Galactic Dreams - Hardcover

Harrison, Harry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312852460 ISBN 13: 9780312852467

Publisher: Tor Books, 1994

Synopsis

A collection of tales featuring the legendary Bill, the Galactic Hero, a crazed space soldier given to hilarious misadventures, includes classic stories and a never-before-published account of a daring deed.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Another volume of stories (Stainless Steel Visions, 1993) from Dublin's resident fantasy and science fiction veteran. Again, there is no obvious basis for the selection of the 12 stories here. So, after a useful introduction wherein Harrison meditates on his globe-hopping lifestyle, he takes off to a future world that has banished murder; fires off another amiable rant on overpopulation; takes a deceptive trip to Mars; tells the real story of Frankenstein's monster; offers a powerful comment on racism; and, in a more ironic vein, spins a time-travel yarn and tells of the robot who would be a lover. Last, but not least, Harrison's well- known brand of humor features starship troopers, an eavesdropper in time, a skillful seduction, and, previously unpublished, a vacation for Bill the Galactic Hero. Harrison is one of those rare writers whose company is always genuinely agreeable, no matter how trivial or exalted the material. -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Publishers Weekly:

Few commercial writers are more deserving of their popularity than Harrison ( The Hammer and the Cross ), a fine writer who occasionally reaches brilliant heights. His latest collection boasts moments that rank high, but the overall level is middling. The colloquial "histories" of "Famous First Words" are never less than quaint and at times hilarious, while "At last, the True Story of Frankenstein" stands above most of the myriad variations on Mary Shelley's original. Even in the several pieces (such as "The Pad") that seem to have outlived their day, Harrison's wit is an adequate recommendation. But several tales ("If"; "Mute Million") rely too heavily on their trick-of-the-tail endings, and the lone new story ("Bill, the Galactic Hero's Happy Holidays") is one of the least worthy entries. Diverting if not impressive, this collection is still a pleasant read.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Tor Books
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0312852460
• ISBN 13: 9780312852467
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 222