The Philosophy & Sci-Fi Works of Olaf Stapledon (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Cosmic Futures, Evolving Minds, and the Ethical Destiny of IntelligenceBy Olaf Stapledon
Length90h 54m
About this audiobook
The Philosophy & Sci-Fi Works of Olaf Stapledon gathers the speculative imagination and metaphysical ambition of one of science fiction's most original minds. Moving across cosmic histories, future civilizations, altered forms of consciousness, and the ethical destiny of intelligence, these works combine narrative grandeur with philosophical inquiry. Stapledon's prose is often austere, visionary, and panoramic, placing him in the interwar tradition of scientific romance while anticipating later "big idea" science fiction by writers such as Arthur C. Clarke and Stanisław Lem. Olaf Stapledon (1886–1950) was trained in philosophy and deeply shaped by the upheavals of the First World War, pacifist thought, and the intellectual ferment of early twentieth-century science. His interest in ethics, evolution, psychology, and collective human purpose informs his fiction at every level. Rather than merely inventing future technologies, Stapledon sought to imagine the spiritual and moral consequences of humanity's place in an immense universe. This volume is recommended for readers who value speculative fiction as serious literature and philosophical experiment. It will especially reward those interested in cosmic perspective, utopian and dystopian thought, and the origins of modern science fiction's most ambitious themes.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
Audiobook details
GenreScience Fiction, General Fiction
Length90 hrs 54 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 4, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Looking Forward (Annotated)
2Novels
3Last and First Men
4Preface
5Introduction By One of the Last Men
Show all chaptersShow less
6THE CHRONICLE
7II Europe’s Downfall
8III America and China
9IV An Americanized Planet
10V The Fall of the First Men
11VI Transition
12VII The Rise of the Second Men
13VIII The Martians
14IX Earth and Mars
15X The Third Men in the Wilderness
16XI Man Remakes Himself
17XII The Last Terrestrials
18XIII Humanity on Venus
19XIV Neptune
20XV The Last Men
21XVI The Last of Man
22Last Men in London
23PREFACE
24INTRODUCTION THE FUTURE’S CONCERN WITH THE PAST
25CHAPTER I THE WORLD OF THE LAST MEN
26CHAPTER II EXPLORING THE PAST
27CHAPTER III THE CHILD PAUL
28CHAPTER IV PAUL COMES OF AGE
29CHAPTER V ORIGINS OF THE EUROPEAN WAR
30CHAPTER VI THE WAR
31CHAPTER VII AFTER THE WAR
32CHAPTER VIII THE MODERN WORLD
33CHAPTER IX ON EARTH AND ON NEPTUNE
34Odd John
35CHAPTER I JOHN AND THE AUTHOR
36CHAPTER II THE FIRST PHASE
37CHAPTER III ENFANT TERRIBLE
38CHAPTER IV JOHN AND HIS ELDERS
39CHAPTER V THOUGHT AND ACTION
40CHAPTER VI MANY INVENTIONS
41CHAPTER VII FINANCIAL VENTURES
42CHAPTER VIII SCANDALOUS ADOLESCENCE
43CHAPTER IX METHODS OF A YOUNG ANTHROPOLOGIST
44CHAPTER X THE WORLD’S PLIGHT
45CHAPTER XI STRANGE ENCOUNTERS
46CHAPTER XII JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS
47CHAPTER XIII JOHN SEEKS HIS KIND
48CHAPTER XIV ENGINEERING PROBLEMS
49CHAPTER XV JACQUELINE
50CHAPTER XVI ADLAN
The Collected Works of Olaf Stapledon (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon90h 53m$2 · $0.00
The Philosophical & Science-Fiction Works of Olaf Stapledon (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon90h 54m$2 · $0.00
Sirius (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon9h 11m$2 · $0.00
The Essential Works of Olaf Stapledon (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon90h 53m$2 · $0.00
Star Maker (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon11h 10m$2 · $0.00
Through the Depths of the Universe: Complete Sci-Fi Works of Olaf Stapledon (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon79h 20m$3 · $0.00
Odd John (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon9h 32m$2 · $0.00
Olaf Stapledon: Complete Novels (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon67h 43m$2 · $0.00
