I can't help you, but this should really be in the search forum, where you'll get a lot more help. This thread is for reviews of old magazines only; thanks.
Reading Around in Old SF Magazines
- Thread starter Bick
- Start date
The request is posted in Book Search, @Bick. But it's not getting much attention and I figured most folk haven't seen it.
First off - this thread really ought to be in the 'Magazines' sub-forum - could a kind mod please move it there?
And now, continuing my (very) slow read through Astounding from 1958...
Astounding, August 1958
Poul Anderson - We Have Fed Our Sea (Part 1 of 2)
In August 1958 Poul Anderson was back with another serial in the magazine, following his serial in Feb-Apr earlier in the year. We Have Fed Our Sea was a popular serial in Astounding and only one year later it was published as the short novel The Enemy Stars. I read The Enemy Stars recently, so, while I enjoyed it very much (it's one of Anderson's stronger early novels), I did not re-read it in this read-through of the magazine. The story revolves around a lost spaceship, with engine trouble, that cannot easily get back to known space. It's early 'hard' SF and very nicely done. A few years ago on this forum I wrote: "Enjoying it immensely, and but for the occasional mention of using slide rules, it would stand up today as great hard SF. It really doesn't come across anachronistically, which I've noticed before with Anderson. The other thing that comes through clearly is Poul's intelligence. His mind was like a steel trap, and I'm in awe. It's in a different ball-park entirely from many lesser (and many current) popular SF authors. Highly recommended, especially if you liked Tau Zero and similar SF disaster type books."
Anton Lee Baker - They've Been Working On
This was a weak story, about how 'stupid' computers can be, and how a train depot becomes clogged with immoveable stock because a computer couldn't work out a simple solution. Very dated. This was the only SFF fiction the author ever published, so while it was poor, I can now say I've read the entire SF output of Anton Lee Baker.
Christopher Anvil - Cargo for Colony 6
Anvil can write quite good stories, though his prolific output for Astounding, especially, was mostly of the filler type, and this effort was no different. The cargo for a space colony, during a period of unrest or war, is discovered to be a new kind of star-drive which responds to thought. The plot is rather a muddle, and Anvil seems to have been trying to add depth or mystery by not explaining things well. Overall, this wasn't much good, and readers should feel they can skip it.
Robert Silverberg - Point of Focus
The issue ends with a Silverberg, which is often a high point in the magazine; even in his earliest work back in the late 1950's was of a reliable minimum standard. This story is in some ways quite ordinary for Silverberg, but it does rise in quality at the end. An alien emissary of the 486-world Federation goes to a planet with an exotic chlorine-based atmosphere and indigenous sentient species to bring them into the Federation. When he gets there, he finds a Terran population has beaten him there and is persuading the chlorine-based locals not to join. The story isn't all that much, but it's a nice example of an early argument for diversity and differentiation between people.
Overall Thoughts
Not the best issue, if one looks beyond the excellent entry from Poul Anderson. In The Reference Library review article, P. Shuyler Miller provides an interesting overview and review of C.S. Lewis' famous SF trilogy.
And now, continuing my (very) slow read through Astounding from 1958...
Astounding, August 1958
Poul Anderson - We Have Fed Our Sea (Part 1 of 2)
In August 1958 Poul Anderson was back with another serial in the magazine, following his serial in Feb-Apr earlier in the year. We Have Fed Our Sea was a popular serial in Astounding and only one year later it was published as the short novel The Enemy Stars. I read The Enemy Stars recently, so, while I enjoyed it very much (it's one of Anderson's stronger early novels), I did not re-read it in this read-through of the magazine. The story revolves around a lost spaceship, with engine trouble, that cannot easily get back to known space. It's early 'hard' SF and very nicely done. A few years ago on this forum I wrote: "Enjoying it immensely, and but for the occasional mention of using slide rules, it would stand up today as great hard SF. It really doesn't come across anachronistically, which I've noticed before with Anderson. The other thing that comes through clearly is Poul's intelligence. His mind was like a steel trap, and I'm in awe. It's in a different ball-park entirely from many lesser (and many current) popular SF authors. Highly recommended, especially if you liked Tau Zero and similar SF disaster type books."
