John Brunner
Doubleday, New York
1973
Hardback
This must be the fifth or sixth book by John Brunner that I've read here recently. John Brunner is an author that I have been wanting to read more of ever since reading Shockwave Rider, which I discussed in my paper on virtual reality in science fiction. An Englishman, he wrote over sixty-five books and was the winner of the British Fantasy award in 1966. He had impressed me in Shockwave Rider and I wanted to read more of his works.
As I've said in other discussions of Brunner's works, during a visit to a book sale at the Jonesboro, Arkansas public library in early January, I found a large number of Brunner's works available in discarded hardback Science Fiction Book Club editions. I was able to purchase them for twenty-five to fifty cents each..
The Stone That Never Came Down is one of those books. I picked this one up for fifty cents. It is an extremely interesting story about a drug that helps hasten the evolution of man.
With the world on the brink of World War III, a small group of British scientists create this drug that results in the death of the first of them to try it on himself. His death, however, is not a direct effect of the drug but rather a curious and ironic twist to the story.
Brunner again mixes interesting characters in an intriguing mix of situations leading the reader into situations that look like Brunner was able to see the 1990's. As we approach the millennium, Brunner's Godheads become all too real.
For those not interested in what might be considered politically incorrect today, this is a recommended reading. I enjoyed it.