And the Lurid Glare of the Comet

A collection of thought-provoking essays and revelations (seven essays, one speech and an extended autobiography) by Brian Aldiss, the master of British science fiction.

‘The best contemporary writer of science fiction.’ – The Guardian

‘The colossus of science fiction’ – New Yorker

Science Fiction is everywhere. Every day fantasy is made fact by new technologies, advancements in science and by connection and communication. Imaginings of the future allow us to reshape our understanding of all that we experience – and through classic science fiction we are better able to understand the hopes and ambitions of the past.

With precision and humour Aldiss uses science fiction as a lens with which to examine some of his favourite authors and their work, the role of art and literature – and to look globally at nationhood and culture. With humility and rare insight Aldiss also turns the lens on himself and the experiences which informed his long career in the genre.

Reviews

‘Aldiss is a magician’ Sunday Times

‘The titan of science fiction.’ Telegraph

‘Brian Aldiss is one of the most influential – and one of the best – SF writers Britain has ever produced.’ Iain M Banks

‘The best contemporary writer of science fiction.’ Guardian

‘One of the truly prophetic figures of the space age… the colossus of science fiction’
New Yorker

‘Once again he demonstrates the power of his imagination.’ Daily Mail

About the author

Brian Aldiss, OBE, was a fiction and science fiction writer, poet, playwright, critic, memoirist and artist.

Born in Norfolk in 1925, after leaving the army, Aldiss worked as a bookseller, which provided the setting for his first book, The Brightfount Diaries (1955). His first published science fiction work was the story ‘Criminal Record’, which appeared in Science Fantasy in 1954.

Passing away in 2017, over the course of his life Aldiss wrote nearly 100 books and over 300 short stories – becoming one of the pre-eminent science fiction writers of the 20th and 21st century.