📖 Overview
No Time Like Tomorrow is a 1959 science fiction collection featuring twelve short stories by British author Brian Aldiss. The stories were originally published in various magazines including New Worlds, F&SF, and Science Fantasy between 1955 and 1958.
The collection spans multiple science fiction themes and scenarios, from time travel and future societies to alien encounters and technological advancement. Published by Signet Books as an original paperback, it represents some of Aldiss's earliest published works.
The book received recognition from the science fiction community, with notable author Damon Knight selecting it as one of the top ten genre collections of 1959. Stories like "Poor Little Warrior!" and "The Failed Men" have become particularly well-known entries in Aldiss's bibliography.
Through these twelve stories, Aldiss explores humanity's relationship with technology and our place in an expanding universe, while examining the psychological and social impacts of scientific advancement. The collection demonstrates his early development of themes that would become central to his later work.
👀 Reviews
Readers found this early Aldiss collection shows his development as a science fiction writer, with stories ranging from humorous to philosophical. Many describe it as uneven but interesting for its Cold War themes and 1950s British perspective.
Readers appreciated:
- Dark humor in stories like "Poor Little Warrior!" and "Who Can Replace a Man?"
- Creative takes on time travel and automation
- Blend of serious themes with satirical elements
Common criticisms:
- Writing style feels dated
- Some stories lack resolution
- Inconsistent quality across the collection
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.5/5 (43 ratings)
Amazon: 4/5 (6 ratings)
One reader noted: "Shows flashes of the writer Aldiss would become, but many stories feel like early experiments." Another said: "The humor holds up better than the serious pieces."
The collection maintains a small but steady readership among Aldiss fans and vintage sci-fi collectors.
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The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury These eighteen linked tales explore space travel, technology, and human relationships through the framework of animated tattoos.
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham This post-apocalyptic narrative examines genetic mutation and religious fundamentalism in a world recovering from nuclear devastation.
More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon Six outcasts with extraordinary abilities form a collective consciousness in this meditation on human evolution and connection.
Earth Abides by George R. Stewart A man emerges from isolation to find civilization destroyed by pandemic and must build a new society from the remains of the old world.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔹 Brian Aldiss began his career as a bookseller at Oxford's famous Blackwell's bookshop, where he worked from 1947 to 1955 before becoming a full-time writer.
🔹 The 1950s, when these stories were written, saw the launch of the world's first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) and the formation of NASA, events that heavily influenced sci-fi literature of the era.
🔹 New Worlds magazine, where several of these stories first appeared, became the centerpiece of Britain's New Wave science fiction movement, revolutionizing the genre in the 1960s.
🔹 Damon Knight, who praised this collection, was not only a critic but also founded the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and the prestigious Clarion Writers Workshop.
🔹 Aldiss went on to win both the Hugo and Nebula awards, and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America in 2000, joining the ranks of legends like Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov.