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Brian W. Aldiss
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Helliconia Spring (The Helliconia Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Brian W. Aldiss (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 221 ratings
The Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author and Science Fiction Grand Master delivers a sweeping epic of a planet suffering deadly conditions of alternating extremes in this Nebula Award finalist

Helliconia follows an eccentric orbit around a double-star system with a twenty-six-hundred-year cycle of very long seasons. As spring slowly breaks the brutally long winter, humans emerge from hiding and a long sequence of civilization and growth begins to repeat again, unbeknownst to the participants but watched by an orbiting satellite station, Avernus, created by Earth some centuries ago. Humans free themselves from slavery to the aboriginal Phagors, and religion and science flower and expand.

Brian W. Aldiss has, for more than fifty years, continued to challenge readers’ minds with literate, thought-provoking, and inventive fiction. Helliconia Spring’s prescience with regard to climate change is nothing short of extraordinary.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Helliconia Trilogy
  2. Print length
    570 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
  5. Publication date
    April 1, 2014
  6. File size
    4.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the Helliconia Trilogy
 
“Propels the reader headlong into marvel. A trilogy which has acquired monumental nobility.” —The Times (London)
 
“Brian Aldiss’s towering imagination places his Helliconia Trilogy far above standard science fiction.” —Daily Mail
 

About the Author

Brian W. Aldiss was born in Norfolk, England, in 1925. Over a long and distinguished writing career, he published award-winning science fiction (two Hugo Awards, a Nebula Award, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award); bestselling popular fiction, including the three-volume Horatio Stubbs saga and the four-volume the Squire Quartet; experimental fiction such as Report on Probability A and Barefoot in the Head; and many other iconic and pioneering works, including the Helliconia Trilogy. He edited many successful anthologies and published groundbreaking nonfiction, including a magisterial history of science fiction (Billion Year Spree, later revised and expanded as Trillion Year Spree). Among his many short stories, perhaps the most famous was “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long,” which was adapted for film by Stanley Kubrick and produced and directed after Kubrick’s death by Steven Spielberg as A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Brian W. Aldiss passed away in 2017 at the age of 92. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00J3EU3H4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy (April 1, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 570 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 221 ratings

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Brian W. Aldiss

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
221 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's concept amazing and appreciate its world-building. The story quality receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a great science fiction narrative. The pacing receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding it tedious.

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6 customers mention "Concept"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's concept and world-building, with one customer finding the society interesting.

"...The world building can be nice, but when its a large set of renamed simple things like a tree or flower, its easy to start sounding like a Dr Seuss..." Read more

"...Seeing their society profess was interesting too, although the rapidity of it was somewhat hard to believe." Read more

"...was intriguing, and there was a great amount of research and world-building that went into explaining this strange planet that orbits a binary sun,..." Read more

"...The premise seems good, but the characters are both irritating as well as irrelevant...." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer describing it as a great science fiction narrative, while another notes that good fantasy books are believable.

"...are nearly non-existent, but that doesnt take away from this great story spanning multiple generations...." Read more

"An excellent first book of the classic Aldiss trilogy. Too bad the books are no longer in print in the USA." Read more

"Good fantasy books are believable, sadly this one isnt." Read more

"This is the last installment of a great science fiction story that begins with Helliconia Spring, I would strongly recommend that the first two..." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive7 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book slow and tedious, with one customer noting that the first third is particularly difficult to get through.

"Maybe more of a 2.5. It was hard to get through the first third of the book. I don’t think the bit with the first Yuli was necessary...." Read more

"...this strange planet that orbits a binary sun, but the execution unpleasantly cumbersome. There was no cadence to this story, no flow...." Read more

"I really struggle to get along in this book. Way too longwinded. 50 pages of bla bla, something finally happens on a few pages and then back to bla..." Read more

