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The Stars My Destination

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'The Stars My Destination' by Alfred Bester is a classic science fiction novel set in the 24th century where mankind has evolved with mental abilities like jaunting and teleportation. The story follows Gully Foyle, a man seeking revenge after being marooned in space, as he navigates through a society transformed by these abilities. The book explores themes of vengeance, societal impact of advanced technology, and the evolution of humanity, all wrapped in a fast-paced and imaginative writing style that keeps readers engaged.

Characters:

Characters are varied, with Gully Foyle as a complex antihero, while other characters often lack depth and engage in problematic portrayals.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is fast-paced, experimental, and vividly descriptive, combining formal language with modern slang and visual styles.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves Gully Foyle's quest for vengeance after being abandoned in space, showcasing his transformation and highlighting the societal effects of teleportation.

Setting:

The setting is a futuristic solar system reshaped by teleportation, showcasing a society marked by corporate intrigue and conflict.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid, keeping readers engaged with constant action, though it may sacrifice character depth.
He was one hundred and seventy days dying and not yet dead. He fought for survival with the passion of a beast in a trap. He was delirious and rotting, but occasionally his primitive mind emerged from...

Notes:

Originally published serially in 1956 in Galaxy Science Fiction.
The novel was published under several titles including 'Tiger Tiger' and 'Hell's My Destination'.
It is inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, featuring a story of vengeance.
Set in the 24th century, the novel introduces 'jaunting', a form of teleportation that most humans can perform.
The term 'jaunte' comes from Charles Hoy Jaunte, who discovered this ability.
Bester's protagonist, Gully Foyle, transforms from an unskilled worker into an antihero driven by revenge.
The book is packed with constant action, often described as more eventful than longer sci-fi works.
It's considered a precursor to the cyberpunk genre and has influenced notable authors such as Philip K. Dick and Neil Gaiman.
Bester employs unique narrative techniques, including experimental layouts reflecting Foyle's state of mind.
Socio-political themes in the book reflect issues relevant to the Cold War era, including the power of corporations and questions of national security.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of rape, violence, and misogyny, reflecting attitudes and societal norms of the era.

Has Romance?

Romance is present but serves secondary to the main revenge plot, showcasing complex relationships rather than traditional love stories.

From The Publisher:

#5 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written. "Science fiction has only produced a few works of actual genius, and this is one of them"-Joe Haldeman "Bester at the peak of his powers is, quite simply, unbeatable" -James Lovegrove Marooned in outer space after an attack on his ship, Nomad, Gulliver Foyle lives to obsessively pursue the crew of a rescue vessel that had intended to leave him to die. When it comes to pop culture, Alfred Bester (1913-1987) is something of an unsung hero. He wrote radio scripts, screenplays, and comic books (in which capacity he created the original Green Lantern Oath). But Bester is best known for his science-fiction novels, and The Stars My Destination may be his finest creation. With its sly potshotting at corporate skullduggery, The Stars My Destination seems utterly contemporary, and has maintained its status as an underground classic for fifty years. (Bester fans should also note that iPicturebooks has reprinted The Demolished Man, which won the very first Hugo Award in 1953.) Alfred Bester was among the first important authors of contemporary science fiction. His passionate novels of worldly adventure, high intellect, and tremendous verve, The Stars My Destination and the Hugo Award winning The Demolished Man, established Bester as a's.f. grandmaster, a reputation that was ratified by the Science Fiction Writers of America shortly before his death. Bester also was an acclaimed journalist for Holiday magazine, a reviewer for the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and even a writer for Superman.

Ratings (22)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (8)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (44):

Read It (23)
Want To Read (16)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (4)

2 comment(s)

Loved It
1 week

“So this day would commence with an extra skirmish with death which Foyle accepted with mute endurance.”

What a wild adventure book! Fun short and very enthralling main character made for a great quick read.

 
Loved It
1 month

This was a crazy, fun read. It might be in my top five favorite books for the year.

Gully Foyle is a largely unremarkable man. Unintelligent, illiterate, no foreseeable prospects. Until he's jettisoned into space and a rescue ship ignores his distress calls. He is saved and set down a path of single minded revenge.

This book is very much "The Count of Monte Cristo, but in space" and I absolutely love that. Gully is not at all a likeable character, but his quest to find the people who left him to die in the cold of space is insanely captivating.

 
 
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