Flowers for Algernon (novelette), by Daniel Keyes

[Wiglaf]

It is one of the stories they used to make you read in 7th and 8th grade, both years.
I think that I might have to reread it; it has been awhile.


PS It is also a movie.

 

[dask]

I haven't read the novel but I have read the novelette and I can't imagine anyone reading this and walking away thinking their time was wasted. It's simply stunning sf.

 

[dask]

It is one of the stories they used to make you read in 7th and 8th grade, both years.
I think that I might have to reread it; it has been awhile.


PS It is also a movie.

Actually it's at least two: CHARLY, a theatrical film starring Cliff Robertson, and FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON, a television movie starring Matthew Modine.

 

[j d worthington]

I haven't read the novel but I have read the novelette and I can't imagine anyone reading this and walking away thinking their time was wasted. It's simply stunning sf.

The only nit I would pick here is that I would argue one could leave off the "sf" -- this one is simply stunning... period!

 

[Connavar]

My policy is the original story in short or novella is always best to read first than the later novel made to make money in novels dominated book bizz.

Thanks to these last post i know there is a novelette and wont get the novel to try the story.

 

[j d worthington]

My policy is the original story in short or novella is always best to read first than the later novel made to make money in novels dominated book bizz.

Thanks to these last post i know there is a novelette and wont get the novel to try the story.

By no means is this always true, Connavar; nor is such a thing a recent trend, as it dates back to the 19th century, at least (Le Fanu expanded several of his shorter tales into full novels, often improving them considerably in the process; Uncle Silas being one of the results, for instance). There are times that a writer has an idea and rushes to get the thing down, but later realizes they have much more to say on the subject. There are also plenty of occasions when they themselves become dissatisfied with the original shorter version and feel they (and their ideas and talent) have grown, and they rewrite an earlier piece because of this, often expanding it along the way. This is, in fact, quite frequent with writers of sf from the 1920s on.

In this case, though I myself prefer the original short story, I can see where the novel is actually quite complementary, as it expands on various ideas only briefly touched on in the shorter tale, and introduces a great deal more to characters who were only sketched in originally. It also tackles things that simply were still taboo in the magazine sf of the period. As I said before, both are very much worth checking out, as each offers much that the other doesn't have....

 

[Connavar]

By no means is this always true, Connavar; nor is such a thing a recent trend, as it dates back to the 19th century, at least (Le Fanu expanded several of his shorter tales into full novels, often improving them considerably in the process; Uncle Silas being one of the results, for instance). There are times that a writer has an idea and rushes to get the thing down, but later realizes they have much more to say on the subject. There are also plenty of occasions when they themselves become dissatisfied with the original shorter version and feel they (and their ideas and talent) have grown, and they rewrite an earlier piece because of this, often expanding it along the way. This is, in fact, quite frequent with writers of sf from the 1920s on.

In this case, though I myself prefer the original short story, I can see where the novel is actually quite complementary, as it expands on various ideas only briefly touched on in the shorter tale, and introduces a great deal more to characters who were only sketched in originally. It also tackles things that simply were still taboo in the magazine sf of the period. As I said before, both are very much worth checking out, as each offers much that the other doesn't have....

I think its the best way cause you can read original story first and then see what the author did make when he enlarged the story into a novel.

Also i prefer shorter stories in SFF, too many great authors of the past in the fields has made me like that.

I know its not a recent trend but in SF specially many authors has done their award winning shorter stories in to novels when it became the era of paperbacks,hardcovers. Thats why i prefer the short version read first. You dont want to be cheated by the original rated story cause reading it after novel version isnt the same.

Also about how it not a recent trend, i was reading the introduction of The Caves of Steel a couple of days ago where Asimov talked about how he came up with the Baley Robot series. Some editior wanted a novel version of a Robot story after Asimov became popular with the readers for the early Robot stories like Robbie,other I,Robot stories.

 

[Omphalos]

In circumstances like these I like to read both the orininal short version, then the later longer one, Connovar. Sometimes there is a start difference in quality, sometimes not. Stories like Ender's Game, Blood Music and Beggars in Spain, for example. In stories like these and Flowers for Algernon the authors get their points across well in each, and I like to compare the two. That is a great way, I think, to understand an author and where they are coming from both with teh story, and in general.

 

[dask]

In circumstances like these I like to read both the orininal short version, then the later longer one, Connovar. Sometimes there is a start difference in quality, sometimes not. Stories like Ender's Game, Blood Music and Beggars in Spain, for example. In stories like these and Flowers for Algernon the authors get their points across well in each, and I like to compare the two. That is a great way, I think, to understand an author and where they are coming from both with teh story, and in general.

Whenever possible the above is the way to do it. I enjoyed the short version of "The Witches Of Karres" by James H. Schmitz so much I read the novel and liked it even more. However, if I remember correctly the novel is pretty much an extension of the story, not an expanded reintegrated rewrite.

