The Empire of Isher (The Weapon Makers and The Weapon Shops of Isher)

About this book

This book binds together two of van Vogts better stories "The Weapon Makers of Isher" and "The Weapons Shops of Isher " published in sequel-prequel order back in 1946 and 1951. These time-hopping politically convoluted tales follow the struggle between the oppressive (but beautiful) Empress Innelda and the superadvanced libertarian Weapon Shops ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free " reads the storefront sign). Much of the melodramatic plot revolves around the Shops immortal ultragenius founder Robert Hedrock his conflict with the Empress and their differing visions for the future of humanity but dont fret too much over the details: van Vogt keeps your head comfortably a-swim in a steady stream of whiz-bang gadgetry plot twists and breakneck action. --Paul Hughes About the Author A. E. Van Vogt was a SFWA Grand Master. He was born in Canada and moved to the U.S. in 1944 by which time he was well-established as one of John W. Campbells stable of writers for Astounding Science-Fiction. He lived in Los Angeles California and died in 2000.