Cities in Flight is a ground breaking book in the Sci-Fi genre, and unlike anything I've read before.
That's a pretty big opening isn't it?
The version that I picked up was the Sci Fi Masterworks version, meaning that I was expecting a book that would take me away from the usual concepts ... Read review
One of the grandest, and certainly one of the best written, of wide-screen space operas, ... more
Blish's Cities in Flight takes us from the collapse of American civilisation at the moment of its greatest scientific success to its final transfiguration at a m...
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James Blish's volume explores a future in which two crucial discoveries -- antigravity ... more
devices which enable whole cities to be lifted from the Earth to become giant spaceships, and longevity drugs which enable their inhabitants to live for thousands of years -- lead to the establishment of a unique Galactic empire.
One of the grandest, and certainly one of the best written, of wide-screen space operas, ... more
Blish's Cities in Flight takes us from the collapse of American civilisation at the moment of its greatest scientific success to its final transfiguration at a moment of cosmic disaster. New York, enclosed in a vast dome, and powered by anti-gravity and hyper- drive, wanders among the stars, a labourer for hire, and yet also the seed of humanity's brief ascendancy in a hostile galaxy. This is the story of people as well as vast historical moments-- of Wagoner, the Senator who gives his life and good name for humanity's future; Chris, the naive youngster to whom New York gives everything, and from whom it will take everything away; and above all John Amalfi, who starts as Mayor of New York and ends up as a sort of god. And along the way, we meet some of the strangest of the shapes human society takes among the stars. Crackling with ideas about the progress of history, and passionate in its evocation of the deep reaches of time and space, Blish's sequence is intelligent and visionary, a true classic of the genre. --Roz Kaveney
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One of the grandest, and certainly one of the best written, of wide-screen space operas, ... more
Blish's Cities in Flight takes us from the collapse of American civilisation at the moment of its greatest scientific success to its final transfiguration at a moment of cosmic disaster. New York, enclosed in a vast dome, and powered by anti-gravity and hyper- drive, wanders among the stars, a labourer for hire, and yet also the seed of humanity's brief ascendancy in a hostile galaxy. This is the story of people as well as vast historical moments-- of Wagoner, the Senator who gives his life and good name for humanity's future; Chris, the naive youngster to whom New York gives everything, and from whom it will take everything away; and above all John Amalfi, who starts as Mayor of New York and ends up as a sort of god. And along the way, we meet some of the strangest of the shapes human society takes among the stars. Crackling with ideas about the progress of history, and passionate in its evocation of the deep reaches of time and space, Blish's sequence is intelligent and visionary, a true classic of the genre. --Roz Kaveney
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
One of the grandest, and certainly one of the best written, of wide-screen space operas, ... more
Blish's Cities in Flight takes us from the collapse of American civilisation at the moment of its greatest scientific success to its final transfiguration at a moment of cosmic disaster. New York, enclosed in a vast dome, and powered by anti-gravity and hyper- drive, wanders among the stars, a labourer for hire, and yet also the seed of humanity's brief ascendancy in a hostile galaxy. This is the story of people as well as vast historical moments-- of Wagoner, the Senator who gives his life and good name for humanity's future; Chris, the naive youngster to whom New York gives everything, and from whom it will take everything away; and above all John Amalfi, who starts as Mayor of New York and ends up as a sort of god. And along the way, we meet some of the strangest of the shapes human society takes among the stars. Crackling with ideas about the progress of history, and passionate in its evocation of the deep reaches of time and space, Blish's sequence is intelligent and visionary, a true classic of the genre. --Roz Kaveney
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
One of the grandest, and certainly one of the best written, of wide-screen space operas, ... more
Blish's Cities in Flight takes us from the collapse of American civilisation at the moment of its greatest scientific success to its final transfiguration at a moment of cosmic disaster. New York, enclosed in a vast dome, and powered by anti-gravity and hyper- drive, wanders among the stars, a labourer for hire, and yet also the seed of humanity's brief ascendancy in a hostile galaxy. This is the story of people as well as vast historical moments-- of Wagoner, the Senator who gives his life and good name for humanity's future; Chris, the naive youngster to whom New York gives everything, and from whom it will take everything away; and above all John Amalfi, who starts as Mayor of New York and ends up as a sort of god. And along the way, we meet some of the strangest of the shapes human society takes among the stars. Crackling with ideas about the progress of history, and passionate in its evocation of the deep reaches of time and space, Blish's sequence is intelligent and visionary, a true classic of the genre. --Roz Kaveney
Postage & Packaging:£2.75 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: A very rewarding read Disadvantages: ...but a challenging one
Cities in Flight is a ground breaking book in the Sci-Fi genre, and unlike anything I've read before.
That's a pretty big opening isn't it?
The version that I picked up was the Sci Fi Masterworks version, meaning that I was expecting a book that would take me away from the usual concepts that I'd read previously, but I still wasn't prepared for this.
