Strange Stars

“Fans of popular music and sf alike will thoroughly enjoy this journey through the center of the 1970s.” —Library Journal

”…an impressive guide for anyone who wants to explore the ear-tingling sci-fi pop of the turbulent 1970s.” —Starburst

“Strange Stars is an ultra-engaging dive into science fiction’s impact on the rock and pop music we know and love. Heller’s exploration of where these fandoms intersect and become one is gloriously nerdy delight that expands far beyond Bowie. It connects the essential dots between the transportive work of J.G. Ballard, Jimi Hendrix, P-Funk, British New Wave, and Phillip K. Dick.” —Jessica Hopper, author of The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic

“Strange Stars is full of cosmic wisdom that will open your mind to alien melodies, and also make you hear your favorite classic rock and funk in a whole new way. This book taught me so much about the science fiction influences of some of my favorite albums, but also a ton of surprising stuff about how music shaped the worlds of science fiction. A totally indispensible guide.” —Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky

“There’s never been anything like Strange Stars before—a fantastic voyage through rock & roll history, decoding the sci-fi inspiration that’s always lurked at the heart of it. Jason Heller finds the interstellar connections between visionaries from Sun Ra to Kraftwerk to P-Funk to Bowie, from The Left Hand of Darkness to The Dark Side of the Moon. This brilliant book makes you hear whole new strains of weirdness in music you thought you already knew.” —Rob Sheffield, author of On Bowie

“Jason Heller’s fun and authoritative new book makes a compelling case for how science fiction defined a decade in music.” —Shelf Awareness

“Enlightening… excellent.” —Tor.com

“Heller does an admirable job…incredible… Strange Stars is a marvelous guide to a little-explored corner of the musical universe…[a] mindblowing work.” —Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

“An authoritative look at the intersection of science fiction and music in the 1970s.” —Vulture

“Interesting… Heller’s digging reveals some great factoids.” —University Bookman

“Indeed, Heller can champion any nerd who needs redemption. Strange Stars finds common ground and a parallel trajectory between rock and the cosmos.” —Salt Lake City Weekly

Jason Heller has written for publications including the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, NPR, and The AV Club. His latest book was Taft 2012.

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