Alternative title: “The Man with Talent”

As the behavioral sciences progress, we’re approaching the great adventure, the literal exploration of the human psyche. Someday soon a psychiatrist may be able to penetrate directly into the mind of his patient, and understand clearly what problems lie there. Robert Silverberg, in a narrative rich in archetypal insights, suggests that such an ability might have its drawbacks

A spellbinding tale of a tradition-bound centuries-old Earth Colony and an Earthman who offers a magic drug that tears down the walls between men’s souls

Here’s an elegant and darkly ironic look at the proposition that some things in life are better not to know…

Time travel is possible, but only forward in time. Visitors from the past are multiple and dangerous as they carry deadly germs people of the future do not have immunity against anymore. So all the time travelers are promptly apprehended and isolated. The head of the institution responsible for isolation of the time travelers is implacable and absolutely inflexible in carrying out his duties. Until one of the time travelers gives him a device allegedly capable of moving people back in time

Set in the year 2375, the novel follows Tom Rice, a young archaeologist attached to a two-year dig on the planet of Highby V. He is searching for artifacts belonging to a long-lost and ancient race known simply as The High Ones. Throughout known space, details of this billion-year old civilization have been uncovered on many planets. What seems like a fairly straightforward expedition becomes a galactic odyssey when an artifact never seen before is uncovered. This device hints that perhaps the High Ones are not extinct at all. But, if they are not, then where are they? And will this lead to the culmination of Mankind’s greatest challenge or greatest disaster?

From Library Journal:   A cautionary tale by Stephen R. Donaldson ("Reeve the Just"), a whimsical ad venture in miniature by Dennis L. McKiernan ("The Halfling House"), and a tribute to the art of storytelling by Charles de Lint ("The Conjure Man") il lustrate the variety of this collection of 19 stories written to celebrate the centennial of Tolkien's birth. Although fans of Middle Earth may be disappointed that none of these tales draw directly from Tolkien's world, discerning readers will find the unmistakable stamp of the master concealed in the heart of each story. All in all, this solid collection of fantasy belongs in most libraries. For a new edition of The Lord of the Rings and more on Tolkien, see Classic Returns, LJ 11/15/91. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews: Yet another Festschrift anthology by Greenberg, who has recently edited or coedited tributes to Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and H.P. Lovecraft, this time to honor the much-imitated author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The difficulty with these projects is that the writers must retain the essential flavor of their own work while evoking somehow the style or subject or tone of the revered predecessor, and here--as in the Asimov, Bradbury, and Lovecraft volumes--the quality of the stories varies tremendously. The book leads off with an exceptionally good story by Stephen R. Donaldson, "Reave the Just", in which a legendary hero saves the day in a most unusual fashion. Emma Bull's "Silver or Gold", Peter S. Beagle's "The Naga", Judith Tarr's "Death and the Lady", and Patricia A. McKillip's "The Fellowship of the Dragon'' likewise evoke something of the spirit of Tolkien while offering wonderful, original tales in their authors' own strong voices. Meanwhile, John Brunner, Barry N. Malzberg, and Gregory Benford provide solid stories, but their connection to Tolkien is slight. Much that's unfortunately mediocre, and a few stories (such as Dennis L. McKiernan's "The Halfling House", egregious at 29 pages) that would have made Tolkien himself wince — but, still, the strongest tales here are among the best short-length fantasy of the year. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved

Later appeared as part of the novel The Alien Years

Tras miles de años, el Largo Invierno producido en la Tierra por el bombardeo de cometas que causaron las estrellas de la muerte llegó a su fin. Los que salieron del capullo para enfrentarse a los peligros del mundo exterior en busca de la Nueva Primavera se llamaban a si mismos humanos... Su destino era la creación de un nuevo mundo

