Superhero novels

[Matthew E]

One of the things I like to read is superhero-related prose fiction. For original superheroes, I mean; I don't care about novelizations of comic book characters and stuff; most of that kind of thing is pretty bad. I've tracked down as much of it as I could, but it's hard to know what's out there. So here's my list of what I've heard of:

**The Wild Cards series - George R.R. Martin (ed.) (three more books coming!)
*Superfolks - Robert Mayer
**Flyboy Action Figure Comes With Gas Mask - Jim Munroe
*Count Geiger's Blues - Michael Bishop
*Those Who Walk in Darkness and What Fire Cannot Burn - John Ridley
**Temps and **Euro-Temps - Neil Gaiman and Alex Stewart (eds) (another shared world)
Other People's Heroes - Blake M. Petit
**The Scarlet Pimpernel and its sequels - Baroness Orczy
*The Curse of Capistrano and its sequels - Johnston McCulley (this is Zorro)
*Nobody Gets the Girl - James R. Maxey
The League of Heroes - Xavier Maumejean (not available in English?)
The Quantum Prophecy (and sequels, I think) - Michael Carroll
"It's Superman" - Tom de Haven
*The Fortress of Solitude - Jonathan Lethem
What They Did to Princess Paragon - Robert Rodi
*Riftworlds series - Stan Lee (edited or ghosted or something)
Brave Men Run - Matthew Wayne Selznick
The Kryptonite Kid - Joseph Torchia
Gladiator - Philip Gordon Wylie
**The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - Michael Chabon
*Superheroes - John Varley (ed.) (short story anthology)
*Night Tales series - Nora Roberts (actually romance, but it's all grist for my mill)

(asterisks next to the ones I've read. Two asterisks next to the ones I strongly recommend)

So I figure this is the right crowd to ask these questions:

1. Anybody know anything that can be added to this list?

2. Anybody know anything good or bad about the ones I haven't read?

3. Anybody want to know anything about the ones I have read?

Thanks.

[The Batman]

Well there's a few characters in the Dune novels who are superhumans if not superheroes and they tend to explore, among many ideas, the ramifications of superhumans in the universes or religion and politics.

[Lester C.]

Does anyone know if Bill Mccay and Stan Lee ever finished the Rift World series? The last book came out many years ago, but there was a several year gap between book three and book four so who knows.

[Matthew E]

Since I posted this topic I've discovered this blog, Super Reader (http://superprose.blogspot.com/), which seems to be trying to be the ultimate resource for this stuff. On the other hand, the guy includes a lot of spy and pulp and science fiction stuff that I wouldn't include. Like, he even has Sherlock Holmes on there. But it's still good.

[Buzz Dixon]

GLADIATOR by Phillip Wylie, THE POWER by Thomas Scortia (I think; not 100% sure on that) and the WEIRD HEROES books published by Byron Priess, and Philip Jose' Farmers various pastiches of Tarzan, Doc Savage, et al: LORD OF THE TREES, TARZAN ALIVE, DOC SAVAGE: HIS APOCALYPTIC LIFE, LORD TYGER, THE MAD GOBLIN, A FEAST UNKNOWN. Caution: LORD OF THE TREES/THE MAD GOBLIN was an Ace double that served as a double barreled sequel to A FEAST UNKNOWN; the Ace double is PG-13 but A FEAST UNKNOWN is hard core X-rated erotica.

[Kirayoshi]

I dunno if this counts, but "The Second Logs of Phineas Fogg" by Philip Jose Farmer provides a superhero-ish twist on classic British pulps of the 19th Century. The story involves the revelation that a meteor landed in Wold-Newton outside of London during the early 1800s, irradiating the area as a number of affluent couples were crossing the region via horse-drawn carriage. The resulting children possessed superhuman physical and mental traits, becoming the great figures of the British pulps; Holmes, Nemo, Phineas Fogg, Tarzan. If you enjoyed Alan Moore's "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", check it out.

[Roquefort Raider]

1. Anybody know anything that can be added to this list?

Lash House, by CBR's own Cei-U. It's honestly the best super-hero novel I've read, and ranks up there with Kingdom Come as tales of aging heroes go. A very good story backed by an impressive knowledge of DC characters and history. (It's unfortunately not in print, which is a darn shame considering that it's so much better than most of the exploitative prose being published today with the purpose of exploiting franchises rather than tell good stories).

