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An Exaltation of Stars
Introduction by Terry Carr
The Feast of St. Dionysus by Robert Silverberg
'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k (Nemo) by Roger Zelazny
My Brother Leopold (Tales of a Darkening World) by Edgar Pangborn
The Feast of St. Dionysus by Robert Silverberg
'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k (Nemo) by Roger Zelazny
My Brother Leopold (Tales of a Darkening World) by Edgar Pangborn
191 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1973
1 person is currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Terry Carr
219 books31 followersCarr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attended the City College of San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley from 1954 to 1959.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 18, 2020
This is a nice anthology of three good science fiction novellas with religious themes. The Feast of St. Dionysus by Robert Silverberg is a somewhat metaphysical survivors' guilt tale with an unsatisfying ending. My Brother Leopold by Edgar Pangborn is a good post-apocalyptic story with an interesting twist and clever insight. My favorite is the Roger Zelazny novella, 'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothailll'kje'k, a title which is difficult to type and I'll bet no one has ever managed to pronounce it correctly three times in a row rapidly, with or without ice cubes in their mouth. It's a religious dolphin story and a very well done private-eye mystery; a very memorable and thought-provoking story and not just because of the title.
December 6, 2018
An anthology of three novellas, overall this is a fine, thought-inspiring collection.
Silverberg's contribution is a playing-out of one man's survivor's guilt, and intentionally blurs the lines between that which is "real"and that which is "imagined." It is vague on purpose, and is a good rumination.
Zelazny's is classic Zelazny: a convoluted puzzle with a cavalier narrator, references to music, literature, and other cultures abound, and there's a neat gotcha at the end. Entertaining.
Pangborn again delivers what he did so well: a beautifully written, elegaic, and likely prophetic emotional gut-punch.
Not a perfect collection, and not exactly happy-go-lucky fare, but the metaphysical meets the physical in all three. Give it a read.
Silverberg's contribution is a playing-out of one man's survivor's guilt, and intentionally blurs the lines between that which is "real"and that which is "imagined." It is vague on purpose, and is a good rumination.
Zelazny's is classic Zelazny: a convoluted puzzle with a cavalier narrator, references to music, literature, and other cultures abound, and there's a neat gotcha at the end. Entertaining.
Pangborn again delivers what he did so well: a beautifully written, elegaic, and likely prophetic emotional gut-punch.
Not a perfect collection, and not exactly happy-go-lucky fare, but the metaphysical meets the physical in all three. Give it a read.
February 24, 2019
Three very different stories.
The first, a man tries to come to terms with his problems by leaving his own life behind, only to find a new life in the desert. I kept expecting a certain twist at the end, but it never came. 4/5
The second is a thrilling whodunnit about dolphins. That might not sound particularly thrilling, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 5/5
The third is set about 500 years in a post-apocalyptic future, where the bureaucracy of a religion descended from Christianity metes out ecclesiastical and political justice, as told through the letter of Jermyn, and some court documents. 4.5/5
To be honest, I started reading this book so I could satisfy myself I could get rid of it. Well, now I can't. It's going into my permanent collection now.
The first, a man tries to come to terms with his problems by leaving his own life behind, only to find a new life in the desert. I kept expecting a certain twist at the end, but it never came. 4/5
The second is a thrilling whodunnit about dolphins. That might not sound particularly thrilling, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 5/5
The third is set about 500 years in a post-apocalyptic future, where the bureaucracy of a religion descended from Christianity metes out ecclesiastical and political justice, as told through the letter of Jermyn, and some court documents. 4.5/5
To be honest, I started reading this book so I could satisfy myself I could get rid of it. Well, now I can't. It's going into my permanent collection now.
August 28, 2018
I picked this up because I just listened to Peter S. Beagle raving about Pangborn. Three stories; mixed reviews.
I thought Silverberg’s Tale started nowhere and just wandered around there. I’d rate it a 1.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kjwalli’Kje’Koot.... by Zelazny. Dolphins, detectives, diamonds, jealousy—-I thought this was the best story of the three. It earns a 4.5.
My Brother Leopold by Pangborn was interesting. There was some interesting religious commentaries; a 3.5.
I thought Silverberg’s Tale started nowhere and just wandered around there. I’d rate it a 1.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kjwalli’Kje’Koot.... by Zelazny. Dolphins, detectives, diamonds, jealousy—-I thought this was the best story of the three. It earns a 4.5.
My Brother Leopold by Pangborn was interesting. There was some interesting religious commentaries; a 3.5.
November 9, 2025
Stories are ok but I wouldn't call any of them science fiction, speculative at best.
