Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The protagonist of this compelling novel is humanity itself, stripped down to sheer intelligence. It evolves through the ages: rising to pinnacles of civilization, teetering on the brink of extinction, surviving onslaughts from other planets and a decline in solar energy, and constantly developing new forms, new senses, and new intellectual abilities. From the present to five billion years into the future, this romance of humanity abounds in profound and imaginative thought.
Together with its follow-up, Star Maker, it is regarded as the standard by which all earlier and later future histories are measured.

I'm in for this one!

Me too.

This was written between Word War I and World War II. It's interesting to see what he got right and what he got wrong. I wish I knew more about history.

Book Nerd wrote: "This was written between Word War I and World War II. It's interesting to see what he got right and what he got wrong. I wish I knew more about history."

If you have any history questions, we can help you. I love history and I'm sure we have lots of other members who do too.

What does everybody think so far?

It's really dense. There's some really cringey and racist stuff about the first men but a lot of the later sci-fi concepts are reallhy cool.

I'm not too far into it, but it's a bit slow so far. I've put it down in order to read something else, but will go back to it in the next couple of days.

I'm like John-finding it a bit slow but I have to finish it in three days since it's an ebook from the library, and some one else has it on hold.
I read Starmaker and found it moved faster than this one. I enjoyed that one.

It is definitely dense. No dialogue, long paragraphs, etc.
But I did enjoy it.

Some of the things he writes about in the early chapters regarding relations between different countries and regions are not that far-fetched.

I finished it! My brain is tired!
But he certainly has a good imagination.

Here are some cool images.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887...

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887...

Thanks for those!

I finally managed to finish this. I can understand why it's regarded as important in the development of the genre......but it's never going to be on my "must re-read" list.

John wrote: "I finally managed to finish this. I can understand why it's regarded as important in the development of the genre......but it's never going to be on my "must re-read" list."

I agree!

Yeah, I don't know if I'd reread it but if you liked it you need to read Star Maker too.

Sorry Book Nerd - the Wiki comment that Star Maker dwarfs "Last and First Men" has scared me off.

I enjoyed Star Maker, John!

Rosemarie wrote: "I enjoyed Star Maker, John!"

Well, since you and Book Nerd both enjoyed it, Rosemarie I'll try to work up the courage - with a "history of the Universe" I can't accuse him of lacking ambition as an author.

"dwarfs"? Not in length. They probably mean that it encompasses a lot of alien species instead of just humans.