A.E. van Vogt – Knjiga.hr

The Book of Van Vogt

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:54:30 +0000

A compact introduction to one of the most distinctive voices of science fiction’s Golden Age, this volume gathers a selection of short fiction showcasing A. E. van Vogt’s signature blend of cosmic scope, psychological tension, and bold speculative ideas. Van Vogt, a contemporary of Asimov and Heinlein, was known for his labyrinthine plots and explorations of superhuman evolution, alien intelligence, and the limits of human perception. The stories here reflect his fascination with power, identity, and the hidden structures shaping reality. Ideal for readers interested in classic mid‑20th‑century science fiction, this collection offers a vivid glimpse into the imagination of a writer who helped define the genre’s early ambitions.

The Far-Out Worlds

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:08:00 +0000

The Far-Out Worlds of A. E. Van Vogt is a collection of science fiction short stories by the acclaimed author known for his imaginative and mind-bending narratives. The book features a variety of tales ranging from interplanetary adventures like The First Martian and The Earth Killers to fantastical and unclassifiable stories such as The Ultra Man and The Replicators. Van Vogt’s work is characterized by nova concepts and surprising twists that have secured his place among the top-selling science fiction writers. This collection showcases his signature style of blending complex ideas with thrilling plots, making it a notable event in science fiction literature.

The Mind Cage

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:07:54 +0000

The Mind Cage by A. E. van Vogt is a 1957 science fiction novel centered on David Marin, a government official who risks his career to defend Wade Trask, a scientist condemned for sedition. When Trask uses a mind-switching device to swap brains with Marin, Marin finds himself branded an enemy of the state and must navigate the dangerous political and military intrigues of the Great Judge’s empire while trapped in Trask’s body. The novel explores themes of identity, the roles people play in society, and the tension between authenticity and deception under an authoritarian regime. It also introduces a radical paradigm shift involving a supercomputer called the Brain and reflects on the nature of control and rebellion. The story is marked by complex twists and a layered plot typical of van Vogt’s style.

Moonbeast

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:07:49 +0000

Moonbeast by A. E. Van Vogt is a science fiction novel originally published in 1969, which is a fix-up of three earlier short stories. The plot centers on Jim Pendrake, a war veteran and test pilot who loses an arm in an accident but then mysteriously begins to regenerate it, gaining totipotent cells that allow for physical and mental transformation. His quest intensifies when his wife is kidnapped, leading him to a secret colony on the Moon inhabited by a bizarre mix of characters including immortal polygamous cowboys, East German Nazis, and a Neanderthal called Big Oaf. The story blends adventure, conspiracy, and speculative science as Pendrake confronts these threats and uncovers hidden alien technology and societies beneath the lunar surface. The novel is noted for its imaginative and fast-paced narrative, though its complex and sometimes disjointed plot can be challenging to follow. It explores themes of regeneration, identity, and societal structure within a richly inventive lunar setting.

The Book of Ptath

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:07:43 +0000

The Book of Ptath by A. E. van Vogt is a science fiction novel set two hundred million years in the future, on a re-formed supercontinent called Gonwonlane. The story centers on Ptath, a god whose powers are fueled by the prayers of women, and who once ruled alongside his two goddess-wives. During Ptath’s absence—while he incarnates as mortals throughout Earth’s history—one goddess-wife, Ineznia, seizes power by imprisoning the other and forbidding women to pray, thus cutting Ptath off from his source of strength. Ptath is brought back to this far-future world in his immortal body but with the mind and memories of a recently killed World War II tank commander, Peter (or Richard) Holroyd, leaving him amnesiac and vulnerable. As he journeys across Gonwonlane, Ptath gradually regains fragments of his past and divine identity, facing magical and physical trials orchestrated by Ineznia, who seeks his destruction. He is aided by his captive goddess-wife, L’onee, as he struggles to reclaim his power and restore balance to the world. The novel blends science fiction, fantasy, and myth, featuring body-swapping, time travel, and a richly imaginative setting. It explores themes of identity, power, free will, and transformation, with Ptath’s internal conflict between his human and godly natures driving much of the narrative. The book is notable for its fast pace, inventive world-building, and the complex interplay of its main characters.

The Wizard of Linn

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:07:38 +0000

The Wizard of Linn by A. E. van Vogt is a science fiction novel set in a distant future where Earth, after an atomic holocaust, is ruled by the Linnan Empire—a society blending advanced technology with medieval customs. The story is a sequel to Empire of the Atom and follows Clane, a physically deformed but brilliant scientist and high priest, as he faces an existential threat from the alien Riss, who once nearly annihilated humanity. After an initial failed attack on the Riss, Clane uses a mysterious, mentally-controlled energy sphere to defeat them and capture their ship. Amidst political intrigue—including the assassination of his brother Jerrin by the scheming Lilidel—Clane refuses to seize power, instead joining forces with Czinczar, a former barbarian adversary, to seek allies against the Riss. Their quest leads them across the cosmos to twin planets inhabited by telepathic and teleporting humans allied with the Riss. Clane attempts to learn their secrets to help save Earth. The novel explores themes of power, corruption, and the tension between technological advancement and societal ignorance, all within a fast-paced, idea-rich narrative typical of van Vogt’s style.

Empire of the Atom

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:07:33 +0000

Empire of the Atom by A. E. Van Vogt: Short Description Empire of the Atom is a science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic future, around the year 12,000 A.D., where humanity struggles to rebuild civilization after a devastating atomic war. The story centers on Clane Linn, a mutant born into Earth’s ruling family, whose physical deformities mark him as an outcast but whose intellect and abilities make him a pivotal figure in the survival and future of the empire. The novel depicts a world where radioactive elements like Uranium and Plutonium are worshiped as gods, and scientist-priests hold power over atomic knowledge. Clane, raised in seclusion as part of a social experiment, grows into a supernormal individual who plays a crucial role in wars on Mars and Venus, defends the empire from barbarian invasions, and navigates complex political intrigues within his family and the ruling elite. Blending elements of space opera, political intrigue, and post-nuclear mythology, the book explores themes of power, survival, and the cyclical nature of civilization. It draws inspiration from historical dynastic tales, notably modeled on Robert Graves’s works about Emperor Claudius, and is notable for its imaginative world-building where advanced technology coexists with a society that has lost understanding of its scientific foundations. The story of Clane Linn continues in the sequel, The Wizard of Linn. This novel is recognized for its mix of futuristic warfare, mutant heroism, and the struggle to maintain order in a fractured solar system.

Children of Tomorrow

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:07:28 +0000

Welcome home, Space Commander Lane. We know you’ve had a difficult time this past year evading those enigmatic, hostile aliens you encountered out there in the unmapped spaces between the stars. But you’ve also been gone a total of 10 yrs.– and things have changed back here on earth. Take spaceport now—it’s a special city with peculiar problems all its own. So we kids had to organize and take care of each other—because our dads have been gone too long, and they’ll be just as surprised as you when they return. You see, we have the power now.

Empire of the Atom

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:00:43 +0000

Paperback

The best of A. E. van Vogt

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:38:54 +0000

A hardworking writer of Science Fiction during the Golden Age, Alfred Elton van Vogt was certainly one of the most prolific. Though often overshadowed by the Big Three (Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov), van Vogt penned a great many long-lived classics, including Slan, The Book of Ptath, The Voyage of the Space Beagle, The Weapon Shops of Isher, and the Null-A series. He cranked out dozens of short stories, many of which have been anthologized over and over again. Like several of his contemporaries, he also forayed into the realms of mainstream fiction and nonfiction.