Book description
In HEROICS, Irene--like everyone in the future--struggles with boredom.
Food, clothing, and all the necessities of human life have been taken
care of. But, what does that leave of life itself? At eighty-two, Irene
sets out on a pilgrimage across America hoping to find the answer. Along
the way, she becomes transformed, both physically and by her
interactions with other civilians all trying to cope with this new
world. Filled with wry humor and fantastic symbolism, HEROICS mixes
adventure and philosophy in a way both engrossing and entertaining. Of
this book, friend and fellow writer Harlan Ellsion said, It is the best
Effinger yetand for those of us who have been watching with amazement
that is about as rich a compliment as you can expect from other envious
authors. Damn him, hes good! George Alec Effinger was a true master of
satirical Science Fiction. Before his death in 2002, Effinger was a
prolific novelist and short story writer, earning acclaim from his fans
and peers, including a Nebula Award nomination for his first book WHAT
ENTROPHY MEANS TO ME. In HEROICS, he revisits some of the themes and
characters of that first book for startling, funny and poignant results.
George Alec Effinger was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1947. He attended
Yale University, where an organic chemistry course disabused him of the
notion of becoming a doctor. He had the opportunity to meet many of his
SF idols thanks to his first wife, who was Damon Knight and Kate
Wilhelm's babysitter. With their encouragement, he began writing science
fiction in 1970. He published at least 20 novels and 6 collections of
short fiction including WHEN GRAVITY FAILS and THE EXILE KISS. As well,
he also wrote and published two crime novels, FELICIA and SHADOW MONEY.
With his Budayeen novels, Effinger helped to found the Cyberpunk genre.
He was a Hugo and Nebula award winner and a favorite amongst fellow SF
writers.