[Ed Cunard]

"It's Superman" - Tom de Haven

I'm rather fond of this one myself. I finally bought and read it, and--wow. It's certainly not recognizeable as the Superman being published today--it's kind of a mix of the Siegel/Shuster Superman of 1939, mixed with the self-doubt and frailty that they have tried to instill in more contemporary Superman comics, offered through a pulp filter and seasoned with just enough historical and cultural references to tie everything together in a way reminiscent of Carter Beats the Devil or Kavalier and Clay. It also has what may be my favorite characterization of Lex Luthor ever.

[sheets]

If Wylie's Gladiator counts, Olaf Stapledon's Odd John should probably also go on the list. Also, Wilmar Shiras's Children of the Atom, AE Van Vogt's Slan, and Henry Kuttner's "Baldie" stories, which were all probably highly influential on the creation of the X-Men.

[Don Blanco]

More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon was about super powered mutant kids, pre-dating the X-MEN by maybe a good ten years.

[bluetyson]

Does anyone know if Bill Mccay and Stan Lee ever finished the Rift World series? The last book came out many years ago, but there was a several year gap between book three and book four so who knows.

No idea Did not even know there were four books? What is the fourth one called?

[bluetyson]

I dunno if this counts, but "The Second Logs of Phineas Fogg" by Philip Jose Farmer provides a superhero-ish twist on classic British pulps of the 19th Century. The story involves the revelation that a meteor landed in Wold-Newton outside of London during the early 1800s, irradiating the area as a number of affluent couples were crossing the region via horse-drawn carriage. The resulting children possessed superhuman physical and mental traits, becoming the great figures of the British pulps; Holmes, Nemo, Phineas Fogg, Tarzan. If you enjoyed Alan Moore's "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", check it out.

Something in a similar vein, is Kim Newman's Anno-Dracula series (some story parts of which are online at various places). This is more about the vampires, but many other characters appear, and a Holmesian spinoff Diogenes Club has agents/adventurers trying to prevent problems (Holmes himself is imprisoned by Dracula in the first book, to prevent him being a leader of those opposed).

[bluetyson]

Well there's a few characters in the Dune novels who are superhumans if not superheroes and they tend to explore, among many ideas, the ramifications of superhumans in the universes or religion and politics.

Right, and one of the main parts of the first book is about genetic manipulation and breeding to produce the ultimate superhuman. I sort of put this sort of thing in a 'Related' section, you could call it Superhuman or Superman theme SF. I think the latter is what Clute/Nicholls file it under in the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. A borderline case, for me.

[bluetyson]

One of the things I like to read is superhero-related prose fiction. For original superheroes, I mean; I don't care about novelizations of comic book characters and stuff; most of that kind of thing is pretty bad. k) - Michael Carroll

"It's Superman" - Tom de Haven


Not all of it, though, and you have included one here, yourself. Elliott Maggin's Superman novels are also good, and ebooks of them are online here Superman website (http://theages.superman.ws/), just as one example.
Some of what you mention in your list is also not going to be overly good/bad, the pulp style Zorro, Nobody Gets The Girl, the ya Quantum Heroes (which I haven't read yet), or Nora Roberts romances!

[bluetyson]

More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon was about super powered mutant kids, pre-dating the X-MEN by maybe a good ten years.

Yep. Also, the Perry Rhodan series, at least in the Third Power arc (I haven't read any outside that) he literally has a Secret Mutant Corps of super powered mutants, of mostly the psionic variety, teleporters, telekinetics, telepaths, etc., starting from about the 4th story in English.

[bluetyson]

More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon was about super powered mutant kids, pre-dating the X-MEN by maybe a good ten years.

On the SF front, I have started on a list, and bound to be lots more, Stapledon, Sturgeon, etc., I had already put in the 'Original' section for some titles, this is what I have to look at still (some of which I have and have not read yet).

