The Magnificent Wilf
by Gordon R. Dickson
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A classic of humorous science fiction from SF legend Gordon R. Dickson, winner of three Hugo awards, a Nebula award, and an inductee into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. We are not alone in the galaxy--not by a longshot. And extra-solar civilization has come calling. Now, Tom Parent, his linguist wife Lucy, and their Great Dane Rex must travel the stars as ambassadors of Earth. Their mission: to prove Humanity deserves to be considered equal to the scores of established alien cultures. show more Earth's acceptance hinges on building good relationships with these aliens, and the genteel Parents seem the perfect candidates for wooing extra-terrestrials. Of course, they'll have to tread carefully among these brave new worlds that have such creatures in them! Soon what starts as a straight-forward goodwill tour is complicated when Lucy is mistaken for a Wilf--a lifeform that manipulates others toward moral behavior--and Tom accidentally joins a galactic council when he sits in the wrong chair. On top of that, their faithful hound Rex starts talking. And maybe it's best if we don't mention the singing gelatin-mold-like alien they have to rescue from becoming dessert. It's action and adventure for Tom, Lucy, and Rex, and a laugh-riot for the reader in this classic novel from Science Fiction master Gordon R. Dickson! About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF's standard-bearers."--Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."--Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."--Milwaukee Journal show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Diplomat Tom Parent, his wife Lucy, and their Great Dane, Rex, represent Earth to the galaxy. They must prove humanity is civilized, but complications arise when Lucy is deemed a Wilf (a moral manipulator, and Rex begins talking.
Could be characterized as "Reteif on Dorsai."
Dickson "wrote the book" on science-fiction military worlds, and he parodies his own work in this novel.
The plot is slight, and the characters are tv-series stock, but the situation is amusing and the quasi-sf elements entertaining.
Dickson "wrote the book" on science-fiction military worlds, and he parodies his own work in this novel.
The plot is slight, and the characters are tv-series stock, but the situation is amusing and the quasi-sf elements entertaining.
Entertaining medium-lite Dickson visiting familiar themes of alien encounters. Not a keeper.
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Author Information
293+ Works 33,275 Members
A naturalized American who was born in Canada on November 1, 1923, Gordon Rupert Dickson is a popular science fiction writer. Dickson graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1948 and made his home in Minneapolis. Among his many novels, especially notable is Soldier, Ask Not, which won the Hugo Award in 1965. For many years, Dickson's most show more engrossing project was his Childe Cycle, a series of novels about humanity's evolutionary potential, which included a group of futuristic books that are popularly known as the Dorsai Cycle. Dickson also wrote hundreds of short stories and novelettes including Call Him Lord, for which he received a Nebula Award in 1966. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Magnificent Wilf
- Original publication date
- 1995
- People/Characters
- Tom Parent; Lucy Parent; Rex; Mr. Rejilla; Hmmm; Mr. Valhinda
- Important places
- Earth; Cayahno
- First words
- The spider on the wall made a sharp turn to the left.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)But Mr. Rejilla was looking away and refused to answer.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 308
- Popularity
- 103,454
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.40)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