Anton Lee Baker - They've Been Working On
This was a weak story, about how 'stupid' computers can be, and how a train depot becomes clogged with immoveable stock because a computer couldn't work out a simple solution. Very dated. This was the only SFF fiction the author ever published, so while it was poor, I can now say I've read the entire SF output of Anton Lee Baker.
Christopher Anvil - Cargo for Colony 6
Anvil can write quite good stories, though his prolific output for Astounding, especially, was mostly of the filler type, and this effort was no different. The cargo for a space colony, during a period of unrest or war, is discovered to be a new kind of star-drive which responds to thought. The plot is rather a muddle, and Anvil seems to have been trying to add depth or mystery by not explaining things well. Overall, this wasn't much good, and readers should feel they can skip it.
Robert Silverberg - Point of Focus
The issue ends with a Silverberg, which is often a high point in the magazine; even in his earliest work back in the late 1950's was of a reliable minimum standard. This story is in some ways quite ordinary for Silverberg, but it does rise in quality at the end. An alien emissary of the 486-world Federation goes to a planet with an exotic chlorine-based atmosphere and indigenous sentient species to bring them into the Federation. When he gets there, he finds a Terran population has beaten him there and is persuading the chlorine-based locals not to join. The story isn't all that much, but it's a nice example of an early argument for diversity and differentiation between people.
Overall Thoughts
Not the best issue, if one looks beyond the excellent entry from Poul Anderson. In The Reference Library review article, P. Shuyler Miller provides an interesting overview and review of C.S. Lewis' famous SF trilogy.
Extollager
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Bick, I have that Aug. 1958 Astounding and the next issue for the Anderson novel, which is one of my favorite works of science fiction.
Yes, I remember you posting on that a few years back. It's a good story; a slight shame the issue otherwise is not great.
I'll be reading the next issue shortly, so we'll see if that one is better, beyond the conclusion of the Anderson serial. It has another Anvil (meh), a Schmitz (which may be ok, but could be 'filler'), but also a Gordy Dickson story (The Quarry) - they are usually good.
Is there a 'Magazines' sub-forum? I recall someone telling me I'd posted my magazine story search in the wrong place, a few weeks ago. If so can you give the page name / URL, please? Thanks.
Found it, so feel free to ignore this request.
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The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction British Edition
Numbers One (October ‘53), Two (Nov ‘53), Three (Dec ‘53), Five (Feb ‘54), , Six (March ‘54), and Eight (May ‘54)
I have a pile of old SF magazines to read through courtesy of house clearing my parents’ house last year.
I posted photos of them on this thread:
www.sffchronicles.com
In the end, I decided to keep them and read through at my leisure and may well post here from time to time. A problem I’ll probably find is that I’m fairly well read in old anthologies/ collections so I may well have read the cream already, but I'm hoping to find the occasional little gem.
I’ve made a start with:
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction British Edition: Numbers One (October ‘53), Two (Nov ‘53), Three (Dec ‘53), Five (Feb ‘54), , Six (March ‘54), and Eight (May ‘54)
(Issues Four and Seven are missing).
I’ve had a look through earlier posts in this thread, and though I may have missed them, I don’t think these issues have been covered.
These six issues have 63 stories (including one non-fiction) by some 49 authors.
