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Century of the Manikin
Paperback
- GenresScience Fiction
142 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
1 person is currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Tubb
382 books85 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 23, 2020
DAW Collectors #18
Cover Artist: ack Gaughan
15 October 1919 -- 10 September 2010
Tubb, Edwin Charles
Alternate Names:
Stuart Allen, Ted Bain, Alice Beecham, Anthony Blake, Raymond L. Burton, Julian Carey, Julian Cary, Norman Dale, Robert D. Ennis, James Evans (I), R. H. Godfrey, Charles Gray, Charles Grey, Volsted Gridban, Alan Guthrie, George Holt, Gill Hunt, Alan Innes, Gordon Kent, Джулиан Кэри?
, Gregory Kern, King Lang, Mike Lantry, Nigel Lloyd, Arthur Maclean, Carl Maddox, Philip Martyn, John Mason (UK), L. C. Powers, Edward Richards, Brian Shaw, Roy Sheldon, Eric Storm, Andrew Sutton, Edvin Čarls Tab?, Э. Ч. Табб?
, Edward Thomson, Ted Tubb, Edwin C. Tubb, Ken Wainwright, Frank Weight, Douglas West, Eric Wilding
Human aggressiveness has been eliminated thanks to the long work of P.A.E.C. (Propaganda and Emotional Control), the organization that constantly acts on the population to keep it peaceful. Various tools are exploited, from drugs to forms of manipulation of public opinion.
Peace has existed for many years, a situation that in theory is utopian that, however, hides problems that transformed society into a dystopia. Mannequins used as a relief for residual aggression are not enough.
Cover Artist: ack Gaughan
15 October 1919 -- 10 September 2010
Tubb, Edwin Charles
Alternate Names:
Stuart Allen, Ted Bain, Alice Beecham, Anthony Blake, Raymond L. Burton, Julian Carey, Julian Cary, Norman Dale, Robert D. Ennis, James Evans (I), R. H. Godfrey, Charles Gray, Charles Grey, Volsted Gridban, Alan Guthrie, George Holt, Gill Hunt, Alan Innes, Gordon Kent, Джулиан Кэри?
, Gregory Kern, King Lang, Mike Lantry, Nigel Lloyd, Arthur Maclean, Carl Maddox, Philip Martyn, John Mason (UK), L. C. Powers, Edward Richards, Brian Shaw, Roy Sheldon, Eric Storm, Andrew Sutton, Edvin Čarls Tab?, Э. Ч. Табб?
, Edward Thomson, Ted Tubb, Edwin C. Tubb, Ken Wainwright, Frank Weight, Douglas West, Eric Wilding
Human aggressiveness has been eliminated thanks to the long work of P.A.E.C. (Propaganda and Emotional Control), the organization that constantly acts on the population to keep it peaceful. Various tools are exploited, from drugs to forms of manipulation of public opinion.
Peace has existed for many years, a situation that in theory is utopian that, however, hides problems that transformed society into a dystopia. Mannequins used as a relief for residual aggression are not enough.
May 28, 2024
Probably the worst book I've ever read, and I have read Atlas Shrugged.
February 25, 2023
USA sovrappopolati (anche se l’autore è britannico), ci si nutre di pesce allevato, la gravidanza è una vergogna, a meno che sia solo per far circolare ormoni positivi, prevedendo un aborto fin dall’inizio.. insomma il tipico futuro immaginato nei primi anni ’70. I “criotorii” (crematorii dove però si viene congelati) potrebbero ridurre la popolazione se questa si lasciasse congelare, ma (comprensibilmente) i più preferiscono aspettare di essere morti prima di farsi congelare sperando che la medicina un giorno possa farli risorgere. L’umanità tira a campare comunque, grazie a un condizionamento che inibisce ogni forma di violenza, anche verbale; e grazie alla continua ingestione di pillole che potenziano questo questo quel tratto caratteriale. Al capo dell’organizzazione che esercita la propaganda e il condizionamento viene un’ideona: scongelare la prima donna che un secolo prima (da cui il titolo originale “Century of the Mannikin”) accettò di farsi congelare da viva, per mostrare alle masse che il congelamento è un processo sicuro, nella speranza che la pratica si diffonda. Ma in Brasile qualcun altro ha avuto la stessa idea..
Tubb avvia una serie di storie più o meno correlate; va detto che non è facile capire quale sia la principale, anche perché quella che sembra esserlo non ha molto senso. A giudicare dal numero delle pagine non ci sono stati tagli significativi, tuttavia si intuisce una certa “asciugatura” e censura (riguardo sia il sesso sia la violenza); per esempio, è evidente che la sensuale Olga Franklin ha avuto tra i suoi tre ex mariti anche l’ingegnere progettista degli automi su cui scaricare le proprie pulsioni, ma ciò non viene mai detto chiaramente; così come delle varie sottotrame non viene mai dichiarata la conclusione, anche se in genere è intuibile (in questo caso è stato forse l’autore ad avere fretta).
