Dave5

I saw a recommendation for Star Maker pop up on LinkedIn (I think). It was wrapped in a near-religious review of the book. I found the audio book and it became my companion on my gym commute. What can I say? The recommendation was correct. This book is simply amazing.

Olaf Stapledon starts on the hill over looking his house and ends, well, contemplating the Star Maker. It is done with skill and imagination. He stair-steps the story and reader all the way up to the Godhead. It’s done modestly and with art. It is also done without dating itself at all. This book is as readable and lacking in anachronism as I assume it was when it was written in 1935. Yeah, you read that right – 1935.

The “things” component of the book has had a profound impact on the way the Anglo world has structured it’s view of the future:

Freeman Dyson was also a fan, admitting to basing his concept of Dyson spheres on a section of the book, even calling “Stapledon sphere” a better name for the idea.

The “ideas” components, not so much… but they are equally deep in imagination and insight.

Do yourself a favour and read it.