On his own terms, stapledon is unequaled, and he certainly has been one of the major influences on contemporary science fiction. Last and first menstar maker book by olaf stapledon. First and last men by olaf stapledon available here i read stapledons star maker several years ago and i was unimpressed. Richard scott project gutenberg of australia ebooks. All payments should be received within 7 days of purchase. It would be hard for me to recommend last and first men the way it deserves.
The simplistic depiction of the future history of humanity that stapledon offers us is one driven largely by ideology, with societies often rising and falling because of the pursuit of various often half baked ideas. No book before or since ever had such an impact on my imagination. A story of the near and far future is a future history science fiction novel written in 1930 by the british author olaf stapledon. Presentation copy inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, to aage marcus from olaf stapledon and also on the title page, olaf stapledon in the hope that someday my wife and i may give you almost as good a time in england as you have given us in denmark. The book describes a history of life in the universe, dwarfing in scale stapledon s previous book, last and first men 1930, a history of the human species over two billion years. This masterpiece of science fiction by british philosopher and writer olaf stapledon 18861950 is an imaginative, ambitious history of. Its awesome timescale, stretching across five billion years, was an inspiration to the young arthur c. The future history of the human race and its descendant species from the end of wwi to final extinction 2 billion years in.
No book before or since has ever had such an impact upon my imagination, declared arthur c. William olaf stapledon 10 may 1886 6 september 1950 known as olaf stapledon was a british philosopher and author of science fiction. Pdf last and first menstar maker book by olaf stapledon. Among all science fiction writers olaf stapledon stands alone for the sheer scope and ambition of his work. People talk about how heinlein originally dashed off all of the scifi tropes with which we have become so familiar, but for a lot of them, stapledon was there first. Although lsd was discovered only in 1938, while this book was published in 1930, last and first men is just about the trippiest book youll pick up this side of the white light that ferries you to your next incarnation. This masterpiece of science fiction by british philosopher and writer olaf stapledon 18861950 is an imaginative, ambitious history of humanitys future that spans billions of years. If you like hard, futurological, nutsandboltsy technological speculation, youll like this book. An olaf stapledon reader download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl. Presentation copy inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, to aage marcus from olaf stapledon and also on the title page, olaf stapledon in the hope that someday my wife and i may give you almost as good a.
Although it got many things wrong in the human history immediately after 1930 it mentioned germany became a pacifist nation that vowed no more war, and a second war between england and france. Last and first men olaf stapledon 1930 weighing a pig. This is the equivalent of walking to up the outside of the sistine chapel and saying, okay. I bought this book because i was interested in stapledons depiction of the possible future of humanity. This masterpiece of science fiction by british philosopher and writer olaf stapledon 18861950 is an imaginative, ambitious history. I have tried to invent a story which may seem a possible, or. Cited as a key influence by sciencefiction masters such as doris lessing, its bold exploration of the cosmos. Science fiction, english english fiction human beings prophecies. Star maker is a science fiction novel by olaf stapledon, published in 1937. Feb 18, 2009 buy last and first men by stapledon, w. Stapledons conception of history is based on the hegelian dialectic, following a repetitive cycle with many varied civilizations rising from and descending back into savagery. Last and first men ebook by olaf stapledon rakuten kobo. A work of unprecedented scale in the genre, it describes the history of humanity from the present onwards across two billion years and eighteen distinct human species, of which our own is the first the book employs a narrative conceit that.
Last and first men ends with a few pages of mystical gibberish, in which stapledon hopes that this transcendentalism of future minds ultimately will console and even make up for the suffering of all human individuals, so also all those of the past yet the victims wont know it in their own time. Last and first men is an imitation history of mankind written from the point of view of a new species of humanity two billion years in the future. First published in 1930, last and first men is full of pioneering speculations about. First published in 1930, olaf stapledon writes a history of mankinds future over a period of two billion years. Last and first men a story of the near and far future olaf stapledon science fiction masterworks volume 11 egod enter the sf gateway in the last years of the twentieth century as wells might have put it, gollancz, britains oldest and most distinguished science fiction imprint, created the sf and fantasy masterworks series. Last and first men by william olaf stapledon book reading. The classic future history of human intelligence from one of the fathers of science fiction. The first edition of the novel was published in 1937, and was written by olaf stapledon. Last and first men by olaf stapledon 9781857988062 paperback. Although both books are not what id call novels, of the two, last and first men is a more difficult read in that its more a detailed timeline of humankinds future than anything, and the initial decades of the future start from stapledons time of writing in the 1930s, and most of. This book can no more claim to be true myth than true prophecy. Stapledon was agnostic, but is this simply a hope for an eternal afterlife. Although both books are not what id call novels, of the two, last and first men is a more difficult read in that its more a detailed timeline of humankinds future than anything, and the initial decades of the future start from stapledon s time of writing in the 1930s, and most of his prognostications didnt come to pass. Star maker tackles philosophical themes such as the essence of life, of birth, decay and death, and the relationship between creation and.
