{"product_id":"where-late-the-sweet-birds-sang-kate-wilhelm-9780575079144","title":"Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang | Kate Wilhelm","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family: inherit; color: #333; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003e🌱 A HIGH POINT OF HUMANISTIC \u0026amp; HARD SF\u003cbr\u003eThe Sumner family can read the signs: the droughts and floods, the blighted crops, the shortages, and the increasing sterility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 20px;\"\u003eBook Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eThe Sumner family can read the signs: the droughts and floods, the blighted crops, the shortages, the rampant diseases and plagues, and, above all, the increasing sterility all point to one thing. Their isolated farm in the Appalachian Mountains gives them the ideal place to survive the coming breakdown, and their wealth and know-how gives them the means. Men and women must clone themselves for humanity to survive. But what then?\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eSweeping, dramatic, rich with humanity, and rigorous in its science, \u003cem\u003eWhere Late the Sweet Birds Sang\u003c\/em\u003e is widely regarded as a high point of both humanistic and hard SF, and won science fiction's highest honors upon its initial publication. Originally published in 1976, it remains an essential, spellbinding post-apocalyptic classic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKate Wilhelm\u003c\/strong\u003e (1928–2018) was a prolific American author who wrote over 75 books across science fiction, mystery, and fantasy. Before becoming renowned for her mystery writing, she established herself as a leading voice in speculative fiction with classics like \u003cem\u003eThe Infinity Box\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Clewiston Test\u003c\/em\u003e. Alongside her husband, author and editor Damon Knight, she trained numerous writers through the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop, leaving an enduring legacy on the genre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eCore Audience \u0026amp; Intended Use\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSF Masterworks Collectors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Readers seeking iconic paperback editions featuring the classic Gollancz library layout and design standards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePost-Apocalyptic \u0026amp; Hard Sci-Fi Fans:\u003c\/strong\u003e Enthusiasts exploring rigorous, scientifically grounded narratives dealing with environmental collapse and cloning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAward-Winning Literature Enthusiasts:\u003c\/strong\u003e Collectors acquiring landmark genre masterpieces that claimed both the Hugo and Locus Awards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n  \n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eAccolades \u0026amp; Awards\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHugo Award Winner:\u003c\/strong\u003e Winner of the 1977 Hugo Award for Best Novel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLocus Award Winner:\u003c\/strong\u003e Winner of the 1977 Locus Award for Best Novel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJupiter Award Winner:\u003c\/strong\u003e Winner of the Jupiter Award for Best Novel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNebula Award Nominee:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eProduct Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-top: 15px; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003e\n      \u003ctbody\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left; width: 35%;\"\u003eFull Title\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eWhere Late the Sweet Birds Sang (SF Masterworks Series Edition)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eKate Wilhelm\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePublisher \u0026amp; Imprint\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eGollancz (An imprint of Orion Publishing Co.)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePublication Date\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eFebruary 16, 2006\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eBinding Format\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eB-Format Paperback (PB)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePrint Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e256 Pages\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eLanguage\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eEnglish\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eISBN-13 \/ ISBN-10\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e9780575079144 \/ 0575079142\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePrimary Genre (BISAC)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eFICTION \/ Science Fiction \/ Classic\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eSub-Genres (BISAC)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eFICTION \/ Science Fiction \/ Post-Apocalyptic; FICTION \/ Science Fiction \/ Genetic Engineering; FICTION \/ Literary\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eItem Condition\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003ePre-Owned \/ Very Good\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e5.12 x 0.63 x 7.80 inches | 7.0 oz (approx. 0.44 lbs \/ 200g)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n    \u003c\/table\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 30px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eDid this classic science fiction novel win any major genre awards?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eYes, triumphantly so. Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang achieved the absolute pinnacle of science fiction success by winning the 1977 Hugo Award for Best Novel and the 1977 Locus Award. It was also nominated for the Nebula Award, permanently solidifying Kate Wilhelm's legacy as a master of speculative fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat is the main narrative hook and setting driving the plot?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe story is set in a secluded river valley in West Virginia following a catastrophic global collapse triggered by severe environmental pollution, disease, and total human infertility. To preserve human life, a wealthy, scientifically advanced family setup—the Sumners—retreats to a high-tech underground bunker complex to bypass extinction by successfully mastering human cloning techniques.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eHow does the clone society change psychologically compared to normal humans?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe core tragedy of the book is a brilliant study in psychological evolution. Raised in identical batches, the clones develop a powerful, near-telepathic group consciousness. They find individual isolation terrifying and completely strip away personal identity, art, and creative expression in favor of absolute hive-mind conformity, viewing the remaining naturally born humans as obsolete relics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eIs the book structured as a single continuous story or separate parts?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe novel utilizes an elegant, generations-spanning three-part structure. Part One focuses on the original human scientists creating the first clone generation; Part Two explores the absolute dominance of the clone hive-mind as they step into leadership; and Part Three shifts focus to Mark, a rare clone born with an accidental mutation that grants him individual creativity, forcing him to fight for independent human survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat unique position does this Gollancz printing hold among collectors?