If anyone has read any and would like to offer an opinion, synopsis/summary or other please do, that would
be great. :)

----

TO INVESTIGATE SECTION

SF

Haven't Read
Brain wave - Poul Anderson
What Dreams May Come - J.D. Beresford
It's a Good Life - Jerome Bixby
Jack of Eagles - James Blish
The Whole Man - John Brunner
Emperor of the If - Guy Dent
Camp Concentration - Thomas M. Disch
Probe - Carole Nelson Douglas
Traitor to the Living - Philip Jose Farmer
The Intelligence Gigantic - John Russell Fearn
The Golden Amazon - John Russell Fearn
Bioblast - Raymond Z. Gallun
The Eden Cycle - Raymond z. Gallun
The Standing Joy - Wyman Guin
Justice and Her Brothers - Virginia Hamilton
The Imitation Man - John Hargraves
The Rose - Charles L. Harness
The Paradox Men - Charles L. Harness
The Ring of Ritornel - Charles L. Harness
Pilgrimage - Zenna Henderson
Mutant - Henry Kuttner
The Man with Six Senses - Muriel Jaeger
Hermes Speaks - Muriel Jaeger
Transfinite Man - Colin Kapp

A Plague of Demons - Keith Laumer
The Infinite Cage - Keith Laumer
Emergence - David Palmer
Minimum Man - Andrew Marvell
Timeshadow Rider - Ann Maxwell
Bettyann - Kris Neville
The Power - Frank M. Robinson
The New Adam - Noelle Roger
Tetrasomy Two - Oscar Rossiter
The Uncensored Man - Arthur Sellings
The Isle of Lies - M.P. Shiel
The Young Men are Coming - M.P. Shiel
Children of the Atom - Wilmar H. Shiras
Born with the Dead - Robert Silverberg
Downward to the Earth - Robert Silverberg
Dying Inside - Robert Silverberg
Nightwings - Robert Silverberg
Son of Man - Robert Silverberg
The Book of Skulls - Robert Silverberg
To Open the Sky - Robert Silverberg
The Fourth "R" - George O. Smith (have and at Project Gutenberg)
Highways in Hiding - George O. Smith
A Man Divided - Olaf Stapledon (have and at Project Gutenberg Australia)
The Ugly Swans - Strugatski Brothers
And My Fear is Great - Theodore Sturgeon
Maturity - Theodore Sturgeon
Telek - Jack Vance
Earth's Last Fortress - A.E. Van Vogt
The Child - A.E. Van Vogt
The Players of Null-A - A.E. Van Vogt
The World of Null-A - A.E. Van Vogt
Alien Embassy - Ian Watson
Miracle Visitors - Ian Watson
The Embedding - Ian Watson
The Jonah Kit - Ian Watson
The New Adam - Stanley G. Weinbaum
Converts - Ian Watson
Darker Than You Think - Jack Williamson
Dragon's Island - Jack Williamson
Robert Charles Wilson - The Divide
A Coming of Age - Timothy Zahn


Have Read - Leaning Yes :

Escape to Witch Mountain - Alexander Key
The Beast Master - Andre Norton
The Adaptive Ultimate - Stanley G. Weinbaum (at Project Gutenberg Australia)

Have Read - Borderline :

Dune - Frank Herbert
Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
The Forever Hero - L.E. Modesitt
Triplanetary - E.E. Doc Smith
First Lensman - E.E. Doc Smith
Galactic Patrol - E.E. Doc Smith
Grey Lensman - E.E. Doc Smith
Second Stage Lensman - E.E. Doc Smith
Children of the Lens - E.E. Doc Smith
Masters of the Vortex - E.E. Doc Smith
The Galaxy Primes - E.E. Doc Smith
Brain Child - George Turner
Slan - A.E. Van Vogt
The Beast - A.E. Van Vogt

Have Read - Wouldn't Include :

The Demolished Man - Alfred Bester
The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester
Extro - Alfred Bester
The Witches of Karres - James H. Schmitz
Childhood's End - Arthur C. Clarke
I Will Fear No Evil - Robert A. Heinlein
Time Enough for Love - Robert A. Heinlein
Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert A. Heinlein
The Gardens of Delight - Ian Watson
The Martian Inca - Ian Watson

[bluetyson]

THE POWER by Thomas Scortia (I think; not 100% sure on that) and

Buzz,

What is this one about, this one is unfamiliar to me.

