Author of 16 novels and some 80 short stories, Barry Bayley has been writing science fiction since 1954. His unique vision can be seen as a synthesis between A. E. van Vogt's visionary imagery with Borges' metaphysical notions.

Cosmos Books is proud to bring back into print all his classic novels, from THE STAR VIRUS to THE ROD OF LIGHT, his two short story collections, KNIGHTS OF THE LIMITS and THE SEED OF EVIL as well as two previously unpublished science fiction novels, THE SINNERS OF ERSPIA and THE GREAT HYDRATION.

We are also planning the publication of a major new collection, tentatively titled GNOSTIC ENDINGS, for 2002.

Available now:
The Great Hydration
The Sinners Of Erspia
Collision With Chronos
The Fall Of Chronopolis
The Knights Of The Limits
The Soul Of The Robot

Forthcoming:
Gnostic Endings

For complete interviews, short stories and more, visit Astounding Worlds of Barrington Bayley!

Interview extracts with the author

You mentioned in an earlier interview that you weren't very interested in school, spending your time thinking about spaceships. Did you know from early on that this is what you wish to do?
I discovered science fiction magazines at the age of twelve and they very quickly became a dominating influence. By the time I was fourteen I had it in mind to become a science fiction writer.

I might have liked to become a scientist if I had the ability (which I don't), but only if I could make an original contribution!

What is THE SINNERS OF ERSPIA about? Also, you mention in an earlier interview that you find your "attention dwelling more in the area of feeling and less on conceptual thought" these days. Is this true of the new novel, and how would you position it in your body of work?
Its theme is the suggestibility of the human mind. An alien being, whose own consciousness is totally solitary and unassailable, is studying this phenomenon because he thinks humankind is a freak of nature, only semi-intelligent and destined for early extinction. All other intelligent species are like him.

The storyline is a series of adventures in experimental societies the alien has set up. There is a bit of what you say; being solitary, the alien has no ethical sense, whereas the protagonist is highly ethical and believes in the doctrine of karma. But the novel isn't really new; the first part was written years ago, but I was never able to come up with a satisfactory outline and so no one took it up. Last year I finished it just for the hell of it, and to see how it turned out in the end. I quite like it, but I don't know if anyone else will or whether it will see print. One publisher has returned it unread.

I have a number of planned novels from ten years ago or more which failed to get placed; everything I came up with was being turned down. Some of them I quite like and if I get the time may write them just for my own satisfaction.

Is it a function of literature to critique, teach or preach, or mainly just to entertain? And how do you feel about your writings in this context? Is there a goal you aspire to achieve?
My goal is to write good science fiction, the sort that blows your mind! I regard science fiction as the literature of the twentieth century, and the only one which future historians will bother to study as they try to understand our age.