John W. Campbell

[antiloquax]

Heard this writer's name a few times, but I am ignorant of his work (except for "The Thing From Another World". Can anyone recommend some of his stuff to add to my collection?

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[j d worthington]

Campbell is known more as an editor (he instituted what is often called "the Campbell Revolution" in sf, which resulted in the so-called "Golden Age", with his editorship of Astounding, which later became Analog), but he did write some very good pieces, most of which (in my opinion) are in the shorter form. Try looking up The Best of John W. Campbell for some prime examples. "The Thing from Another World" was not the title of the story, by the way; that was "Who Goes There?" and can be found either in the volume mentioned, or in numerous anthologies, including The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, vol. IIA.... Also look up his "Twilight" for a truly impressive, and rather uncharacteristic, mood piece....

 

[K. Riehl]

You might try his Arcot, Morey and Wade stories. They are as implausible as E. E. Smith's Lensmen series but almost as much fun. They are dated and creaking but you get flashes of the ideas that drove 40's science fiction.


The three books are: The Black Star Passes, Islands of Space, and Invaders from the Infinite.

 

[antiloquax]

Thanks!
@j.d.worthington - that'll explain why I hadn't found the story the films were based on!
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[GOLLUM]

JD's beaten me to the punch on Campbell but certainly he did write some pieces worth seeking out but I think will always be best known as a groundbreaking editor. The best new wrtier at the Hugo Awards ceremony incidentally receives the John W. Campbell Award in recognition of Campbell's contribution to the field....