Tuttavia Tubb, con il suo ottimo mestiere, costruisce un romanzo colorito e tuttora godibile, arricchito da citazioni poetiche (alcune forse sue, non ci sono note a spiegarlo; altre da Shakespeare e dal Cantico dei Cantici; a proposito, in italiano non si usa chiamarlo il “Canto di Salomone”: non abbiamo questa competenza biblica!). Compagnia perfetta per tre ore di treno, come nel mio caso.
Notare che l’Organizzazione protagonista del romanzo (di cui in realtà non ci viene detto molto di chiaro, e nemmeno su come vengono condizionati i cittadini), Propaganda E Controllo Emozionale, era PACE nella prima edizione (restituendo il suo senso profondo), nelle successive il più corretto ma un po’ ridicolo PECE. Qualche sottotono misogino (quasi tutte le donne abusano del potenziatore di loquacità, però è anche una donna a dare una svolta alla storia), un po’ di derisione della femminista scongelata (che però è in grado di dare una lezione di tecnica poetica, oltre che di dare una svolta alla storia), un pizzico di terzomondismo e tanta satira verso l’ecologismo chic, greenwashing ante litteram.
In appendice un breve racconto di tal Barbara Stearns, “Averlo”, di cui, forse per l’ora tarda, non ho minimamente capito il senso.
Tubb avvia una serie di storie più o meno correlate; va detto che non è facile capire quale sia la principale, anche perché quella che sembra esserlo non ha molto senso. A giudicare dal numero delle pagine non ci sono stati tagli significativi, tuttavia si intuisce una certa “asciugatura” e censura (riguardo sia il sesso sia la violenza); per esempio, è evidente che la sensuale Olga Franklin ha avuto tra i suoi tre ex mariti anche l’ingegnere progettista degli automi su cui scaricare le proprie pulsioni, ma ciò non viene mai detto chiaramente; così come delle varie sottotrame non viene mai dichiarata la conclusione, anche se in genere è intuibile (in questo caso è stato forse l’autore ad avere fretta).
Tuttavia Tubb, con il suo ottimo mestiere, costruisce un romanzo colorito e tuttora godibile, arricchito da citazioni poetiche (alcune forse sue, non ci sono note a spiegarlo; altre da Shakespeare e dal Cantico dei Cantici; a proposito, in italiano non si usa chiamarlo il “Canto di Salomone”: non abbiamo questa competenza biblica!). Compagnia perfetta per tre ore di treno, come nel mio caso.
Notare che l’Organizzazione protagonista del romanzo (di cui in realtà non ci viene detto molto di chiaro, e nemmeno su come vengono condizionati i cittadini), Propaganda E Controllo Emozionale, era PACE nella prima edizione (restituendo il suo senso profondo), nelle successive il più corretto ma un po’ ridicolo PECE. Qualche sottotono misogino (quasi tutte le donne abusano del potenziatore di loquacità, però è anche una donna a dare una svolta alla storia), un po’ di derisione della femminista scongelata (che però è in grado di dare una lezione di tecnica poetica, oltre che di dare una svolta alla storia), un pizzico di terzomondismo e tanta satira verso l’ecologismo chic, greenwashing ante litteram.
In appendice un breve racconto di tal Barbara Stearns, “Averlo”, di cui, forse per l’ora tarda, non ho minimamente capito il senso.
October 9, 2020
"Beware the Cyrogenic lady from Women's Lib"
--That's from the back cover!
-I wouldn't consider this review a 'spoiler' - the plot is more the expression versus some event at the end - so If I say the "cryogenic lady" somehow 'wins'...well.
Serious, I would LOVE to see this thing adapted, as part of one of those anthology short story science fiction tv/movie things. Like "Love, Death and Robots", one of the episodes. Would kinda fit in that since there are 'pleasure androids' as a prominent feature.
Essentially it's a good send up on "Politically Correct" future worlds - a proud tradition going back to RUR really, but think "Harrison Bergeron" for more recent example. "Being different is okay as long as we are different in the same way..." - song "come be PC" by Chris Ray Gunn...
In this case the 'future' is stable with massive social programs to create a real 'utopia' at least no one is starving though they all envy what others have, etc. But the focus was to eliminate violence so they have trouble even yelling at each other much less hitting each other in the occasional tussle. This is making Violence the new taboo and while it seems they are okay to enjoy it in fiction, even buy androids that look like people to torture and r--- them...?! Well they want to commit violence for real so they go underground to do it (voluntarily) to others and the police hunt for that behavior like in the day they hunted for drugs and radicals, gangsters... I'd argue the real world of today with tons of violent video games and less real violence (freakanomics, people) might sour the impact but we have other taboos...
Into this world a lady is revived from the freezer - but briefly. They haven't even cured her disease yet... But she was a renowned sociologist. And a militant feminist...
Again, I'd really LOVE this thing to be made into an episode in a sci-fi movie -while it could be made into a full movie certainly I don't think it'd stand alone good. However it would really freak out the "Social Justice Warrior" types who'd be rolling on the floor screaming about it. EVEN though ---- the "Hero" is a Feminist (modeled after 70s ones) and well (mild spoilers) "Wins" as much as the situation allows.
It's no great epic, something Tubb hacked out for $ - but given the "Things change but remain the same" it's pretty cool seeing its social commentary then and now.
--That's from the back cover!
-I wouldn't consider this review a 'spoiler' - the plot is more the expression versus some event at the end - so If I say the "cryogenic lady" somehow 'wins'...well.
Serious, I would LOVE to see this thing adapted, as part of one of those anthology short story science fiction tv/movie things. Like "Love, Death and Robots", one of the episodes. Would kinda fit in that since there are 'pleasure androids' as a prominent feature.
Essentially it's a good send up on "Politically Correct" future worlds - a proud tradition going back to RUR really, but think "Harrison Bergeron" for more recent example. "Being different is okay as long as we are different in the same way..." - song "come be PC" by Chris Ray Gunn...
In this case the 'future' is stable with massive social programs to create a real 'utopia' at least no one is starving though they all envy what others have, etc. But the focus was to eliminate violence so they have trouble even yelling at each other much less hitting each other in the occasional tussle. This is making Violence the new taboo and while it seems they are okay to enjoy it in fiction, even buy androids that look like people to torture and r--- them...?! Well they want to commit violence for real so they go underground to do it (voluntarily) to others and the police hunt for that behavior like in the day they hunted for drugs and radicals, gangsters... I'd argue the real world of today with tons of violent video games and less real violence (freakanomics, people) might sour the impact but we have other taboos...
Into this world a lady is revived from the freezer - but briefly. They haven't even cured her disease yet... But she was a renowned sociologist. And a militant feminist...
Again, I'd really LOVE this thing to be made into an episode in a sci-fi movie -while it could be made into a full movie certainly I don't think it'd stand alone good. However it would really freak out the "Social Justice Warrior" types who'd be rolling on the floor screaming about it. EVEN though ---- the "Hero" is a Feminist (modeled after 70s ones) and well (mild spoilers) "Wins" as much as the situation allows.
It's no great epic, something Tubb hacked out for $ - but given the "Things change but remain the same" it's pretty cool seeing its social commentary then and now.
April 20, 2025
While its hard at times to figure out where the book is heading, and there are quite a few loose ends that never get resolved, the book ends well. Prior to the last chapter I'd have rated it a '3'. I give it a '4' because I like the way Tubb tried to tie it all together.
October 8, 2017
Neat premise, poor execution.
March 10, 2022
Restarded after 40 years, first attempt didn't convice me, but this time I actually appreciated the story and stile a little more, and was able to reach the end of the novel.
October 17, 2017
We are in the future where violence is tabu, just like sex in the Victorian era. But people like to have artificial scars. Some story lines, one about a woman who owns a Beauty chain store, her husband in eternal sleep and she gets her self a man whom she make a look-a-like of husband. Main story about a woman to be resurrected after over a hundred years. She makes fun of the poetry of the agents who is looking after her. Has her own mind. Does not want to go to Brasilia to her relatives. As it turns out she was wakened although there was still no cure for her disease. People were just curious about her view on new society. She does not like it. Rearm people she said. Interesting.
January 23, 2013
Un caro amico, passeggiando per le bancarelle di Porta Portese, mi ha consigliato questo romanzo di E. C. Tubb, un prolifico autore di fantascienza britannico scomparso di recente (nel 2010), a me fino ad allora assolutamente ignoto. Non essendo uno di quegli autori "ripescati" successivamenete dall'editoria "seria" o giunti alla fama attraverso le versioni cinematografiche (anche se il nostro fu autore delle sceneggiature di molti episodi di "Spazio 1999", una delle migliori serie di fantascienza, da me seguita con un certo interesse sui teleschermi nazionali alcune decadi fa), ho accettato di correre il rischio di una possibile delusione, spinto più che altro da una certa curiosità per le sue origini britanniche (avendo un certo debole per l'umorismo britannico). Devo quindi a lui la scoperta di questo romanzo, che altrimenti non sarebbe entrato nella lista delle mie letture. Grazie a questa fortuita coincidenza ho avuto modo di leggere un romanzo veramente gustoso, ricco di invenzioni divertenti e strampalate (tra le altre, il manichino che corre sulla scrivania di Joseph P. Lincoln, direttore della famigerata PECE - Propaganda e controllo emozionale, o la riproduzione della Gioconda parlante che funge da segretaria nella stanza di Dale Orson Nelson Tulliver, il protagonista del romanzo e dipendente della PECE e poeta per diletto, oppure il busto parlante che offre i suoi eruditi consigli al direttore).
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May 25, 2015
1980 grade D-
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews