Invaders from Earth & To Worlds Beyond

by Robert Silverberg

Like Pohl and Kornbluth's SPACE MERCHANTS this is a novel of sophisticated government deception in the near future, an exploration of political corruption. Written in 1957 when Silverberg was 22, the novel is cynical and highly suspenseful. Silverberg, long recognized as a great science fiction writer, is a multiple award winner.

Genres: Science Fiction

408 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

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Robert Silverberg is a highly celebrated American science fiction author and editor known for his prolific output and literary range. Over a career spanning decades, he has won multiple Hugo and Nebula Awards and was named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in 2004. Inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999, Silverberg is recognized for both his immense productivity and his contributions to the genre's evolution.
Born in Brooklyn, he began writing in his teens and won his first Hugo Award in 1956 as the best new writer. Throughout the 1950s, he produced vast amounts of fiction, often under pseudonyms, and was known for writing up to a million words a year. When the market declined, he diversified into other genres, including historical nonfiction and erotica.
Silverberg’s return to science fiction in the 1960s marked a shift toward deeper psychological and literary themes, contributing significantly to the New Wave movement. Acclaimed works from this period include Downward to the Earth, Dying Inside, Nightwings, and The World Inside. In the 1980s, he launched the Majipoor series with Lord Valentine’s Castle, creating one of the most imaginative planetary settings in science fiction.
Though he announced his retirement from writing in the mid-1970s, Silverberg returned with renewed vigor and continued to publish acclaimed fiction into the 1990s. He received further recognition with the Nebula-winning Sailing to Byzantium and the Hugo-winning Gilgamesh in the Outback.
Silverberg has also played a significant role as an editor and anthologist, shaping science fiction literature through both his own work and his influence on others. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, author Karen Haber.

Reviews

[Denis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an early Silverberg work - to say early doesn't quite mean 'one of the first' as by 1958 (age 23) he had already published five novels and over a hundred and forty short stories (some under various pseudonyms and others in collaboration with fellow author Randall Garrett.) This particular work is Silverberg not yet even trying to hone his craft; it comes during his 'quantity over quality' era. That said, though it is flawed in many places - character's motivations, problems solved by convenient events rather than well thought out more complex solutions - one might assume he was merely churning out copy simply in order to get paid, yet that does not seem quite right. There is a sort of urgent frantic obsessive enthusiasm in this writing. The ideas are grand enough and young Silverberg is eager to get them on paper and out, ready to move on to some other urgent inspiration.

In this case, the subject is none ethical corporate greed, willing to lower the bar or to stop at nothing to achieve its goals. This was not executed as well as, say, Heinlein or Frederik Pohl would have, however, Silverberg is writing in clear action packed prose that keep the reader engaged. A fine example of an author destine to greater things once he slows down an applies himself a little more.

BTW, I have yet to read the collection of short stories published during the same period of time which is included in this particular edition.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly interesting science fiction stories from the late '50's and 1960's by Robert Silverberg.
Nothing will blow your mind here and if you are used to today's science fiction stuff this will seem downright primitive. The stories, though, are solid and they will keep your interest.
If you can find this book cheap at a used book store then it's worth it.
Enjoy!

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always found Robert Silverberg to be dependable for decent science fiction. An early novel of interplanetary corporate greed, written in 1957, has been combined here with a number of Silverberg's short stories.