Product Description
Van Vogt's novel was published in 1953 by Ace Books. This edition was released in 1992. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Super Reader
The continuation of the story for control of civilisation between the Empress Inelda and the superman, Robert Hedrock, head of the Weapon Shops.

The immortal Hedrock sets out to guide people in the way he sees best but a technological wild card causes some problems.

A sci-fi classic with the feel of a modern thriller
If you're like most people, when you think of science fiction written in the 1940's and 50's you envision flying cars, household robots, and clothing with rings on it.And indeed, much of the writing from the "Golden Age" of science fiction has this Jetson-esque feel to it.Each generation has a different vision of the future, but for none is quite so likely to produce snickers as this one.

That's why it's refreshing to come across the occasional story that completely confounds those stereotypes.Although it has much that has since become standard science-fiction fare, "The Weapon Makers" is also a surprising modern story.I would not have been surprised to learn that it had been published within the last few years, instead of six decades ago.

The protagonist of the story is the immortal- and brilliant- Robert Hedrock, whose manipulations of society over the past few thousand years have produced an imperial dynasty and a counterbalancing organization dedicated to preserving the access of citizens to weaponry.The delicate balance thus achieved has brought peace and growth to the human race, but is threatened by the chance discovery of an interstellar drive.

Hedrock is a believable character whose arrogance and sense of power grows naturally out of his intellectual gifts and unique immortality.Flawed though he is, the reader can't help but be caught up in the fast paced action he plunges into.Whether or not you'd want an immortal man secretly determining the fate of humankind, by the end of the book you certainly don't want this particular one to fail.

NOT QUITE HUMAN
THE WEAPON MAKERS by van Vogt is really an oldie that appears to have survived the test of time.Why?The main character, Hedrock, was born immortal by a genetic accident and he has been searching centuries for the secret to immortality, hoping to share it with the rest of mankind.Why?As many old timers assert, it isn't that much fun to outlive everyone you know.

What was fascinating about this piece was van Vogt's attempt to portray an immortal human.Here was a character who had access to centuries of scientific invention.Since he was the only immortal, he took it upon himself to decide if and when these inventions should be released to benefit mankind.This is a god-like chore.Who would want this responsibility?Who would want to continue their life under these conditions?Hedrock did.Which goes to show that Hedrock wasn't human.Humans all die on time.

An Isher Novel
An enjoyable novel in van Vogt's Isher series of stories.This was first published in Astounding Science Fiction from February through April of 1943.It was first published in book form in 1947, and was revised in 1952.It was also published under the name 'One Against Eternity' in 1955.

In the Isher series, there are two organizations who are vying for power on Earth.There is The Imperial Isher Dynasty, which is the governmental force on Earth.Although the only governmental force, it has been unable to squash the technologically superior Weapon Shops, who provide the citizens with powerful weapons which can only be used in self-defense.The main character of this story is Robert Hedrock, who appears to be working for both sides, or at least playing them off against each other.The recent development of an interstellar drive has both powers trying to get control of the new technology.Robert Hedrock is trying to gain control of the interstellar drive himself to maintain the balance of power.It would be difficult to discuss this book any further without spoiling the story.

In 1952, this novel was ranked 26th on the Astounding/Analog All-Time Poll.The prior Isher stories include: 'The Seesaw' (July 1941) and 'The Weapon Shop' (December 1942), both of which were shorter fiction.In 1951 'The Weapon Shops of Isher' was published, but the events in that novel take place before those in 'The Weapon Makers'. ... Read more

Product Description
All ten of these stories originally published between 1942-50:

Far Centaurus; The Monster; Dormant; Enchanted Village; A Can of Paint; Defense; The Rulers; "Dear Pen Pal"; The Sound; The Search; Postscript, by the author ... Read more

Product Description
This has cover code G-660, indicating a 1967 printing. First published in book form as half an Ace double novel (#D-31, 1953). ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

A god is reborn with a fuzzy memory
This book tells the tale of a god who is born with no memory. He slowly regains it as the book progresses. A evil godess is working against him, trying to become the only diety by manipulating him.

This is the first fantasy book I've read by A. E. van Vogt. It has the same fast pacing as his other books and nearly constant revelatios, as well as numerous setbacks for the hero. I rather enjoyed it. Maybe it isn't a classic, but it is worth a read.

I looked over some of the other reviews, and they are correct. This isn't a classic and it does have shortcomings (I've yet to read a book without shortcomings, though). So, I would recommend the book if you are lookign for a quick read, but not if you are looking for the one book that represents everything good about van Vogt's writing. For that, you should probably get Slan or the Voyage of the Space Beagle.

One of the finest fantasy novels ever written
This is one of a few of Van's novels that on the first reading I thought was absolute garbage, but on second reading I thought it was absolutely brilliant.This is not a book to be read and rationalized, but a book to be enjoyed as one would a fantastic dream.The writings of Lord Dunsany and the Dreamworld saga of Lovecraft are similar to this book's style.The plot is, yes, bizarre and often illogical, but that is a great strength rather than a fault.Surrealism permeats this novel, and when you have finished reading it you will remember it like you would a fabulous hazy dream.

Van Vogt must have had a deadline to meet....
With its very sloppy plot execution and stumbling, verbose, soap opera like dialog, this has too be one of the most poorly written science fantasy novels that I've ever read. So, you are probably asking why I gave the book two stars? Well, notice that I said "poorly written", but not "poorly conceived". And herein the tragedy lyes, for this really could have been a bonified sci-fi classic worthy of the title had old A.E. taken the time to iron out some of the kinks and do his awesome working concept justice.

Because the average reader (anybody not related to van Vogt by blood or marriage) will have no idea what is really going on in the book until the last twenty pages, here's the scoop...at a point somewhere in the very far future, a person creates a device that will later be called the "God Chair". This cube shaped machine gives the recipients of its energies some rather divine powers: the ability to possess the minds of others; the ability to send one's consciousness into the past (and take over the minds of people there as well); the ability to eventually become a totally non-corporeal energy force ("god"); the ability to make any totally possessed host creature nearly impervious to physical harm; and, last but not least, the ability to make others "poles of God power" (who are kept powerful by other devices called "prayer sticks" that are metallic rods fed by the psychic energies of people in this far future totalitarian society who are under the impression that those with "god power" are literally deities). Now, here's where the conflict arises...the creator of the God Chair (a more or less benevolent chap named Ptath)takes two concubines (Ineznia and L'onee) and makes them poles of god power. Ineznia is a power hungry vixen, and she somehow (we never learn EXACTLY how) banishes Ptath from their own time and he goes into the remote past to "merge with the race" (he ends up absorbing the personality of a dying American tank commander during WW2 named Peter Holroyd). Ineznia is under the impression that there are seven conditions (called "spells") that will make Ptath impotent in the event that he returns to the world of two hundred million A.D. (and most of the crummy plot revolves around Ineznia trying to kill off the reborn Ptath--who has returned in the body of her lover Prince Ineznio, but he's brought along the soul of born freedom fighter Peter Holroyd--while L'onee's physical body lingers in Ineznia's dungeon and her projected soul possesses persons who aid Holroyd-Ptath). All the while, Ineznia is cooking up plots and intrigues to overthrow the nation of Nushirvan (where the God Chair is located) and to prevent Ptath from once again sitting in the chair (an action that will make him undefeatable...supposedly).

The novel works as a piece of socio-political commentary...the take on the nature of hero and dictator worship is rather poignant (celebrities and big wigs are only as powerful as their "subjects" allow them to be, all religion is based on fear and loathing, etc.), and the visions of armies millions strong fighting for their respective super-powers (Gonwonlane, Nushirvan, and Accadistran)--all the while employing flesh-eating bird-like monsters called Screers to mutilate the civilian proletariate by the hundreds of thousands--is sort of awe inspiring.

Besides the awkward pacing, dialog, stumbling "make it up as you go" plotting, and numerous spelling errors, there are other laughable things about this story I should mention! 1) The Earth of 200,000,000 AD will be able to support 85 BILLION persons (any ecologist can tell you that that's impossible); 2) By the time this novel takes place, the plant life has evolved into unrecognizable forms...the animal life has evolved into unrecognizable forms...the very landmasses (continents) themselves have changed form...BUT, van Vogt expects us to believe that human beings have REMAINED TOTALLY UNCHANGED (a very unlikely prospect); and 3) everybody on the planet (judging from A.E.'s descriptions) is apparently caucasian!!! (NOTE: if you plan to read this, here's a geography lesson to help you avoid confusion...Gonwonlane is a supercontinent comprised of the remnants of Africa, Australia, South America, and Antarctica; Accadistran (the home of the fascist "Zard" whom Ineznia possesses to sick screers on her own rebellious, Ptath loving subjects in Gonwonlane) consists of the joined continents of North America, Europe, and Asia; and Nushirvan is a mountainous, volcanic isthmus that will rise from the waves in the far future and connect Accadistran with Gonwonlane.

Yes, this was very heavy stuff for 1943 and the concept itself is still rather impressive, but van Vogt obviously knocked this one off in a hurry and really mucked things up. What you have here is a rough draft for a sci-fi classic that unfortunately falls short of the mark.

Though it hurts...
I mut say, as much as i admire van-vogt's writing's, that this one is'nt very good. Fast paced, but not deep. Interesting, but not memorable charecters. The plot is somewhat confused, as if babbled without preceedingthougt. It felt as though I've realy read parts of a book instead of awhole one.

An Unusual Novel
After seeing this title with only one review ratedat one star I feel I have no choice but to add my own opinion of this unusually-laid out book. The version I read (published by Garland) had a number of illustrations,and the layout was sort of half-religious text half-fantasy novel. Set 2million years in Earth's future, the God Ptath was reborn (as an almostinvincible man with total amnesia) before he was destined to arrive of hisown accord.He first finds himself near a stream, only knowing that hemust get to a nearby city. After running into some people on a nearby road,and then being tricked into imprisonment by the evil Temple Goddess once atthe city, he regains his memories from a former incarnation (an AmericanWWII tank commander)and from there it is an all-out struggle - for thehapless man who now finds himself in a god's body 2 million years in thefuture - for his very survival against the evil Goddess's plans forcontinuing world domination.Quite an interesting story I thought whichanyone who doesn't mind reading something a little different won't regretreading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Anthology
After I realized that this was an anthology and not a novel my enjoyment of the book improved.The book starts of a little unevenly with some unsual sci-fi stories that are variations on the alien invasion theme, but the remainder of the tales are better, in my opinion. ... Read more

Product Description
Vol 18, #10. Cover by Chaffee illustrating "High Weir" by Samuel R. Delany. Also, "Deathchild" by Sterling E. Lanier; "Paddlewheel on the Styx" by Lohr Miller; "The Proxy Intelligence" by A. E. van Vogt; "Or Battle's Sound" by Harry Harrison; "Pupa Knows Best" by James Tiptree, Jr. Also, Report on Japanese Science Fiction (essay) by Takumi Shibano. Interior art by Gaughan, Finlay, Adkins, Brand. ... Read more