The Stars My Destination
When it comes to pop culture, Alfred Bester (1913-1987) is something of an unsung hero. He wrote radio scripts, screenplays, and comic books (in which capacity he created the original Green Lantern Oath). But Bester is best known for his science-fiction novels, andThe Stars My Destinationmay be his finest creation. First published in 1956 (asTiger! Tiger!), the novel revolves around a hero named Gulliver Foyle, who teleports himself out of a tight spot and creates a great deal of consternation in the process. With its sly potshotting at corporate skullduggery,The Stars My Destinationseems utterly contemporary, and has maintained its status as an underground classic for forty years. (Bester fans should also note that Vintage has reprintedThe Demolished Man, which won the very first Hugo Award in 1953.)