Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon, unknown edition, After reading "Last and First Men", I approached Olaf's next masterpiece, "Star Maker" ( first published in 1937), with some disbelief as to how on earth he could possibly better the span, pathos and magnanimity he had already laid out. I did, however, discover the best way to get acquainted with the innovative ideas buried in the book -- have your fellow book club members, who actually did finish the book, recap the cool bits and save you the reading time. The forward to this book promises "more than science fiction" but, alas, the book delivers something rather less. “In every one of these "chrysalis" worlds thousands of millions of persons were flashing into existence, one after the other, to drift gropingly about for a few instants of cosmical time before they were extinguished. This is possibly the dullest interesting book I've read, or vice versa. Here’s the full story… Writing and storytelling is a passion of mine, one that I’ve enjoyed since childhood with music being a twin passion. Pick from hundreds of Billboard chart-topping hits, sing your heart out karaoke style, polish it up with real Auto-Tune™ and capture the magic on video! “Oh, Star Maker, even if you destroy me, I must praise you. As I recall, this conception was profoundly upsetting to some, especially those whose philosophy was basically Christian, such as CS Lewis, who responded with competing ideas in some of his own books. Publisher: Wesleyan University Press, 2004. Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon, 9781857988079, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Do not deny yourself the pleasure of reading one of the greatest books of modern times, in my humble opinion. Kit had already lived her rock and roll life back home. Here and there a turn of phrase is quaint and not commonly in contemporary use, but it also speaks to Stapledon's beautiful and rich writing. But if you persevere, and if you manage to keep Stapledon's ideas in focus, you'll be rewarded. Far, far too many ideas. One of the greatest books ever written. Some narrative momentum and personal attachment is sacrificed to the remarkable breadth, but this is necessary, and he gets aroun. Another for the re-read shelf! Eventually, would be faced with a difficult decision about h. I've never watched a movie or read a story based on an aspiring record executive. The 1980s in LA is a time and place I remember too well. It started to remind me of my own age! Size and speed become increasingly less important as the author maneuvers through the narrative transformations. Music is the greatest inspirational force for my writing affording me the privilege to draw on my own past experiences, the grand imagination and the experiences of my friends and colleagues. Koverman worked at MGM as Louis B. Mayer's executive secretary, talent scout, and confidant. I wish (oh how I wished while I was reading this) that Stapledon had been a lighter writer. ― Olaf Stapledon, quote from Star Maker. It does contain some really cool ideas about extraterrestrial species (and some somewhat less accessible/relevant/persuasive ideas about the organization of the universe), but it reads like a textbook. Another for the speculative reference shelf! Lewis thought Stapledon's answer was "devil worship", so perhaps he hit an unhappy medium after all. Bestselling author Jeff VanderMeer is perhaps best known for his creepy sci-fi thriller Annihilation, which was made into a movie and kicked... To see what your friends thought of this book. I got this from a list of books on io9 that were "books everyone talks about and no one reads." It is near impossible to imagine a novel with a greater scope than this one, which spans all of cosmic eternity from big bang to the energy death of the universe... and perhaps beyond. Did Stapledon miss the "show, don't tell" guideline? The resonating extrapolations increase without ceasing, making for a trippy, mind-boggling journey into the furthest reaches of non-human perspective and the endless expanse of uncharted space. Our young heroine, Kit McKenna, moved out to LA like so many others in search of fame and fortune. Start by marking “Star Maker” as Want to Read: Error rating book. To this day I still run with artists and find my home in this tribe. It was apparently very influential, and I can see why. I would advise starting with Last and First Men but if you struggle with it don't be put off reading Star Maker. Star Maker is a classic -- I first read it only 3 or 4 years ago and was awestruck by it. Stapledon imagined the Star Maker being indifferent to his creations, using evolution as its artist’s brush to paint an endless infinity of cosmoses. There's a theory that, no matter what the author appears to be writing about, really he's writing about himself. “Star Maker”, by Olaf Stapledon, is an incredible novel by an author whose contributions to science fiction are unique and serve as inspiration to many of the greatest works in the field. That said they're both incredible books in scope and well worth getting through. 2014 Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense (July - December), Musically Inclined Heroes/Heroines In Romance, Lauren Hough on Leaving Cults, the Military, and Bad Jobs. the problem with that scenario would be the sneakiest suspicion that 15 years would take me way past any interest I would have in completing a novel i find totally porridge-like in its stodginess. 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