Hi there.
Thanks to the kindness of a member of the forjum on Simak I could lay my hands on the files of a lot of short stories, several of which I hadn’t read before.
After having duly printed and bound them – I prefer to read on the old paper rather than on Kindle and the like – I read them all; my comments follow.
IMHO averagely they are rather poor – so, no wonder they’ve been never or very seldom reprint. However, some of them contain the seeds of future stories or novels, and a few are reasonably good of their own.
My reviews follow, in chronologic order:
- Hermit of Mars (1939)
Nothing worth mentioning IMHO, it’s one of the typical adventurous, naive SF stories Simak was writing ante-City.
My vote 4/10.
- Masquerade (1943)
Not a masterpiece again IMHO, however it represents a step forward compared with the above mentioned story.
My vote 5/10
- Shadows of Life (1943)
The plot is so confused and the story so overall poor I must admit I quit it without finishing. I’ll have a new try. Definitely, not Simak’s best – perhaps, his worst.
- Seven came back (1950)
Much better. IMHO, not very much a Simakian story; it is set on Mars – a Mars on which Men can breath without helmets, however, typical of earlier SF stories.
It develops on two different planes and reminds me Bradbury and even, under some expects, Burroughs.
Not bad, generally speaking.
My vote 7/10
- Retrograde Evolution (1953)
Not too bad. It’s interesting to note that here Simak develops a concept many times recurring in his works: a culture – be it men or an alien one – bound to destroy itself by fighting a tremendous war, and the possibilities/efforts to avoid that. The way chosen by the alien culture in this story is a very original one, though...
My vote 7/10
- Junkyard (1953)
This is a much more modern Simak. The plot flows smoothly, and overall is not bad. Interesting to note that it contains a concept very largely used by Simak in later works: one alien race collecting knowledge from all over the universe – even though in this story the way such a race follows is unusual and awkward, as they steal such a knowledge from spaceships casually stranded upon an abandoned planet in a desolate part of universe – that means, the universe life span wouldn’t suffice to collect enough...
My vote 6/10
- Shadow world (1957)
A step back IMHO, the concept behind the whole plot is a bit absurd. It turns to comic somewhat, but it’s not too good a story.
My vote 5/10
- The Civilisation Game (1958)
It’s interesting the idea that the mankind of the future will have to recover some of its old, abandoned behaviours, such as politics and war, and carry them out in an artificial and controlled environment, to keep itself human.
Not very well developed, however, nor original.
My vote 5/10.
- Installment plan (1959)
The plot itself is not particularly original. It’s interesting however that most main characters are robots – but a man who’s the main one. Robots featuring definite personality, much unlike the often plain pieces of machinery from Asimov (that’s why I do like Simak’s robots much more).
Interesting also to note that here the concept of “ Transmogs “ – interchangeable devices applied on robots, to supply them with different abilities (engineer, physician etc.); this concept will come back in the novel “ Planet of Shakespeare ” with the robot Nicodemus.
Generally speaking a nice story, elegant and pleasant to read.
My vote 7/10
- No Life of Their Own (1959)
IMHO the plot doesn’t flow smoothly, and generally speaking it’s not a great story. However it’s interesting the concept of different alien races cohabiting Earth with mankind – even though the alien races are not described in details, and seem to me mostly like men – and the way thy interact with mankind, mainly with human youngsters.
My vote 6/10
- Drop Dead (1960)
Interesting to note that the guy who scanned this story made a big error, as in the cover it reports “ Original title: All the Traps of Earth “ that instead it’ a completely different story, as you know.
It’s a bit disquieting story; lurking behind it there’s an alien sinister race – never acting directly in the story itself – that grows artificial animals/plants to their own benefit.
My vote 5/10
- Day of Truce (1963)
I had read some reviews of this story before actually reading it. I think they were right, i.e. is a cruel story, very little Simakian.
I find the basic assumption non realistic, and, all in all, I must admit I couldn’t very well understand what Simak meant to say.
My vote 5/10.
Looking forward to further comments – reviews.
All the best
Roberto
