Faber & Faber

The Twilight of the Vilp: Paul Ableman

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Synopsis:

Vilp’s hero, Clive Witt, is a novelist in search of a hero for his new novel. He advertises for suitable applicants. From 73 replies he selects three: Professor Guthrie Pidge, a zoologist; Pad Dee Murphy, an Irish-Burmese peasant; and Harry Glebe, the inventor of the renowned earth-borer.

But his novel progresses slowly. His three heroes refuse to mix their very disparate elements into a harmonious whole. Eventually, Clive scraps it and harnesses his team of heroes to a new work, an exciting science fiction tale called The Silver Spores. In this, mankind meets the Vilp! The novel ends with the 5,000 strong Vilp Galactic Council communing in space at an incredibly high telepathic level.

Margaret Drabble writes:

'Paul Ableman’s novels were praised for their inventive language, bawdy high spirits, and originality of form by Anthony Burgess, Philip Toynbee, Robert Nye and other friends of the avant-garde. They are witty, original, and full of good humour, and I am delighted Faber Finds are reissuing them.'

‘Excellent ... vital, taut, brilliantly imaginative.’ Anthony Burgess

Tags:

Categorised as:

Fiction

Sub-categories:

General Fiction

Genres & Themes:

Faber Finds; Fantasy; Sci Fi