Thanks,

bt

[bluetyson]

I dunno if this counts, but "The Second Logs of Phineas Fogg" by Philip Jose Farmer provides a superhero-ish twist on classic British pulps of the

Kirayoshi, mine is the Other Log of Phineas Fogg, does this one have a different title in another country? I am pretty sure there is only one of these.

[bluetyson]

The League of Heroes - Xavier Maumejean (not available in English?)

-- Pretty sure this is an English version, see the Black Coat Press website (link on blog if you want) - I think that is where that is from, several others from there too, translated from the French, new stories about older characters, etc.

So I figure this is the right crowd to ask these questions:


2. Anybody know anything good or bad about the ones I haven't read?

Gladiator is seminal, definitely worth a look. Plenty of electronic versions you can get, one at http://www.arthurwendover.com I think, for one. Might be able to get a newer version at lulu or somewhere.

3. Anybody want to know anything about the ones I have read?

-- Yes, I have Count Geiger's Blues, but have not read it yet, what did you think? Same with Flyboy?

Thanks.


Thanks,

bt

[Matthew E]

Count Geiger's Blues is... the guy doesn't want to be a superhero. He wants to bring culture to people, but his superpowers sort of drive him away from his beloved high culture. It's very strange and has almost no superhero action. But not bad.

Flyboy Action Figure Comes With Gasmask is excellent. It's about a university student who can change into a fly, and how he's inspired to become a superhero by Sailor Moon. Only he doesn't do typical crimefighting; he sort of crusades for social justice the way a typical left-leaning university student would. I'm omitting stuff (like the other supercharacters in the book) because I don't want to reveal too much, but that's the gist of it. It's very well done.

[Buzz Dixon]

bluetyson --
THE POWER is the basis of the George Pal novel of the same name. A scientist is a big research think tank suspects one of the other scientists has super mental powers and sets out to prove which one it is (they had all taken anonymous IQ tests and one of the testees rated clear off the charts). The man with "the power" is aware he has the power and doesn't want to be exposed to the world, and so starts bumping off the other scientists as they get too close to discovering his identity. There's a Big Twist at the end which give the story a clever climax.

The movie version was George Pal's penultimate film (DOC SAVAGE was his last) and is surprisingly subdued and subtle for a Pal film.

Sidebar: How are we defining "superhero" here? There are plenty of sci-fi novels about people with super-powers (Gully Foyle in the classic THE STARS MY DESTINATION being a prime example) who don't behave in a super-heroic or super-villainous manner (Foyle is a villain, but he's a villain for personal reasons, not some grandiose scheme).

In fact, in THE STARS MY DESTINATION virtually everybody can "jaunte" (i.e., teleport by effort of mind alone) so that power is treated quite mundane and matter-of-factly in the book.

[bluetyson]

bluetyson --
THE POWER is the basis of the George Pal novel of the same name. A scientist is a big research think tank suspects one of the other scientists has super mental powers and sets out to prove which one it is (they had all taken anonymous IQ tests and one of the testees rated clear off the charts). The man with "the power" is aware he has the power and doesn't want to be exposed to the world, and so starts bumping off the other scientists as they get too close to discovering his identity. There's a Big Twist at the end which give the story a clever climax.

The movie version was George Pal's penultimate film (DOC SAVAGE was his last) and is surprisingly subdued and subtle for a Pal film.

Sidebar: How are we defining "superhero" here? There are plenty of sci-fi novels about people with super-powers (Gully Foyle in the classic THE STARS MY DESTINATION being a prime example) who don't behave in a super-heroic or super-villainous manner (Foyle is a villain, but he's a villain for personal reasons, not some grandiose scheme).

In fact, in THE STARS MY DESTINATION virtually everybody can "jaunte" (i.e., teleport by effort of mind alone) so that power is treated quite mundane and matter-of-factly in the book.

Thanks for that. Yeah, it is somewhat tricky. As far as Bester goes, there is also Extro, with its community of immortals. As you say, there are tons of SF with telepaths, or teleporters, even on tv, like Babylon 5 - Lyta Alexander is a super telepath.
Or perhaps sometimes even fantasy with heroic travelling wizards, or whatever.