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThis specific 2006 printing is highly sought after by science fiction purists because it was released as part of the iconic SF Masterworks series. It features the highly recognizable, classic trade layout and design standards that define the Gollancz library collection, serving as an exceptional visual twin to other classic titles on your shelves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003c!-- DISCLAIMER BUST-DOWN --\u003e\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #f4f6f8; border-left: 3px solid #2c3e50;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eCondition Notice: Pre-Owned \/ Second-Hand Product\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAll books, box sets, and multi-volume collections\u003c\/strong\u003e offered by Bust-Down Books are sold in pre-owned, used, and second-hand condition, unless explicitly designated as new in the individual product listing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Details \u0026amp; Grading:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrevious Ownership:\u003c\/strong\u003e These items have been previously owned, handled, and read. As such, copies may exhibit typical signs of shelf wear, including but not limited to minor creasing, scuffing, edge wear, bent page corners, remainder marks, or spine softening. Hardcover editions may show minor board rubbing or edge wear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarkings \u0026amp; Personalization:\u003c\/strong\u003e Items may occasionally contain inscriptions, library stamps, owner names, marginalia, or highlighting. Individual item descriptions reflect significant deviations from standard acceptable condition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplemental Materials:\u003c\/strong\u003e Secondary and digital components—such as publisher access codes, CD-ROMs, bonus inserts, registration keys, or workbook activity pages—are not guaranteed to be included, active, or unredeemed unless specifically stated in the product description.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst Sale Doctrine \u0026amp; Non-Affiliation Statement:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAll items sold on this platform are original, lawfully acquired copies being resold under the protection of the First Sale Doctrine (codified under U.S. copyright law, 17 U.S.C. § 109, and applicable international equivalents permitting the secondary resale of lawfully manufactured goods).\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eBust-Down Books, LTD. is an independent, secondary-market bookseller. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, authorized by, or sponsored by the original authors, copyright holders, publishers, or trademark owners of the titles offered for sale. All registered trademarks, author names, book titles, and publisher imprints remain the sole property of their respective owners and are used strictly for nominative identification and descriptive purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": [\"Product\", \"Book\"],\n      \"name\": \"Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang (SF Masterworks Series Edition)\",\n      \"author\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Person\",\n        \"name\": \"Kate Wilhelm\"\n      },\n      \"isbn\": \"9780575079144\",\n      \"sameAs\": \"0575079142\",\n      \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Paperback\",\n      \"numberOfPages\": 256,\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Gollancz\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2006-02-16\",\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\n      \"image\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780575079144.jpg?v=1789205193\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/where-late-the-sweet-birds-sang-kate-wilhelm-9780575079144\",\n      \"offers\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n        \"priceCurrency\": \"USD\",\n        \"price\": \"18.99\",\n        \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n        \"itemCondition\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/UsedCondition\"\n      },\n      \"about\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"FICTION \/ Science Fiction \/ Classic\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"FICTION \/ Science Fiction \/ Post-Apocalyptic\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"FICTION \/ Science Fiction \/ Genetic Engineering\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"FICTION \/ Literary\"\n        }\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Did this classic science fiction novel win any major genre awards?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"Yes, triumphantly so. Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang achieved the absolute pinnacle of science fiction success by winning the 1977 Hugo Award for Best Novel and the 1977 Locus Award. It was also nominated for the Nebula Award, permanently solidifying Kate Wilhelm's legacy as a master of speculative fiction.\"\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What is the main narrative hook and setting driving the plot?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"The story is set in a secluded river valley in West Virginia following a catastrophic global collapse triggered by severe environmental pollution, disease, and total human infertility. To preserve human life, a wealthy, scientifically advanced family setup—the Sumners—retreats to a high-tech underground bunker complex to bypass extinction by successfully mastering human cloning techniques.\"\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"How does the clone society change psychologically compared to normal humans?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"The core tragedy of the book is a brilliant study in psychological evolution. Raised in identical batches, the clones develop a powerful, near-telepathic group consciousness. They find individual isolation terrifying and completely strip away personal identity, art, and creative expression in favor of absolute hive-mind conformity, viewing the remaining naturally born humans as obsolete relics.\"\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Is the book structured as a single continuous story or separate parts?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"The novel utilizes an elegant, generations-spanning three-part structure. Part One focuses on the original human scientists creating the first clone generation; Part Two explores the absolute dominance of the clone hive-mind as they step into leadership; and Part Three shifts focus to Mark, a rare clone born with an accidental mutation that grants him individual creativity, forcing him to fight for independent human survival.\"\n          }\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What unique position does this Gollancz printing hold among collectors?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"This specific 2006 printing is highly sought after by science fiction purists because it was released as part of the iconic SF Masterworks series. It features the highly recognizable, classic trade layout and design standards that define the Gollancz library collection, serving as an exceptional visual twin to other classic titles on your shelves.\"\n          }\n        }\n      ]\n    }\n  ]\n}\n\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Bust-Down Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51605862351163,"sku":"0575079142","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9780575079144.jpg?v=1789205193","url":"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/where-late-the-sweet-birds-sang-kate-wilhelm-9780575079144","provider":"Bust-Down Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}