"...All of which would have made for a satisfying story, instead the endless exposition and flowery language destroys the potential this novel had." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • philnc
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best sci fi world ever created
    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I first read the Helliconia books many years ago in a second-hand paperback, since it was out of print by then. The main character in these books is not a person, but a planet. The author presents an incredibly detailed picture of that planet and its inhabitants as the struggle to survive over thousands of years in which living conditions go from extreme to extreme. Helliconia is a planet that orbits a moderately warm star, that in turn orbits a hot companion whose comings and goings results in conditions on the planet going from freezing cold to unbearably scorching hot over a thousands of years. During the centuries long winter humans survive as best they can under ground, and then re-emerge in the "spring" to struggle against a powerful but primitive non-human race who rule the winter but then give way when warmth returns and allows humans to flourish again. Physics, biology, anthropology, psychology and politics are all in play as humans first struggle against their non-human adversaries, and then each other. The only sci fi series that comes close to Helliconia is Dune, another of my favorites, but I'd argue that between the two this is far deeper and broader in scope. One intriguing theme is the loss and recovery of knowledge among the humans over each cycle and how it impacts the individuals the story follows (one of the most vivid examples of this involves the astronomical discoveries by the brilliant and headstrong Vry, whose survival in hostile times could determine the future of scientific development on her world). As the first in the series, Helliconia Spring is a good place to start immersing yourself in this world -- something I'd encourage you to do,
    37 people found this helpful
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  • Dustin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Feels like a "scifi" from LeGuin, more focused on individuals in a medieval setting.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The scifi elements are nearly non-existent, but that doesnt take away from this great story spanning multiple generations.

    My only complaint is the overuse of made-up plant, animal and item names. The world building can be nice, but when its a large set of renamed simple things like a tree or flower, its easy to start sounding like a Dr Seuss story or makes you just gloss over a lot of it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jennifer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Between OK and liked
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Maybe more of a 2.5. It was hard to get through the first third of the book. I don’t think the bit with the first Yuli was necessary. I liked the character of Shay Tal although I wish her story had some sort of in. Seeing their society profess was interesting too, although the rapidity of it was somewhat hard to believe.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Tor Henning Berntsen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing concept and original storyline, loved it from pace 1. Cant wait to read the next volume. In fact i will start reading it right away 😀
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I liked the concept of the two suns and thus the long year. With everything starting over again every two thousand years. The sheltered darkness of pannoval, surviving for generations in their dark underworld.
    I like the passed on secrets of the corps, and the knowlege of the eldres, and the typical know it all ignorance and arroganse of the new generations, refusing history and refusing to look back for wisdom and knowlege. I like how history repeats itself.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Alex
    2.0 out of 5 stars Wanted very much to like this...
    Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    ...but honestly I just could never get past Aldiss' narrative structure. Too many passages were overgrown with painfully awkward description, and the characterization felt flat.

    The concept was intriguing, and there was a great amount of research and world-building that went into explaining this strange planet that orbits a binary sun, but the execution unpleasantly cumbersome. There was no cadence to this story, no flow. I may give this one another try, but honestly I can't bring myself to pick it back up again right now.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • Mr. Flint
    4.0 out of 5 stars Strange planet
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent first book of the classic Aldiss trilogy. Too bad the books are no longer in print in the USA.
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  • Zyzzybalubah
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is physically beautiful. It's bound in red (leather
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book is physically beautiful. It's bound in red (leather?) with inlaid gold patterns on front, back, and on the spine. The edges are gold. There's a silk bookmark attached.
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  • Luxera
    3.0 out of 5 stars Longwinded and dreary.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I really struggle to get along in this book. Way too longwinded. 50 pages of bla bla, something finally happens on a few pages and then back to bla bla. I hope things will be better in the other two books. *yawn*
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • GP
    2.0 out of 5 stars When does it get interesting?
    Reviewed in France on October 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A rather lenghty and rather boring first volume. Everything takes place in the dark, under the snow for hundred of pages. I was unable to finish it and will certainly not get the two other volumes...
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  • A. J. Wheeldon
    5.0 out of 5 stars It is a wonderful piece of writing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I have read this twice before in hard copy - the first time over thirty years ago. It is a wonderful piece of writing. Forget all the magic swords, elfin princesses etc that other writers offer. This is a real world, beautifull conceived, and the whole story is gradually unveiled in a masterly fashion. Aldiss is one of the greats and this whole trilogy is wondrous. It's a shame the scoring won't allow 6 stars
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  • Dennis Slade
    2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Just couldn't connect with the story. Choppy story line and little character development.
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  • eppingstrider
    4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant - in its time
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I had the trilogy, I think. Meant to read it when I was a teenager, but time passes, and I thought it was time for me to catch up.
    Read the Winter one, marvelled at some of the things in there, but got terribly bored once we got into spring. I gave up with it in the end. It's very long....
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  • Shane Lovett
    3.0 out of 5 stars Spring
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Index of characters. Pictorial image of the Helliconia Galaxy. More information of the Earth watchers. Loved the book, will read the others. SHL
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