Ring Around the Sun (novel)

Ring Around the Sun is a science fiction novel by American writer Clifford D. Simak. Its anti-urban and pro-agrarian sentiments are typical of much of Simak's work.[1]

"Ring Around the Sun" is also a SF short story by Isaac Asimov.
Ring Around the Sun
First edition dust jacket.
AuthorClifford Simak
Cover artistPaul Bacon
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
1953
Media typePrint
Pages242
OCLC1338865
Ring Around the Sun was serialized in Galaxy Science Fiction in 1952-53.

Premise

The novel tells the story of a group of "mutants" with enhanced mental abilities and the ability to move between (apparently all empty) parallel worlds organizing the colonization of those worlds by the population at large. Since this requires uprooting the colonists, and thoroughly disrupting the social structure of the Earth, Earth's current power structure resists fiercely even as it is undermined by the introduction of disruptive devices and everlasting goods, such as the so-called Forever Car, at ridiculously low prices.[2]

Reception

Science fiction editors Anthony Boucher and J. Francis McComas described the novel as "solid entertainment...with plenty of startling plot-twists and some new ammunition for an old argument."[3] New York Times reviewer Villiers Gerson praised Ring Around the Sun as "quietly written, intricately plotted...[deriving] most of its impact from its author's skillful understatement.[4] P. Schuyler Miller, however, faulted its complicated plot, finding it more "involved" than memorable.[5]

Writers Brian Aldiss and David Wingrove went so far as to call it "Clifford Simak's best book," ranking it alongside Simak's best-known novel, City.[6]

Publication history

Ring Around the Sun was first published as a serial in Galaxy Science Fiction in from December 1952 to February 1953. It was printed in book form later that year. It has been subsequently reprinted multiple times and translated into several different languages.[7][8]

Referenced in
gollark: It seems to be accessible in the UK, but I don't like them anyway for obvious privacy reasons, so I don't really care.
gollark: Not sure what that would do, but I imagine it would change things a lot.
gollark: > random musing: obviously if the speed of light was lower, there would be less energy in those sort of reactions. What *other* trickle down effects would it have, though?There's some relation between c and some electromagnetic constants (permittivity and permeability of free space) so you would probably change those too.
gollark: Somewhat relevant point: seriously just use nuclear it's energy dense enough.
gollark: You might have to contend with running out of usable energy in 10^lots years or something, I suppose.

References
  1. Clute, John. "Simak, Clifford D". Gollancz.
  2. Ewald, Robert J (2006). When the Fires Burn High and the Wind Is from the North: The Pastoral Science Fiction of Clifford D. Simak. Wildside Press LLC. pp. 74–77. ISBN 1-55742-218-4.
  3. "Recommended Reading," F&SF, June 1953, p.70
  4. "Spaceman's Realm", The New York Times, 14 June 1953.
  5. "The Reference Library", Astounding Science Fiction, April 1954, pp.146
  6. Aldiss & Wingrove, Trillion Year Spree, Victor Gollancz, 1986, pp.295, 404
  7. Clute, John. "Simak, Clifford D". Gollancz.
  8. "Bibliography: Ring Around the Sun". Al von Ruff.
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