So, it is a judgement call to some degree, and partly why I put the SF possible section in. When everyone can teleport, you aren't superhuman just by being a teleporter, or everyone having a warp gate in their bedroom, like in Hyperion. So, somewhat related to the intent, too. Enhanced intelligence by AI

Say, for example, Scanners, or Firestarter, or Carrie? Super mental powers, but clearly done as horror. From what you say, The Power might fall in here, as well, or be a super villain story. Another example would being a superpowered shapeshifting werewolf, or vampire.

[bluetyson]

With regards to the The Power - I had this one listed :-

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Frank-M-Robinson/dp/0312866542

I think this is probably the one you are talking about?

[bluetyson]

Count Geiger's Blues is... the guy doesn't want to be a superhero. He wants to bring culture to people, but his superpowers sort of drive him away from his beloved high culture. It's very strange and has almost no superhero action. But not bad.

Flyboy Action Figure Comes With Gasmask is excellent. It's about a university student who can change into a fly, and how he's inspired to become a superhero by Sailor Moon. Only he doesn't do typical crimefighting; he sort of crusades for social justice the way a typical left-leaning university student would. I'm omitting stuff (like the other supercharacters in the book) because I don't want to reveal too much, but that's the gist of it. It's very well done.


Ok, thanks Matthew. :)

[Buzz Dixon]

With regards to the The Power - I had this one listed :-

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Frank-M-Robinson/dp/0312866542

I think this is probably the one you are talking about?Yeah, that's the one. I melded Thomas Scortia into the mix 'cuz he and Robinson co-wrote THE GLASS INFERNO, which ended up being half of the basis for the film THE TOWERING INFERNO.

[Roquefort Raider]

Yep. Also, the Perry Rhodan series, at least in the Third Power arc (I haven't read any outside that) he literally has a Secret Mutant Corps of super powered mutants, of mostly the psionic variety, teleporters, telekinetics, telepaths, etc., starting from about the 4th story in English.

YAY!!! Die Mutantenkorps!!!

I felt really blue when most of them died, in Perry Rhodan #408.

[bluetyson]

They lasted that long? That is interesting, thanks, but yeah, part of the reason I liked Perry Rhodan. Not that I am going to learn German and try and track down 300 books to get to there!

[howyadoin]

More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon was about super powered mutant kids, pre-dating the X-MEN by maybe a good ten years.On a related note, how 'bout Sturgeon's The Synthetic Man?

[bluetyson]

On a related note, how 'bout Sturgeon's The Synthetic Man?

Not familiar with that one, what is it about? The title seems to suggest more of a robotics/android focus?

[howyadoin]

Not familiar with that one, what is it about? The title seems to suggest more of a robotics/android focus?Y'know, I say down to type out a description, and I was stumped.

But I found a good one here (http://www.very-clever.com/information/dkiuidkik-x).

[bluetyson]

Y'know, I say down to type out a description, and I was stumped.

But I found a good one here (http://www.very-clever.com/information/dkiuidkik-x).

Ok, thanks. It has a variant title, too, I see.

[Sorcerer Supreme]

X-men - Watchers on the Walls by Christopher L Bentett
X-men - Dark Mirror by Marjorie M Liu
Wolverine - Weapon X by Marc Cerasini

They're pretty good

[bluetyson]

X-men - Watchers on the Walls by Christopher L Bentett
X-men - Dark Mirror by Marjorie M Liu
Wolverine - Weapon X by Marc Cerasini

They're pretty good

Yes, those are on my list, haven't read 'em yet. How good would you say?

[Sorcerer Supreme]

I liked the dark mirror, Its something different.

[Roquefort Raider]

They lasted that long? That is interesting, thanks, but yeah, part of the reason I liked Perry Rhodan. Not that I am going to learn German and try and track down 300 books to get to there!

I can understand that... Perhaps we'll get lucky and the series will once again be translated in English.

I think the more commercially feasible approach would not be to try and translate each and every issue of the mag (PR is a weekly pulp magazine) but translate the big "Silberbände" compendiums/digests that compress the storyline without sacrificing the truly important events. After all, the mag is now at issue #2356... That's a lot of catching-up to do.

