Driftglass (1971)

Many of these stories were just too abstruse to enjoy ( )

Of course, this book comes with a story.

1982, junior year of high school, my SF and fantasy reading expanding out in desperation from the serious traumas of my life. This book lived in a particular set of shelves in the middle of my school's "media center". I remember that the cover caught my attention. I picked it up and started reading. I fell right into the first story, sensing a level of experiences and ideas new to me, so new they were guaranteed to take me out of my own life for a while. I checked it out.

I read the book in a few days, then reread it. And, in time, I returned it to the library.

Cut to a few months later, just before the end of the school year. I returned to that spot in the library, that particular shelf, and that book. I'd combed my favorite used and new stores without finding a copy, but I knew I had to have that book. I needed to be able to get back into that world, all those worlds, all those places that hinted at things I wanted, needed, couldn't get at 17 years old living in a small town in Florida. I'd already hunted down other Delany books by then, but I had to have this one. So I opened the cover and checked the list in the back -- this was before bar codes and computer tracking, in the dark ages -- and the list had no dates stamped in it since I'd checked it out last. In fact, I was the only person to check it out in two years, and only one other person had checked it out before me. So I checked it out again. And, after my two weeks were up, I reported it lost. I paid the $5.00 fine. I put it on my shelf.

I still have that copy. I feel no guilt about it. That's how much I wanted it. ( )

Introduce your friends to Delany with this volume. Showcasing some of his best short stories, "Driftglass" will show what high concept science fiction can do. When they're through, move them on to his full-length novels. They'll thank you for introducing them gently, and then they'll thank you again for bringing Delany's work to their attention. ( )

I’d forgotten how great this collection is.

I’m guessing I read this first while in high school, and I recall revisiting it a number of times. But, eventually, it fell somewhere in the library and I got involved in reading other things. Then, recently, something reminded me of “Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones” and I picked up this volume to re-read it. Interestingly, as I read “Time…” I realized that wasn’t the story I was remembering; I was recalling “Aye, and Gomorrah”. Which I then re-read. But then, I remembered “Driftglass” and had to read that. And by then, I was re-reading the entire collection because, as I said, I’d forgotten just how good this collection is.

If you haven’t read Delany’s short fiction, this is the place to start. And if you have, then this collection is still a wonderful synopsis of some of his finest early writing. “Time…” and “Aye, and Gomorrah” are both Nebula award winners, and “Time…” is a Hugo winner. And, I’m not sure how some of the others didn’t win also. All these stories combine to present an interesting picture of alienation and fear/handling of change. That is not to say they are connected stories (in fact, there is little linking them except some themes and the author) but, as a whole they explore similar subjects. In particular, exploring alienness, whether it be external or internal. There are more exhaustive and later collections of Delany’s work, but this is a great short collection that has few weak spots. ( )

An interesting collection of stories from the always ambitous pen of Samuel Delany. Some of these stories read almost like sketches for Dhalgren, most obviously the Angels in "We, in Some Strange Power's Employ, Move on a Rigorous Line," and the party scene in "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones." Bellona shows up as a place name in a couple of them as well. Another example which seems to point to Delany working through different variations on a concept can be seen in almost identical discussions about holographs in two of the stories included here, "High Weir" and "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones." Delany's writing is at times dense, at other times almost lyrical. He frequently plumbs the most intimate thoughts of his characters. My favorites from the collection were "The Star Pit," "Dog in a Fisherman's Net," "Corona," and "We, in Some Strange Power's Employ, Move on a Rigorous Line." "Aye, and Gomorrah," one of Delany's most famous stories, has never done much for me. ( )