From Robert Silverberg’s “Earthmen and Strangers” anthology, 1966: The German word “gestalt” means “shape” or “pattern,” but it also has the sense of “group” or “formation.” The science-fictional concept of the gestalt mind has frequently been examined—the intelligence that includes more than one individual. On Earth, the rule of one-body-one-intelligence seems to hold true, but who knows what we may find on other worlds? We already know of some simple creatures, like the corals and sponges, that exist in colonies numbering many individuals. Such Unkings are purely physical; the possibility exists, though, that on another planet some higher form of life may have developed a colony of linked minds. What it would be like to encounter such a form of life is considered in this story

In una Terra del lontano futuro una spaventosa catastrofe ecologica ha provocato lo sprofondamento delle Americhe e la decadenza della potenza terrestre nello spazio. La società del Terzo Ciclo si è strutturata in corporazioni feudali ed attende l’arrivo degli invasori, gli alieni che hanno salvato l’umanità dall’estinzione e che verranno a reclamare il possesso del pianeta. Quando l’invasione arriva le misere forze della Terra vengono sconfitte, e gli invasori occupano con facilità quello che considerano un loro dominio. L’affascinante vicenda si svolge in tre città, Roum (Roma), Perris (Parigi) e Jorslem (Gerusalemme), seguendo le avventure e gli incontri di Tomis, una Vedetta il cui lavoro, proiettare la mente negli spazi per avvertire dell’arrivo degli invasori, diventerà senza senso dopo l’invasione. La rottura dell’equilibrio della società feudale porterà gli uomini a stabilire nuovi rapporti umani e ad incrementare i loro poteri mentali, sino ad arrivare a dominare gli invasori, che non verranno combattuti con le armi ma con l’amore e la fratellanza, contribuendo a formare una società di impensabile ricchezza. Un romanzo leggibile su più livelli e pieno di idee, un premio Hugo più che meritato

El planeta Kalgash está al borde del caos, pero solo unas pocas personas se han dado cuenta de ello. Kalgash conoce únicamente la luz diurna perpetua, pues durante más de dos milenios la combinación de sus seis soles ha iluminado el cielo. Sin embargo, ahora empieza a reinar la oscuridad. Pronto se pondrán todos los soles, y el terrible esplendor del anochecer desencadenará una locura que marcará el final de la civilización. Anochecer , novela basada en un relato escrito por Asimov en 1941, permite al lector experimentar el cataclismo que sobrevendrá sobre Kalgash a través de los ojos de un periodista, un astrónomo, un arqueólogo, un psicólogo y un fanático religioso

It was a fine car and a good buy, even without the trunk. But there was some question of who owned if

After a recurrence of the cataclysm that killed off the dinosaurs and a resulting Long Winter of 700,000 years, the eventual New Springtime sees only two of the far future Earth’s original Six Peoples emerge from their deep cocoons: the resilient, insect-like hjjk-folk and the simian tribes who regard themselves as heirs to humanity. Young Hresh-full-of-questions is a member of one of the latter, a small band that must radically change its ancient rituals and taboos to adapt to their new life. Taking up temporary residence in the shell of a once great city, the group fearfully meets another people, is itself torn in half by rivalry and, through Hresh, achieves a new realization of who they are. This solid, dramatic novel expands on a favorite motif of Silverberg’s: the mixed terrors and pleasures of freedom, of going out into the wider world without guide, map or a sure sense of one’s own capabilities

Voici donc un roman de Science-Fiction où l’un des maîtres du genre nous emmène dans le futur de l’humanité, en déployant des trésors d’imagination, tout au long d’une intrigue comportant un réel intérêt humain

Later, along with “Hot Sky”, was used as the foundation of the novel Hot Sky at Midnight

