FREE/BARGAIN — Science Fiction & Fantasy

[ZodWallop]

The World Inside by Robert Silverberg is $3 at Amazon, B&N and Kobo US.

There are a number of these 'everyone lives in a gigantic building' novels in sci-fi land (The Caves of Steel, High Rise and Oath of Fealty spring to mind) and I have a fondness for them. I read The World Inside earlier this year and recommend it.

Welcome to Urban Monad 116. Reaching nearly two miles into the sky, the one thousand stories of this building are home to over eight hundred thousand people living in peace and harmony. In the year 2381 with a world population of over seventy-five billion souls, the massive Urbmon system is humanity's salvation.

Life in Urbmon 116 is highly regulated, life is cherished, and the culture of procreation is seen as the highest pinnacle of god's plan. Conflict is abhorred, and any who disturb the peace face harsh punishment—even being sent "down the chute" to be recycled as fertilizer.

Jason Quevedo, a historian, searches records of the twentieth century hoping to find the root of his discontent with the perfection of Urbmon life.

Siegmund Kluver, a young and ambitious administrator, strives to reach the top levels of the Urbmon's government and discovers the civilization's dark truths.

Michael Statler, a computer engineer, harbors a forbidden desire. He dreams of leaving the building—of walking in the open air and visiting the far-off sea. This is a dream he must keep secret. If anyone were to find out, he'd face the worst punishment imaginable.

The World Inside is a fascinating exploration of society and what makes us human, told by a master of speculative fiction.

The World Inside is a 1971 Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novella.

[Cactus Chef]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Humble Bundle has yet another bundle out. This one is DUNE. 17 eBooks from TOR.

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/d...m_medium=email

Pay at least $18 for the 17 book bundle. Expires in 20 days: 21 hours: 5 minutes (from now).

1. Dreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert
2. Dune: The Heir of Caladan
3. Dune: The Lady of Caladan
4. Dune: The Duke of Caladan
5. The Road to Dune
6. Princess of Dune
7. Sands of Dune
8. Navigators of Dune
9. Mentats of Dune
10. Sisterhood of Dune
11. The Winds of Dune
12. Paul of Dune
13. Sandworms of Dune
14. Hunters of Dune
15. Dune: The Battle of Corrin
16. Dune: The Machine Crusade
17. Dune: The Butlerian Jihad

Oh goody, all the ones written by his hack of a son.

I shouldn't be rude, but I think it's telling that his son chose to write several books about the Butlerian Jihad, despite the fact that Frank Herbert spoke, at length, about *not* wanting to write about it...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Cactus Chef

Oh goody, all the ones written by his hack of a son.

I shouldn't be rude, but I think it's telling that his son chose to write several books about the Butlerian Jihad, despite the fact that Frank Herbert spoke, at length, about *not* wanting to write about it...

I've read the first book in chronological order and it was not bad. Have you read any of Brian's books?

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've read the first book in chronological order and it was not bad. Have you read any of Brian's books?

I'm wondering if I should get or avoid this Humble Bundle myself... I know many (most?) Frank Herbert fans loathe the Brian Herbert books. But some do seem to like them. (Maybe they see them as an extended universe rather than legit Dune books? Maybe they're just happy to read more books set in that universe?)

Are the Brian Herbert books the We! Do! Not! Talk! About! The Orangutan! of Dune fandom?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

I'm wondering if I should get or avoid this Humble Bundle myself... I know many (most?) Frank Herbert fans loathe the Brian Herbert books. But some do seem to like them. (Maybe they see them as an extended universe rather than legit Dune books? Maybe they're just happy to read more books set in that universe?)

Are the Brian Herbert books the We! Do! Not! Talk! About! The Orangutan! of Dune fandom?

The orangutan is the librarian of the Unseen University. So yes, we do talk about him.

[Quoth]

Voldemort of Dune?

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The orangutan is the librarian of the Unseen University. So yes, we do talk about him.

Not in this case, it's an orangutan from one of Edgar Allen Poe's stories. Whether it's really meant to be just an orangutan, or if it's a racist caricature of a black man is a divisive topic in Poe academia. Apparently the arguments can get quite heated.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Manabi

Not in this case, it's an orangutan from one of Edgar Allen Poe's stories. Whether it's really meant to be just an orangutan, or if it's a racist caricature of a black man is a divisive topic in Poe academia. Apparently the arguments can get quite heated.

The librarian is the only orangutan we should be talking out.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The librarian is the only orangutan we should be talking out.

There is also Clyde.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

(Maybe they see them as an extended universe rather than legit Dune books? Maybe they're just happy to read more books set in that universe?)

Yes and yes, for me.

[salty-horse]

There's a new free short story by Subterrenean Press:
Immortal, Invisible by Tade Thompson
https://subterraneanpress.com/immortal-invisible/

Robin Hearns has been kidnapped. Or murdered. Or kidnapped and murdered.

He isn’t sure.

What he does know is one moment he’s driving to work; the next, he’s in a pocket universe negotiating temperamental weather, robot guardians, and fireside chats with an improbable assassin. He isn’t hurt, and, barring liberty, all his needs are met. Is it the afterlife? Is he in a coma somewhere dreaming this?

Maybe he’ll stay.

Or Maybe he’ll gather others like himself and try to escape…