''The Fall of the Towers'' is a trilogy of
science fantasy
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books by
American
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writer
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Samuel R. Delany
Samuel R. "Chip" Delany (, ; born April 1, 1942) is an American writer and literary critic. His work includes fiction (especially science fiction), memoir, criticism, and essays on science fiction, literature, sexual orientation, sexuality, and ...
.
First published in omnibus form in 1970, the trilogy was originally published individually as ''
Captives of the Flame
''Captives of the Flame'' is a 1963 science fantasy novel by Samuel R. Delany, and is the debut novel, first novel in the ''The Fall of the Towers, Fall of the Towers'' trilogy. The novel was originally published as List of Ace double novels, Ace ...
'' (1963, rewritten as ''
Out of the Dead City'' in 1968), ''
The Towers of Toron'' (1964), and ''
City of a Thousand Suns'' (1965). The first two books were somewhat rewritten for the omnibus edition. Delany describes the extent of the rewriting in a final note in the one-volume text.
The stories of the Fall of the Towers trilogy were originally set in the same post-holocaust Earth as Delany's earlier ''
The Jewels of Aptor''; however, linking references were removed in later revised editions.
[Clute and Nicholls 1995, p. 316.]
Contents
* Notes on Revision - essay by Samuel R. Delany
* Prologue - essay by Samuel R. Delany
* Out of the Dead City (1966) (aka
Captives of the Flame
''Captives of the Flame'' is a 1963 science fantasy novel by Samuel R. Delany, and is the debut novel, first novel in the ''The Fall of the Towers, Fall of the Towers'' trilogy. The novel was originally published as List of Ace double novels, Ace ...
, 1963)
*
The Towers of Toron (1964)
*
City of a Thousand Suns (1965)
* Epilogue (1964) - essay by Samuel R. Delany
* Afterword (1964) - essay by Samuel R. Delany
Plot
The trilogy follows the journey of Jon Koshar, a man who awakens to find himself in a new world and sets out on a quest to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Towers that dominate the landscape. Along the way, he meets mutants and telepaths who help him navigate a dangerous political landscape and overthrow the ruling elite. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as they fight to bring about a better future for all.
References
Sources
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External links
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Novels by Samuel Delany
American science fiction novels
American fantasy novels
Books with cover art by Frank Kelly Freas
Ace Books books
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