Cities in Flight

Book Review

«Cities in Flight» by James Blish is not just a science fiction saga but a grand symphony of ideas and images, in which cities, torn from their earthly roots, roam the galaxy like arks of human culture and memory. Blish masterfully intertwines the destinies of his characters with those of entire civilizations, creating a vast canvas where the personal and the cosmic are inseparable. His language is precise and inventive, and the philosophical motifs—from reflections on power to the search for meaning—resonate with particular poignancy against the backdrop of cosmic space. Critics note the book's unique atmosphere, where scientific authenticity is combined with lyricism, and social and political allusions give the narrative depth and relevance. «Cities in Flight» is a work in which science fiction becomes an epic about humanity's thirst for freedom and its eternal striving toward the stars.