Last Men in London by Olaf Stapledon
In his previous science-fiction novel, Last and First Men, Olaf Stapledon envisioned 2 billion years of history, in which modern humans represented the first and most primitive of 18 increasingly advanced species. In this companion piece, a being from the remote future travels back to the 20th century to inhabit the consciousness of an Englishman named Paul. From inside his subject's mind, the superintelligent mega-human observes Paul's childhood, his experiences during World War I, and his postwar life as a teacher. The narrative provides a compelling commentary on modern life, the horrors of warfare, and the disintegrating state of Western society.
British philosopher William Olaf Stapledon (1886-1950) introduced several innovative concepts to the science-fiction genre, and his books influenced Arthur C. Clarke, Brian Aldiss, C. S. Lewis, John Maynard Smith, and many others. In this science-fictional self-portrait, he offers a captivating combination of memory, imagination, and social criticism.
British philosopher William Olaf Stapledon (1886-1950) introduced several innovative concepts to the science-fiction genre, and his books influenced Arthur C. Clarke, Brian Aldiss, C. S. Lewis, John Maynard Smith, and many others. In this science-fictional self-portrait, he offers a captivating combination of memory, imagination, and social criticism.
Olaf Stapledon is an English novelist and philosopher whose future histories have had a significant influence on modern science fiction. He is a Ph.D. holder. University of Liverpool, with a degree in philosophy and psychology. He published A Modern Theory of Ethics in 1929 and seemed set for a career as an academic, but with the success of his novel Last and First Men (1930), he shifted his focus to fiction. Stapledon also contributed to technical and scholarly ethics and philosophy evaluations. The Last Men in London (1932), Odd John (1935), Philosophy and Life (1938), Star Builder (1937), and Sirius (1944) are among his other notable works.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780486476018 |
| ISBN 10 | 0486476014 |
| Title | Last Men in London |
| Author | Olaf Stapledon |
| Series | Dover Literature: Science Fiction Fantasy Ser |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Dover Publications Inc. |
| Year published | 2011-09-30 |
| Number of pages | 288 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |