Reddit reviews The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith

Cordwainer Smith (real name: Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger) was not only the most unique voice in Science Fiction, he was one of the few SF authors whose own life was as colorful as his fiction. He also literally wrote the book on psychological warfare. His entire SF oeuvre can be purchased in just two books:

The Rediscovery of Man: The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith

Norstrilia

Would you like to read a collection by a guy who, in the early 20th century, looked at all the chaos and tumult in the rapidly changing world and thought, "you know what's terrifying? Advertising." No? How about a guy who writes titles like, "Catch that Zeppelin!"
The Selected Short Stories of Fritz Leiber

Very much an anthology, a favorite of mine:
Worlds Apart: An Anthology of Russian Fantasy and Science Fiction
The above is essentially a single volume seminar course. The editor has supplied a lot great, readable, fascinating, insightful commentary. He almost just writes a review paper but, instead of quotes, he just uses the entire fucking story. If you are academically inclined and you love the madness of Russians, this is a dynamite book.

I'm really enjoying this at the moment:
Feeling Very Strange

I have two words for you, my friend. It helps if you imagine them with this echo effect
"SPAAAAAAAACE CAAAAAAAAAAAATS!"
Seriously though, it's a great collection. Smart, fun, ambitious, thoughtful, well crafted. The guy is a treasure.
The Complete Short Science Fiction of Cordwainer Smith

The Rediscovery of Man, by Cordwainer Smith

He has the most unique voice of any SF writer ever. Start with "Scanners Live in Vain," which is possibly the best sf short story ever written.

Also, read Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

ha well give the rest of us some room to comment! : )

re cordwainer smith, just get the Rediscovery of Man and Norstrilia and you've pretty much got his whole science fiction catalog. One of these days I'll have to read his 'psychological warfare'. I think he wrote a spy novel too.

1. Rediscovery of Man, by Cordwainer Smith. It's a big book and not really practical to keep extra copies lying around. So I just tell everyone about it and try to force them to read it. You should read it, many times. I really cannot understate how unique this work is in science fiction. Only other thing that comes close for me is Gene Wolfe'sBook of the New Sun.
   
   
2. I honestly don't know if I have many non-textbooks that are in this category.
   
   
3. I've given several copies of The Lord's Service and The Federal Vision. Currently, I have a box of about 15 copies of Theses on Worship that I got at a discount from the author, so I've been handing those out with some regularity.

tell about how you were feeling in that spitting scene with the lesbian looking lady. And going "oh yeah". what was in your head, did you shut off your senses and try to drift off into the back of your mind?

Oh btw -- i recommend getting the complete short story collection of cordwainer smith. He's a bit unknown, but a legend and the stories have a similar atitude/theme of MDE I think. https://www.amazon.com/Rediscovery-Man-Complete-Science-Cordwainer/dp/0915368560. I really think you will love it

I don't know why no one has mentioned him yet but you must read Cordwainer Smith's work (real name, Paul Linebarger). He was an expert on psychological warfare (he wrote the book on it).

His work is still quite amazing, the scope, the feeling, the world creation. This is a great collection of his work for 25$ as a hardcover it's hard to pass up, I bought it and don't regret it! http://www.amazon.com/The-Rediscovery-Man-Complete-Cordwainer/dp/0915368560

Recommend trying out: Game of Rat and Dragon, Scanners Live in Vain, The Dead Lady of Clown Town.

One at Gutenberg.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29614

Two stories on audible for low prices, not free.
None of the rest free.
All of his fiction output is in two books. The Mann edition of The Rediscovery of Man and Norstrilia.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Rediscovery-Man-Complete-Cordwainer/dp/0915368560/ref=cm_cr_dp_asin_lnk
Some of his work is available on Kindle.
The two Bean collections are also all of his complete works. The ebooks are out of print?! The paperbacks are available from amazon.