Cities in Flight is an omnibus volume of four novels, originally published between 1955 and 1962, two of which are fix-ups of pieces that first appeared in various magazines in the early '50s. Despite having been conceived more than 50 years ago, and produced in episodic fashion, they stand head and shoulders above most SF available today.

James Blish's galaxy-spanning masterwork, originally published in four volumes, explores a future in which two crucial discoveries - antigravity devices which enable whole cities to be lifted from the Earth to become giant spaceships, and longevity drugs which enable their inhabitants to live for thousands of years - lead to the establishment of a unique Galactic empire.

'This is the real heady wine of science fiction -- exciting, intelligent galaxy-spanning stuff that these days would require six brick-thick volumes' -- Terry Pratchett
'An outrageous imaginative coup … Crammed with high adventure yet illuminated by a searching intelligence, this four-part epic completely reinvented the traditions of space opera' -- Paul J. McAuley

Author Biography

James Blish (1921-75) studied microbiology at Rutgers and then served as a medical laboratory technician in the US army during the Second World War. Among his best known books are CITIES IN FLIGHT, A CASE OF CONSCIENCE, for which he won the HUGO in 1959 for Best Novel, DOCTOR MIRABILIS, BLACK EASTER and THE DAY AFTER JUDGEMENT.