanks, @Artforum!https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EdTX6R_WkAAPDe4?format=jpg&name=large
@alexrossmusicHas written fascinating essays on Wagner and Artaud, Wagner and Willa Cather...
@AbstractTruthAnd he's on Twitter now @SamuelRDelany111:34 AM · Jul 19, 2020
― dow, Sunday, 19 July 2020 17:20 (three years ago) link
@SamuelRDelany1An experiment in gay pornography and realistic storytellinghttps://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51EJbeJz9aL.jpg
― dow, Sunday, 19 July 2020 17:35 (three years ago) link
i'm starting through the valley of the nest of spiders, random thoughts:
1) descriptions and fetishization of human filth, stench, shit, etc, can't bother you2) there's a fan fiction quality to it tbh but the descriptions of one moment into the next into the next are kind of soothing3) delany definitely comes from a different era as far as gay libidinal energy is concerned. there's a fetishization of the positively masculine that's always present.4) his style is burdensome and opaque but weirdly readable. what happens next is what keeps me going. you can glaze over certain bits of sentences and descriptions and it's ok.5) i'm making it sound bad for some reason but i'm enjoying it. feels a little bit like guilty pleasure reading but that's good for me right now, the last thing i want is dutiful reading.
― carin' (map), Sunday, 19 July 2020 17:56 (three years ago) link
also enjoyably light-hearted for all the sex with super-hung homeless dudes
some dweeby jokes that aren't really funny but i appreciate
it reminds me of reading porn i would find on newsgroups in my teens. but sneaking in the political/ontological point that existence itself is worth existing for. already a spinoza mention. it's fun for me but i would definitely hesitate to recommend it to someone unless i knew it was "up" their "alley" haha.
― carin' (map), Sunday, 19 July 2020 18:03 (three years ago) link
oh, i also don't think he's good at being "realistic" if that's what he's trying to do for this novel, this stuff still feels very much in the fantasy lane even though it's not in the fantasy genre if that makes sense.
― carin' (map), Sunday, 19 July 2020 18:05 (three years ago) link
i think it winds up unambiguously 'science fiction' by the end, doesn't it? or at least a long way into the future; maybe just 'utopian fiction'
that said i never finished it
― the ghost of tom, choad (thomp), Monday, 20 July 2020 13:50 (three years ago) link