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albertomdh's review
3.0
Como adaptación me parece un poco floja (más una versión ilustrada que otra cosa) pero el trabajo de Colan es sensacional.
icelore's review
3.0
Robert Silverberg has been an author that I've enjoyed for a long while. While Nightwings lives up to his legacy in theory, the fact that this "novel" is comprised of 3 short stories is evident. It lacks the continuity and polished completion that I value unfortunately.
The world building and character evolution is definitely up to par with what I'd expect from Mr. Silverberg, and had these novellas been expanded upon into a trilogy, this could have been a great series. Instead, readers were given a glimpse into a very interesting future and introduced to characters we grow to want to learn about...and then we are left alone in the dark.
I'm definitely still happy to have read this book, and I appreciate the traditional sci-fi elements and tone found therein. Worth a read, as this was written by one of the greats, but this book on it's own definitely does not reflect the author's usual exemplary offerings.
As a side note, while reading the forward, I found this:
But other honors were waiting for the novella known as “Nightwings.” In the spring of 1969, it was one of five stories to make the final Nebula Award ballot in the Best Novella category, though it finished second to Anne McCaffrey’s “Dragonrider.”
Anne McCaffrey is and most likely always will be my favorite author, not just for her Dragonrider series, but for her collected works as a whole. While still a powerhouse in his own right, that Robert Silverberg's writing could even compare to Mrs. McCaffrey's is reason enough to read it. :)
Favorite excerpt:
“We’ll catch the disease!”
“The Will can reach us anywhere to infect us with this, Olmayne. It strikes at random. The danger is no greater for us inside this building than it is in Perris.”
“Why, then, are so many in this one village smitten?”
“This village has earned the displeasure of the Will.”
“How neatly you serve up the mysticism, Tomis,” she said bitterly. “I misjudged you. I thought you were a sensible man. This fatalism of yours is ugly.”
The world building and character evolution is definitely up to par with what I'd expect from Mr. Silverberg, and had these novellas been expanded upon into a trilogy, this could have been a great series. Instead, readers were given a glimpse into a very interesting future and introduced to characters we grow to want to learn about...and then we are left alone in the dark.
I'm definitely still happy to have read this book, and I appreciate the traditional sci-fi elements and tone found therein. Worth a read, as this was written by one of the greats, but this book on it's own definitely does not reflect the author's usual exemplary offerings.
As a side note, while reading the forward, I found this:
But other honors were waiting for the novella known as “Nightwings.” In the spring of 1969, it was one of five stories to make the final Nebula Award ballot in the Best Novella category, though it finished second to Anne McCaffrey’s “Dragonrider.”
Anne McCaffrey is and most likely always will be my favorite author, not just for her Dragonrider series, but for her collected works as a whole. While still a powerhouse in his own right, that Robert Silverberg's writing could even compare to Mrs. McCaffrey's is reason enough to read it. :)
Favorite excerpt:
“We’ll catch the disease!”
“The Will can reach us anywhere to infect us with this, Olmayne. It strikes at random. The danger is no greater for us inside this building than it is in Perris.”
“Why, then, are so many in this one village smitten?”
“This village has earned the displeasure of the Will.”
“How neatly you serve up the mysticism, Tomis,” she said bitterly. “I misjudged you. I thought you were a sensible man. This fatalism of yours is ugly.”
bergsteiger's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read a Silverberg book yet that I haven't enjoyed and that didn't make me think. This one is no exception.
Silverberg creates imaginative settings, drops you down in the middle of the tale, and tells a great story adding key details as he goes (versus the long-winded monologue explanations that seem to be the rage in sci-fi/fantasy these days). I love the main character and his relationships with others - he is vaguely existentialist - as he moves through a far future earth that is...dystopian? post-apocalyptic? At any rate, the story here is expertly crafted and done in just under 200 pages.
Not a bad Silverberg to start with although I am partial to A Time of Changes. Solid 4 stars, despite the ending being a little to hokey/kumbaya for my tastes. Pick it up off the shelf though, you won't be disappointed.
Silverberg creates imaginative settings, drops you down in the middle of the tale, and tells a great story adding key details as he goes (versus the long-winded monologue explanations that seem to be the rage in sci-fi/fantasy these days). I love the main character and his relationships with others - he is vaguely existentialist - as he moves through a far future earth that is...dystopian? post-apocalyptic? At any rate, the story here is expertly crafted and done in just under 200 pages.
Not a bad Silverberg to start with although I am partial to A Time of Changes. Solid 4 stars, despite the ending being a little to hokey/kumbaya for my tastes. Pick it up off the shelf though, you won't be disappointed.
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as half of a double with Jack Vance's The Last Castle–and yes, I am old enough to have read some doubles back when they were a thing. So I think I only got the original novella, and I'm fine with that.
In 81 pages Silverberg shows us a future world in surprising detail, introduces multiple characters with individual arcs, throws us a crisis and what it reveals about our characters. It's a sinking world, but the slightly enigmatic last part of the ending is a brilliant uplift coda.
Yes, Hugo-worthy.
In 81 pages Silverberg shows us a future world in surprising detail, introduces multiple characters with individual arcs, throws us a crisis and what it reveals about our characters. It's a sinking world, but the slightly enigmatic last part of the ending is a brilliant uplift coda.
Yes, Hugo-worthy.
kas010's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
sevve's review against another edition
4.0
Bardzo pozytywnie się zaskoczyłem. Książka może nie porywa, a narracja jest dosyć mozolna, ale jest w tym świecie coś bardzo interesującego. Podróż, którą przebywa główny bohater również była dosyć angażująca, pomimo braku prawie jakiejkolwiek akcji, chociaż ja bardzo lubię motyw drogi, więc nie każdy pewnie podejdzie do tego aż tak entuzjastycznie. Silverberg również całkiem nieźle pisze. Ani przez moment nie czułem jakichkolwiek braków warsztatowych autora, co ostatnio coraz częściej mi się zdarza.
wookieeatemyshoe's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
tricapra's review against another edition
3.0
A very neat blend of fantasy and post apocalyptic sci-fi that is ultimately undermined by its 60s era casual sexism and creepy old protagonist.