The first of the two novels in this publication, last and first men, olaf stapledon describes the spiritual, intellectual and biological evolution of the human species from our modern era to its last residence on neptune. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Dec 23, 2016 last and first men by william olaf stapledon book reading, british english female voice. I wasnt aware when i bought the millennium edition that the entire section on the first men stapledons prediction of human societys development between 1930 and the eventual collapse into worldwide barbarism had been completely rewritten to make it easier for modern readers to. Last and first men unabridged edition by william olaf. May 19, 2008 no book before or since has ever had such an impact upon my imagination, declared arthur c. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 438 pages and is available in paperback format. Olaf stapledons first novel last and first men, published in 1930, has sometimes been called science fictions biblea sweeping, exhilarating history of humanitys future.
A work of unprecedented scale in the genre, it describes the history of humanity from the present onwards across two billion years and eighteen distinct human species, of which our own is the first. Stapledon was born in seacombe, wallasey, on the wirral. One of the last men this book has two authors, one contemporary with its readers, the other an inhabitant. A work of unprecedented scale in the genre, it describes the history of humanity from the present onwards across two billion years and eighteen distinct human species, of which our own is the first and most. If you liked last and first men by olaf stapledon, here are some books like this. Its easy, in short, to see how last and first men came to be such a very influential book. Last and first men is probably the ultimate book of human evolution.
Star maker is a science fiction novel by british writer olaf stapledon, published in 1937. Star maker tackles philosophical themes such as the essence of life, of birth, decay and death, and the relationship between. Last and first men last men in london by olaf stapledon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Click on a title, author name or category to see similar books. Last and first men and star maker soar far beyond the accepted limits of science fiction. In his epic last and first men olaf stapledon decribes the evolution of mankind through the ages, reaching the very heights of civilization at one point, descending to the depths of nearextinction at the next, surviving onslaughts from other planets and overcoming the waning of solar energy, but. Olaf stapledons great classic of future history, first published 1930. The book starts with an introduction by one of the last men. Last and first men by william olaf stapledon, paperback. Last and first men by william olaf stapledon book reading, british english female voice. A story of the near and far future is a science fiction novel written in 1930 by the british author olaf stapledon. Olaf stapledons seminal history of the future of humanity in the solar system over billions of years. Book recommendations for people who like last and first men by olaf stapledon.
Olaf stapledon a project gutenberg of australia ebook ebook no 0601101h. First published in 1930, last and first men is full of pioneering speculations about evolution, terraforming, genetic engineering and many other subjects. Free download or read online last and first menstar maker pdf epub book. Almost all that is left in the world are lone and surreal monuments, beaming their message into the wilderness. Last and first men book by olaf stapledon 10 available.
One of the most extraordinary, imaginative and ambitious novels of the century. The book describes a history of life in the universe, dwarfing in scale stapledons previous book, last and first men 1930, a history of the human species over two billion years. I bought this book because i was interested in stapledon s depiction of the possible future of humanity. The main characters of this science fiction, fiction story are. Last and first men by olaf stapledon 9781857988062. Last and first men william olaf stapledon feedbooks. Apr 17, 2019 olaf stapledon s great classic of future history, first published 1930. A work of unprecedented scale in the genre, it describes the history of humanity from the present onwards across two billion years and eighteen distinct human species, of which our own is the.
Last and first men by olaf stapledon, 9781857988062, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. May 30, 2016 last and first men ends with a few pages of mystical gibberish, in which stapledon hopes that this transcendentalism of future minds ultimately will console and even make up for the suffering of all human individuals, so also all those of the past yet the victims wont know it in their own time. Either olaf stapledons brain produces endorphins and organoopiates at an unusually high rate, or else it must be assumed. Olaf stapledon wrote this in 1930 and it was a sweeping novel heavy on the idea that humans would evolve and change form several times. A work of unprecedented scale in the genre, it describes the history of humanity from the present onwards across two billion years and eighteen distinct human species, of which our own is the first and most primitive. Two billion years ahead of us, a future race of humans finds itself on the verge of extinction. Olaf stapledon science fiction penguin mass market paperback. Download last and first men william olaf stapledon pdf. This 1937 successor to last and first men offers another entrancing speculative history of the future. If youre not interested in the importance of this book for sf as a genre, skip the second section too. I wasnt aware when i bought the millennium edition that the entire section on the first men stapledon s prediction of human societys development between 1930 and the eventual collapse into worldwide barbarism had been completely rewritten to make it easier for modern readers to. Olaf stapledon s first novel last and first men, published in 1930, has sometimes been called science fictions biblea sweeping, exhilarating history of humanitys future. Free download or read online last and first men star maker pdf epub book.
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