''Helliconia Summer'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

novel by British writer

Brian Aldiss Brian Wilson Aldiss (; 18 August 1925 – 19 August 2017) was an English writer, artist and anthology editor, best known for science fiction novels and short stories. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss, except for oc ...

, published in 1983. It is the second part of the ''

Helliconia The Helliconia trilogy is a series of science fiction books by British writer Brian W. Aldiss, set on the Earth-like planet Helliconia. It is an epic chronicling the rise and fall of a civilisation over thousands of years as the planet progre ...

'' trilogy, following ''

Helliconia Spring ''Helliconia Spring'' is a novel by Brian W. Aldiss published in 1982. It is the first part of the ''Helliconia'' trilogy, followed by '' Helliconia Summer'' (1983) and '' Helliconia Winter'' (1985). Plot summary ''Helliconia Spring'' is a novel ...

'' (1982) and followed by ''

Helliconia Winter ''Helliconia Winter'' is a novel by Brian W. Aldiss published in 1985. It is the third part of the ''Helliconia'' trilogy, following ''Helliconia Spring'' (1982) and '' Helliconia Summer'' (1983). Plot summary The third part of the trilogy, ''Hell ...

'' (1985).

Plot summary

The novel is set in the world of Helliconia, which is experiencing an intensely hot summer.

Reception

Dave Langford David Rowland Langford (born 10 April 1953) is a British author, editor, and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science-fiction fanzine and newsletter ''Ansible'' and holds the all-time record for most Hug ...

reviewed ''Helliconia Summer'' for ''

White Dwarf A white dwarf is a Compact star, stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. A white dwarf is very density, dense: in an Earth sized volume, it packs a mass that is comparable to the Sun. No nuclear fusion takes place i ...

'' #50, and stated that "Fine writing, unforgettable images: and hanging over it all, the doomy awareness of Helliconia-watchers in the orbiting Earth Station Avernus, who know and remind us that all this differs only in detail from the summer of the last Great Year."

Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman (; born Neil Richard Gaiman; 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, audio theatre, and screenplays. His works include the comic series ''The Sandman (comic book), The Sandma ...

reviewed ''Helliconia Summer'' for ''

Imagine Imagine may refer to: * Imagination Music Albums * ''Imagine'' (Armin van Buuren album), 2008 * ''Imagine'' (Eva Cassidy album), 2002 * ''Imagine'' (Janice Vidal album), 2012 * ''Imagine'' (John Lennon album), 1971 ** ''Imagine: John Lennon' ...

'' magazine, and stated that "Rich and romantic, the story of the world of Helliconia where the seasons take two thousand years to turn, and humans and the horned and shaggy phagor are locked in continual struggle, is one that continues to echo through the mind long after the last page of the book is finished."

Reviews

*Review by Faren Miller (1983) in Locus, #272 September 1983https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1797 *Review by Frank Catalano (1984) in

Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearance ...

, July 1984 *Review by Tom Easton (1984) in

Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William Cl ...

, July 1984 *Review by Don D'Ammassa (1985) in

Science Fiction Chronicle ''Science Fiction Chronicle'' (later, just ''Chronicle'') was an American science fiction magazine (also called semiprozine) published from 1979 to 2006. It was named ''Science Fiction Chronicle'' until 2002 and from then until 2006, just ''Chro ...

, #64 January 1985 *Review by Peter Caracciolo (1985) in Foundation, #35 Winter 1985/1986, (1986)

References

{{reflist 1983 British novels 1983 science fiction novels