When the government wields its power against its own people, every citizen becomes an enemy of the state. Will you fight the system, or be ground to dust beneath the boot of tyranny? In his smash-hit anthologies Wastelands and The Living Dead, acclaimed editor John Joseph Adams showed you what happens when society is utterly wiped away. Now he brings you a glimpse into an equally terrifying future — what happens when civilization invades and dictates every aspect of your life? From 1984 to The Handmaid’s Tale, from Children of Men to Bioshock, the dystopian imagination has been a vital and gripping cautionary force. Brave New Worlds collects 33 of the best tales of totalitarian menace by some of today’s most visionary writers. From Huxley's Brave New World, to Orwell's 1984, to Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, dystopian books have always been an integral part of both science fiction and literature, and have influenced the broader culture discussion in unique and permanent ways. Brave New Worlds brings together the best dystopian fiction of the last 30 years, demonstrating the diversity that flourishes in this compelling subgenre. This landmark tome contains stories by Ursula K. Le Guin, Cory Doctorow, M. Rickert, Paolo Bacigalupi, Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, and many others

Una giovane orfana diciassettenne, vergine, e madre di cento figli. Un astronauta che, su un lontano pianeta, è stato vivisezionato e rimesso insieme, ma con criteri extraterrestri, da dei superchirurghi. Unite queste due vittime di un oltraggio insanabile. Dall’orrore che striscia sotto la loro pelle, pronto a prorompere, scaturiranno torrenti di paura, ira, odio, gelosia, tormento, terrore: le emozioni umane delle quali si nutre e si abbevera, e grazie alle quali ingrassa e si arricchisce, il “mercante di dolore”. L’astronauta, l’orfana e l’avvoltoio: il più strano “triangolo” coniugale che i mondi interplanetari abbiano mai veduto

Vier junge Männer — miteinander befreundete Studenten einer amerikanischen Hochschule — starten eines Tages zu einem Trip in die Wüste von Arizona. Ihr Ziel ist ein geheimnisvolles Kloster, das es dort, abgeschieden von der Welt, geben soll. So steht es in den verstaubten Dokumenten, die einer der Studenten beim Quellenstudium gefunden hat. Wenn die Dokumente nicht lügen, leben in diesem Kloster Mönche, die das Geheimnis der Unsterblichkeit kennen. Unter bestimmten Bedingungen erlauben sie Außenseitern den Zutritt zu ihrer Bruderschaft. Sie müssen zu viert kommen und sich gemeinsam einem Ritual unterwerfen. Einer der vier wird sein Leben für die anderen geben müssen, und ein weiterer muß von seinen Freunden geopfert werden. Erst dann können die beiden Überlebenden in die Unsterblichkeit eingehen. In einer Mischung aus Spiel und Ernst versuchen die vier, die aus verschiedenen sozialen Schichten kommen und sich auch in ihrem Temperament, ihren Schwächen, Stärken und Vorlieben stark voneinander unterscheiden, sich auf das einzustellen, was sie in Arizona erwartet. Als sie das Kloster tatsächlich finden, wissen sie noch immer nicht, ob man ihnen nicht einen Mummenschanz vorgaukelt. Und vor allem wissen sie nicht, wer die Unsterblichen und wer die Opfer sein sollen …

Naukowcy XXI wiku opracowali technikę podróży w czasie. Pozostaje ich do rozwiązania tylko jeden problem:Jak zmniejszyć do minimum niebezpieczeństwo nieodwracalnego zakłócenia istniejącej rzeczywistości. Decydują się więc na porwanie trzyletniego chłopca z Neandrtalskiego plemienia. Chłopiec pozostaje w XXI wieku pod ścisłą kontrolą, mieszka w zamkniętej strefie, w któej znajdują się obiekty przeniesione z jego czasu. Opiekuje się nim pielęgniarka, panna Fellowes. Mały Neandertalczyk okazuje się nader pojętnym uczniem. Po trzech latach jest cywilizowanym dzieckiem. Wtedy zapada decyzja, że zostanie odesłany w przeszłość. Dla uczonym przestał już być interesującym obiektem badań. Potrzebują przestrzeni, którą zajmuje, dla innych postaci przeniesionych z czasów historycznych. Razem z nim jednak przenosi się w świat epoki lodowcowej nieoczekiwanie jeszcze jedna osoba…

Micah-IV wasn’t human and couldn’t understand why humans did strange things—but he could imitate them!

