Looking for Man(kind) vs. Monsters books
PeterM
mostly science fiction and fantasy. The one I'm working on
right now is a topic dear to my heart, mankind as a whole
vs. monsters and aliens and other beasties. So I'm looking
for suggestions.
Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
by something very much inhuman. "Standard" alien
invasion stories are great, but if the aliens are similar
to humans in form or psychology that's not really what
I'm after. Similarly, one guy in the Yukon fighting for his
life against some incomprehensible Thing might make
for a great story, but that's not it, either. I want lots of
people against some Thing or Things. Some examples
I've already come up with:
Aliens
"Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell. Not at all
a large portion of humanity, but it was a pretty large
percentage of people on the continent and it's a great
story.
The Puppet Masters by Heinlein. Slug-like aliens that
turn humanity against itself? That counts.
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. In many ways a
"standard" alien invasion, but the fact that we never
really know anything at all about the aliens makes
it the sort of thing I'm looking for. Plus, it's been too
long since I re-read it.
From the Ocean
The Swarm by Frank Schatzing. I thought this one
had its flaws, but the basic idea of an intelligence
we've never encountered before turning all of the
oceans against us is very much in keeping with
the theme.
The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham. Probably
won't make it onto the final list because none of
our libraries own it, but I do love this one.
Plants
Day of the Triffids, also by Wyndham. And this
one we own, which I'm very happy about. Very
much the sort of story I want.
Vampires
I Am Legend by Matheson. Man vs. Monsters,
but of course who exactly is the monster? I'm
told the movie messed up the ending. Bah.
Midnight Mass by F. Paul Wilson. Another book
with definite flaws, but the idea itself is a very
interesting one.
Zombies
Cell by Stephen King. I've never gotten more than
five or six chapters into this one for a variety of
reasons, but I like what I've read so far and it's
a good example of the "living zombie" genre by
a very popular writer.
World War Z by Max Brooks. I really, really like
this one and see it as the ultimate zombie work.
Anyone have any other good examples? In print,
out of print, obscure, well known, I don't really care
since even if I can't put them on the official list I
can track them down for my own collection.
Moriarty
> I've been working on a variety of reading lists for my library,
> mostly science fiction and fantasy. The one I'm working on
> right now is a topic dear to my heart, mankind as a whole
> vs. monsters and aliens and other beasties. So I'm looking
> for suggestions.
>
> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
> by something very much inhuman. "Standard" alien
> invasion stories are great, but if the aliens are similar
> to humans in form or psychology that's not really what
> I'm after. Similarly, one guy in the Yukon fighting for his
> life against some incomprehensible Thing might make
> for a great story, but that's not it, either. I want lots of
> people against some Thing or Things. Some examples
> I've already come up with:
<snip>
> Anyone have any other good examples? In print,
> out of print, obscure, well known, I don't really care
> since even if I can't put them on the official list I
> can track them down for my own collection.
Saberhagen's _Berserker_ stories of course.
I suppose Niven and Pournelle's _Footfall_ counts, although perhaps
the alien invaders aren't sufficient alien to meet your criteria.
-Moriarty
Ted Nolan <tednolan>
John Christopher's "Tripods" books (_City of Gold & Lead_ etc)
David Gerrold's War With The Chtorr books (warning, unlikely to ever be
finished).
Burrough's "Moon" books (_The Moon Maid_ etc)
Turtledove's "World War II with aliens" books. (Frankly, these would make
one or two pretty good books if condensed).
Burkett's _The Sleeping Planet_.
Dickson's "Pilgrim" books.
Zahn's "Blackcollar" books.
John Christopher's "Tripods" books (_City of Gold & Lead_ etc)
David Gerrold's War With The Chtorr books (warning, unlikely to ever be
finished).
Burrough's "Moon" books (_The Moon Maid_ etc)
Turtledove's "World War II with aliens" books. (Frankly, these would make
one or two pretty good books if condensed).
Burkett's _The Sleeping Planet_.
Dickson's "Pilgrim" books.
Zahn's "Blackcollar" books.
L. Sprague de Camp _Divide & Rule_
--
------
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..
Brian M. Scott
<peterme...@gmail.com> wrote in
<news:46894e0c-b02c-42b5...@s24g2000pri.googlegroups.com>
in rec.arts.sf.written:
[...]
> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
> by something very much inhuman.
William Tenn, 'The Men in the Walls' and its novel
expansion, Of Men and Monsters_.
[...]
Brian
David DeLaney
>PeterM <peterme...@gmail.com> wrote in
>> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
>> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
>> by something very much inhuman.
>
>William Tenn, 'The Men in the Walls' and its novel
>expansion, Of Men and Monsters_.
And I'm surprised none of the usual suspects have mentioned the Lensman
series yet (though for much of the series the Lensmen don't suspect this...).
Dave
--
\/David DeLaney posting from d...@vic.com "It's not the pot that grows the flower
It's not the clock that slows the hour The definition's plain for anyone to see
Love is all it takes to make a family" - R&P. VISUALIZE HAPPYNET VRbeable<BLINK>
http://www.vic.com/~dbd/ - net.legends FAQ & Magic / I WUV you in all CAPS! --K.
Harri Tavaila
> I've been working on a variety of reading lists for my library,
> mostly science fiction and fantasy. The one I'm working on
> right now is a topic dear to my heart, mankind as a whole
> vs. monsters and aliens and other beasties. So I'm looking
> for suggestions.
- clip -
> Aliens
Gwyneth Jones:
White Queen
North Wind
Phoenix Cafe
H Tavaila
JohnFair
I'm not sure whether they would really count but there's 'Footprints
of Thunder' and 'Thunder of Time' from James David.
Various patches of the planet have quilted and reverted beck to
earlier times along with the wildlife that used to inhabit that area
so you get goodly sized tracts of the planet playing host to dinosaurs
etc. Probably not strictly what you're after but has echoes of mankind
messing with things he isn't supposed to, especially the second.
For a somewhat different take on zombies than usual don't forget
Matheson's 'I Am Legend'
--
John Fairhurst
http://www.johnsbooks.co.uk
William F. Adams
> I've been working on a variety of reading lists for my library,
> mostly science fiction and fantasy. The one I'm working on
> right now is a topic dear to my heart, mankind as a whole
> vs. monsters and aliens and other beasties. So I'm looking
> for suggestions.
>
> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
> by something very much inhuman. "Standard" alien
> invasion stories are great, but if the aliens are similar
> to humans in form or psychology that's not really what
> I'm after. Similarly, one guy in the Yukon fighting for his
> life against some incomprehensible Thing might make
> for a great story, but that's not it, either. I want lots of
> people against some Thing or Things.
Zimmerman's Dark Border series is good for that sort of thing (humans,
elves, Hasturs and dwarves against the Ancient Evil of the outer dark)
if you're willing to look at fantasy.
My wife suggested Brian Keene's _The Rising_ which is a modern horror-
zombie book (but it may have too small a focus for you).
William
JoeRaisin
John Ringo's Posleen War Series
Harry Turtledove's Worldwar series (well, the aliens are reptilian)
And as a bit of a stretch of the premise (mankind as a whole) there is
William Forstchen's Lost Regiment series in which groups of mankind have
been transported to an alien world and are used as slaves and food for a
low-tech alien race.
chukamok
The Atlantic Abomination by John Brunner seems to fit in. I haven't
read it for a while, but I remember enjoying it.
Anthony Nance
> I've been working on a variety of reading lists for my library,
> mostly science fiction and fantasy. The one I'm working on
> right now is a topic dear to my heart, mankind as a whole
> vs. monsters and aliens and other beasties. So I'm looking
> for suggestions.
>
> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
> by something very much inhuman. "Standard" alien
> invasion stories are great, but if the aliens are similar
> to humans in form or psychology that's not really what
> I'm after. Similarly, one guy in the Yukon fighting for his
> life against some incomprehensible Thing might make
> for a great story, but that's not it, either. I want lots of
> people against some Thing or Things. Some examples
> I've already come up with:
>
>
>
> Anyone have any other good examples? In print,
> out of print, obscure, well known, I don't really care
> since even if I can't put them on the official list I
> can track them down for my own collection.