Robert Abernathy X 2, Poul Anderson X 2, Raymond E. Banks , Alfred Bester , Eando Binder , James Blish , Ray Bradbury , R.Bretnor and Kris Neville , Bill Brown X 2, Fredric Brown , Esther CarlsonX2, Cleve Cartmill X 2, A. Bertram Chandler , Raymond Chandler , Mildred Clingerman , Alfred Coppel , J.J. Coupling , Lavinia R. Davis , L.Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt X 2, Daniel Defoe , Charles Dickens , Lord Dunsany , Doris Gilbert , Ann Warren Griffith , Ron Goulart , Thelma D. Hamm, Zenna Henderson , C.M Kornbluth , J.T. McIntosh X 3, Lion Miller , Ward Moore ,H. Nearing, Jr ,Alan Nelson X2, Kris Neville X 2, Fitz-James O’Brien , Chad Oliver, Peter Phillips , Arthur Porges , Ben Ray Redman ‘ Ralph Robin X 2, Kay Rogers, Oliver Saari, Richard Sale, Howard Schoenfeld , Idris Seabright X 3, Robert Louis Stevenson, Manly Wade Wellman, Christopher Wood X 2
I was surprised to find about 20% of the authors were women – this was more than I’d expected. Of course there could be more if there are pseudonyms here that are unknown to me. However 10 out of 49 authors writing 13 out of the 63 stories doesn't seem that bad considering the times.
The titles/authors of the stories can be found here, courtesy of Phil Stephensen-Payne
I’ll highlight the ones I found interesting. Although I’ll make some effort to avoid giving away crucial aspects of the plot, there are bound to be some PLOT SPOILERS.
In alphabetical order..
(1) Poul Anderson “Three Hearts and Three Lions” Parts I & II (Feb & March ‘54)
Holger Carlsen is engaging in a gun battle with Nazis on a Danish beach when he is knocked unconscious and awakens in a forest. A mighty horse and armour that fits him are waiting close by.
As the story progresses, he meets Alianora, the swan-maiden and journeys into Faerie.
The original version of the novel. Apparently this was the very first story to be serialised in F&SF – previous there was a ‘no serial’ policy.
(2) Raymond E. Banks “Christmas Trombone” (May ‘54)
Shorty has nowhere to play his trombone now that everyone prefers the Venusian singing cones, and as a result has to get by owning a small local garage. Great small town Clifford D. Simak feel.
(3) James Blish “First Strike” (May ‘54)
The imminent launch of the first rocket into space has stirred up nationwide popular opposition. Wally Swain, the lone pilot, has started to become apprehensive.
Unusual take on a well-known theme.
(4) Bill Brown “The Star Ducks” (May ‘54)
News reporter visits isolated farm re a story of a crashed aeroplane. Another good Simakian story in “aliens in the briar patch” mode
(5) Mildred Clingerman “Minister Without Portfolio”(Oct 53)
Mrs Chriswell is fed up with being pressured into taking up birdwatching and annoyingly has lost her hat into the bargain. She asks some tall young men in uniform if they have seen it.
I’m fond of this one.
(6) L.Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt “The Untimely Toper”(Mar 54)
A Gavagan’s Bar story. Drink is going missing.
(7) Miriam Allen Deford “Charles Fort: Enfant Terrible of Science” (May54)
Good article on Charles Fort’s life and work by someone who knew him well.
(8) Lord Dunsany “Told Under Oath” (Dec53)
The Devil and holes in one on the golf course.
A surprise. I’d had a low opinion of Dunsany’s writing but this held my attention.
(9) Zenna Henderson “Ararat”(Nov 53)
One of her “People” series. Always worth reading. This is the one with the new teacher in the village school.
(10) C.M Kornbluth “The Goodly Creatures” (Nov 53)
Jim Farwell hires a new junior copywriter. Story meanders.
An excellent example of a poor story by a good writer. I’ll probably find more of these as I progress through the pile.
(11) J.T. McIntosh “One in a Thousand” (May 54)
Follow-up to the earlier “One in Three Hundred” story. This concerns the flight to Mars by the survivors escaping the doomed Earth. Surprisingly suspenseful. Well written.
(12) Kris Neville “Old Man Henderson” (Mar 54)
Joey’s mother asks him to take a loaf of newly baked bread to Old Man Henderson. Joey asks if he can take his Venusian pet, Jasper, along.
