[Mithfânion]

I saw these novels in stores the other day and both seemed like wonderfully charming little sf novels. FFA is by Daniel Keyes, even won a big award I think, and Greybeard by Brian Aldiss seemed like a striking tale about a group of people at the long anticipated ending of the world.

Has anyone read either of them?

[Sammie]

Nope...but 'Flowers for Algernon' was one of the options for some English Lit thing we did at secondary school - and a lot of my friends read it then - they pretty much all liked it...is a 'classic', no? I want to read it - i flipped thorough it in the bookshop recently...but decided to save my money (Good GOD - SO unlike me! :D)

[Ladijen]

I haven't read "Greybeard", but "Flowers for Algernon" is fantastic! (And sad--it made me cry.) There is an older movie based on FfA (called "Charlie", I think) which was also quite good.

[fortytwo]

Flowers for Algernon:
I've only read the shorter version as published in some magazines. It's a smashing story but as Ladijen said it's also sad. it's won both a Hugo (shortened version) and a Nebula. The film based on it was Charly which came out in the 60's.

Greybeard :
Another good story,taking place in the aftermath of a Biological War. Humanity has become sterile. I enjoyed it, which I don't always do with Aldiss

42

[lemming]

Flowers for Algernon is an incredible book... and yes it made me cry, but it has funny and exhilarating parts as well. An absolute must-read, in my little world anyway.

I hadn't heard of Greybeard before, but it's on my list now, thanks to you guys.

[Hobbit]

Yes agree..out of the two Flowers for Algenon is fantastic!
Not a cheerful book, but a must read!

Aldiss's dates from the 60's too....it is earlier Aldiss, (ie: pre Helliconia etc) so it is brief and generally to the point. Read it a long while ago, thought it Ok but remember little about it now.

Both are in David Pringle's 100 Best Sf Novels, I think.

Hobbit

[chocky]

Flowers for Algernon is a very good book. Be prepared, because you won't be able to put it down.

[Ken Korczak]

Flowers for A. is a masterful book. You can tell the writer was inspired and tells a tragic story incredibly well, without any padding -- this is a book that gets everything just just right. It's a gem! Read it!

[Ouroboros]

FFA is , like everyone says, a true classic. It's one of the finer ambassadors for the sci-fi genre and is a good 'gateway' book to give friends who swear blind they refuse to read the genre.

It's an interesting book from a writing perspective in the sense that as the narrator's intelligence rises (hardly a spoiler, I hope), his prose becomes more complex and fluid, very interesting.

[raggedyman]

By all means grab FFA asap! I think it won both the nebula and hugo awards. As for "Graybeard" I tought it was mediocre . The only book by Aldiss ive really liked was "Hothouse".