You may want to consider:
All Flesh Is Grass (Simak)
Our Children's Children (Simak)
Empire of the Ants (short story HG Wells)
The Year of the Angry Rabbit (Russell Braddon, comic-horror elements,
also known for inspiring the film "Night of the Lepus")
and maybe just maybe
The War Against the Rull (van Vogt)
Tony
Lynn McGuire
> finished).
David Gerrold is not dead yet ! He's only 66 so he has a
few years (maybe) to finish books 5, 6 and 7. We do know
that the 5th book, "A Method for Madness" has been actually
started, see:
http://radio-weblogs.com/0103807/stories/2003/06/23/welcomeBackDavidGerroldAndChaptersFromAMethodForMadness.html
Finished, who knows but his editor ?
Lynn
David DeLaney
>Zimmerman's Dark Border series is good for that sort of thing (humans,
>elves, Hasturs and dwarves against the Ancient Evil of the outer dark)
>if you're willing to look at fantasy.
Zimmer, not Zimmerman; Paul Edwin Zimmer. (Yes, he's her brother.)
tkma...@yahoo.co.uk
Only one novel here, mostly short fiction:
William Tenn - "The Flat-Eyed Monster": Man accidentally transported to
the lab of plant pollen like aliens in the inner galaxy. So the whole
world is out hunting the "monster".
Peter Watts - "The Things": Retelling "Who Goes There?" from alien's
perspective.
<http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts_01_10/>
Winston K Marks - "Tabby"
<http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/32613>
A E van Vogt - "Black Destroyer"
<http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/The%20World%20Turned%20Upside%20Down/0743498747___5.htm>
A few other van Vogt stories might also pass.
Henry Kuttner - "Beauty & the Beast": Of the two alien arrivals on
earth, one is the monster. Which one?
<http://www.henrykuttner.bravehost.com/Kuttner,%20Henry%20-%20Beauty%20and%20the%20Beast.html>
H P Lovecraft - "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" & "The Call of the Cthulhu"
<http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/theshadowoverinnsmouth.htm>
<http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/thecallofcthulhu.htm>
[novel] Eric Frank Russell - "Three To Conquer": 3 parasitic Venusians
have arrived to conquer earth, & the whole US government machinery is
out hunting them.
Alfred Coppel - "The Invader": Humor. Lot of men out hunting the
monster, without realizing how monstrous is the monster.
<http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/32684>
--
<http://variety-sf.blogspot.com/>
<http://twitter.com/varietysf>
seanc
Perhaps...
Damon Knight's 'To Serve Man'
or AC Clarke's _Childhood's End_
or Heinlein's _Starship Troopers_?
Scott Lurndal
>I've been working on a variety of reading lists for my library,
>mostly science fiction and fantasy. The one I'm working on
>right now is a topic dear to my heart, mankind as a whole
>vs. monsters and aliens and other beasties. So I'm looking
>for suggestions.
>
>Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
>or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
>by something very much inhuman.
_Invaders from Rigel_ by Fletcher Pratt would fit your criteria.
scott
Butch Malahide
>
> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
> by something very much inhuman.
Your subject line says "books" but one of your examples is "Why Goes
There?" so I guess you aren't particular about length. Anyway, my list
includes short stories or novelettes as well as novels.
"Strange Exodus" by Robert Abernathy. Earth devastated by
unintelligent spacefaring giant worms.
"Transfer Point" by Anthony Boucher: Mankind wiped out by weird
entities described as "yellow bands."
"Seeds of the Dust" by Raymond Z. Gallun: far-future earth conquered
by sentient plants from outer space.
_Last and First Men_ by Olaf Stapledon: the Martian invaders of Earth
are decidedly nonhumanoid, being something like an intelligent cloud
of gnats.
_Giants from Eternity_ by Manly Wade Wellman: Earth invaded by some
sort of blobbish aliens, I don't recall exactly, but I'm sure they fit
your criteria. By the way, the "Giants" of the title are not the
invaders, they are historical geniuses (Darwin, Edison, Curie, . . .)
who are resurrected to help fight the invaders.
Kurt Busiek
> On Aug 24, 9:15 pm, PeterM <petermeilin...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
>> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
>> by something very much inhuman.
>
> Your subject line says "books" but one of your examples is "Why Goes
> There?"
I believe you mean "When Goes There?"
kdb
--
Visit http://www.busiek.com -- for all your Busiek needs!