The subject of dementia is beautifully handled.
(13) Arthur Porges "The Ruum" (Nov 53)
"I regret to inform you that because of a technician's carelessness a type H-9 Ruum has been left behind on the third planet, together with anything that it may have collected".
I remember this well from my first teen SF reads. An old favourite: maybe it was the dinosaurs.
(14) Idris Seabright “Brightness Falls” (Feb 54)
"....he would go to one of the windows and watch the luminous trails that meant the bird people were fighting again. The trails would float down slowly against the night sky as if they were made of star dust".
Beautifully sad.
(15) Robert Louis Stevenson “The Isle of Voices” (Oct 53)
Keola is the son in law of Kalamake, the wise man and sorcerer of Molokai.
I hadn’t come across this one before and really enjoyed the sense of time and place.
(16) Manly Wade Wellman “One Other” (Dec 53)
Silver John climbs Hark Mountain to visit the Bottomless Pool only to find Miss Annalinda casting a love spell.
I always enjoy a Silver John story.
Numbers One (October ‘53), Two (Nov ‘53), Three (Dec ‘53), Five (Feb ‘54), , Six (March ‘54), and Eight (May ‘54)
I have a pile of old SF magazines to read through courtesy of house clearing my parents’ house last year.
I posted photos of them on this thread:
Any advice re moving on these old pulp magazines? Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
I'm in the process of clearing my parents' house and yesterday excavated my father's old SF pulps from the late 1940s- 1950s. While some of them are a tad manky (basement flood years ago), most are battered but OK, much like most from that era. Ideally I'd like to move them on, but I don't...
www.sffchronicles.com
In the end, I decided to keep them and read through at my leisure and may well post here from time to time. A problem I’ll probably find is that I’m fairly well read in old anthologies/ collections so I may well have read the cream already, but I'm hoping to find the occasional little gem.
I’ve made a start with:
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction British Edition: Numbers One (October ‘53), Two (Nov ‘53), Three (Dec ‘53), Five (Feb ‘54), , Six (March ‘54), and Eight (May ‘54)
(Issues Four and Seven are missing).
I’ve had a look through earlier posts in this thread, and though I may have missed them, I don’t think these issues have been covered.
These six issues have 63 stories (including one non-fiction) by some 49 authors.
Robert Abernathy X 2, Poul Anderson X 2, Raymond E. Banks , Alfred Bester , Eando Binder , James Blish , Ray Bradbury , R.Bretnor and Kris Neville , Bill Brown X 2, Fredric Brown , Esther CarlsonX2, Cleve Cartmill X 2, A. Bertram Chandler , Raymond Chandler , Mildred Clingerman , Alfred Coppel , J.J. Coupling , Lavinia R. Davis , L.Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt X 2, Daniel Defoe , Charles Dickens , Lord Dunsany , Doris Gilbert , Ann Warren Griffith , Ron Goulart , Thelma D. Hamm, Zenna Henderson , C.M Kornbluth , J.T. McIntosh X 3, Lion Miller , Ward Moore ,H. Nearing, Jr ,Alan Nelson X2, Kris Neville X 2, Fitz-James O’Brien , Chad Oliver, Peter Phillips , Arthur Porges , Ben Ray Redman ‘ Ralph Robin X 2, Kay Rogers, Oliver Saari, Richard Sale, Howard Schoenfeld , Idris Seabright X 3, Robert Louis Stevenson, Manly Wade Wellman, Christopher Wood X 2
I was surprised to find about 20% of the authors were women – this was more than I’d expected. Of course there could be more if there are pseudonyms here that are unknown to me. However 10 out of 49 authors writing 13 out of the 63 stories doesn't seem that bad considering the times.
