The Day the Sun Stood Still: Three Original Novellas of Science Fiction

by Poul Anderson, Robert Silverberg, Gordon R. Dickson

Three stories about modern man's confrontation with a miracle provide a penetrating study of human faith

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1972

About the author

Pseudonym A. A. Craig, Michael Karageorge, Winston P. Sanders, P. A. Kingsley.

Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories. He received numerous awards for his writing, including seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards.

Anderson received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948. He married Karen Kruse in 1953. They had one daughter, Astrid, who is married to science fiction author Greg Bear. Anderson was the sixth President of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, taking office in 1972. He was a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America, a loose-knit group of Heroic Fantasy authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose works were anthologized in Lin Carter's Flashing Swords! anthologies. He was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1985 novel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls to Anderson and eight of the other members of the Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy.[2][3]

Poul Anderson died of cancer on July 31, 2001, after a month in the hospital. Several of his novels were published posthumously.


Series:
* Time Patrol
* Psychotechnic League
* Trygve Yamamura
* Harvest of Stars
* King of Ys
* Last Viking
* Hoka
* Future history of the Polesotechnic League
* Flandry

Reviews

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

EBGLISH: Three novellas by three masters of sci-fi, all of them with the same argument, written as the answer to a challenge by publisher Lester del Rey. I liked best Anderson's version. The first two assert that something would change in the world after an undeniable miracle. Dickson's version disagrees, except for marginal individual changes. His version is the strangest of all three.

ESPAÑOL: Tres novelas cortas escritas por tres maestros de ciencia ficción, todas con el mismo argumento, como respuesta a un desafío del editor Lester del Rey. Me gustó más la versión de Anderson. Los dos primeros creen que algo cambiaría en el mundo después de un milagro indudable. La versión de Dickson no está de acuerdo, salvo en lo que afecta a cambios individuales. Su versión es la más extraña de las tres.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Day the Sun Stood Still (not to be confused with The Day the Earth Stood Still) is a fascinating book if for no other reason than the concept behind it.

Noted editor and author, Lester del Rey, challenged three of the greatest science fiction writers to each write a novella based on the same situation. They were given little information and worked separately from each other. The theme? For a day and a night the earth did not revolve around the sun nor did it rotate on its axis. So, what happens when god shows him/herself to the human race in the 20th century (this book was written in 1972)?

One of the first things you will notice in this book is that there are many similarities between the stories. del Rey did give some guidance to the authors in addition the the celestial event including the existence of "a great leader". Without spoiling the stories for you, you can be sure that the event is interpreted and dealt with quite differently between individuals of faith, religious organizations, scientists, countries, and more.

I think the writing in this book is excellent, the characters and settings quite believable, and the reactions... well, you will have to read the book yourself!

[Cuauhtemoc · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an anthology containing three novelettes by Poul Anderson ("A Chapter of Revelation"), Robert Silverberg ("Thomas The Proclaimer"), and Gordon R. Dickson ("Things Which Are Caesar's"). As someone else mentioned, these novelettes are HEAVY on religious content. It is interesting to see how these three titans of Science Fiction face the challenge by Lester Del Rey to write these novellas. However, I think these stories did not age well. Written back in 1972, many things about society, religion, and science have changed. Also, I did not expect to see that much theological discussion. I do not think I would read this book again. Certainly, if I am looking for Sci-Fi, this is not my thing. At the end of the day, as Arthur C. Clarke said in his 1962 book , “Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry into the Limits of the Possible”, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

When i started this book I thought it would be science fiction themed but it quickly turned into a religious view of events happening after the earth stopped rotating for 24 hours. Did it make me think? It did but the story line had too much religious philosophy for me. Yes I know the premise was that mankind ask for a sign from God, and got one, but it was too much for me.

[Corbett Buchly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although, Poul Anderson's work in the past, I found Silverberg was the best author here. I will look to read some of his work in the future. I will say I was surprised by the heavy religious weight in these stories; I expected more variety in perspective.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing prompt is interesting and the last two novellas especially were quite good. I can't believe I let this sit unread on my to-read shelf for so long. A topic of great interest to me, explored thoughtfully. What more can I ask for?

[Rosemary Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Chapter of Revelation by Poul Anderson ☆☆
Thomas the Proclaimer by Robert Silverberg ☆☆☆
Things Which Are Caesar's by Gordon R. Dickson ☆☆☆☆☆

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful how you inform folks about the end of the world..... it can be dangerous!

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This came out while I was in New York City and had a Science Fiction Book Club membership obligation to fulfill. I purchased it because the price was relatively low and the authors well known.

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting question, with interesting authors,but other books are holding my attention

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 novellas:

** A Chapter of Revelation (1972) • Poul Anderson
**** Thomas the Proclaimer (1972) • Robert Silverberg
** Things Which Are Caesar's (1972) • Gordon R. Dickson