Michael Bishop

Easton Press Michael Bishop books

No Enemy But Time - Masterpieces of Science Fiction - 1991

 

Who is Michael Bishop?

Michael Lawson Bishop, born on November 12, 1945, in Lincoln, Nebraska, is an esteemed American science fiction author and educator. His life and career have been characterized by a profound love for literature, a deep engagement with speculative fiction, and a commitment to exploring the human experience through his writing. Bishop's early years were marked by an interest in literature, and he went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Georgia in 1967. Following this, he pursued a Master's degree at the University of Georgia as well. His academic journey laid the foundation for a lifelong exploration of language and storytelling.

In 1970, Bishop published his first novel, A Funeral for the Eyes of Fire, marking the beginning of a prolific career in science fiction and fantasy. His works often blend elements of the speculative with profound explorations of human emotions, relationships, and societal dynamics. Bishop's writing is known for its lyrical prose, intellectual depth, and a keen understanding of the complexities of the human condition. One of his most acclaimed works is the novel No Enemy But Time, published in 1982. This novel, which explores time travel and the impact of cultural clashes on human evolution, earned Bishop the Nebula Award. His storytelling prowess extends beyond novels to short stories, essays, and edited anthologies.

In addition to his work as an author, Michael Bishop has made significant contributions to the science fiction community as an educator. He taught English at the University of Georgia, where he also became involved in the university's creative writing program. His mentorship has influenced and inspired aspiring writers, contributing to the growth of speculative fiction as a literary genre. Bishop's bibliography includes a diverse range of works, such as Brittle Innings, Ancient of Days, and The Door Gunner and Other Perilous Flights of Fancy. His writing often tackles themes of identity, morality, and the impact of speculative elements on human society.

Michael Bishop's literary achievements have garnered critical acclaim, and he remains an influential figure in the science fiction and fantasy genres. His ability to blend imaginative storytelling with profound explorations of the human experience has left an enduring mark on speculative fiction.

 

No Enemy But Time

Joshua Kampa, the illegitimate son of a mute Spanish whore and a black serviceman, has always dreamed of Africa. But his dreams are of an Africa far in the past and are so vivid and in such hallucinatory detail that he is able to question the understanding of eminent palaeontologists. As a result, Joshua is invited to join a most unusual time travel project and is transported millions of years into the past of his dreams.

In early Pleistocene Africa, living among the prehuman species Homo habilis, experiencing the same hardships and the same intense pleasures, Joshua finds, for the first time in his troubled life, not only contentment but real love a love that transcends almost everything.

Intelligent, thoughtful and deeply moving, No Enemy But Time brilliantly evokes the remote past and, at the same time, presents a powerful and convincing portrayal of a relationship surmounting even the most daunting barriers. It is a challenging and highly original novel exploring the nature and origins of humankind.

Joshua Kampa is torn between two worlds, the Early Pleistocene Africa of his dreams and the 20th-century reality of his waking life. These worlds are transposed when a government experiment sends him over a million years back in time. Here, John builds a new life as part of a tribe of protohumans. But the reality of early Africa is much more challenging than his fantasies. With the landscape, the species, and John himself evolving, he reaches a temporal crossroads where he must decide whether the past or the future will be his present.