JARRELLRA%VTVAX5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU@caip.RUTGERS.EDU (02/11/86)
From: Ronald A. Jarrell <JARRELLRA%VTVAX5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> The one with the "This is the middle, this is the beginning, etc." in it is Norstrillia. As I recall it was the only full length novel Smith wrote, and was supposed to be the centerpiece for his stories of the Instrumentality of Man. I picked it up cold one day and read it. Enjoyed it enough that I went out and got the rest of his stories. -Ron
mroth@ihu1e.UUCP (roth) (02/13/86)
> From: Ronald A. Jarrell <JARRELLRA%VTVAX5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> > > > The one with the "This is the middle, this is the beginning, etc." in it > is Norstrillia. As I recall it was the only full length novel Smith > wrote, and was supposed to be the centerpiece for his stories of the > Instrumentality of Man. I picked it up cold one day and read it. Enjoyed > it enough that I went out and got the rest of his stories. > > -Ron I recall reading a short story which had the same idea of middle, end, beginning. It was in a collection my parents have called something like "Best Science Fiction of 1948". I do not have access to the book, though. Mike -- ----------------- ihnp4!ihlpa!mroth -----------------
farren@well.UUCP (Mike Farren) (02/15/86)
> The one with the "This is the middle, this is the beginning, etc." in it > is Norstrillia. Nope, Norstrilia starts out with a two page summary of the entire story, followed by the words "The details follow". I had thought at first that the referenced story MUST be a Cordwainer Smith story, but after reviewing ALL of the existing CS stories, I find I was mistaken. The closest thing I've been able to come up with is Harlan Ellison's "Repent, Harlequin, said the Tik Tok Man", which starts very like the original quote. I STILL recommend Cordwainer Smith to anyone who hasn't read his stories... -- Mike Farren uucp: {your favorite backbone site}!hplabs!well!farren Fido: Sci-Fido, Fidonode 125/84, (415)655-0667