Cities in Flight is made up of four books, all revolving the central theme ... ...man and it's most productive cities leave Earth, what happens to Earth? And what happens to the cities? Some settle on other planets and make them their own, with their own belief structures and politics. Others travel the stars, landing on the occupied planets to offer services, whereas yet others become pirates, preying on the weak.
Similar questions are raised by the antiagathics. When should a person start taking them? And as there is ... more
Cities in Flight is a ground breaking book in the Sci-Fi genre, and unlike anything I've read before. That's a pretty big opening isn't it? The version that I picked up was the Sci Fi Masterworks version, meaning that I was expecting a book that would take me away from the usual concepts that I'd read previously, but I still wasn't prepared for this. Cities in Flight is made up of four books, all revolving the central theme of two discoveries that change mankind. Firstly, it's the discovery of anti-gravity, or 'spin-dizzies' which form a bubble around something allowing them to travel faster than light, but without effecting gravity. This results in the title, as whole cities, such as New York and Budapest take to space, leaving a stagnating Earth behind. The second discovery is anti-agathics, drugs that make humans unsuceptible to the ageing process. Humans can still die, accidents do happen after all, but these drugs prevent 'old age' being a problem anymore, meaning that people live centuries.
What makes this book so interesting to read is that it's not a usual 'man flies into space and meets an alien' type of story. It has more layers than that. It looks at these revelations that man has made and it's impact upon the human race. So, when man and it's most productive cities leave Earth, what happens to Earth? And what happens to the cities? Some settle on other planets and make them their own, with their own belief structures and politics. Others travel the stars, landing on the occupied planets to offer services, whereas yet others become pirates, preying on the weak. Similar questions are raised by the antiagathics. When should a person start taking them? And as there is a limited supply, who should be given them? Who is to judge whether a person is 'worthy'? And if you live forever, can you fall in love? And what can interest you or challenge you when you already know everything... have seen everything? What will drive you?
I have to admit that I put off writing this review for a while, as I truly felt that I was unable to put into words the vastness of this book. The only word that I've managed to find to describe it is 'epic'. Admittedly it's quite a large book in itself, with over 600 pages, but it's the sheer magnitude of the subject matter that makes it difficult to put into words.
The characters themselves are initially difficult to get on with but gradually you do begin to feel for the characters, and begin to understand why they make decisions that would otherwise seem heartless. You begin to understand their boredom and frustration of a life that will never end. Four Centuries with the same people anyone?
The book does have some pretty hefty ideas, but with the way it's written ideas that usually pass me by, such as the beginning and the end of the universe, almost seem understandable.
Personally, I think that in itself is a comendation of it.
So, to conclude, I would recommend Cities in Flight, but I would warn you not to undertake it lightly. It's not an easy read, but it will be a rewarding one.
Cities in flight.
A life for the stars.
WARNING !!!
PLOT REVEALS AHEAD.
I - REPEAT - PLOT - REVEALS - AHEAD.
When the work runs out, cities begin to simply lift off into space looking for their future.
The main character in the story is Chris and one day whilst out spying on Scranton he is caught inside the spindizzy field as the city of Scranton begins its ascent into space.
His old life gone forever. All must contribute on the now space ... ...of Prof Boyle Warner. But he is no astronomer, so when scranton meets New York city he is swapped for some machinery.
On New York chis is adopted by the chief of police and given the special "gas" brain education with which the majority of pre earth history is revealed.
They land on a planet with where a feudal system reigns they are trading with the locals , chris and 2 police enforcers are captured as hostages and taken to a nearby castle but ...
Maximus-Qualitus 29.03.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Cities In Flight - James Blish
Advantages: Good read Disadvantages: A bit thin on details
Cities in flight.
===========
Chris is a nosey teenager and one day that nose gets him into trouble. He is snooping around the outskirts of a town called Scranton hoping to see the town 'lift off' as it launches itself into space but he misjudges and is inside they Spindizzy field when they engage themselves and he is carried up and into space.
He will never see his old life again.
He goes on an adventure with the town but is then traded over ... ...inhabitants of the flying space cities have air, food and water aplenty but apart from some trading with other cities whom they rarely meet, it is not gone into in any detail, disappointing.
The story apart from that is fairly good and the main character is a poor boy made good. There are some space fights and battles planet side and more unique Sci-Fi techno that is used making this a decent if short novel.
All in all worth a read if you come ...
MaldivesHoliday 10.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Cities In Flight - James Blish
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Advantages: Highly Engaging Disadvantages: You'll feel proud to be a Science Fiction reader
take the liberty of recommending some further reading. I am personally a huge fan of the epic scale of JamesBlish’s 'CitiesinFlight', another work of a supreme imagination, and Olaf Stapledon’s 'Star Maker' a book which was written in the 1930’s but provides a vivid and unique look at the future of the universe. Both of these books chart the end of history, raising interesting questions along the way and I will profile these marvellous works individually in due course. ...
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