2011 books

[peteryoung]

12) William Tenn, Of Men and Monsters, 1968
Philip Klass (aka. William Tenn)'s only novel has one of SF's most memorable opening lines: "Mankind consisted of 128 people." which, if you're familiar with the disposition of Tenn's satire, might immediately raise a knowing smile. The Mankind in question is surviving like vermin after the long-ago arrival of powerful aliens whose technology has driven us to living in the walls of their alien homes while scavenging for food and ways to hit back, and the coming of age of the rather wimpish Eric the Only is just beginning. I particularly liked Tenn's idea of 'ancestor science' vs. 'alien science' as a metaphor for enlightenment vs. hand-me-down religion as Eric gradually comes to realise just how much his upbringing has kept him in the dark while feeding him bullshit. As a light Bildungsroman Of Men and Monsters works well enough even if the satire does fizzle the further into the novel you get and it becomes more of a straightforward adventure, or even a parody of one. I've read many of Tenn's short stories and so was expecting more wry laughs than I felt were delivered, but this is still very enjoyable and will be joining the SF Masterworks list in a few months time.