Delany, american sciencefiction novelist and critic whose highly imaginative works address sexual, racial, and social issues, heroic quests, and the nature of language. Apr 18, 2018 if, like me, you grew up rummaging through the scifi paperbacks at your local library, you know about samuel r. Delany is an american sciencefiction novelist and critic whose highly imaginative works address sexual, racial, and social issues, heroic quests, and the nature of language. Dark reflections layered into a complex, refracted narrative. The erotic fascination with bitten fingernails that is in practically all his fiction from the earliest sf novels right up to dark reflections is there. He was born to a prominent black family on april 1, 1942, and raised in harlem. Delany, volume i, 19571969, we can now see how this passage in dhalgren. His novel dark reflections won the stonewall book award. He has written some of the best scifi books there is. Delany and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Like his legendary hogg, the mad man, and the millionseller dhalgren, samuel r. Delany has written over 35 books and has had a profound impact on multiple genres.
In a late delany text, one notices what is absent the hero of dark reflections 2007, arnold hawley, has delanys insatiable appetite for books but is. Michael cunningham, author of the hours this stonewall book awardwinning novel traces the life and unrealized dreams of arnold hawley, a homosexual africanamerican poet. I hope it isnt delegated to the second tier of delany s writings, because its a first rate work. Delany is one of the classic scifi authors, one of the names you see writ large on paperbacks from the 60s and 70s, a peer of asimov, clarke, and heinlein. Delanys 2007 novel dark reflections nearly disappeared. Dark reflections this is the story of a gay black poet living in new york city. That same year delany was the subject of a documentary film, the polymath, or, the life and opinions of samuel r. Aug 19, 2016 samuel delany has written a lot of science fiction but he writes in other genres too. The very best ever to come out of the science fiction field. Click to read more about dark reflections by samuel r. A meditation on isolation and sexual repression, dark reflections also offers an acerbic look at the literary world and the frustrations intrinsic to artistic life. In 2007, his novel dark reflections was a winner of the stonewall book award.
Delany was born in new york, new york, the united states to margaret carey boyd delany mother born in 19161995, she was a clerk in the. Arnold hawley, a gay, africanamerican poet, has lived in nyc for. In 2008 it received a stonewall book award and was nominated for a. His work includes fiction especially science fiction, memoir, criticism, and essays on sexuality and society. His devotees and there are legions of them will enjoy teasing out the autobiographical strands in dark reflections.
His works include babel17, the einstein intersection winners of the nebula award for 1966 and 1967 respectively, nova, dhalgren, and the return to neveryon series. Delany was the subject of a 2007 documentary, the\ polymath, by fred barney taylor, and he has written a popular creative writing textbook, about writing. Delany published his first eight novels with ace books from 1962 to 1967, culminating in babel17, the einstein intersection, and nova, which were consecutively recognized as the years best novel by the science fiction writers of america nebula awards. His 2007 novel dark reflections won the stonewall book award. His work includes fiction especially science fiction, memoir, criticism and essays on science fiction, literature, sexuality, and society. In 2002 he was inducted into the science fiction hall of fame. Delany s 2007 novel dark reflections nearly disappeared. One of the most honest books ive ever read about the martyrdom of the writer in the contemporary world. Delany gets his income after selling his published books. Dark reflections may not be a great introduction to the more popular but equally difficult scifi writings of samuel delany, but it is an interesting novel that can be discussed, especially in light of delanys life and constantly evolving work.
Dark reflections may not be a great introduction to the more popular but equally difficult scifi writings of samuel delany, but it is an interesting novel that can be discussed, especially in light of delany s life and constantly evolving work. Dark reflections traces hawleys life in three sections in reverse order. The volume collected stories of theodore sturgeon, along with sturgeons memoir argyll andhellhis novels, the dreaming jewels, more than human, some of your blood, and venus plus x the collected stories of roger zelazny in six volumes, along with christopher kovacs a pictorial bibliography of roger zelazny, the ides. Hawley, at 50 years old, wins the an award for his sixth book of poems. A reissue of delanys through the valley of the nest of spiders, 2012, etc. Delany, including dhalgren, and stars in my pocket like grains of sand, and more on. Samuel grew up in harlem, the son of a new york public library clerk and. Aug 09, 2012 in a late delany text, one notices what is absent the hero of dark reflections 2007, arnold hawley, has delanys insatiable appetite for books but is a virgin, a gay man who through fear. Both delany and hawley are literary witnesses to the gay. This stonewall book awardwinning novel traces the life and unrealized dreams of arnold hawley, a gay african american poet. Delany is one of the classic scifi authors, one of the names you see writ large on paperbacks from the. Arnold hawley, a gay, africanamerican poet, has lived in nyc for most of his life.
