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Catacomb Years

January 01, 1970

Catacomb Years is a novel by Michael Bishop published in 1979.

First edition (publ. Berkley Books)
Cover art by Ron Walotsky

Plot summary edit

Catacomb Years is a novel about an oppressive society and the people who are force to live there.[1]

Reception edit

Spider Robinson's comments on the book's structure: "Plainly [Bishop] intended the Domed City to be a metaphor for something or other…and it probably worked just fine in some of those individual novelettes, where an emotionally involving story made you overlook a shaky premise. But the "novel" has no emotional continuity... There are a few marvelous stories in this book, and one superb one ["The Samurai and the Willows"], but they are ruined by a setting which exposes their worst weaknesses."[2] Robert Frazier strongly disagrees: "Catacomb Years is not a rough sculpture with visible seams and weak welds; it is a polished puzzle entity a la Miguel Berrocal."[3] Author Elizabeth Lynn was equally impressed: "Bishop takes his wildly diverse plot elements…and weaves them into a shining and almost seamless tapestry… The material, to those who have read the pieces as they appeared…will be familiar and friendly. But set against each other they acquire new significance and a new luster. Bishop's skill at characterization is impressive, as is his ability to juggle his cast and his numerous subplots."[4]

Greg Costikyan reviewed Catacomb Years in Ares Magazine #2 and commented that "The stories are almost universally well-written. The language is sharp and clean; the characters well-rounded; the themes strike a responsive chord. Each stands on its own as a perfectly-crafted gem. The hype on the cover is almost justified, and yet…"[1]

Kirkus Reviews states "Though a series of expository ""interludes"" attempts to link the stories into a more conventional (and shaky) kind of future history, the stories are most impressive on their own terms--bearing witness to the weedlike survival of human instinct and aspiration in the most confining and programmed environment."[5]

Reviews edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Costikyan, Greg (May 1980). "Books". Ares Magazine (2). Simulations Publications, Inc.: 30–31.
  2. ^ Robinson, Spider. "The Reference Library." Analog: Science Fiction/Science Fact. New York: Condé Nast Publications. June 1979: 174.
  3. ^ Frazier, Robert. "Other Voices." Science Fiction Review 35. Portland OR: Richard E. Geis. May 1980: 33.
  4. ^ Lynn, Elizabeth. "Bishop Knighted." Locus. Oakland CA: Locus Publications. Dec. 1978: 12.
  5. ^ "CATACOMB YEARS". Kirkus Reviews. Jan 24, 1978.

January 01, 1970
catacomb, years, novel, michael, bishop, published, 1979, first, edition, publ, berkley, books, cover, walotsky, contents, plot, summary, reception, reviews, referencesplot, summary, edit, novel, about, oppressive, society, people, force, live, there, receptio. Catacomb Years is a novel by Michael Bishop published in 1979 First edition publ Berkley Books Cover art by Ron Walotsky Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Reception 3 Reviews 4 ReferencesPlot summary editCatacomb Years is a novel about an oppressive society and the people who are force to live there 1 Reception editSpider Robinson s comments on the book s structure Plainly Bishop intended the Domed City to be a metaphor for something or other and it probably worked just fine in some of those individual novelettes where an emotionally involving story made you overlook a shaky premise But the novel has no emotional continuity There are a few marvelous stories in this book and one superb one The Samurai and the Willows but they are ruined by a setting which exposes their worst weaknesses 2 Robert Frazier strongly disagrees Catacomb Years is not a rough sculpture with visible seams and weak welds it is a polished puzzle entity a la Miguel Berrocal 3 Author Elizabeth Lynn was equally impressed Bishop takes his wildly diverse plot elements and weaves them into a shining and almost seamless tapestry The material to those who have read the pieces as they appeared will be familiar and friendly But set against each other they acquire new significance and a new luster Bishop s skill at characterization is impressive as is his ability to juggle his cast and his numerous subplots 4 Greg Costikyan reviewed Catacomb Years in Ares Magazine 2 and commented that The stories are almost universally well written The language is sharp and clean the characters well rounded the themes strike a responsive chord Each stands on its own as a perfectly crafted gem The hype on the cover is almost justified and yet 1 Kirkus Reviews states Though a series of expository interludes attempts to link the stories into a more conventional and shaky kind of future history the stories are most impressive on their own terms bearing witness to the weedlike survival of human instinct and aspiration in the most confining and programmed environment 5 Reviews editReview by Charles N Brown 1979 in Isaac Asimov s Science Fiction Magazine April 1979 Review by Andrew A Whyte 1979 in Galileo May 1979 Review by Andrew Kaveney 1979 in Foundation 17 September 1979References edit a b Costikyan Greg May 1980 Books Ares Magazine 2 Simulations Publications Inc 30 31 Robinson Spider The Reference Library Analog Science Fiction Science Fact New York Conde Nast Publications June 1979 174 Frazier Robert Other Voices Science Fiction Review 35 Portland OR Richard E Geis May 1980 33 Lynn Elizabeth Bishop Knighted Locus Oakland CA Locus Publications Dec 1978 12 CATACOMB YEARS Kirkus Reviews Jan 24 1978 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catacomb Years amp oldid 1195238021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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