The titles/authors of the stories can be found here, courtesy of Phil Stephensen-Payne
I’ll highlight the ones I found interesting. Although I’ll make some effort to avoid giving away crucial aspects of the plot, there are bound to be some PLOT SPOILERS.
In alphabetical order..
(1) Poul Anderson “Three Hearts and Three Lions” Parts I & II (Feb & March ‘54)
Holger Carlsen is engaging in a gun battle with Nazis on a Danish beach when he is knocked unconscious and awakens in a forest. A mighty horse and armour that fits him are waiting close by.
As the story progresses, he meets Alianora, the swan-maiden and journeys into Faerie.
The original version of the novel. Apparently this was the very first story to be serialised in F&SF – previous there was a ‘no serial’ policy.
(2) Raymond E. Banks “Christmas Trombone” (May ‘54)
Shorty has nowhere to play his trombone now that everyone prefers the Venusian singing cones, and as a result has to get by owning a small local garage. Great small town Clifford D. Simak feel.
(3) James Blish “First Strike” (May ‘54)
The imminent launch of the first rocket into space has stirred up nationwide popular opposition. Wally Swain, the lone pilot, has started to become apprehensive.
Unusual take on a well-known theme.
(4) Bill Brown “The Star Ducks” (May ‘54)
News reporter visits isolated farm re a story of a crashed aeroplane. Another good Simakian story in “aliens in the briar patch” mode
(5) Mildred Clingerman “Minister Without Portfolio”(Oct 53)
Mrs Chriswell is fed up with being pressured into taking up birdwatching and annoyingly has lost her hat into the bargain. She asks some tall young men in uniform if they have seen it.
I’m fond of this one.
(6) L.Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt “The Untimely Toper”(Mar 54)
A Gavagan’s Bar story. Drink is going missing.
(7) Miriam Allen Deford “Charles Fort: Enfant Terrible of Science” (May54)
Good article on Charles Fort’s life and work by someone who knew him well.
(8) Lord Dunsany “Told Under Oath” (Dec53)
The Devil and holes in one on the golf course.
A surprise. I’d had a low opinion of Dunsany’s writing but this held my attention.
(9) Zenna Henderson “Ararat”(Nov 53)
One of her “People” series. Always worth reading. This is the one with the new teacher in the village school.
(10) C.M Kornbluth “The Goodly Creatures” (Nov 53)
Jim Farwell hires a new junior copywriter. Story meanders.
An excellent example of a poor story by a good writer. I’ll probably find more of these as I progress through the pile.
(11) J.T. McIntosh “One in a Thousand” (May 54)
Follow-up to the earlier “One in Three Hundred” story. This concerns the flight to Mars by the survivors escaping the doomed Earth. Surprisingly suspenseful. Well written.
(12) Kris Neville “Old Man Henderson” (Mar 54)
Joey’s mother asks him to take a loaf of newly baked bread to Old Man Henderson. Joey asks if he can take his Venusian pet, Jasper, along.
The subject of dementia is beautifully handled.
(13) Arthur Porges "The Ruum" (Nov 53)
"I regret to inform you that because of a technician's carelessness a type H-9 Ruum has been left behind on the third planet, together with anything that it may have collected".
I remember this well from my first teen SF reads. An old favourite: maybe it was the dinosaurs.
(14) Idris Seabright “Brightness Falls” (Feb 54)
"....he would go to one of the windows and watch the luminous trails that meant the bird people were fighting again. The trails would float down slowly against the night sky as if they were made of star dust".
Beautifully sad.
(15) Robert Louis Stevenson “The Isle of Voices” (Oct 53)
Keola is the son in law of Kalamake, the wise man and sorcerer of Molokai.
I hadn’t come across this one before and really enjoyed the sense of time and place.
(16) Manly Wade Wellman “One Other” (Dec 53)
Silver John climbs Hark Mountain to visit the Bottomless Pool only to find Miss Annalinda casting a love spell.
I always enjoy a Silver John story.