For those interested, there is a nice overview of the first 500 issues of the series (http://www.perry-rhodan-usa.com/web1998/sersumm.htm)
available in English. Sure, it's space opera in its most naive form... but it's also a lot of fun.

Cheers!

[Kirayoshi]

Kirayoshi, mine is the Other Log of Phineas Fogg, does this one have a different title in another country? I am pretty sure there is only one of these.Hadn't read it in awhile, I was blanking on the title. Thanks.

[Kirayoshi]

If you like Zorro, check out Isabel Allende's Zorro, a robustly written book detailing the origins of Don Diego de la Vega and his masked identity. Surprisingly well-rounded and full of vivid historical details.

[bluetyson]

I can understand that... Perhaps we'll get lucky and the series will once again be translated in English.

I think the more commercially feasible approach would not be to try and translate each and every issue of the mag (PR is a weekly pulp magazine) but translate the big "Silberbände" compendiums/digests that compress the storyline without sacrificing the truly important events. After all, the mag is now at issue #2356... That's a lot of catching-up to do.

For those interested, there is a nice overview of the first 500 issues of the series (http://www.perry-rhodan-usa.com/web1998/sersumm.htm)
available in English. Sure, it's space opera in its most naive form... but it's also a lot of fun.

Cheers!

Yeah, that would be a good idea. Perry Rhodan would be an ideal ebook thing to, I would have thought. Strange that it is not translated, are the publishers German language purist control freaks, or something?

You are saying that there are German Reader's digest type Perry Rhodan publications that take several books, and cut them down and publish them in a bigger size?

[bluetyson]

If you like Zorro, check out Isabel Allende's Zorro, a robustly written book detailing the origins of Don Diego de la Vega and his masked identity. Surprisingly well-rounded and full of vivid historical details.

Pretty lacking in adventure etc., in general, for Zorro, so if that is what you are after, get one of the others. A lot more of it is about his mum and him as a kid, until the end. A thriller writer, she certainly is not.

[sheets]

Yeah, that would be a good idea. Perry Rhodan would be an ideal ebook thing to, I would have thought. Strange that it is not translated, are the publishers German language purist control freaks, or something?

Maybe they just figure they tried selling it in English and it didn't work out so they've given up? Publishers can be unimaginative that way.

I get the impression that there's actually quite a bit of German pulp fiction out there that's never been translated. Makes me wish I'd taken German in school instead of Spanish :)


Pretty lacking in adventure etc., in general, for Zorro, so if that is what you are after, get one of the others. A lot more of it is about his mum and him as a kid, until the end.

I got that impression from the cover and marketing campaign, which tried very hard to make it look like veddy respectable literature and not like those uncouth pulps from the old days.

[Matthew E]

I read Allende's Zorro. It wasn't bad, it was just... not very exciting. It's probably a pretty rollicking adventure for people who don't read a lot of action-packed stuff, but I don't think that describes anybody on this board.

[Rik Levins]

Highways in Hiding by George O. Smith--in a future world where psionic powers are near-universal, the hero searches for his abducted fiance and uncovers a conspiracy of super-strong, invulnerable humans linked by a network of secret roadways.

Android Avenger, by Ted White--the hero discovers that he is not human (actually, he's very much like the Terminator, in a story written decades before); unfortunately, some unknown villain has found a way to take control of him and use him as his own personal murder machine.

Phoenix Prime, by the same author--kind of a combination of the X-Men and Conan. The protagonist discovers that he has super-powers. Unfortunately, there is already a secret organization of such superbeings, and they're not looking for new recruits. So they exile him to a barbarian-type world where his powers don't work, and he has to learn to fight the old-fashioned way.

The Reassembled Man, by Herbert Kastle. Kind of a wish-fulfillment fanstasy, and not exactly heroic. The main character is a wimp who is abducted by aliens, and returned with super-powers. Which he uses mostly to make money and get laid. He does wind up tangling with some nasty gangster-types, but it's not out of altruism. Still an entertaining read, if you like the "worm turns"-type of story.

The Great Time Machine Hoax, by Keith Laumer. Another wimp-turned-superman story, this guy is a lot more heroic, though.

