The Fall of the Towers is a trilogy of science fantasy books by American writer Samuel R. Delany.
 Covers of first omnibus edition | |
| Author | Samuel R. Delany |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Kelly Freas |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fantasy |
| Publisher | Ace Books |
Publication date | 1970 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 413 pp |
| OCLC | 425974 |
First published in omnibus form in 1970,[1] the trilogy was originally published individually as Captives of the Flame (1963, rewritten as Out of the Dead City in 1968[2]), The Towers of Toron (1964), and City of a Thousand Suns (1965). The first two books were somewhat rewritten for the omnibus edition. Delany describes the extent of the rewriting in a final note in the one-volume text.
The stories of the Fall of the Towers trilogy were originally set in the same post-holocaust Earth as Delany's earlier The Jewels of Aptor; however, linking references were removed in later revised editions.[3]
Contents
edit- Notes on Revision - essay by Samuel R. Delany
- Prologue - essay by Samuel R. Delany
- Out of the Dead City (1966) (aka Captives of the Flame, 1963)
- The Towers of Toron (1964)
- City of a Thousand Suns (1965)
- Epilogue (1964) - essay by Samuel R. Delany
- Afterword (1964) - essay by Samuel R. Delany
Plot
editThe trilogy follows the journey of Jon Koshar, a man who awakens to find himself in a new world and sets out on a quest to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Towers that dominate the landscape. Along the way, he meets mutants and telepaths who help him navigate a dangerous political landscape and overthrow the ruling elite. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as they fight to bring about a better future for all.
References
editSources
edit- Barbour, Douglas (1979). Worlds Out Of Worlds: The SF Novels of Samuel R. Delany. Frome, Somerset, UK: Bran's Head Books Ltd. ISBN 0-905220-13-7.
- Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter (1995). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (2 ed.). New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-13486-X.
- Tuck, Donald H. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Chicago: Advent. ISBN 0-911682-20-1.
External links
edit- The Fall of the Towers title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
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