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Thanks for the notes, Hugh, very interesting. I didn't realise F&SF ran reprinted stories at all (the RLS tale). Was the Dunsany a reprint? He lived another few years after this was issued, but I would guess it was older. Shame the Kornbluth wasn't better - I'd have had high hopes for that too.
Continuing the read through:
Astounding, September 1958
Christopher Anvil - Foghead
Like many of Anvil's works, this novelette is very uneven; it starts patchily and is somewhat confusing, then gets a whole lot better for a while, but ends rather abruptly. The human race is fighting another force in the galaxy (who are never described), with the help of two alien races. A ship is sent to a world to set up a receiver for ships using a new worm-hole style instantaneous means of starship travel. When they arrive at the planet to place the receiver, they find the place is not only extremely foggy, but full of dangerous flora and fauna. Anvil always gives the impression he was writing his work in a rush - there's little sign of his taking care with plot, pacing or explanation.
Gordon R. Dickson - The Quarry
This was much better, and read like a classic of the genre, given its terrific idea. To say too much would give the plot away, and its a pretty short story. Suffice to say, a man is being 'played with' by two children, much to his despair. The reason why is the classic invention of this tale. I'm surprised it's not been anthologised more, and it's the sort of thing that would be very well known if Asimov had written it (it's just the kind of thing he would write). In any event, Dickson very rarely disappoints - he's was a terrific SF writer.
James H. Schmitz - Harvest Time
Schmitz is most well known these days for the Witches of Karres novel and sequels, but he wrote a lot of short SF before he wrote those books. I find my feeling about Schmitz is rather mixed. His writing tends to be a little unreliable, and this novelette was just about acceptable, but developed character and plot less smoothly than one would like.
Daniel Luzon Morris - Interview
Representing the only SF Morris ever had published, this was seemingly inspired by a news item in the Manchester Guardian, regarding the removal of an oak tree planted by Merlin. In this story, Merlin is interviewed in the present day and reveals that many technological insights of past times were seen as magic, and that knowledge from different eras was not necessarily less correct, just seen through the lens of the times. It wasn't bad, but nothing to write home about.
Avis Pabel - Basic Agreement
This is another unique offering, as this was the only SF published by Pabel, as well. A little girl is visited each night by a tentacular green monster, but her father is not impressed by her constant nightmares and tells her to pull herself together. It nice enough, though of course it's hardly that original.
Poul Anderson - We Have Fed Our Sea (Part 2 of 2)
The conclusion to Anderson's superior tale of outer-space misadventure concludes. It's a cracking read.
Overall Thoughts
The highlights in this issue were the Anderson serial conclusion and the Dickson short story. Dickson is remarkably consistent I find, and it was no surprise his was the 'best of the rest' after the serial. Schuyler-Miller's book reviews are quite interesting; he was much in favour of Wyndham's The Midwich Cuckoos and waxes lyrical about PKD's short story collection The Variable Man. In his editorial, Campbell goes on about political systems, and what America currently has (in 1958) - it's pretty skippable.
Astounding, September 1958
Christopher Anvil - Foghead
Like many of Anvil's works, this novelette is very uneven; it starts patchily and is somewhat confusing, then gets a whole lot better for a while, but ends rather abruptly. The human race is fighting another force in the galaxy (who are never described), with the help of two alien races. A ship is sent to a world to set up a receiver for ships using a new worm-hole style instantaneous means of starship travel. When they arrive at the planet to place the receiver, they find the place is not only extremely foggy, but full of dangerous flora and fauna. Anvil always gives the impression he was writing his work in a rush - there's little sign of his taking care with plot, pacing or explanation.
Gordon R. Dickson - The Quarry
This was much better, and read like a classic of the genre, given its terrific idea. To say too much would give the plot away, and its a pretty short story. Suffice to say, a man is being 'played with' by two children, much to his despair. The reason why is the classic invention of this tale. I'm surprised it's not been anthologised more, and it's the sort of thing that would be very well known if Asimov had written it (it's just the kind of thing he would write). In any event, Dickson very rarely disappoints - he's was a terrific SF writer.