[bluetyson]

Highways in Hiding by George O. Smith--in a future world where psionic powers are near-universal, the hero searches for his abducted fiance and uncovers a conspiracy of super-strong, invulnerable humans linked by a network of secret roadways.

Android Avenger, by Ted White--the hero discovers that he is not human (actually, he's very much like the Terminator, in a story written decades before); unfortunately, some unknown villain has found a way to take control of him and use him as his own personal murder machine.

Phoenix Prime, by the same author--kind of a combination of the X-Men and Conan. The protagonist discovers that he has super-powers. Unfortunately, there is already a secret organization of such superbeings, and they're not looking for new recruits. So they exile him to a barbarian-type world where his powers don't work, and he has to learn to fight the old-fashioned way.

The Reassembled Man, by Herbert Kastle. Kind of a wish-fulfillment fanstasy, and not exactly heroic. The main character is a wimp who is abducted by aliens, and returned with super-powers. Which he uses mostly to make money and get laid. He does wind up tangling with some nasty gangster-types, but it's not out of altruism. Still an entertaining read, if you like the "worm turns"-type of story.

The Great Time Machine Hoax, by Keith Laumer. Another wimp-turned-superman story, this guy is a lot more heroic, though.


Thanks very much Rik, that is the Ted White of Captain America novel fame I presume?

[bluetyson]

Actually, I have the George O. Smith one in the SF To Investigate section, now that I think about it :- there are also some others there by the authors you mention, too

A Plague of Demons - Keith Laumer
The Infinite Cage - Keith Laumer
The Great Time Machine Hoax - Keith Laumer


The Fourth "R" - George O. Smith (have and at Project Gutenberg)
Highways in Hiding - George O. Smith


Have you read any of these (other than the ones you mentioned already, of course)?

[Matthew E]

By the way, is everyone aware that there are going to be three more Wild Cards novels coming out? This is from George R.R. Martin's website. As I recall, they're coming out one-a-year starting in 2007, and the titles are (not necessarily in order) Busted Flush, Inside Straight and Suicide Kings.

[Rik Levins]

Actually, I have the George O. Smith one in the SF To Investigate section, now that I think about it :- there are also some others there by the authors you mention, too

A Plague of Demons - Keith Laumer
The Infinite Cage - Keith Laumer
The Great Time Machine Hoax - Keith Laumer


The Fourth "R" - George O. Smith (have and at Project Gutenberg)
Highways in Hiding - George O. Smith


Have you read any of these (other than the ones you mentioned already, of course)?


Haven't read The Fourth 'R'. I have read Plague of Demons and Infinite Cage, along with practically everything else written by Laumer. He was probably my favorite author in the mid-to-late sixties.
Both of those books feature a super human character, the guy in Plague becomes a superstrong cyborg, and the guy in Cage has the ability to tap into any knowledge possessed by any human being on Earth.

Actually, nearly all of Laumer's heroes either start out superhuman, or acquire some sort of powers along the way. Even Retief, his most popular character, is kind of a Doc Savage-type, (but with a sense of humor.) He is never outright described as "super" in any way, but seems to casually accomplish feats of strength, agility, and physical prowess well beyond anything humanly possible (even defeating huge, powerful alien warriors with apparent ease). And his mental abilities are even more impressive; he usually succeeds not so much by outfighting his opponents but by outwitting them, often leaving them more embarrassed than hurt.

[bluetyson]

Thanks Rik. I have read a Retief book (I think) but it was a long time ago.

[howyadoin]

I highly recommend anything by Laumer. That guy was great.

[Adam West]

I remember this book abous a scottish kid who suddenly found superpowers. It was written using the scottish accent, so it's kinda hard to read when you're not used to it. For example, for "I", the writer wrote it "Ae", etc.
But I can't remember the title. Anyone knows anything about it?

[bluetyson]

Nope, I am sure I would have remember some part Scots-Gaelic or something story like that. It was a children's book, was it?

[Jason von Evil]

I've got three novels based on comics, X-Men, Hulk and a Gen13. Out of those three, I only managed to get through the first. I forget the premise of each one, but the X-Men novel was about a gem similar to Juggie's Cyttorak. The Hulk novel had Abom in it and the Gen13 had IO and the Vatican.

