One of the major findings of modern physics is that the observer always affects the item being observed, and vice versa. This book is this axiom brought to life in a way that will break your heart.

The Martians came to Earth 30,000 years ago, exiles from their dying planet. Seeing that human society of that time was not ready for contact with another race, they built their new homes underground and undersea, to wait for that time when humanity will grow up. They send out Observers to monitor what is happening, and occasionally help direct humans towards a more civilized, ethical society. But eventually some of them grow tired of waiting for humanity (and perhaps because one of their undersea cities was located at Bikini island), and decide to try another plan: wipe humanity out so they can take over the Earth for themselves. The conflict between one of these Abdicators and an Observer forms the upper level conflict of this novel.

The object both parties focus on, Angelo, is a twelve-year old prodigy, who is both an artist and a budding philosopher, a person who is likely to change human society towards a more peaceful, introspective, and accepting culture. But at Angelo's age he is going through the first problems of puberty and a very normal desire to be an accepted part of his peer group. His self-professed ten-year old girl friend Sharon shows signs of having the talent to become a world class pianist.

How both the Observer and the Abdicator meddle in these two peoples lives, how they grow and change, and the resultant effect on mankind as a whole forms the main part of the book.

The characters of Sharon and Angelo are superbly drawn, to where you will find it impossible not to become deeply involved with them. By the end of the book what happens to these two will more than likely reduce you to tears (I know I was very damp-eyed). But beyond these two the character of the Observer also slips into your heart, and the changes in his outlook make for both a bitter and an exhalting comment on what is both right and wrong with humans. This is very typical of Pangborn; all of his work is very people oriented, as opposed to gadgets or grand theories, and here it is presented almost perfectly.

There are some aspects of his envisioned future world that will seem either dated or wildly of the mark, (the book was written in 1954), but none of these items seriously impact the focus of this novel. Criminally out of print, this book was the Winner of the 1955 International Fantasy Award. This is one of those books that is very definitely 'literature' in the best sense of the word, a book that will uplift, that will entertain, that will force a serious examination of your world view, that will make you glad that you had the perception to obtain and read it.

I originally picked this book up because it appears in David Pringle's overview book "Sci Fi: The 100 Best Books." Now that I've read it, I can see why it was included. This is a terrific, beautifully written, literate sci-fi novel, with dozens of passages so quotable that you may feel the need to underline or highlight them. In this book, Martians have been living on Earth for thousands of years in hidden underground cities. For the most part, they are benevolent observers of human affairs, but there are some, the so-called Abdicators, who seek to overthrow and do away with mankind. This novel deals with the attempt of one of these Abdicators to corrupt a gifted human boy, and the attempt of one of the other observers to prevent it. Before the novel ends, the earth has gone through a major disaster, but there is still hope for man's ultimate fate. The author, Edgar Pangborn, takes his time with the story, and the characters are well drawn and believable. There's lots of poetic imagery and quasi-religious symbolism, as well as a good number of startling surprises. Seek this book out...it's a winner!

Four centuries after the nuclear holocaust the United States are no longer united. What exists now are separate feudal countries who sporadically wage war against one another. Ruled by the ascetic doctrines of the Holy Murcan Church, society is deprived of technology, held in thrall by ignorance and fear. The holocaust still claims its victims with the high incidence of genetic mutations ("mues"), which must be killed on sight. The lack of hygiene and decent medical care also makes people susceptible to disease.

Red-headed Davy was born into this world and describes his life over the years, growing up as an ill-educated orphan, forced by the welfare system to work as a bond servant, until he runs away at 14, spending the next few years travelling with an assortment of wandering minstrels. Davy writes his account from an island in the Azores. He's one of a group of exiles who dared to question the teachings of the Church. Despite the improvement in his education, Davy's spirited writing is still riddled with slang.

