--- product_id: 14718990 title: "Norstrilia" brand: "brand: nesfa pr" price: "6.63 OMR" currency: OMR in_stock: true reviews_count: 6 category: "Book" url: https://www.desertcart.com.om/products/14718990-norstrilia store_origin: OM region: Oman --- # Norstrilia **Brand:** brand: nesfa pr **Price:** 6.63 OMR **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Norstrilia by brand: nesfa pr - **How much does it cost?** 6.63 OMR with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.om](https://www.desertcart.com.om/products/14718990-norstrilia) ## Best For - brand: nesfa pr enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted brand: nesfa pr brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description From Publishers Weekly Cordwainer Smith, pseudonym of the late Paul Linebarger, a professor and part-time spy, wrote only one SF novel, but it is in keeping with the picture of a future world he built in his other fiction. This novel, originally conceived and published in two parts in 1964 and '68, and later issued in paperback by Ballantine in 1975, begins like a more traditional SF tale. Protagonist Rod McBan's Norstrilian peers consider him inferior because he lacks their telepathic abilities. Nearly "culled" as part of the strictly regulated society's population control, McBan uses a computer to arbitrage the galactic financial markets, enabling him, literally, to buy Earth. While the first half would merely have made an interesting novel, the second, more lyrical part displays Smith's superior writing abilities as he describes both the Underpeople (genetically designed combinations of humans and other species-and the Instrumentality (an organization for keeping humanity from becoming stagnant). The result: a novel that transcends its time. Though not a scholarly edition (the variorum is incomplete and the introduction leaves much to be desired), this composite text, ably edited by James A. Mann, is a fine companion to the author's complete short fiction, The Rediscovery of Man. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more Review This appeared some time ago but deserves ongoing mention as a continuing classic: the only science fiction novel by Cordwainer Smith; but the center of a setting Smith developed in other short pieces. Any with an interest in Smith's unique world will want to see how it developed from these roots. -- Midwest Book Review Read more From the Publisher This is a volume in the NESFA's Choice series. The objective of this series is to publish the "classic" works of neglected sf authors, and to keep these works in print. Read more ## Images ![Norstrilia - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51XYHFSV8AL._SL500_.jpg) ![Norstrilia - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31T+y2FDWkL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the most overlooked SF writers of the 20th Century. *by W***S on April 11, 2017* Smith's works--mostly short stories & novellas-- start at the end of the 20th Century, with China becoming a dominant influence, and then touch down from time to time over the next 15,000 years of human history. This is is his only novel (as far as I know) and he has a singular voice. In this book yes, but it's even more pronounced in many of his short stories. I won't recap this plot, others have done that adequately. What you should know is: the man was a brilliant visionary, e.g. one of the prime plot points of this novel is our hero coming upon his family's secret (now-forbidden) personal computer. Written LONG before personal computers had been conceived. His works cover four distinct types of interstellar travel. Interestingly he was raised in China and wasthe godson of Sun Yat Sen. He also worked with the OSS during WWII, which would become the CIA. An altogether remarkable man and a writer's writer. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Classic Science Fiction *by J***N on February 9, 2017* This version came with the story "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell." It was an appropriate pairing as C'Mell figures heavily in Norstrilia. I last read it years ago; I had every hope I would enjoy it again. I am so happy that I fell once again in love with it.This classic science fiction novel draws heavily on the short stories set in the time of the Instrumentality of Mankind. I had re-read many of them shortly before I started this book. I think it deepened my appreciation of Norstrilia. I had the background to understand more about the harsh, practical world of Norstrilia, along with its customs. It is a harsh world and its customs seem cruel to me, but it made perfect sense in the setting of the book. I like Rod and C'Mell; I was totally surprised at some of the final scenarios.If you are a science fiction fan and have read any of Cordwainer Smith's short stories and liked them, but not read Norstrilia yet, you definitely should check this book out. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A science fiction master's only SF novel *by A***R on January 2, 2016* This is the only science fiction novel published by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger, and the only novel published under the pseudonym Cordwainer Smith. It is the centerpiece of a set of short stories dealing with the far future of humanity and of the Instrumentality of Mankind. It is unlike anything else in the realm if science fiction. Highly recommended, but if you are new to Cordwainer Smith, search for his other short stories, only a few of which are currently available on kindle. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.om/products/14718990-norstrilia](https://www.desertcart.com.om/products/14718990-norstrilia) --- *Product available on Desertcart Oman* *Store origin: OM* *Last updated: 2026-04-22*