Butch Malahide
> On 2010-08-26 15:05:19 -0700, Butch Malahide <fred.gal...@gmail.com> said:
>
> > On Aug 24, 9:15 pm, PeterM <petermeilin...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
> >> or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
> >> by something very much inhuman.
>
> > Your subject line says "books" but one of your examples is "Why Goes
> > There?"
>
> I believe you mean "When Goes There?"
Thank you for the correction.
Michael Stemper
>I've been working on a variety of reading lists for my library,
>mostly science fiction and fantasy. The one I'm working on
>right now is a topic dear to my heart, mankind as a whole
>vs. monsters and aliens and other beasties. So I'm looking
>for suggestions.
>
>Specifically, I'm interested in stories where the whole world
>or a large part of it is dealing with a crisis that is caused
>by something very much inhuman.
How about _Of Men and Monsters_, by William Tenn? It portrays a time
after humans have been relegated to the status of mice in the walls of
Earth's new tenants.
--
Michael F. Stemper
#include <Standard_Disclaimer>
If it's "tourist season", where do I get my license?
Will DuPower
listed below:
robo
Daikaiju! Giant Monster Tales
http://www.amazon.com/Daikaiju-Giant-Monster-Tales-Goodfellow/dp/0809557584/ref=pd_sim_b_3
Monstrous: 20 Tales of Giant Creature Terror
http://www.amazon.com/Monstrous-Tales-Giant-Creature-Terror/dp/193486112X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Beneath the Surface: 13+ Shocking Tales of Terror
http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Surface-Shocking-Tales-Terror/dp/0980187001/ref=pd_sim_b_2
PeterM
a lot of stuff I'm going to look for. The library system
won't own even 10% of them, probably, but even
if I can't put them all on my list I can certainly try
to track them down for myself.
Pete
W. Citoan
Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
- W. Citoan
--
It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits:
freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either.
-- Mark Twain
Kurt Busiek
> Butch Malahide wrote:
>> On Aug 26, 5:09 pm, Kurt Busiek <k...@busiek.com> wrote:
>>> On 2010-08-26 15:05:19 -0700, Butch Malahide <fred.gal...@gmail.com>
>>> said:
>>>
>>>> Your subject line says "books" but one of your examples is "Why
>>>> Goes There?"
>>>
>>> I believe you mean "When Goes There?"
>>
>> Thank you for the correction.
>
> Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
> example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
Yes, "Where Goes There?", like I said.
David Johnston
wrote:
>On 2010-08-27 13:59:32 -0700, "W. Citoan" <wci...@NOSPAM-yahoo.com> said:
>
>> Butch Malahide wrote:
>>> On Aug 26, 5:09 pm, Kurt Busiek <k...@busiek.com> wrote:
>>>> On 2010-08-26 15:05:19 -0700, Butch Malahide <fred.gal...@gmail.com>
>>>> said:
>>>>
>>>>> Your subject line says "books" but one of your examples is "Why
>>>>> Goes There?"
>>>>
>>>> I believe you mean "When Goes There?"
>>>
>>> Thank you for the correction.
>>
>> Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
>> example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
>
>Yes, "Where Goes There?", like I said.
How goes there?
David Cowie
How goes here, not there.
--
David Cowie http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidcowie/
Containment Failure + 59477:38
Kurt Busiek
Just fine, how goes there with you?
Brian M. Scott
<ku...@busiek.com> wrote in
<news:i59ep3$ip2$1...@news.eternal-september.org> in
rec.arts.sf.written:
>>>> Butch Malahide wrote:
>> How goes there?
Pretty how, but a bit lonely: the hower, the fewer, you
know.
Brian
Howard Brazee
<wci...@NOSPAM-yahoo.com> wrote:
>Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
>example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
No, Who's on first.
--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."
- James Madison
Butch Malahide
> On Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:59:32 +0000 (UTC), "W. Citoan"
>
> >Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
> >example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
>
> No, Who's on first.
Nobody has anything to say about the rive science-fiction stories I
wrote about, but there are ten !@#$%^&*( responses to ONE GODDAM
LETTER that I typoed? BLOODY FUCKING HECK.
