twick
October 16th, 2011, 04:31 PM
In the 1970s or '80s, I read a sci-fi novel set in a nursing home; an old man, resident in the home, begins to have dreams of being revitalized and joining diverse aliens and other humans in battles between massive space fleets, dreams from which he awakens exhausted and confused, as well as old (still? again?). Then, little by little, the old man comes to realize that other residents in the home, women as well as men, are having dreams like his: they are fighting in--and sometimes not surviving--the same battles, serving alongside the same alien allies.
Toward the novel's end, as the old man lies dying in the nursing home, he dreams (not dreams?) that he is visited by a fleet commander who explains to him the value of his service, thanks him for his service, and awards him the decorations that his service has earned him.
The novel shares certain elements with (to my knowledge) at least two novels of the 1950s: John D. MacDonald's BALLROOM OF THE SKIES (1952)--in which earth is a recruiting ground for fleet commanders of beings from many worlds--and Eric Frank Russell's SENTINELS FROM SPACE (1951)--in which, in a solar setting, human beings play an important role in a greater, stellar conflict.
Because the novel whose author/title I seek shares elements with these two 1950s novels, the sought-after novel itself may also date as early as the 1950s, or maybe the 1960s; but it was in the 1970s or 1980s that I read it.
Toward the novel's end, as the old man lies dying in the nursing home, he dreams (not dreams?) that he is visited by a fleet commander who explains to him the value of his service, thanks him for his service, and awards him the decorations that his service has earned him.
The novel shares certain elements with (to my knowledge) at least two novels of the 1950s: John D. MacDonald's BALLROOM OF THE SKIES (1952)--in which earth is a recruiting ground for fleet commanders of beings from many worlds--and Eric Frank Russell's SENTINELS FROM SPACE (1951)--in which, in a solar setting, human beings play an important role in a greater, stellar conflict.
Because the novel whose author/title I seek shares elements with these two 1950s novels, the sought-after novel itself may also date as early as the 1950s, or maybe the 1960s; but it was in the 1970s or 1980s that I read it.