The Short Story Thread

[johnnyjet]

I have all those Judith Merril's Best SF paperbacks, from 1 to 12. Haven't looked at them for a long time. You're bringing back lots of fond memories, Victoria!

 

[J-Sun]

Finishing up the anthology:

The Clifton, Budrys, Jackson, Asimov, and Allen were also all selected for her BotB. She also picked a Henderson and two Knights, but different ones. So, while I haven't read #1, I almost have (even leaving aside other anthologies). (That's one reason I'm not too bent out of shape about only having 6-12. BotB is a pretty good survey of #1-5 (and a really good survey of #1).)

It seems like a mix between first and second person? Is that right? The narrator is telling the story from his recollection, yet calls out "you" multiple times.

Sounds like a first person narration addressing the reader (either a particular off-stage character or a "to whom it may concern" hypothetical reader - "manuscript in a bottle" sort of stuff). To be second person, the author would write it as though "you" were the protagonist. If "you" are just referenced but it's not "your" story, then it's still first person.

 

[S.C.Wood]

The Clifton, Budrys, Jackson, Asimov, and Allen were also all selected for her BotB. She also picked a Henderson and two Knights, but different ones. So, while I haven't read #1, I almost have (even leaving aside other anthologies). (That's one reason I'm not too bent out of shape about only having 6-12. BotB is a pretty good survey of #1-5 (and a really good survey of #1).)



Sounds like a first person narration addressing the reader (either a particular off-stage character or a "to whom it may concern" hypothetical reader - "manuscript in a bottle" sort of stuff). To be second person, the author would write it as though "you" were the protagonist. If "you" are just referenced but it's not "your" story, then it's still first person.

An excerpt from the story:

"Have I rehabilitated myself, you ask? I don't even know what that word means, at least as far as prisons and corrections go. I think it's a politician's word. It may have some other meaning, and it may be that I will have a chance to find out, but that is the future - something cons teach themselves not to think about."

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

That makes it sounds like the "you" is the reader -- a technique I have seen in first narration stories sometimes, as if the narrator is literally telling the story to someone.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"The Unsafe Deposit Box" by Gerald Kersh (The Saturday Evening Post, April 14, 1962) -- Comedy about a scientist who invents stable fluorine which could destroy the world under certain very specific conditions; those conditions happen to match the ones which result when he accidentally leaves it in a safety deposit box when the bank is closed for the weekend. Light and a bit silly.

"Seven Day Terror" by R. A. Lafferty (If, March 1962) -- Shaggy dog story about a kid who invents a device (just a beer can and some cardboard, so this is more fantasy than science fiction) which makes things vanish. The usual Lafferty eccentricity and charm.

"The Toy Shop" by Harry Harrison ("Toy Shop," Analog, April 1962) -- Brief account of a seemingly simple toy rocket which "flies" through a hidden string; but there's more to it than that. Lightly ironic.

"The Face in the Photo" by Jack Finney (The Saturday Evening Post, October 13, 1962) -- Given the author, it's no surprise that this story is about folks escaping the modern world. This version of his favorite theme involves a physics professor and a dogged policeman. Nicely written.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"The Circuit Riders" by R. C. FitzPatrick (Analog, April 1962) -- Realistic story of a near future where the cops have gizmos that allow them to detect intense emotion at a distance and thus prevent some violent crimes. Pretty convincing. Out of copyright, so you can read it here:

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Circuit Riders, by R. C. FitzPatrick

I forgot to mention that "Toy Shop" is also out of copyright:

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Toy Shop, by Harry Harrison

"Such Stuff" by John Brunner (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, June 1962) -- An experiment to prevent a man from dreaming has unexpected results. A well-written chiller.

"The Man Who Made Friends with Electricity" by Fritz Leiber (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1962) -- The title character buys a home in Southern California near power lines. Electricity proves to be a fickle friend. A simple, but effective tale.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"Kings Who Die" (If, March 1962) -- Vivid war-in-space story, as an American soldier is taken prisoner by a "United Asia" space ship, and learns the strange secret of its commander. A thoughtful account of war and peace, with an ambiguous ending, aided by the fact that the first and last sentence of the story are the same.

 

[dask]

"Kings Who Die" (If, March 1962) -- Vivid war-in-space story, as an American soldier is taken prisoner by a "United Asia" space ship, and learns the strange secret of its commander. A thoughtful account of war and peace, with an ambiguous ending, aided by the fact that the first and last sentence of the story are the same.

Who wrote this?

 

[J-Sun]

Who wrote this?

Poul Anderson.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Poul Anderson.

Thanks for adding that. I was in too much of a rush and I left out the author's name.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"The Unfortunate Mr. Morky" by Vance Aandahl (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1962) -- Brief, surreal/satiric/symbolic tale of a fellow who goes into a house of mirrors. Definitely different.

"Christmas Treason" by James White (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January 1962) -- Six little kids try to find out the truth about Santa Claus. Of course, these children can do things like teleport and read minds. A cleverly done story for the Atomic Age.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"A Miracle of Rare Device" by Ray Bradbury (Playboy, January 1962) -- Two colorful characters find a mirage in the desert which appears as a different city to each viewer. A charming fable of imagination.

"All the Sounds of Fear" by Harlan Ellison (The Saint Detective Magazine, June 1962) -- Grim horror fantasy about the ultimate method actor. Pretty shocking conclusion.

"One of Those Days" by William F. Nolan (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May 1962) -- Brief surrealistic tale of talking animals, people turning into animals, etc. Whimsical.

