Although better known for his achievements in science fiction, Brian Aldiss’s poetry has been an integral part of his creative activity throughout his writing life and many of his poems have appeared in magazines and collections. Mortal Morning brings together a selection of his best and most representative poems, including those with a science fiction or metaphysical slant, deeply personal poems about family and loss, and poems of everyday life. A sequence of poems about artists and their work includes reflections on Gauguin’s Tahiti paintings, Kandinsky and Francis Bacon.

As a poet, Aldiss is versatile and frequently surprising, creating work that ranges from intimate and introspective to humorous, bold and surreal, and Mortal Morning will appeal to his many loyal readers and those who are yet to encounter his unique work.

Reviews 

‘The genres of science fiction and poetry have (apparently) not inspired each other often, or with great success. . . Brian Aldiss, does not fall into this category. . . occupying a space between fantasy and realism’.

Jonathan Taylor, TLS, April 1 2011

‘A handsome and surprising selected poems from the distinguished science-fiction writer. These poems are formally accomplished, thematically wide-ranging and very good indeed.’

Peter Bennet in Other Poetry, Series 4, No 3.

‘This new collection brings together a representative selection. He journeys far and wide: from East Cocker and Exmoor to Istanbul, Ulan Bator and Moscow, as well as Mars.’

Keith Richmond, Tribune