James H. Schmitz - Harvest Time
Schmitz is most well known these days for the Witches of Karres novel and sequels, but he wrote a lot of short SF before he wrote those books. I find my feeling about Schmitz is rather mixed. His writing tends to be a little unreliable, and this novelette was just about acceptable, but developed character and plot less smoothly than one would like.
Daniel Luzon Morris - Interview
Representing the only SF Morris ever had published, this was seemingly inspired by a news item in the Manchester Guardian, regarding the removal of an oak tree planted by Merlin. In this story, Merlin is interviewed in the present day and reveals that many technological insights of past times were seen as magic, and that knowledge from different eras was not necessarily less correct, just seen through the lens of the times. It wasn't bad, but nothing to write home about.
Avis Pabel - Basic Agreement
This is another unique offering, as this was the only SF published by Pabel, as well. A little girl is visited each night by a tentacular green monster, but her father is not impressed by her constant nightmares and tells her to pull herself together. It nice enough, though of course it's hardly that original.
Poul Anderson - We Have Fed Our Sea (Part 2 of 2)
The conclusion to Anderson's superior tale of outer-space misadventure concludes. It's a cracking read.
Overall Thoughts
The highlights in this issue were the Anderson serial conclusion and the Dickson short story. Dickson is remarkably consistent I find, and it was no surprise his was the 'best of the rest' after the serial. Schuyler-Miller's book reviews are quite interesting; he was much in favour of Wyndham's The Midwich Cuckoos and waxes lyrical about PKD's short story collection The Variable Man. In his editorial, Campbell goes on about political systems, and what America currently has (in 1958) - it's pretty skippable.
pogopossum
Swamp Critter
Thanks for the memories. My brother (born 1937, I am ten years younger) owned all of these, plus a full set of GALAXY up into the late 60s. I would raid his collection and he would get annoyed. Not for my reading them, but for my not returning them in pristine order and condition. Sadly, in later years n he declined. The roof leaked and his kids threw them out.
Extollager
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Thanks, Bick. That Astounding issue is one of two that I own, the other having the first installment of the Anderson novel. We Have Fed Our Seas is, for me, one of the top sf stories of them all. I had a paperback of it (as The Enemy Stars) but got these two issues because I felt the story deserved something better.
Extollager
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Actually, I forgot to mention two pre-Campbell issues. I keep them away out of light and forgot about them!
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It looks to me as if this was the first publication of Dunsany's "Told Under Oath".
I was surprised too by the inclusion of reprints - as well as the Stevenson, there are:
“The Rat That Could Speak” by Charles Dickens
“The Devil at St Bennet Fynk” by Daniel Defoe
“The Lost Room” by Fitz-James O’Brien
Astounding, October 1958
Clifford D. Simak - The Big Front Yard
October '58 kicks off with a genuine classic, which I'd been looking forward to getting to in this read-through (albeit as a re-read). Given a famous Kelly Freas cover - which perfectly captures a scene in the tale - Simak's story won the 1959 Hugo for best novelette. A Yankee tinkerer, fixer of gadgets and antique dealer finds machines are being mysteriously mended in his old house overnight or while he's away from home. He later discovers the front of his house and yard disappears, and he can only get in by the back door! He comes to realise he's been visited by beings from another world, and his house has become the gateway to new horizons. The tale is a quintessential rendition of Simak's common theme of a small-town everyman's interactions with aliens, and how old traditions and values might not lose their merit, just because times change. Great fun, and of course highly recommended.
Rog Phillips - The Yellow Pill
In researching the author for this note, I discovered that Phillips' SF was extensively published from the mid-40's until about 1961, with over a hundred short stories to his name. This tale has been heavily anthologised, including inclusion in Kingsley Amis' highly regarded Spectrum anthology series. This tale asks the thorny question of how can we know that what we see and hear is reality or merely subjective? This is the kind of idea PKD and others wrestled with, and this is a classic take on the theme. Well written, pacey and fun - even if you can see the conclusion coming - it's a bit of a belter.
