Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded by Jason Heller
Reviewed by: Sarah Baker, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Nonfiction, Music
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this Book About?: So much of our lives is defined by music, and no time more so than the late 60s. With the collapse of the hippie movement and the rise of space fever, a new sub-genre of music was born: space rock. Exemplified in works by David Bowie, Hawkwind, Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Crosby Stills and Nash, and the Moody Blues, these weren’t the silly songs of yesteryear like Purple People Eater. These were thoughtful pieces with philosophical hearts. They contemplated the implications of space travel on society, on what the future might hold, and how humanity would change. And these weren’t just random thoughts or suppositions. These songwriters and musicians all shared a love of sci-fi. Influenced by works such as Dune by Frank Herbert, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A Heinlein, Nova by Samuel R Delany, the Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov, Sentinel by Arthur C Clarke (the basis for 2001: A Space Odyssey), and many, many more. As the 70s raged on, space became passe, until a certain space opera took the world by storm – Star Wars made space cool again.
My Review: I’m crazy about David Bowie, and have been for over 20 years. When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this. It’s a fairly fast read, but one would benefit from keeping YouTube handy to look up and enjoy the songs referenced. (I’d also recommend keeping Goodreads or another book site handy – I added nearly 15 books to my “to read” list.) I was mostly reading before bed, but I took an evening to go back and just listen. (It also fed in to my current obsession with metal – Lemmy of Motörhead got his start in Hawkwind, so I had to get more of both of those bands!)
Heller unrolls this history with ease. There’s a lot to take in, but it’s presented as a year per chapter, highlighting what is relevant. I never felt bogged down by unnecessary information. And while Bowie is a consistent thread in the tapestry, he isn’t the sole focus. It was nice to see how he wove in to the larger picture, as well as the various things that were likely influences.
As this was all before my time, it was great to have it all broken down by year. Highlighting scientific discoveries, especially those in space, along side social changes and shifts in attitude really helped me get a feel for what some of that time might have been like. The breakdown of the hippie movement, greatly accelerated by the Altamont Music Festival, still left its seeds of hope, but as the 70s progressed darkness crept in. As hippie musicians evolved, so did new genres. Space rock, yes, but also the beginnings of punk, electronica, metal, and new wave. Artists changed what noises you could make from “standard” instruments, and new technology allowed for the creation of better synthesizers. All in all, a fascinating look at a fascinating time.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Informative, Entertaining, Awesome
Give this a try if you like… The Toys That Made Us (TV series), any of the bands mentioned above, golden and silver age sci-fi, rock ‘n’ roll history
Rating (out of 5): 4/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
