World Enough, and Time

New World Trilogy #1

by James Kahn

Un urlo rauco, profondo, inumano lacera il tessuto della notte. I sei abitanti della capanna di tronchi si guardano sbigottiti l'un l'altro poi guardano la finestra e la porta. «Dio Mio -dice la Madre- che sarà stato?» «Ho paura, mamma» dice il bambino più piccolo. Dopo un intervallo di silenzio l'urlo si rinnova più vicino, poi d'improvviso la porta scoppia all'indietro, strappata dai cardini, e tre esseri orrendi si precipitano sulla famigliola facendone scempio... Ma siamo appena all'inizio. Il romanzo - uno dei più lunghi e spettacolari presentati quest'anno da Urania procede con lo stesso ritmo mozzafiato fino all'ultima delle sue fittissime pagine.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Vampires, Science Fiction Fantasy, Horror

340 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

James Kahn is an ER doctor, novelist, TV writer-producer, and singer-songwriter. In addition to many original novels (including the sci-fi trilogy World Enough and Time, Time’s Dark Laughter, and Timefall) he authored the novelizations of Return of the Jedi, Poltergeist, The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

His television credits span the genres, from St. Elsewhere, to William Shatner’s TekWar, to Xena: Warrior Princess. He was a Supervising Producer on Star Trek: Voyager, Co-Executive Producer on Melrose Place, Emmy-nominated for his work on All My Children, medical advisor on Spielberg’s ET: The Extraterrestrial; and produced the feature film The Bet, which won Best Feature at the LA Femme Film Festival, 2013.

He’s previously released four Americana music CDs, including Waterline, The 12th Elf, Man Walks Into A Bar, and The Meaning of Life. Matamoros is the first simultaneous novel and CD release, and his first foray into deeply researched historical fiction.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very odd book - it falls into the post-apocalyptic category but one where the natural world is for the most part undamaged, but where technology has receded to pre-industrial levels in varying degrees and the greatly reduced world is populated by humans and genetically engineered humans & animals. The difference here however is that Kahn has scripted these critters to exactly resemble creatures from mythology and fantasy like griffins, vampires, centaurs, dryads, et al. but without rationalizing them in SF terms (like Philip Jose Farmer did with centaurs in the World of Tiers) so that things sometime seem like they have to operate as if by magic. There is no reason, say, for a dryad to remain bound to the vicinity of her home tree especially not if the tree was cut down and turned into a bed in a bordello, for instance. (And yes, from that last example, you can probably realize that the women in the book, whether active or passive characters, are mostly there as sex objects, so you've been warned. There is also a great deal of graphic visceral violence in the book in addition a good amount of sexual kink. It was written in Hollywood in the late 70's, so...

[Felicity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil Young sums it up: Look at mother nature on the run in the 1970s. Yes, she ran, all the way into a freaky new future of freaky new genetically engineered species who all like to get down with each other. And discuss deep philosophical truths, man, about living in the now. And even do some coke here and there. This 1980 book is so, so 70s. And optimistic. My copy is also all underlined and annotated by some earnest soul; it's all kind of sweet and dreamy, a vanished look at a vanished world.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 80's read for me. I still have my (very yellowed) copy though I haven't read it in a while. Another "important" book in my reading life. I think I remember it as a bit violent. I'll have to glance through it soon.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok i was 13 maybe, and it was the coolest thing ever. early matrix, seriously.

[Dietmar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea sounded interisting, but the book proved to be quite hard to read. The characters didn't have much depth, the storyline wasn't really flowing and the "world" left a feeling of too many pieces and ideas thrown together randomly. I have no idea why there was so much praise for it when it first came out in 1980.

[Celise · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the weirdest books I've ever read, but not the worst. I couldn't connect to the main character and every woman was a sex object, so that kind of hindered my enjoyment. I think it is good literature? I just wasn't the intended audience. Maybe? I don't know. I did read the sequel.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising good.

[Renzo Scaccianoce]

La fine di Lon e le sue doti da nuotatore professionista

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird stuff about fantasy creatures and a quest in Southern California.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

This first book in a time-travel trilogy is enthralling despite its content problems. A page-turner without the annoyingly brief chapters, it proves that James Kahn can create his own stories instead of just adapting others'. I look forward to the next one in the series; I'm glad I already have it!

Content Concerns: Some language and occasional sexual descriptions are present.

Score: 3.5/5

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this... and have been devastated by the fact that I can't get hold of the rest of the books in the series!

[Dan Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord knows what I'd think of it if I read it today, but as a 16 year old, I loved it and it's stayed with me. I STILL sometimes think I should really finish the trilogy.

[Bill]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12669043

[Tim Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in my youth and loved it. Found a used copy on Amazon a few years ago and discovered that it was still Amazing

[Will Whatley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't make it through, so I've nothing to say.

[V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading part 1 coz I read part 2 in childhood and was fascinated. Always wondered what happened before and after. A strange engaging tale.

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

A strange post apoc type novel. Definitely gone.