Futurism logo

Impressionism in Science Fiction: "Nova" by Samuel Delany

Space opera, dystopia, and more

By Nik HeinPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
Like
Impressionism in Science Fiction: "Nova" by Samuel Delany
Photo by Arnaud Mariat on Unsplash

Long ago, Samuel Delany was one of the first authors, along with James Ballard, to introduce me to the strange and amazing world of the New Wave of science fiction. The first time I read Nova was in 1991, and I was immersed in the novel's weird world. Back then, I was a solid fan of hard sci-fi, but Delany's book, on the other hand, was totally from another dimension. It was like: "wow, why did nobody tell me before that it's possible to write like that!?" (Then it was followed by Babel-17, which finally shattered the rest of my stereotypical perception of SF.)

Of course, some of the sci-fi geeks did not appreciate Delany's experimental prose. It's an eternal debate between fans of simple linear plots (I think there's nothing wrong with simplicity, by the way) and gourmet connoisseurs of strange and twisted fiction. What is more critical: a strict logical sequence of events or emotional intensity, internal consistency, and colourful pictures of the unforeseeable future?

Personally, I do not see a conflict or contradiction here. I'm placing Nova in the elite number of science fiction masterpieces, and I'm not alone in this opinion. In 1969 the novel was nominated for a Hugo Award, along with Symak's The Goblin Reservation, Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar, and Raphael Lafferty's Past Master. That's quite a list, don't you think?

As in his other works, in Nova, Delaney combines the seemingly incongruous: a classic adventure novel (a team of almost outcasts assembled "from scratch" on a quest for a great treasure, led by the pirate clan heir) and a space opera, as well as social fiction. Delaney accurately predicted the psychological and social consequences of losing individuals' connection to direct productive labour. I think we already starting to experience this process. And finally, the psychological novel (each character of the novel suffered severe trauma in childhood/youth and dragged its consequences all his life).

Modern artists working in the science fiction genre usually attach great importance to detail, venturing deep into the territory of hyper-realism. If Nova were a visual art instead of text, it would look very different: like an impressionist's bright, sharp brushstroke emotional work. In fact, this definition can be applied to almost all of Delany's early books.

Perhaps to some degree, Delany sacrifices small details and plot threads for the sake of an overall vivid impression. It is common to reproach him for this, although I'm not going to do this because of the novel's brilliant and unforgettable characters. Lorq Von Ray, Mouse, Katin (the man who dreams of writing/reviving a great novel but never dares to start it: an obvious reflection of Delany himself), Prince, and Ruby Red; they all have been etched in my memory.

And in the end, as it should be in a good novel, it turns out that it wasn't about getting the treasure. The picture is much, much bigger…

By the way, it was from that novel that I first learned about the existence of tarot cards, and, as a true science geek should, for a while, I even thought they were made up by Delaney. It's just a fun fact, like the fact that I still want to believe that Katin finally wrote his novel and that the Mouse got tired of wandering through space and is sitting somewhere in a Greek tavern, playing his syrynx.

I was so impressed by the book that my thoughts and emotions crystallized into the small poem I humbly present here.

Nova (to Mouse).

As through the lips with a scar

The world is dissected into

Two unequal portions.

Hate is laid

On black nothingness,

Binding the Dragon

With a proud placer

Of suns glittering with freedom,

Threatening

The impossibility of burning

In his breath.

In the flapping of his wings,

Like a webbing in the stream

Of the universe

The bird flies

To that which

To that which has not yet come true…

To the place where

She closes her eyes

Carelessly scooping up the agony

The agony of a star,

To harness

For the Dragon

Of the living flame.

book reviewextraterrestrialscience fictionspace
Like

About the Creator

Nik Hein

A sci-fi reader, writer and fan. If you like my stories, there's more here

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.