Non-Fiction Books

From 1952 to 1963 the most penetrating critic of the field of magazine science fiction was known as "William Atheling, Jr." Guessing his real identity was not easy, because his dissection did not spare even his other ego, noted s-f author James Blish. Shedding his protective covering, Mr. Blish assembled many of the Atheling papers and edited them into this book. It is virtually a text for would-be writers of science fiction. Nor is its value limited to that genre; the rules of good writing are universal, and Atheling's critiques are not restricted to the peculiarities and special interests of science fiction. These essays take aspiring authors and editors by the hand and lead them painstakingly through the dense forests of "said-bookism," the treacherous moors of "repetitive phrasing," and other forbidden territories. And even old hands will find cause to wonder and reflect, and perhaps even to re-evaluate professional skills too long taken for granted. No subject is too sacred or taboo for Atheling's shredding typewriter; from sex to God, from religion to satirical poetry. No author is spared the bloody mark of his relentless lash; from Anderson to Heinlein to Zirul. No editor or publisher is spared his--or its--due share of responsibility. But most importantly, The Issue at Hand is not just--or even primarily--a textbook for students of writing. It is a vastly entertaining collection in its own right, affording many hours of pleasant informative reading and re-reading, urging the reader ahead with the wry comments, unexpected humor, and undeviating attention to standards that were the hallmarks of William Atheling, Jr.

James Blish (writing as "William Atheling") was one of the earliest critics to treat science fiction as a genre worthy of being reviewed as thoughtfully and seriously as any other branch of literature. This volume is a sequel to Blish's "The Issue at Hand," and it collects science fiction reviews written between 1957 and 1970. Where the earlier volume was largely focused on short stories and novels that had appeared in SF magazines, this collection contains a higher proportion of book reviews.

This is a posthumous collection of Blish essays, mostly on science fiction and fantasy. These include studies of Poul Anderson, James Branch Cabell, and the application of Spengler to science fiction. Other pieces range from "Music of the Absurd" (modern music—more fantastic than any fiction ) to the autobiographical "A Science Fiction Coming of Age" (focused on Blish's childhood), and a conversation with Brian Aldiss that reveals the emotion behind Blish the man and his fiction, as well as his intellect. Blish's comments in his two previous Advent books (The Issue at Hand and More Issues at Hand) were intended primarily for writers, although readers found his criticism fascinating as well. The essays in this collection are more generalized and theoretical. The five essays in Part I are thematically linked, and present a mosaic of Blish's view of science fiction, helping place it in the general context of art, literature, and life. Together, these essays seem to form part of the extended theoretical and historical work that many critics and writers wished Blish would write. Alas, he died too soon. Last but not least is a very detailed 96-page Bibliography of the Works of James Blish, by his widow, Judith Lawrence Blish. Note that a hardback edition of this book is also available directly from the publisher.