 

[j d worthington]

Whenever possible the above is the way to do it. I enjoyed the short version of "The Witches Of Karres" by James H. Schmitz so much I read the novel and liked it even more. However, if I remember correctly the novel is pretty much an extension of the story, not an expanded reintegrated rewrite.

It's been a while, but as I recall, you're correct on that. Certainly, that's one of the wonkiest sf stories of all time....

Connavar: I'd agree that that is, in general, a good policy. For one thing, if you don't like what you read, you're not expending nearly as much time; for another, you get to see the writer expand their ideas, which can be fascinating in itself.

On The Caves of Steel -- IIRC, it was Horace L. Gold, who was editor of Galaxy, someone who had published Asimov for years, and who had had a lot of editorial input during that time. As I recall, he suggested a science fiction detective story, something Isaac was dubious about, but having a love of both fields, took it as a challenge to prove it could be pulled off, something about which there was considerable doubt. (In fact, according to some sources, it was John W. Campbell -- then one of the most powerful voices in sf as editor of Astounding Science Fiction -- who claimed that the two genres were incompatible. Wiki mentions this, but doesn't go into detail beyond that, but you can find remarks on this in scattered sources both by Asimov, iirc, and historians of the genre.)

I may be misremembering some of this, as it has been some time since I last read Asimov's account of the matter, but for what it's worth....

 

[Connavar]

It's been a while, but as I recall, you're correct on that. Certainly, that's one of the wonkiest sf stories of all time....

Connavar: I'd agree that that is, in general, a good policy. For one thing, if you don't like what you read, you're not expending nearly as much time; for another, you get to see the writer expand their ideas, which can be fascinating in itself.

On The Caves of Steel -- IIRC, it was Horace L. Gold, who was editor of Galaxy, someone who had published Asimov for years, and who had had a lot of editorial input during that time. As I recall, he suggested a science fiction detective story, something Isaac was dubious about, but having a love of both fields, took it as a challenge to prove it could be pulled off, something about which there was considerable doubt. (In fact, according to some sources, it was John W. Campbell -- then one of the most powerful voices in sf as editor of Astounding Science Fiction -- who claimed that the two genres were incompatible. Wiki mentions this, but doesn't go into detail beyond that, but you can find remarks on this in scattered sources both by Asimov, iirc, and historians of the genre.)

I may be misremembering some of this, as it has been some time since I last read Asimov's account of the matter, but for what it's worth....

Yep it was Gold, i actually have Asimov's own words mention all the things in your post about it. Interesting things you read about how he felt about John W. Cambpell. Very interesting to read a legendary writer like Asimov's own words about getting published in mags and the editor having so much power. How proud/glad Asimov was when Cambpell first accepted a story without changing anything in it before it was published.

Makes you think of how easy famous writers has it today. In the hole we give you millions in a 3 books contract and you have to write a book a year and thats it.

 

[j d worthington]

Of course, in those days, Asimov could (and did) hop a subway and actually go see JWC in person to talk over stories and story ideas with him, even as a very new writer. Not that easy to do, these days....

Speaking of which... not to take the thread further off-topic, but I'm wondering, Connavar: given your interest in "Golden Age" sf... have you ever read any of the stories Campbell wrote? While he's by no means a favorite of mine, he did write some damn' good stuff in his time; "Twilight" remains a very powerful piece, and "Who Goes There?" is deservedly a classic....

 

[Omphalos]

I loved Campbells stuff that he wrote as Don A. Stuart. Here's a link to the recent Nesfa collection of all of those pieces:

Omphalos' Book Reviews: Book Info

 

[Connavar]

J.D i was surprised when i read somwhere that JWC wrote sf himself and i read some of them being classic, maybe even the ones you mentioned.

As you said me and golden age sf are good friends by the judge of the sf books i have so i will eventually read him ,prolly sooner than later.

 

[Omphalos]

Here is a link to some of the stuff that Campbell wrote under his own name, Connovar.

Science Fiction (Bookshelf) - Gutenberg

 

[Rodders]

I thought I'd bump this as i think it's one of those books that is well worth talking about. On my TBR pile to a long time and i finally got around to reading it last year and i thought it was a stunning book.

The book to me seemed to focus on Charlie's loneliness above everything else. Always outside of the group, Charlie is made fun of as a mentally challenged person, but he's unaware and happy. (Ignorance truly is bliss, eh?) As his intellect increases, he's rejected by this "friends" and i felt that he never quite connected with anyone. Charlie's degradation near the end of the book is especially sad because he knows what's happening.

Ultimately, i think it's less lonely to be the fool than to be more intelligenter than everyone else.

 

[Vertigo]

I would recommend anyone who has loved this to give The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon a try. Slightly different angle as it's about an autistic person (Moon's son is autistic) and when a 'cure' becomes available it's about the ethics and desirability of the cure. It's not up there on the same level as Flowers but it is very good and nothing like Moon's more normal adventure space operas.

 

[Rodders]

I'll be sure to check it out.