I've been tempted to write my own superhero novel, about a character I created named Shade.

[Adam West]

Nope, I am sure I would have remember some part Scots-Gaelic or something story like that. It was a children's book, was it?

I don't think it's a children book, although I'm not too sure since I haven't read the book yet. I just skimmed it in the book store.

[Karl H]

Whilst I wouldn't describe it as a superhero book, I'm a huge fan of Jonathan Lethem's Fortress of Solitude. Much more of a coming of age book with a superhero, with a broad undercurrent of comic collecting in the sixties and a little bit of silver age homage, wrapped up in a much darker more personal story.

Otherwise, I'd much rather read about my superhero's in comic/ trade form!

[Donald M.]

One book I notice hasn't been mentioned in this thread is Joe Gosh by Tom De Haven, the author of It's Superman!

I don't remember much about it (It was published nearly 20 years ago and it wasn't long after that I read it.) but I recall that it was a young adult novel published as part of a series of books exploring various Sci-Fi archetypes and that the book is something of a goofy send-up of the superhero genre. I recall enjoying it at the time, but don't remember enough to say for sure it was any good.

It's possible I still have my copy of the book. I'll have to look into that.

[bluetyson]

I have that on my list, but have never seen it. If you actually still do have it and can tell us more, that would be cool.

Especially if it is a spoof, satire or send-up, then I need to change the section. :)

Thanks,

bt

[Donald M.]

I have that on my list, but have never seen it. If you actually still do have it and can tell us more, that would be cool.

Especially if it is a spoof, satire or send-up, then I need to change the section. :)

Thanks,

bt

I'll do you one better. If I do manage to locate my copy (and that's a big if, don't get your hopes up) I'll send it to you if you're interested.

Edit:

I found it in a box of books I've been meaning to donate to Goodwill. So, if you're interested it's yours, just PM your mailing address. No promises on when I'll be able to get it out to you.

[xerces213]

Lash House, by CBR's own Cei-U. It's honestly the best super-hero novel I've read, and ranks up there with Kingdom Come as tales of aging heroes go. A very good story backed by an impressive knowledge of DC characters and history. (It's unfortunately not in print, which is a darn shame considering that it's so much better than most of the exploitative prose being published today with the purpose of exploiting franchises rather than tell good stories).

where could i find Lash House is it posted somewhere on CBR??

[xerces213]

I've got three novels based on comics, X-Men, Hulk and a Gen13. Out of those three, I only managed to get through the first. I forget the premise of each one, but the X-Men novel was about a gem similar to Juggie's Cyttorak. The Hulk novel had Abom in it and the Gen13 had IO and the Vatican.

I've been tempted to write my own superhero novel, about a character I created named Shade.

I have as well but i write about him in the Create-A-Universe thread under Comic book rumbles my writing isn't the greatest on that though because i am hurried to post and such but it is a good start

[Michael P]

where could i find Lash House is it posted somewhere on CBR??

Try PM-ing Cei-U and asking if he'll email you a copy.

[xerces213]

Try PM-ing Cei-U and asking if he'll email you a copy.

ok thanks.

[Asa]

HELLBOY

Read bones of giants....On earth as it is in hell.........They are great reads Written by Some great writers .

[Santanico]

Here's an upcoming one I don't think has been mentioned here before:

Soon I Will Be Invincible, by Austin Grossman. (http://sooniwillbeinvincible.com/)

The reader in me really can't wait for this to come out; the writer in me really wishes she'd thought of that title first.

[bluetyson]

I'll do you one better. If I do manage to locate my copy (and that's a big if, don't get your hopes up) I'll send it to you if you're interested.

Edit:

I found it in a box of books I've been meaning to donate to Goodwill. So, if you're interested it's yours, just PM your mailing address. No promises on when I'll be able to get it out to you.

Cool, sent you a PM with a question for you first.

[bluetyson]

Try PM-ing Cei-U and asking if he'll email you a copy.

So not published, just his own thing?

[bluetyson]

HELLBOY

Read bones of giants....On earth as it is in hell.........They are great reads Written by Some great writers .


I have definitely enjoyed the Hellboy books. I have the latest, but haven't read it yet.