Nov 02, 2011 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Delanys major new novel through the valley of the nest of spidersexplicit, poetic, philosophical, and, yes, shockingpropels readers into a gay sexual culture unknown to most urban gay men and women, a network of rural gay relationswith the twist that this one is supported by the homophile kyle. Oct 19, 2016 information about the book, dark reflections. It is so beautifully written and crafted that i had to sit up and take notice several times. Gay africanamerican poet tries to make sense of his life. The film debuted on april 25 at the 2007 tribeca film festival. The most controversial science fiction novel of its decade. The story opens with hawleys lonely old age, traveling backward in time to his arrival in new york city of the 1950s. The lunar eye the towers of toron 2 books in 1 ace double f261 by robert moore williams, samuel r. In 2008 it received a stonewall book award and was nominated for a lambda literary award for gay mens fiction.
Samuel delanys most popular novel, having sold somewhat more than a millionandahalf copies. Delanys evocative novel is hardly so exalted, more prone to glancing at his toilet. Vashti in the dark part iii the book of pictures historical note historical note to the dover edition. Samuel ray delany, also known as chip, is an awardwinning american science fiction author. Dark reflections is one of the most honest books ive ever read about the martyrdom of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Nov 21, 2016 an updated, corrected, and expanded version of his 2007 novel, dark reflections, was reprinted by dover editions in 2016. A final section revisits the poets student days, during which an aborted sexual encounter sets the pattern for a lifetime of regrets and missed opportunities. In 2015, samuel delany won the nicolas guillen lifetime achievement award for philosophical fiction. Dark reflections, moving back and fort arnold hawley, a gay, africanamerican poet, has lived in nyc for most of his life. Vashti in the dark, recounts hawleys impulsive, egregiously brief marriage less than 12 hours to a disturbed and disturbing young woman he had just met on a park bench. Delany biography, age, family, author and literary. Delany, whose theoretically sophisticated science fiction and fantasy has won him a broad audience among academics and fans of postmodernist fiction, offers insights into and explorations of his own experience as writer, critic, theorist, a.
Incidents at literary ceremonies are not the momentary failures of discrete individuals, but. Thanks to the work of independent scholar kenneth james, editor of in search of silence. Samuel grew up in harlem, the son of a new york public library clerk and the owner of a funeral home. Mar 23, 2007 one of my friends, much more of a delany fan than i, said that he thought dark reflections was boring and it was the only samuel delany he couldnt get through. Sep 09, 2007 his devotees and there are legions of them will enjoy teasing out the autobiographical strands in dark reflections. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. At almost exactly the moment of the books release, its publisher.
Apr 17, 2012 like his legendary hogg, the mad man, and the millionseller dhalgren, samuel r. And a basic plot description would make it sound boring. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The novel, which was reissued by dover books in 2016, reinforces ideas that delany previously explored in racism and science fiction an essential companion piece to dark reflections in which he writes about racism and homophobia as structures. If, like me, you grew up rummaging through the scifi paperbacks at your local library, you know about samuel r.
Samuel delany has written a lot of science fiction but he writes in other genres too. I hope it isnt delegated to the second tier of delanys writings, because its a first rate work. Beautifully crafted amos lassen and literary pride due out on may 15 is an exceptional novel by samuel delany dhalgren, the mad man which is sure to be a ht. Delany attended city college of new york now city university of new york in the early 1960s. Delanys major new novel through the valley of the nest of spidersexplicit, poetic, philosophical, and, yes, shockingpropels readers into a gay sexual culture unknown to most urban gay men and women, a network of rural gay relationswith the twist that this one. One of my friends, much more of a delany fan than i, said that he thought dark reflections was boring and it was the only samuel delany he couldnt get through. Any number of his books seemingly come back into print constantly. Delany is not only one of the most profound and courageous writers at work today, he is a writer of seemingly limitless range. Delany is an american author of science fiction and fantasy, erotic lit, and nonfiction books. Delany is a celebrated science fiction novelist, critic, and memoirist. Other novels include equinox, hogg, and the mad man. Arnold hawley won the obscure alfred proctor prize for poetry for an early volume of verse, but larger critical acceptance has been elusive. She shifts identities so rapidly that hes not even sure of her name.
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