William December Starr
Butch Malahide <fred....@gmail.com> said:
> Nobody has anything to say about the rive science-fiction stories
> I wrote about, but there are ten !@#$%^&*( responses to ONE GODDAM
> LETTER that I typoed? BLOODY FUCKING HECK.
"Forget it, Jake. It's Usenet."
-- wds
Kurt Busiek
It was a funny typo. Funny is good.
And Peter did thank everyone for the suggestions. That presumably
includes yours.
kdb
--
Visit http://www.busiek.com — for all your Busiek needs!
Butch Malahide
> On 2010-08-27 19:06:31 -0700, Butch Malahide <fred.gal...@gmail.com> said:
>
> > On Aug 27, 7:18 pm, Howard Brazee <how...@brazee.net> wrote:
> >> On Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:59:32 +0000 (UTC), "W. Citoan"
>
> >> <wcit...@NOSPAM-yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>> Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
> >>> example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
>
> >> No, Who's on first.
>
> > Nobody has anything to say about the rive science-fiction stories I
> > wrote about, but there are ten !@#$%^&*( responses to ONE GODDAM
> > LETTER that I typoed? BLOODY FUCKING HECK.
>
> It was a funny typo. Funny is good.
But you couldn't think of a joke to make about "rive science-fiction
stories," could you. HAH!
Kurt Busiek
I wondered about it, but figured if I came up with something, it was
possible you'd blow a gasket.
My rule of thumb is, once someone's posting in all-caps, don't mock
their spelling. Unless, of course, you want to push them over the edge.
Brian M. Scott
<fred....@gmail.com> wrote in
<news:09ce2f20-4201-4d0d...@e14g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>
in rec.arts.sf.written:
They're the ones that are less than riveting.
Brian
Mike Schilling
"Butch Malahide" <fred....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3c6fb5c5-d2d0-4822...@j18g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
> On Aug 27, 7:18 pm, Howard Brazee <how...@brazee.net> wrote:
>> On Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:59:32 +0000 (UTC), "W. Citoan"
>>
>> <wcit...@NOSPAM-yahoo.com> wrote:
>> >Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
>> >example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
>>
>> No, Who's on first.
>
> Nobody has anything to say about the rive science-fiction stories I
> wrote about,
Were they the PJF Riveworld books?
David DeLaney
>David Johnston wrote:
>> Kurt Busiek <ku...@busiek.com> wrote:
>>>"W. Citoan" <wci...@NOSPAM-yahoo.com> said:
>>>> Butch Malahide wrote:
>>>>>> Butch Malahide <fred.gal...@gmail.com> said:
>>>>>>> Your subject line says "books" but one of your examples is "Why
>>>>>>> Goes There?"
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I believe you mean "When Goes There?"
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for the correction.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
>>>> example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
>>>
>>>Yes, "Where Goes There?", like I said.
>>
>> How goes there?
>
>How goes here, not there.
"There." "What?" "There wolf."
Dave "obligatory" DeLaney
David DeLaney
>Howard Brazee <how...@brazee.net> wrote:
>> "W. Citoan" <wcit...@NOSPAM-yahoo.com> wrote:
>> >Maybe there is a subtle joke here that I'm overlooking, but the OP's
>> >example was Campbell's "Who Goes There?".
>>
>> No, Who's on first.
>
>Nobody has anything to say about the rive science-fiction stories I
>wrote about, but there are ten !@#$%^&*( responses to ONE GODDAM
>LETTER that I typoed? BLOODY FUCKING HECK.
... you could write a story about the phenomenon!
Dave
PeterM
> On 2010-08-27 19:06:31 -0700, Butch Malahide <fred.gal...@gmail.com> said:
> > Nobody has anything to say about the rive science-fiction stories I
> > wrote about, but there are ten !@#$%^&*( responses to ONE GODDAM
> > LETTER that I typoed? BLOODY FUCKING HECK.
>
> It was a funny typo. Funny is good.
>
> And Peter did thank everyone for the suggestions. That presumably
> includes yours.
No, no. I meant to specifically exclude him. I just
can't do anything right lately, dammit.
But seriously, folks, I am of course grateful to darn near
all of you. And Butch's post pointed me towards a Manly
Wade Wellman I haven't read, and that's pure gold.