January 28, 2015
Terry Carr edited this 1973 collection, consisting of three novellas dealing with transcendental/religious science fictional experiences. One is readable, one is worth reading, and one is pretty dang good.
Silverberg's "Feast of Saint Dionysus" deals with the sole astronaut to return from the first manned landing on Mars; consumed by survivor's guilt, he wanders off into the California desert -- a proxy for Mars -- to be alone. There he stumbles into a strange city; its inhabitants are a cult who worship Jesus in the guise of Dionysus (...), and their rituals/transcendent experience may bring our protagonist back to humanity. By the end you're never quite sure what is real, what is vision, and what is hope. An odd set-up for sure.
Zelazny's "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k" has an unnamed protagonist (some call him Nemo; see My Name is Legion) who wiped his identity in a world where everyone is monitored. He takes on a murder case at a Florida research station. The researchers are studying dolphin intelligence, and it's assumed the dolphins were the culprits. The murder-mystery plot is reinforced with some speculation on the nature of dolphin religion, and a dose of telepathy and diamond smuggling to boot. Muted speculative elements, a routine plot, and jumbled metaphysics will probably leave this one remembered as "the one with the dolphins in it" -- I didn't find it up to Zelazny's usual high standard.
Pangborn's "My Brother Leopold" is one of his Tales of a Darkening World (see Davy or Still I Persist in Wondering), a pastoral post-apocalypse where New England has reverted to feuding city-states and a monolithic religious structure echoing medieval Europe. The story tells the tale of Leopold, reborn through amnesia as Brother Francis, a prophet led by an invisible Companion and the dream of all humans living in a peaceful City of Light. This gentle messiah runs head-first into the ruling church in his attempt to prevent -- or at least illuminate -- a war between two city-states in upstate New York. The plot plays out as expected, but the story has some depth and thought behind it.
Silverberg's "Feast of Saint Dionysus" deals with the sole astronaut to return from the first manned landing on Mars; consumed by survivor's guilt, he wanders off into the California desert -- a proxy for Mars -- to be alone. There he stumbles into a strange city; its inhabitants are a cult who worship Jesus in the guise of Dionysus (...), and their rituals/transcendent experience may bring our protagonist back to humanity. By the end you're never quite sure what is real, what is vision, and what is hope. An odd set-up for sure.
Zelazny's "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k" has an unnamed protagonist (some call him Nemo; see My Name is Legion) who wiped his identity in a world where everyone is monitored. He takes on a murder case at a Florida research station. The researchers are studying dolphin intelligence, and it's assumed the dolphins were the culprits. The murder-mystery plot is reinforced with some speculation on the nature of dolphin religion, and a dose of telepathy and diamond smuggling to boot. Muted speculative elements, a routine plot, and jumbled metaphysics will probably leave this one remembered as "the one with the dolphins in it" -- I didn't find it up to Zelazny's usual high standard.
Pangborn's "My Brother Leopold" is one of his Tales of a Darkening World (see Davy or Still I Persist in Wondering), a pastoral post-apocalypse where New England has reverted to feuding city-states and a monolithic religious structure echoing medieval Europe. The story tells the tale of Leopold, reborn through amnesia as Brother Francis, a prophet led by an invisible Companion and the dream of all humans living in a peaceful City of Light. This gentle messiah runs head-first into the ruling church in his attempt to prevent -- or at least illuminate -- a war between two city-states in upstate New York. The plot plays out as expected, but the story has some depth and thought behind it.
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February 27, 2008Includes three novella-length stories, the theme somewhat loosely being religion: "The Feast of St. Dionysus" by Robert Silberberg; "'Kjwall'kje'koothaill'kle'k" by Roger Zelazny; "My Brother Leopold" by Edgar Pangborn. Zelazny's contribution is little more than a murder mystery with some telepathy and dolphins thrown in the mix for color, but the other two are quite fine. Edited by Terry Carr.
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September 19, 20124/15/12: "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaill'kje'k" (1973) by Roger Zelazny
4/11/12: "The Feast of St. Dionysus" (1973) by Robert Silverberg
4/11/12: "The Feast of St. Dionysus" (1973) by Robert Silverberg
May 22, 2024
3 novellas:
The Feast of St. Dionysus (1973) • Robert Silverberg
'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k (1973) • Roger Zelazny
My Brother Leopold (1973) • Edgar Pangborn
The Feast of St. Dionysus (1973) • Robert Silverberg
'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k (1973) • Roger Zelazny
My Brother Leopold (1973) • Edgar Pangborn
March 4, 2011
Three creditable science fiction pieces with religious themes by three prominent writers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews