Samuel R. Delany recommendations?

[firecat]

I want to read some SF by Delany. I own Triton and Dhalgren. They will keep me busy for a while. Which other ones should I read, and in what order?

Comments

[imnotandrei.livejournal.com]

Well, I've loaned out 7 copies of "Nova" to people, which suggests my opinion.

I've found Nova and the short stories the most immediately accessible, to people not familiar with his style/approach. "Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand", if you can deal with the fact that it won't come to a real conclusion (as the first half of a never-finished diptych) is another fine place to start, displaying a lot of what makes Delany Delany.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

Seconding Nova and adding Babel-17.

[mdlbear]

Seconding Babel-17, adding The Einstein Intersection.

Of the two you have, Triton is probably the better starting-place.

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

Empire Star, Babel-17, and his autobiography The Motion of Light in Water are all awesome.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I don't have recommendations on what to read or in what order, but I have a copy of Babel-17 and Empire Star (in one paperback volume.)

Since I am, perversely enough ridding myself of all my books--gradually by re-reading and then giving them away, I'd be very happy to re-read this book now and send it to you if you'd like.

[firecat]

That would be awfully nice! Let me know if you need my address.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I think I have your address. Will confirm once I bother to look it up in the place where it resides.

Finished Empire Star and am more than half-way through Babel-17 so I'll probably be sending this early next week.

[firecat]

Yay!

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

It's been so long since I read the early novels that I'm mostly just reading along here.

I will also note that the British and US versions of Stars in my pocket differ. Apparently, the US edition omits some sex, which certainly surprised me (and other folks who read the US edition).

[onyxlynx (from livejournal.com)]

Hmmm. Fourthing Babel-17 and suggesting Ballad of Beta-2 for brevity and extra transparency.

Nova again

[filbo.livejournal.com]

Nova is one of the few books that I've felt compelled to find and read again and again. I'm not even going to claim that it's that "good", I don't feel I can even judge it on that scale. It just haunts me and pulls me back periodically.

I also need to admit that I've never made it through another Delany except Deus Irae (diluted with Zelazny). I have several that I've never started, lurking on my "one of these years" list...

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Our bookgroup read Nova in 2004 and in the six years of existence, it's one of two books that everybody liked.