Star MakerOlaf Stapledon10h 53m$1 · $0.00
Sirius (Sci-Fi Novel)Olaf Stapledon9h$2 · $0.00
SiriusOlaf Stapledon9h$1 · $0.00
The Complete NovelsOlaf Stapledon68h 29m$1 · $0.00
Death into LifeOlaf Stapledon5h 38m$2 · $0.00
Darkness and the LightOlaf Stapledon6h 50m$2 · $0.00
The Essential Works of Olaf StapledonOlaf Stapledon90h 40m$1 · $0.00
Sirius (Sci-Fi Novel)Olaf Stapledon8h 16m$2 · $0.00
Olaf Stapledon: Complete NovelsOlaf Stapledon68h 30m$1 · $0.00
Star Maker (Summarized Edition)Olaf Stapledon4h 2m$2
Odd JohnOlaf Stapledon9h 22m$1 · $0.00
Rebel’s StrikeRachel Aukes, Jamie McFarlane10h 20m$20
Sponsored Apocalypse 2Blaise Corvin10h 3m$25
Coup D’EtatC. R. Daems9h 12m$20
The Greatest Works of Jules VerneJules Verne246h 57m$2 · $0.00
Judgment DayRick Partlow10h 44m$20
ViniumS. H. Jucha14h 7m$23
AdventSeth Ring13h 20m$27
Sons of War 4: SoldiersNicholas Sansbury Smith, Tom Abrahams12h 54m$25
Hell to PayMichael Anderle7h 50m$20
A Civil CampaignLois McMaster Bujold18h 49m$32
Warrior’s FateWalt Browning10h 37m$20
The RisenErica Stevens10h 17m$20
100 Years to ExtinctionPeter Solomon14h 48m$27
Amazing Tales Volume 1Max Williams et al.4h 5m$2.30
H. G. Wells: Collected Works (Annotated)H. G. Wells427h 28m$2 · $0.00
Scars of RebellionAnthony J. Melchiorri12h 56m$25
The Galaxy, and the Ground WithinBecky Chambers9h 56m$29 · $0.00
AvengerBlair Howard9h 54m$23
Core’s AttackS.E. Smith5h 57m$17
TimelessR. A. Salvatore12h 30m$33 · $0.00
Under His ProtectionB. Love5h 7m$15
Heart of IronC. M. Alongi15h 24m$30
Ethic IIAshley Antoinette9h 1m$20
RiversnowTess Thompson8h 11m$20
Supreme ClienteleAshley & JaQuavis8h 58m$20
Body Refinement in a Beast Tamer’s World, Book 1Seth Ring14h 7m$27
EmberJeffrey Wilson, Brian Andrews13h 58m$23
The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Unabridged)Jane Austen88h 8m5.0 (1)$1 · $0.00
Desperate MeasuresBrenda Jackson8h 59m5.0 (1)$28 · $0.00
Searching For ThanksgivingS.E. Smith4h 24m$20
Naughty 4Brenda Hampton7h 30m$17
The Dance with Me TrilogyShelley Shepard Gray21h 44m$35
Anne Shirley (Complete 14 Book Collection)Lucy Maud Montgomery125h 28m$2 · $0.00
The DopemanJaQuavis Coleman5h 25m$20
Sherlock Holmes: The Ultimate CollectionArthur Conan Doyle59h 49m$5 · $0.00
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.4 (20)$29 · $0.00
Grand Opening 2Carl Weber9h 16m$20
Sons of Valor II: Violence of ActionBrian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson12h 34m$23
Malevolent MagicMildred Abbott7h 13m$17
Bikes, Toys, and Hot BoyzGenesis Woods, Shantaé13h 9m$23
You may also like
Last and First Men (Annotated)Olaf Stapledon14h 9m$2 · $0.00
Reap the Dark Tide (Sci-Fi Classic)Cyril M. Kornbluth1h 28m$1 · $0.00
Reap the Dark Tide (Annotated)Cyril M. Kornbluth2h 20m$2 · $0.00
The Greatest Science Fiction Novels of H. G. Wells in One VolumeH. G. Wells98h 32m$1 · $0.00
The War in the AirH. G.10h 56m$3.50 · $0.00
The Lost World Classics - Ultimate CollectionH. G. Wells, Abraham Merritt, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, George MacDonald, H. Rider Haggard, Gertrude Barrows Bennett, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Francis Bacon, C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne167h 21m$1 · $0.00
Amazing Tales Volume 121Mark Clutter4h 9m$2.30
Olaf Stapledon: Collected WorksOlaf Stapledon79h 32m$2 · $0.00
WolfbaneC. M. Kornbluth4h 6m$2.30
FirstbornArthur C. Clarke, Stephen Baxter11h 47m$23
The Time MachineH. G. Wells3h 19m$15
The Collected Short Stories of Murray Leinster (Annotated)Murray Leinster31h 24m$2 · $0.00
The Strange BirdJeff VanderMeer3h 5m$15
The Greatest Science Fiction Classics of H. G. Wells (Unabridged)H. G. Wells98h 34m$1 · $0.00
The Atomic CurtainNick B. Williams6h 18m$2.30
SCI-FI Boxed Set: 22 Classics of Science Fiction by Stanley G. WeinbaumStanley G. Weinbaum35h 53m$1 · $0.00
The Earthman and two more storiesIrving E. Cox2h 26m$2.30
The Time MachineH.G. Wells3h 8m$10 · $0.00
The World Set FreeH. G. Wells7h 13m$2.30 · $0.00
Disunited NationsPeter Zeihan16h 7m$33 · $0.00