“The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction,” November 1963. Wraparound cover art by Hannes Bok.
Illustrating Roger Zelazny’s short story “A Rose for Ecclesiastes.”
“Roger Zelazny, whose first story for F&SF makes its impressive appearance below, says that he has read SF and Fantasy for as far back as he can remember, and has wanted to write it for almost as long, ‘but did not have much opportunity to do so until early last year when Columbia got around to giving me the M. A. . . .’ Former épée instructor, ex-Nike crewman, Mr. Zelazny is now an OASDI claims examiner with the Social Security Administration, is 25 years old, claims that he is dreadfully lazy and likes beer . . . All the elements of Classical Old-Fashioned Science Fiction are here in this story of a Mars ‘where the sun is a tarnished penny . . . the wind is a whip [and] two moons play at hotrod games’ – but the author’s wide-ranging mind and perceptive pen bring us new lamps for old.” [Editor’s Introduction]
“The story is narrated by a gifted human linguist and poet named Gallinger, who is part of a mission studying Mars. He becomes the first human to learn the ‘high language’ of the intelligent Martians, and to be allowed to read their sacred texts. He comes to believe that Martian culture is essentially fatalistic, following an event in the distant past that left the long-lived Martians sterile . . .” – Wikipedia
“One of the most beautifully written, skillfully composed and passionately expressed works of art to appear anywhere, ever” – Theodore Sturgeon
“The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction,” November 1963. Wraparound cover art by Hannes Bok.
Illustrating Roger Zelazny’s short story “A Rose for Ecclesiastes.”
“Roger Zelazny, whose first story for F&SF makes its impressive appearance below, says that he has read SF and Fantasy for as far back as he can remember, and has wanted to write it for almost as long, ‘but did not have much opportunity to do so until early last year when Columbia got around to giving me the M. A. . . .’ Former épée instructor, ex-Nike crewman, Mr. Zelazny is now an OASDI claims examiner with the Social Security Administration, is 25 years old, claims that he is dreadfully lazy and likes beer . . . All the elements of Classical Old-Fashioned Science Fiction are here in this story of a Mars ‘where the sun is a tarnished penny . . . the wind is a whip [and] two moons play at hotrod games’ – but the author’s wide-ranging mind and perceptive pen bring us new lamps for old.” [Editor’s Introduction]
“The story is narrated by a gifted human linguist and poet named Gallinger, who is part of a mission studying Mars. He becomes the first human to learn the ‘high language’ of the intelligent Martians, and to be allowed to read their sacred texts. He comes to believe that Martian culture is essentially fatalistic, following an event in the distant past that left the long-lived Martians sterile . . .” – Wikipedia
“One of the most beautifully written, skillfully composed and passionately expressed works of art to appear anywhere, ever” – Theodore Sturgeon