The novel published as This Immortal first appeared under the title …And Call Me Conrad. It won Roger his first Hugo. In the following tale, Robert Silverberg’s Titan discovers, as did Conrad, that nothing ever goes quite as one plans

No organization can function if a clearly transmitted message cannot produce the intended effect. If, no matter what the order is, it always comes out the same, unwanted way…

Majipoor, planète géante, abrite des dizaines de milliards d’habitants, humains, Hjorts, Métamorphes, Vroons, Skandars et autres étrangers. Parce que les métaux y sont rares, la technologie y est presque absente. Mais on y excelle dans les arts et les aménités de la vie. Jeune saute-ruisseau, Hissune est entré au service du Pontife de Majipoor. Il a accès au Registre des Ames où des millions d’habitants de Majipoor ont déposé au fil de milliers d’années des enregistrements de leurs souvenirs. II suffit de prendre une capsule, de la glisser dans une fente spéciale et, d’un seul coup, c’est comme si on était devenu la personne qui a fait l’enregistrement. Hissune en prend une et une autre et une autre encore, et c’est comme s’il voyageait à travers les continents démesurés, les océans interminables de Majipoor, comme s’il explorait les plaines, les déserts, les montagnes, les villes, les palais et les âmes aussi

XXIVe siècle. Effet de serre. Plus de couche d'ozone. La Terre a basculé dans les bouleversements climatiques, et le ciel brûlant de minuit ne laisse jamais filtrer la moindre fraîcheur.Tandis que Paul Carpenter remorque un iceberg monstrueux afin d'alimenter Los Angeles en eau potable, Nick Rhodes, biologiste, cherche à adapter l'humanité à une atmosphère pauvre en oxygène, pour le compte d'un conglomérat japonais. Isabelle cherche l'amour, et Jolanda le dépassement de l'art.Ils sont tous pris au piège de ce monde dégradé, de leurs vies bancales et de leurs amours furtives, aussi déboussolés que la Terre brûlante qui les porte.Et tous, ils cherchent la sortie.Dans les étoiles… Robert Silverberg, consacré par quatre prix Hugo et cinq prix Nebula, dresse ici le tableau d'un avenir plausible, terrifiant et fascinant

„Ciernie” to pasjonująca powieść znakomitego pisarza SF, jednej z największych gwiazd światowej fantastyki, autora m.in. „W dół, do Ziemi”, „Czasu przemian”, „Umierając żyjemy” i innych głośnych książek. Autor porusza z głęboką i wnikliwą znajomością najbardziej mrocznych zakamarków duszy ludzkiej temat psychicznego wampiryzmu — dyktatury opartej na manipulacji ludzkim cierpieniem, ale także w wymiarze jednostkowym fascynuje go opis wzajemnego psychicznego pożerania się ludzi, „wysysania” z siebie sił witalnych, wzajemnego samozniszczenia się siebie. Jeśli jesteś ciekaw: — co czuje kobieta będąca matką stu tysięcy dzieci, — czy superman może być nieszczęśliwym potworem, — kto czerpie radość i rozkosz z bólu to wszystko możesz odnaleźć w tej niesamowitej powieści

La fatal colisión de dos imperios estelares, el terrestre y el de Norgla, cuando su mutua expansión los pone en inevitable contacto. Mediante una nave más rápida que la luz, los terrestres llegan a una región de la galaxia situada a 10.000 años-luz de la Tierra, donde descubren otra raza humanoide dedicada a la colonización de aquellos mundos. El choque hubiera sido inevitable, a causa del orgullo de los Norglanos, de no ser por una especie extragaláctica, los avanzadísimos Rosgollanos, que obligan a terrestres y norglanos a dividirse la Galaxia en los partes o esferas de influencia iguales

Also appeared as “Catch ’em All Alive!”

The novel details the response of the political leadership of Earth to an eventual collision of their aggressive expanding colonial empire with a newly-discovered alien race