Hot Sleep: Difference between revisions
notability as 1st sci-fi novel |
→Plot summary: Added an explanation of Somec, since it is central to the plot and universe. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
| (11 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|1979 novel by Orson Scott Card}} |
|||
{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books --> |
{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books --> |
||
| name = Hot Sleep |
| name = Hot Sleep |
||
| Line 12: | Line 13: | ||
| genre = [[Science fiction]] |
| genre = [[Science fiction]] |
||
| publisher = Baronet Publishing |
| publisher = Baronet Publishing |
||
| media_type = Print ([[ |
| media_type = Print ([[hardcover|hard]] & [[paperback]]) |
||
| pages = 309 |
| pages = 309 |
||
| isbn = 0-89437-054-5 |
| isbn = 0-89437-054-5 |
||
| Line 19: | Line 20: | ||
| oclc = 18134695 |
| oclc = 18134695 |
||
| release_date = [[1979 in literature|1979]] |
| release_date = [[1979 in literature|1979]] |
||
| preceded_by |
| preceded_by = |
||
| followed_by |
| followed_by = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''Hot Sleep: The Worthing Chronicle''''' (1979) is a [[science fiction]] novel by [[Orson Scott Card]] |
'''''Hot Sleep: The Worthing Chronicle''''' (1979) is a [[science fiction]] novel by American writer [[Orson Scott Card]], part of his [[the Worthing series]]. Card's novel ''[[The Worthing Chronicle]]'' (1983) covers some of the same ground. |
||
''Hot Sleep'' |
''Hot Sleep'' was Card's first novel-length published science fiction story. ''[[A Planet Called Treason]]'' followed. The short story collection ''[[Capitol (short story collection)|Capitol]]'' was published earlier that year. |
||
==Plot summary== |
==Plot summary== |
||
The book follows Jason Worthing, also known as Jazz, who is a boy growing up on Capitol, the |
The book follows Jason Worthing, also known as Jazz, who is a boy growing up on Capitol, the capital planet of the Empire. Jas has "the swipe", which is a [[genetic trait]] that allows for [[telepathy]]. The swipe is feared in the Empire, so those who possess it are executed. After being found out as a swipe, Jas tries to escape, which leads to his capture by Abner Doon, who helps him rise to prominence as a space pilot. Eventually, Abner sends Jason away as the head of a colony so that the swipe would become more widespread, but when his ship reaches the planet he is attacked, and the memories of all but one of the 333 colonists are destroyed and two-thirds of the colonist are killed or damaged beyond awakening. Jason prevails, however, leading to the survival of the colony. Jason guides the development of the new culture over multiple generations by using a substance called Somec, which allows humans to sleep long periods of time without aging. Eventually, Abner Doon comes and sees how Jason has done, and after Doon leaves, Jason takes his ship to the bottom of the ocean. |
||
==Title== |
==Title== |
||
The title arises from the operation of somec, the life extension drug forming the foundation of the interstellar Empire. |
The title arises from the operation of ''somec'', the life extension drug forming the foundation of the interstellar Empire. Somec creates an unbearable, torturous burning sensation throughout the body while pushing the patient to [[suspended animation]]. However, the somec process exterminates the user's memory, and so these memories are recorded and stored separately shortly before they go under, to be returned to the body after they have awakened, and so the memory of the process itself cannot be retained. Thus, each somec patient experiences the panic of burning hot sleep "for the first time" (as far as their memory goes) no matter how many times they have taken somec before. |
||
==Other publication== |
==Other publication== |
||
''Hot Sleep'' was re-released as a [[serial novel|serialized novel]] in the first issue of Card's ''[[Intergalactic Medicine Show]]'' in October 2005. |
''Hot Sleep'' was re-released as a [[serial novel|serialized novel]] in the first issue of Card's ''[[Intergalactic Medicine Show]]'' in October 2005. |
||
==Related works== |
|||
*''[[Capitol (collection)|Capitol]]'' |
|||
*''[[The Worthing Chronicle]]'' |
|||
*''[[The Worthing Saga]]'' |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
{{portal|Novels}} |
{{portal|Novels}} |
||
*[[ |
*[[Orson Scott Card bibliography]] |
||
*[[Orson Scott Card]] |
|||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
* [http://www.hatrack.com/osc/bibliography/index.shtml Publication information for ''Hot Sleep'' available from |
* [http://www.hatrack.com/osc/bibliography/index.shtml Publication information for ''Hot Sleep'' available from Card's website] |
||
* [http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=issue&vol=i1&article=_hotsleep-001 The novel ''Hot Sleep'' from Card's website IGMS] |
* [http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=issue&vol=i1&article=_hotsleep-001 The novel ''Hot Sleep'' from Card's website IGMS] |
||
Latest revision as of 17:09, 3 June 2023
 First edition | |
| Author | Orson Scott Card |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Gray Morrow |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Worthing series |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Baronet Publishing |
Publication date | 1979 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hard & paperback) |
| Pages | 309 |
| ISBN | 0-89437-054-5 |
| OCLC | 18134695 |
| 813/.54 19 | |
| LC Class | PS3553.A655 T7 1988 |
Hot Sleep: The Worthing Chronicle (1979) is a science fiction novel by American writer Orson Scott Card, part of his the Worthing series. Card's novel The Worthing Chronicle (1983) covers some of the same ground.
Hot Sleep was Card's first novel-length published science fiction story. A Planet Called Treason followed. The short story collection Capitol was published earlier that year.
Plot summary
[edit]The book follows Jason Worthing, also known as Jazz, who is a boy growing up on Capitol, the capital planet of the Empire. Jas has "the swipe", which is a genetic trait that allows for telepathy. The swipe is feared in the Empire, so those who possess it are executed. After being found out as a swipe, Jas tries to escape, which leads to his capture by Abner Doon, who helps him rise to prominence as a space pilot. Eventually, Abner sends Jason away as the head of a colony so that the swipe would become more widespread, but when his ship reaches the planet he is attacked, and the memories of all but one of the 333 colonists are destroyed and two-thirds of the colonist are killed or damaged beyond awakening. Jason prevails, however, leading to the survival of the colony. Jason guides the development of the new culture over multiple generations by using a substance called Somec, which allows humans to sleep long periods of time without aging. Eventually, Abner Doon comes and sees how Jason has done, and after Doon leaves, Jason takes his ship to the bottom of the ocean.
Title
[edit]The title arises from the operation of somec, the life extension drug forming the foundation of the interstellar Empire. Somec creates an unbearable, torturous burning sensation throughout the body while pushing the patient to suspended animation. However, the somec process exterminates the user's memory, and so these memories are recorded and stored separately shortly before they go under, to be returned to the body after they have awakened, and so the memory of the process itself cannot be retained. Thus, each somec patient experiences the panic of burning hot sleep "for the first time" (as far as their memory goes) no matter how many times they have taken somec before.
Other publication
[edit]Hot Sleep was re-released as a serialized novel in the first issue of Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show in October 2005.
