Star Maker
by Olaf Stapledon · first published 1937
59% recommend41% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Epic 1937 cosmic tour in which a narrator leaves his body and watches time and space scale up through countless civilizations and the Maker. Valued for sheer wonder, scope and philosophical depth.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
After reading "Last and First Men", I approached Olaf's next masterpiece, "Star Maker" ( first published in 1937), with some disbelief as to how on earth he could possibly better the span, pathos and magnanimity he had already laid out. A quick scan of the appendices yielded the impression that this book would embrace not just the tiny fragment of history that was mankind's stay in the universe, but that all history of the universe would be described, and that of other universes too. All of this in less pages than "Last and First Men"! My immediate reaction was simply, "No way, Jose" and I won
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2008–2026Last and First Men
Olaf Stapledon
Recommended by 24 · mentioned by 3924 recommend · 39 mention24 recommend · 3924 recommend
2011–2025Cities in Flight
James Blish
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 42 recommend · 4 mention2 recommend · 42 recommend
2009–2026Mission of gravity
Hal Clement
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 109 recommend · 10 mention9 recommend · 109 recommend
2010–2025Grass
Sheri S. Tepper
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 55 recommend · 5 mention5 recommend · 55 recommend
2011–2024Callahan's Crosstime Saloon
Spider Robinson
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 65 recommend · 6 mention5 recommend · 65 recommend
2009–2026Dragon's egg
Robert L. Forward
Recommended by 40 · mentioned by 6040 recommend · 60 mention40 recommend · 6040 recommend
2011–2026Spin
Robert Charles Wilson
Recommended by 23 · mentioned by 2523 recommend · 25 mention23 recommend · 2523 recommend
2014–2024The Postman
David Brin
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 53 recommend · 5 mention3 recommend · 53 recommend
…fixing problems. 3. H.G. Well's "Time Machine" (1895) has the end of all human civilization and "The Shape of Things to Come" (1933) while utopian is also extremely grim at points. 4. Stapledon's works, "Star Maker" (1937) and "First and Last Men" (1930) which were extremely influential on the science fiction of that time are grand and chaotic. Several of the time periods described could easily be cyberpunk. 5.…
on “The Cyberpunk Sensibility (2016)” ↗I first read about this many years ago, in Olav Stapledon's brilliant Star Maker, about a man who takes a magical mystery tour through the whole of time and space: "Then the Star Maker said, "Let there be light." And there was light. From all the coincident and punctual centers…
on “The Disappearing Universe” ↗…by Frederick Brown? http://www.roma1.infn.it/~anzel/answer.html Perhaps the shortest SF story worth reading... There's also some other "big scale" SF like Greg Egan's Diaspora or Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker that might qualify. Egan's book ends up with the main character having run through trillions of AI simulations in new universes, including higher dimensional ones. Stapledon's book is the story of…
on “Size Comparison - Science Fiction spaceships” ↗Star Maker is great. Available online here: <http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/stapledon/olaf/star/chapter1...
on “The Disappearing Universe” ↗Stanislaw Lem: Fiasco Stanislaw Lem: His Master's Voice Strugarsky Brothers: Roadside Picnic Olaf Stapledon: Star Maker
on “Sci-Fi Novels You Should Read” ↗…finds it can't escape the solar system and is doomed anyhow. Despite its long history, humanity warrants only a footnote in history of the whole cosmos (sentient nebulae onwards) given in Stapledon's Star Maker. So given your pessimistic outlook, you might rather enjoy it :)
on “On Stapledon's “Last and First Men” (1986)” ↗Olaf Stapledon's "Star Maker" Is one of my favorite books of all time. Its pretty much a grand exploration of this universe and every other universe to ever exist, through the eyes of the main character. I'm rereading it right now…
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon.
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗…understood definition of "sustainability". Three hundred mega-years (what I meant) is a somewhat arbitrary milestone. (I think long-term but 10^15 years is a bit much for even me. But see Stapledon's "Star Maker"...) (BTW, your thinking seems unusually clear on these matters.)
on “The Ocean is Broken (2013)” ↗Reminds me of [Star Maker](http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/stapledon/olaf/star/contents...).
on “Electric life forms that live on energy” ↗Inded. I personally think Star Maker is better for sheer wonder and scope. I love how Stapledon will casually dash off a whole civilization in two pages that other authors may spend a dozen books fleshing out.
on “On Stapledon's “Last and First Men” (1986)” ↗If you find this topic interesting to think about I strongly recommend the book Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon. It was written in 1930's, but in some ways it's still incredibly refreshing and thought provoking.
on “Can a Living Creature Be as Big as a Galaxy?” ↗Agreed. Three fiction recommendations: * The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood * The Last Question by Isaac Asimov * Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon Three non-fiction recommendations: * Art is Work by Milton Glaser * Pragmatic Thinking And Learning by Andy Hunt * The First And Last Freedom by Jiddu Krishnamurti
on “Summer Reading List” ↗Star Maker is a beautiful book, warmly recommended, available here: https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/stapledon/olaf/star/
on “Ikea founder leaves fortune to no one, structures it to ensure it lasts forever” ↗…of Lies is still one of my all-time faves. Haven't tried 3BP. Haven't even heard of Quantum Thief, but that sounds fun; I might look it out. One classic I keep meaning to reread is Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker. Never surpassed in scope, and you've got to hand it to someone who predicted teledildonics in 1937.
on “Blindsight (2006)” ↗