The Seed and the Flower
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This early work by Olaf Stapledon was originally published in 1916 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 'The Seed and the Flower' is a science fiction short story. William Olaf Stapledon was born on 10th May 1886 in Wallasey, on the Wirral Peninsula near Liverpool, in England. He completed a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Liverpool and his first published work of prose A Modern Theory of Ethics (1929) was based on his doctoral thesis. The following year, Stapledon published his first work of fiction Last and First Men (1930), the success of which enabled him to become a full-time writer. He had a great impact in the field of science fiction, influencing notable authors such as Arthur C. Clarke and Brian Aldiss.
Olaf Stapledon
Olaf Stapledon (1886-1950) was the author of many novels and nonfiction books, among them Last and First Men, Star Maker, and Odd John. Stapledon is considered one of the fathers of visionary science fiction, heir to H. G. Wells, and a major influence upon writers such as science fiction authors Arthur C. Clarke, Winston Churchill, and Nobel laureate Doris Lessing, as well as many American science fiction authors and scientists, including physicist Freeman Dyson. C. S. Lewis notably thought Stapledon “cracking good,” but was shaken by and reacted strongly to Stapledon’s dark vision. Stapledon’s novels are known for their sprawling scope, imaginative breadth, and philosophical depth, exploring themes of evolution, human consciousness, and the destiny of mankind across cosmic timescales.
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