Arthur Sellings (1911–1968)

Above average low-key treatment, hampered primarily by a denouement that unnecessarily and paradoxically makes everything both more cosmic and tidier. It starts unpromisingly with a number of 1960s cliches: the protagonist Arnold is a bored defeated ad executive, the co-protagonist Claire is a free-thinking painter, and after the SFnal element is introduced (their minds unexpectedly melding at a cocktail party), several chapters that are primarily adult British male chases adult British female. But then, unexpectedly, the conventional plotting is halted. Arnold and Claire discover telepathy is something that can be passed on to others. That idea drives the remainder of the book. In an American novel, pulp adventure would take over at this point. Telepath though remains very focused on the individual and surprisingly plausible, until the aforementioned wrap-up.

Recommended, especially for fans of forgotten SF.… (mer)

Junk Day is the 1970 posthumous novel of Arthur Sellings (real name Arthur Gordon Ley) who, in addition to being an English science fiction author, was a scientist, book and art dealer. Junk Day is generally considered to be his best work.

How is it? It's a solid work, the main character Douglas Bryan is a nonconformist who happened to fall on his feet when the world ended, merely adapting his existing lifestyle to the new circumstances. He is not a particularly nice or likeable person who seems abrasive to the world and people around him. The story begins with him stumbled into a woman, together they venture through London where they encounter a small community. It's run by a man named Barney who has a finger in everything taking a slice of the profit, Douglas gets it into his mind that he needs to over throw Barney.

Later on, various decisions Douglas makes come home to roost, and shortly thereafter the story wraps up with an unexpected ending.

It's a reasonably short book at a mere 188 pages, however it is worth a look if you're a fan of early science fiction or post apocalypse stories.… (mer)