R - Novels

Recalled to Life (1957)

  • M: Infinity, June-August 1958
  • PB: Lancer, 1962
  • PB: Lancer, 1967
  • HB: Doubleday, 1971 (revised)
  • PB: Panther, 1975, 188 pages
  • PB: Ace, 1976, 238 pages (with introduction)

From the cover blurb (Lancer 1962):

It was the supreme irony. Humanity, apparently, feared being RECALLED TO LIFE more than it feared death itself.

When Harker joined the little group of scientists, he didn't realize the problems he would face. Their discovery made it possible to revive corpses to a full, healthy life. they thought the world would welcome it as the greatest boon of all time.

Instead, the world fought them, bitterly and savagely. Bewildered, they could find no way to fight back. The problem was Harker's to solve, and there seemed to be only one answer...

Harker himself had to die!

 Coverf art from Lancer 1967 edition uncredited
Cover art 1962 uncredited In the introduction to the Ace edition, Silverberg remarks that "Born with the Dead" is "virtually its sequel." The title is from Dickens' Tale of Two Cities. Cover art from Ace 1976 edition uncredited

Regan's Planet (1964)

  • PB: Pyramid, 1964, 141 pages

From the cover blurb:

In 1492, Columbus discovered America...and in 1992 Claude Regan had to make it happen again!

The US needed a shot in the arm as the 20th Century went into its last decade--and a World's Fair celebrating 500 years of American civilization might turn the trick.

The President put the whole job in the lap of the trickiest, most ruthless promoter in the country--Claude Regan. And the first thing Regan realized was the Earth wasn't big enough to hold the kind of Fair he wanted...

...so he built a new world!

 Cover art from Pyramid PB uncredited
This book (a "wild and wacky novel" according to its cover) is a prequel to World's Fair 1992.

Revolt on Alpha C (1954)

Cover art from Warner reprint uncredited
  • HB: Thomas Y Crowell, 1955
  • BP: Scholastic Books, 1959, 118 pages, ISBN 0-590-05435-X
  • PB: Warner, 1989, 86 pages

From the cover blurb (Warner):

Thirty-five years ago, young Robert Silverberg burst onto the s.f. scene to become one of the most honored writers in the history of science fiction--the only author to win 5 Nebula Awards and 3 Hugo Awards.

His historic first novel, REVOLT ON ALPHA C, is a work of nonstop excitement, courage, and conscience that takes us from the perils of deep space to terror on a jungle planet of dinosaurs--and revolution...

Larry Stark's life is the Patrol--until he's ordered to smash the freedom fighters on colony world Alpha C IV, as his own shipmates desert to join the rebellion. Loyalty to the Patrol will make Stark a mass murderer. Loyalty to his friends will make him a traitor. Alone on an alien world, Stark must choose sides...or be marked for death--

By both camps...
Cover art from SBS edition unknown year Revolt on Alpha C is not a major work by any standard, but as Silverberg's first novel it does occupy a cherished place in the history of science fiction. It contains many of the hallmarks of his later work (distrust of authority, questioning of tradition), but in embryonic form, showing more promise than accomplishment. In spite of its shortcomings, it has been reprinted many times and translated into foreign languages. For the occasion of Silverberg's 35th year in the business, Warner Books offered copies of it free to purchasers of At Winter's End. The special edition has an introduction explaining the history of the book, how it came to be written, Silverberg's first struggles to produce something an editor would buy, and confirmation that the character Harl Ellison was indeed named after the writer of the same name, then a neighbor of Silverberg in New York.

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Last updated October 21, 2002

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