Davy's world is so convincingly backward there were times when I forgot this book was set in the future. Another story people may be interested in is John Wyndham's novel "The Chrysalids" (1955). There are certain similarities between that book and "Davy". Like "Davy", "The Chrysalids" takes place in a post-holocaust world centuries hence, where life is strictly governed by the Church and mutants are treated as the spawn of the devil. The story is set around eastern Canada, not that far from the places mentioned in "Davy". Even the narrator's name is similar. (His name is David.) Although the character is not so preoccupied with sex and has less adventures than Davy, "The Chrysalids" is my personal preference; a book I read when I was 14. A lot of school kids hate it.

Overall, "Davy" is a light, easy read. I bought my copy second-hand, a 1976 edition, printed the year Edgar Pangborn died.

Many seasons has the earth gone through since the days of my early youth, but this book stirred inside me the memories:
walking next to Davy I was young again, I loved, I made promises I knew I
would not keep, the world is again such a beautiful
and fascinating thing to discover. I found myself again
dreaming of distant lands...

This is one of the best post-holocaust novels I have
ever read (the other is "A canticle for Leibowitz").
Somehow as time goes by,I like this novel more and more.

wonderful, awe-inspiring...I could go on and on. I read this novel when I was about 13; it is still one of my favorite books all these years later. Although a "science fiction" novel, it transcends the genre. Pangborn was a fine writer who just happened to write science fiction. Set in a post-Apocalyptic world who knows how many years hence, it is the coming-of-age story of a young man, Davy, who is part Tom Jones and part Huck Finn. The word "unique" is not inappropriate to apply to this book. I've never read anything like it, and wish there were others similiar to it.

I have discovered over the years that there are books I enjoy, and books I FEEL like I SHOULD enjoy. Pangborn's novel Davy falls in the second category. But this collection of his short stories contains some very memorable stories (I remember the last story in the book even as I write this and I haven't looked at the book in at least 10 years.)

This is a collection of short stories and at least one novelette (The Children's Crusade) from the same future as "Davy." The title story is about a monk who, tho forced to recant, still persists in wondering . . . . Like "Davy," these stories take place mostly in what is left of New York State after the melting of the polar ice caps. Place names have changed, but not beyond recognition. If you are not familiar with the Mohawk and Hudson valleys, it might be useful to have a map of New York State available when you read this and "Davy."

This is some of the best shorter fiction I have ever read.

West of the Sun was Pangborn's first novel, published in 1953. While it is not his best (that would come with his second, the International Fantasy Award-winning A Mirror for Observers) it does end on such a poignant and hopeful note that the reader is left with many profound thoughts on which to ponder. The story revolves around six U. S. astronauts stranded on the far planet of Lucifer, and they must survive and cope with not only each other but also with that planet's two native sentient species. Many years later, when a rescue ship finally arrives, they decide to remain to continue developing their thriving society. This reissue is from Old Earth Books, and it is their intention to follow-up with all of Pangborn's titles in uniform editions. It is extremely encouraging that there is renewed interest in this excellent but sadly neglected writer.

This is the first volume in the reprinting of ALL of Edgar Pangborn (includig such hard to find non-sf as "The Trial of Calista Blake" and the next to impossible to find "Wilderness of Spring") by Old Earth Books. Comes with great quotes from Harry Tutledove ("Edgar Pangborn was one of the really great ones."), Kim Stanley Robinson ("One of the greatest American science fiction writers.") and John Clute ("It takes us away to a better world, where it leaves us. Today, we need this.")

So, what is the novel about?

A spaceship crashes on a planet the crew names: Lucifer - Son of Morning. Full of hope and excitement, the six explorers encounter an alien world full of bat-winged monsters, painted witches, and armies of pygmy cannibals. But for each threat, objects of great beauty await them: blue fireflies, red-green forests, vast mountains and deep seas. With ever dwindling supplies, and a war in the making, these adventurers emabark on one of the most fascinating journeys of survival in science fiction . . . somewhere West of the Sun.

The reprinter of E E Smith's Lensman series - Old Earth Books - has begun reissuing all of Pangborn in classy carefully proofread editions. This is the first one in the program. The new edition has praise from Harry Turtledove, Kim Stanley Robinson, and John Clute. Well worth owning.