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1980: The Globes of Llarum, by Gene Lancour
The Globes of Llarum, by Gene Lancour, is a thought-provoking science fiction novel set in a dystopian future. Cort Devereaux, mercenary available for the highest price, exile from a destroyed planet, finds himself stranded without credit on Llarum, a backwater frontier planet whose unique wealth is based on the gas voided by bioluminescent globes – a colorful product marketed through out the human-settled planets. The story offers readers a gripping tale that raises important questions about the nature of humanity and the potential dangers of unchecked authority.
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1969: The House on the Strand, by Daphne du Maurier (first ed, book club edition)
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier is a thrilling work of fiction that takes readers on a journey through time. The story follows Richard Young, a man who has been given the opportunity to test a new drug that transports him back to the 14th century. As he becomes more and more engrossed in the past, Richard begins to lose touch with the present and the people around him. He finds himself drawn to the lives of the people he encounters in the past and becomes embroiled in their dramas and conflicts. As the drug’s effects become more intense, Richard must struggle to maintain his grip on reality and find a way back to his own time.
This book is a masterful blend of historical fiction and science fiction, with du Maurier’s signature suspenseful style keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The House on the Strand explores themes of time, identity, and the human desire to escape reality.