"The Day Rembrandt Went Public" by Arnold M. Auerbach (Harper's, July 1962) -- Short mock article about great paintings traded like stocks. Satire on art and finance.

"Ms. Found in a Bus" by Russell Baker (The New York Times, 1962) -- Spoof of Cold War bestsellers, with science fiction content. Cute.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"The Insane Ones" by J. G. Ballard (Amazing, January 1962) -- Set in a future run by a world government which has banned all forms of psychiatric care. Has that unique Ballard flavor to it.

"Leprechaun" by William Sambrot (Escapade, October 1962) -- A poverty-stricken Irishman encounters a strange visitor from the sky. Interesting example of science fiction from an author who published a fair amount of it outside the genre magazines.

"Change of Heart" by A. Bertram Chandler (as by "George Whitley," New Worlds, September 1961; reprinted in Fantastic, May 1962) -- Merril doesn't give the real name of the author or the story's first appearance. Anyway, this is the story of a castaway who discovers disturbing things about dolphins and whales. Convincing sea stuff, as you'd expect from this author.

"Angela's Satyr" by Brian Cleeve (The Saturday Evening Post, November 3, 1962) -- Slightly bawdy farce about a young Italian woman and a rather naive Satyr. Amusing enough.

"Puppet Show" by Fredric Brown (Playboy, November 1962) -- Plays a couple of twists on the theme of the alien come to Earth to see if humanity is ready to join galactic civilization. Clever.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"Hang Head, Vandal!" by Mark Clifton (Amazing, April 1962) -- A new process which allows ordinary matter to produce nuclear energy is tested on Mars, with unexpected consequences. A dark and cynical story.

The next three stories are grouped together as "Mars Probe: Report in Triplicate":

"Earthlings Go Home!" by Mack Reynolds (Rogue, August 1962) -- Mock article with tips for the tourist visiting Mars.

"The Martian Star-Gazers" by Frederik Pohl (Galaxy, February 1962) -- Sardonic essay on how the Martians destroyed themselves.

"Planetary Effulgence" by Bertrand Russell (New Statesman, September 5, 1959) -- Fable about the two superpowers on Mars.

"Deadly Game" by Edward Wellen (If, May 1962) -- A game warden faces the animals he has bred for intelligence. Grim and thoughtful.

"Subcommittee" by Zenna Henderson (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July 1962) -- During tense negotiations between humans and the aliens with whom they are at war, a mother and her young son find a way to communicate with the others. As usual for this author, manages to avoid excess sentimentality while being honestly emotional.

"The Piebald Hippogriff" by Karen Anderson (Fantastic, May 1962) -- A boy goes after the hippogriffs who live on flying islands. Whimsical fantasy. Out of copyright, so you can read it here:

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Piebald Hippogriff, by Karen Anderson.

"Home from the Shore" by Gordon R. Dickson (Galaxy, February 1963) -- Set in a future where millions of people live under the sea. Some of them went to space for the land people, then came back and are treated as deserters. This leads to open war between the two peoples. A dense and complex story.

And that's the end of that anthology.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

Starting reviews from this anthology of original stories, from 1971:

"Murphy's Hall" by Poul and Karen Anderson -- The husband and wife team offer the reader a very unusual story consisting of a series of vignettes of people being killed during space exploration. The narrator shows them in an unusual afterlife, but admits in the very first sentence that this is a lie. Overall, this is a passionate argument for the importance of space travel, even at a very high price in human lives.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"The Monster in the Clearing" by Michael Fayette -- Brief satiric fable about a computer which acts as God for a new Adam and Eve. A bit dated; Eve keeps saying "Right on."

"The Scents of It" by J. F. Bone -- Narrated by a lobster-like alien dealing with humans and their strange ways. I didn't care for it.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"The Road to Cinnabar" by Ed Bryant -- A mysterious stranger wanders into the decadent city of Cinnabar in what seems to be many centuries after an apocalypse. Has the feeling of J. G. Ballard's Vermilion Sands.

"The Technological Revolution" by James E. Gunn -- A woman fights off the machines in her home. So-so Twilight Zone type of story marred by the author's apparent assumption that women should do housework without the aid of machines.

"Elephants" by "K. M. O'Donnell" (Barry Malzberg) -- Strange little bit of surrealism in which three children witness the last circus of all time.

 

[Caliban]

Blessed - by Helen Marshall
This was odd. It tells the story of a girl who is given gifts for her birthday by her dad and stepmom and her biological mum. Both give her the remains of dead saints who follow her around and cause friction with school friends who can't afford such luxuries. (7/10)

Tyrants Territory - by Brian Aldiss
Three explorers are searching a planet to determine whether colonisation is a good idea or not, discovering in th process native turtles and crocodiles that threaten them. Not terribly original but entertaining. (6/10)

Mortal Coil - by Robert Shearman
Wow this is bleak. It's good quality but I'm reading it at 1am and I've had a shitty week so perhaps not the best time to read it. Very imaginative though. It concerns the appearance of letters detailing the time and cause of death to every human on earth except one. (8/10)

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"The Other Way Around" by Howard L. Myers -- Time traveler masquerades as Merlin in medieval England. Not much new done with the theme.

 

[Victoria Silverwolf]

"Legion" by Russell Bates -- The victim of an automobile crash has his body completely rebuilt, making use of tissue from several donors, with unexpected consequences. Intensely written.

"Gorf! Gorf! Gorf!" by William F. Nolan -- Stupid comedy about a giant frog. Not worth reading.

"Timesprawl" by Anthon Warden -- Set in a future where you can reset your life by an amount of time of your choice. Interesting, in a bit overwritten.