Spell checkers do not approve of the word “semiquincentennial.” I however, approved of the event, as I demonstrated by consuming bacon-wrapped hotdogs and drinking a moderate number of cans of beer. Well, borderline immoderate, perhaps.
I was only seven during the bicentennial, so my memories are scattered and vague. I believe that was the year I inadvertently lit the fence and part of the backyard on fire, but not on Independence Day. Little hooligan. What I wasn’t doing was reading the contemporary releases of science fiction and fantasy. I’m sure I’ve since caught up on some. Let’s take a look at a few selections from what the publisher’s provided for the bookshelves in 1976. (I did not independently verify this information. Sorry.)
The Adventures of Una Persson and Catherine Cornelius in the Twentieth Century. Sigh, a Michael Moorcock Jerry Cornelius novel. I haven’t read this specific entry and don’t feel the lack, given my opinion of those I did force myself through. Hey, it is my web log. I can have opinions.
The Bicentennial Man and Other Stories. One simply could not have a year in the 1970s without an Asimov book. I don’t recall ever reading that one. I believe my first Asimov book was actually volume one of his autobiography.
The Boys from Brazil. I did not read the book, though my parents did make the mistake of taking me to the movie two years later. Nightmares did, in fact, result.
Children of Dune. That one is on my shelves, natch. I only own copies of the first three, but I did power through the extended series in high school.
Doorways in the Sand. Roger Zelazny. This too is on my shelves. A fun book.
Dragonsong. It wouldn’t be too many more years before I started reading Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. I used to own one, The White Dragon, with that gorgeous Michael Whelan cover.
The Gate of Ivrel. CJ Cherryh’s first novel. I’ve been meaning to get around to reading that one.
Inferno. Niven and Pournelle. Excellent. Another example of the two writers’ seamless collaboration.
The Malacia Tapestry. Brian Aldiss. I recall trying to get through this one, back in sixth grade or thereabouts. Perhaps I should give it another try.
Maske: Thaery. Jack Vance. On my shelves.
Patternmaster. Octavia Butler.
Radio Free Albemuth. Philip K. Dick. I saw the movie.
Slapstick. Kurt Vonnegut. I had a copy, but could never quite get through it. I think I lost it at a bar.
That’s just a selection, of course. But clearly 1976 served up some seminal works, whatever I might happen to think of them. For example Ursula LeGuin’s The Word for World is Forest. Spider Robinson’s first novel was published that year, Telempath. Clive Cussler put out Raise the Titanic! And Keith Bulmer, writing as Alan Burt Akers, put out not one, but two Dray Prescot novels. The Star Wars novelization preceded the film, Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker.
Are we keeping up with the standards of fifty years ago? I don’t know. In my own two-fisted fabulist style I’m producing fantastical adventure fiction. The entire three book Twilight Galaxy series is being released by Raconteur Press in this Semiquincentennial year. Pick up the first book, Dekason now. The next should be out by the end of the month.
How about I review this year’s crop during the Tricentennial?
