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The Heads of Cerberus

January 01, 1970

The Heads of Cerberus is a science fiction novel by American writer Francis Stevens. The novel was originally serialized in the pulp magazine The Thrill Book in 1919, and it was first published in book form in 1952 by Polaris Press in an edition of 1,563 copies. It was the first book published by Polaris Press. A scholarly reprint edition was issued by Arno Press in 1978, and a mass market paperback by Carroll & Graf in 1984.[1]

The Heads of Cerberus
Dust-jacket from the first edition
AuthorFrancis Stevens
Cover artistRic Binkley
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherPolaris Press
Publication date
1919 serialization, 1952 book
Media typePrint (Hardback)
Pages191
OCLC3102548

Plot introduction edit

The novel concerns people who, after inhaling a grey dust, are transported to a future totalitarian Philadelphia in 2118.

Reception edit

Groff Conklin called it "perhaps the first science fantasy to use the alternate time-track, or parallel worlds, idea."[2] Boucher and McComas praised the novel as "a slightly dated but still originally imaginative and acutely satiric story."[3] P. Schuyler Miller found Cerberus "dated and old-fashioned", but noted it was "a pioneering variation on the parallel worlds theme."[4]

Everett F. Bleiler described the novel as "highly imaginative work, one of the classics of early pulp fantastic fiction", commenting that despite simplistic characterization, "the cynical anti-authoritarianism" in the description of the imagined future culture "is refreshing." Bleiler also noted that the novel's resolution "is a fine anticipation of the work of Philip K. Dick."[5] Damon Knight wrote "Those who insist on the close reasoning and the satirical wit of modern science fiction will find surprising amounts of both here."[6]

References edit

  1. ^ ISFDB bibliography
  2. ^ "Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, December 1952, p.124
  3. ^ "Recommended Reading," F&SF, October 1952, p. 99
  4. ^ "The Reference Library", Astounding Science Fiction, September 1952, p.170
  5. ^ E. F. Bleiler, Science-Fiction: The Early Years, Kent State University Press, 1990, p.704
  6. ^ Damon Knight, In Search of Wonder, 1996 (third edition), p. 20

Sources edit

  • Chalker, Jack L.; Mark Owings (1998). The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923-1998. Westminster, MD and Baltimore: Mirage Press, Ltd. p. 524.
  • Clute, John; Peter Nicholls (1995). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 1164–1165. ISBN 0-312-13486-X.
  • Tuck, Donald H. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: Advent. p. 38. ISBN 0-911682-20-1.

External links edit

  •   The Heads of Cerberus public domain audiobook at LibriVox

January 01, 1970
heads, cerberus, science, fiction, novel, american, writer, francis, stevens, novel, originally, serialized, pulp, magazine, thrill, book, 1919, first, published, book, form, 1952, polaris, press, edition, copies, first, book, published, polaris, press, schola. The Heads of Cerberus is a science fiction novel by American writer Francis Stevens The novel was originally serialized in the pulp magazine The Thrill Book in 1919 and it was first published in book form in 1952 by Polaris Press in an edition of 1 563 copies It was the first book published by Polaris Press A scholarly reprint edition was issued by Arno Press in 1978 and a mass market paperback by Carroll amp Graf in 1984 1 The Heads of CerberusDust jacket from the first editionAuthorFrancis StevensCover artistRic BinkleyCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreScience fictionPublisherPolaris PressPublication date1919 serialization 1952 bookMedia typePrint Hardback Pages191OCLC3102548 Contents 1 Plot introduction 2 Reception 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksPlot introduction editThe novel concerns people who after inhaling a grey dust are transported to a future totalitarian Philadelphia in 2118 Reception editGroff Conklin called it perhaps the first science fantasy to use the alternate time track or parallel worlds idea 2 Boucher and McComas praised the novel as a slightly dated but still originally imaginative and acutely satiric story 3 P Schuyler Miller found Cerberus dated and old fashioned but noted it was a pioneering variation on the parallel worlds theme 4 Everett F Bleiler described the novel as highly imaginative work one of the classics of early pulp fantastic fiction commenting that despite simplistic characterization the cynical anti authoritarianism in the description of the imagined future culture is refreshing Bleiler also noted that the novel s resolution is a fine anticipation of the work of Philip K Dick 5 Damon Knight wrote Those who insist on the close reasoning and the satirical wit of modern science fiction will find surprising amounts of both here 6 References edit ISFDB bibliography Galaxy s 5 Star Shelf Galaxy Science Fiction December 1952 p 124 Recommended Reading F amp SF October 1952 p 99 The Reference Library Astounding Science Fiction September 1952 p 170 E F Bleiler Science Fiction The Early Years Kent State University Press 1990 p 704 Damon Knight In Search of Wonder 1996 third edition p 20Sources editChalker Jack L Mark Owings 1998 The Science Fantasy Publishers A Bibliographic History 1923 1998 Westminster MD and Baltimore Mirage Press Ltd p 524 Clute John Peter Nicholls 1995 The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction New York St Martin s Griffin pp 1164 1165 ISBN 0 312 13486 X Tuck Donald H 1974 The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy Chicago Advent p 38 ISBN 0 911682 20 1 External links edit nbsp The Heads of Cerberus public domain audiobook at LibriVox Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Heads of Cerberus amp oldid 1114520214, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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