Slan
by A. E. van Vogt, Oliver Wyman, Kevin J. Anderson · first published 1946
75% recommend25% neutral
"Fans are Slans," became the catchphrase of early science fiction fandom in the wake of this novel. Like the Slans - telepathic mutants hiding out in a hostile population - science fiction fans considered themselves a haunted special minority, imbued with transcendent and visionary insight, sure to prevail in the fullness of time. Communes were called "Slan shacks" and fans occupied them. In the wake of the atomic bomb and theories of atomic mutation, the premise of SLAN seemed ever more credible.There are two kinds of Slans - those whose tendrils publicize their power to read the minds of
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2008–2026Doomsday book
Connie Willis
Recommended by 12 · mentioned by 1612 recommend · 16 mention12 recommend · 1612 recommend
2010–2025The years of rice and salt
Kim Stanley Robinson
Recommended by 10 · mentioned by 1910 recommend · 19 mention10 recommend · 1910 recommend
2008–2026The Night's Dawn Trilogy
Peter F. Hamilton
Recommended by 17 · mentioned by 2617 recommend · 26 mention17 recommend · 2617 recommend
2008–2026Feersum endjinn
Iain Banks
Recommended by 15 · mentioned by 3315 recommend · 33 mention15 recommend · 3315 recommend
2008–2026Last and First Men
Olaf Stapledon
Recommended by 24 · mentioned by 3924 recommend · 39 mention24 recommend · 3924 recommend
2008–2026Lord of Light
Roger Zelazny
Recommended by 37 · mentioned by 4437 recommend · 44 mention37 recommend · 4437 recommend
2008–2026The Stars My Destination
Alfred Bester
Recommended by 34 · mentioned by 4834 recommend · 48 mention34 recommend · 4834 recommend
2007–2026Oryx and Crake
Margaret Atwood
Recommended by 26 · mentioned by 5126 recommend · 51 mention26 recommend · 5126 recommend
…is from the 40s. Deathworld by Harry Harrison. I've been waiting for some screenplay writer to stumble across this one, and if I had to guess James Cameron probably did, but just didn't tell anyone. SLAN by A. E. van Vogt. The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz. Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, and Paratime by H. Beam Piper. However the best of all, is maybe only slightly less know, since the author is…
on “Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read?” ↗depends on the subgenre :) Superhuman: Slan by A.E. Van Vogt More Than Human by Theodore STurgeon Odd John by Olaf Stapledon Post Apocalyptic: The Day of The Triffids by John Whyndham Earth Abides by George R. Stewart A Canticle for Lebowitz by...don't…
on “Ask YC: What's the most inspiring sci-fi book you've read?” ↗Null-A is probably the Van Vogt's most famous book, but others are great as well, I loved "Slan" from the same author : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slan
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗Try A. E. van Vogt, Slan, 1946 for even more precient.
on “Mini antimatter accelerator could rival the likes of the Large Hadron Collider” ↗…lapsed into the public domain. That's not true for a lot of the stuff mentioned. (A decent collection of Van Vogt is available through Baen Book's Webscriptions program, though it lacks classics like Slan.) You will find the occasional oddity: a couple of Samuel R. Delany's early Ace Double publications just popped up, and Chip is still very much alive. Chip has been in the business a long time - if…
on “Project Gutenberg's science fiction bookshelf” ↗