Bester's The Stars My Destination was "said by many people to be the best science fiction novel ever written," T. A. Shippey related in the Times Literary Supplement. Wendell called it "undoubtedly Bester's masterpiece, showing his `pyrotechnical' style at its best." In the opinion of Village Voice reviewer Robert Morales, "The Stars My Destination--an incredible takeoff on The Count of Monte Cristo, and James Joyce pastiche--burlesqued the adventure novel into high art. Both story and novel excel in sheer lunatic excitement."

"Irish reader Gerard Doyle narrates with gravitas and grit, portrays Foyle's character journey from uneducated thug to savvy mastermind, and gracefully handles a surrealist synesthetic section near the end." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"Irish reader Gerard Doyle narrates with gravitas and grit, portrays Foyle's character journey from uneducated thug to savvy mastermind, and gracefully handles a surrealist synesthetic section near the end." —Library Journal Audio Review

02/15/2018
Gulliver Foyle, left for dead in the wreck of a spaceship, returns to Earth to embark on a mission of obsessive vengeance against those who abandoned him to die, in a new audio edition of this 1957 sf cult classic. Bester (1913–87) presents a truly original and bizarre future in which everyone has the ability to "jaunte" (teleport) across the world at will, and he explores the ramifications of this twist for commerce, communication, and politics. Modern readers may note that only one female character gets a role of any significance (and that she has a now-regrettable nickname), and Foyle commits some truly abominable acts in his quest for revenge that make him difficult to root for. Despite these complications, Stars deserves its classic status and is an enjoyable listen: the worldbuilding is rich and strange and presented without tedious exposition; the interplanetary action rarely pauses to catch its breath. As Neil Gaiman's introduction notes, in many ways this is truly the first cyberpunk novel, with its cynical tone, biotech-enhanced mercenaries, and rule by oligarchy over law. Irish reader Gerard Doyle narrates with gravitas and grit, portrays Foyle's character journey from uneducated thug to savvy mastermind, and gracefully handles a surrealist synesthetic section near the end. VERDICT Recommended for fans of Michael Moorcock, William Gibson (both of whom cite the novel as an influential favorite), or Philip K. Dick.—Jason Puckett, Georgia State Univ. Lib., Atlanta

Marooned in outer space, Gulliver Foyle is a vengeful yet curiously sympathetic everyman in Alfred Bester’s 1950s sci-fi classic. While he is badly flawed—he’s a rapist, among other problems—as portrayed by Gerard Doyle, he’s absolutely mesmerizing. Bester modeled the plot on another classic, Dumas’s COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO. Instead of an island, Foyle is stuck on a dying spaceship that a passing ship decides not to assist. That could make anyone angry. Double it for Gulliver Foyle. Doyle’s crisp and pleasant narrative voice darkens marvelously when channeling the implacable protagonist. And once Gulliver makes it back to Earth, Doyle believably colors the many other characters with telling vocal personalities. With its plot points about corporate greed, this is a timely classic. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine