Robert Silverberg's "Nightwings" Review and other Fix-up novel recommendations.

** Spoiler free review**
Tonight I take a break from the Hugo and Nebula award winning ladder that we have going on in the Sci-Fi shed and instead I take a look at the 1969 Fix Up novel by Robert Silverberg "Nightwings". The novella version won the 1969 Hugo award so we are not straying too far from home.
In this review I provide an quick definition of what a fix-up or stitched up novel is in the Science Fiction literary world and provide a plot overview. I talk about what I love about Robert Silverberg and what i thought was a bit strange in this novel. I also make some recommendations on some other Fix up novels in my collection.
We take

[@nicholasjones3207]

This is one of my favourite silverberg novels

[@thesci-fished]

It's a classic, it's right up there for me too.

[@thekeywitness]

Love Silverberg. I recommend anything from his key period (late '60s to late '70s).

[@thesci-fished]

I absolutely agree, can't go wrong.

[@bookspin]

Great review! So far the only Silverberg book I've read is The Book of Skulls - I enjoyed his writing style in that so I would definitely like to explore more of his work. On the topic of fix-up novels, I also didn't realise To Your Scattered Bodies go is one! That is also one of my favourite SF novels. To add to your list, Ray Bradbury's Martian Chonicles is another excellent example of a classic fix-up that I read for the first time recently.

[@thesci-fished]

Ah yes, the Martian Chronicles, I have read it in the past but it's not in my current collection. I love Silverberg, one of these days I'll do a major feature on his works. Thank you for the kind words.

[@unstopitable]

It's a beautifully written and (I think) moving novel, full of epiphanies one finds in "literary" novels. Silverberg is such a craftsman, it didn't feel (to me) like a fix-up. (On the other hand, Dream Master by Zelazny, though I love it, does feel a bit stretched out.) You do a great job. Subscribed!

[@thesci-fished]

Thank you kindly 😊 I agree with you, it's a great novel.

[@christinaerasmo6204]

Good review!

[@thesci-fished]

😊😊Thank you 😊

[@vintagesf]

My current favourite fix-up novel is Other Days, Other Eyes by Bob Shaw. It has a framing story that encompasses the short stories. What if a new kind of glass was manufactured, glass so dense that light could take years to come out the other side. Can you think of applications and consequences?

[@thesci-fished]

That's a very interesting concept, I'll have to keep an eye out for that one. When it comes to science fiction, we tend to think of faster than light speeds, so slowing it down if a fascinating principle, thanks for sharing.

[@razumijinatreides4691]

Another great fix up novel is City by Clifford Simak.

[@thesci-fished]

Ah yes, I love Simak, I don't currently have that one in my physical book collection but I have read it. Nice one!

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

I used to read a lot of both Silverberg and Simak, I'd find them next to each other in the library, I don't know who I started with but I"ve read around 10 novels by each, City was a real stand out novel from Simak.

[@brendancolfer9131]

Brought back memories. Thanks 😊 I'm old I don't what a stitch up novel?

[@thesci-fished]

@brendancolfer9131 I hope it brought back some good memories. It's basically when an author stitches together several previously published short stories and fixes/stitches them together to form a novel.

[@brendancolfer9131]

@@thesci-fished Thank you