Cover artist Leo & Diane Dillon Publication date 1968 Country United States of America | Language English Originally published 1968 Genre Science Fiction OCLC 3224687 | |
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Media type Print (Hardcover, Paperback) Pages 180 pp (US)
190 pp (UK) Publishers Hodder & Stoughton (UK), Ace Books (US) Similar David G Compton books, Science Fiction books | ||
Synthajoy is a science fiction novel by D. G. Compton. originally published in 1968 as an Ace Science Fiction Special in the United States and in hardcover by Hodder & Stoughton in Great Britain. An Italian translation appeared in 1972. Gregg Press issued an archival edition in 1977. Orion Books revived the novel as part of its Gateway line in 2011.
Contents
Summary
The novel explores the social consequences of the development of a "virtual reality" technology "which enable[s] unremarkable people to enjoy the experiences of those who are more gifted or fortunate". In a 2007 interview, Compton recalled that it was likely based "on the sort of popular science stuff that I as a non-scientist would have picked up out of the media or the general press and latched onto as something I could develop".
Reception
James Blish wrote that "[N]obody has handled [the novel's theme] a tenth as well as this English writer." George Edward Slusser characterized Synthajoy as a precursor to cyberpunk.