Pauline Ashwell - Big Sword
As written by "Paul Ash", a pseudonym Pauline Ashwell chose to use here. There is an assumption that female writers felt they had to use male names to sell their work and succeed in SF, and this may be true sometimes, but I doubt any pressure came from Campbell here, though he tends to be the targeted for criticism for this kind of thing. The editor clearly liked Ashwell's work; he 'discovered' her after all, and published her work prior to this under her own name (and many other women under their own names). In any event, this novelette is quite an inventive and enjoyable tale about a colony on an alien planet, and their interactions and understanding of a small, telepathic, alien lifeform. Ashwell's ideas tended to be somewhat brighter than her prose, which could verge on the sluggish, however. This was highlighted a little by the next story in the issue.
Randall Garrett - ...And Check the Oil
Garrett's story is written in his usual peppy, engaging style, and it was more enjoyably readable than Ashwell's. A large spaceship has settled to Earth on an Indonesian island, and various world science and linguistic experts, including the protagonist - a chemist - are brought in the try and understand why it's here, and whether the inhabitants can be conversed with. It's certainly entertaining and a nice idea, though the ending is a bit on the negative side, I guess. A decent novelette though.
Jay Williams - False Image
This was quite a good short story. Told from the perspective of an alien farmer on Earth, we learn by the end what the state of the world is, and how humans see the aliens. But the different perspective is well done, and you don't see it all coming, so the end is quite satisfying. Williams wrote a dozen or so adult SF stories between '54 and the '70's but was perhaps most well known for his Danny Dunn children's SF series (co-written with Raymond Abrashkin).
Overall Thoughts
This was an excellent issue of Astounding, possibly only matched this year by May '58. If you see copies of Astounding from this year in a used book store, grab October '58, as it won't disappoint. Book reviews this month include Leinster's Out of this World (described as a pot-boiler).
Clifford D. Simak - The Big Front Yard
October '58 kicks off with a genuine classic, which I'd been looking forward to getting to in this read-through (albeit as a re-read). Given a famous Kelly Freas cover - which perfectly captures a scene in the tale - Simak's story won the 1959 Hugo for best novelette. A Yankee tinkerer, fixer of gadgets and antique dealer finds machines are being mysteriously mended in his old house overnight or while he's away from home. He later discovers the front of his house and yard disappears, and he can only get in by the back door! He comes to realise he's been visited by beings from another world, and his house has become the gateway to new horizons. The tale is a quintessential rendition of Simak's common theme of a small-town everyman's interactions with aliens, and how old traditions and values might not lose their merit, just because times change. Great fun, and of course highly recommended.
Rog Phillips - The Yellow Pill
In researching the author for this note, I discovered that Phillips' SF was extensively published from the mid-40's until about 1961, with over a hundred short stories to his name. This tale has been heavily anthologised, including inclusion in Kingsley Amis' highly regarded Spectrum anthology series. This tale asks the thorny question of how can we know that what we see and hear is reality or merely subjective? This is the kind of idea PKD and others wrestled with, and this is a classic take on the theme. Well written, pacey and fun - even if you can see the conclusion coming - it's a bit of a belter.
Pauline Ashwell - Big Sword
As written by "Paul Ash", a pseudonym Pauline Ashwell chose to use here. There is an assumption that female writers felt they had to use male names to sell their work and succeed in SF, and this may be true sometimes, but I doubt any pressure came from Campbell here, though he tends to be the targeted for criticism for this kind of thing. The editor clearly liked Ashwell's work; he 'discovered' her after all, and published her work prior to this under her own name (and many other women under their own names). In any event, this novelette is quite an inventive and enjoyable tale about a colony on an alien planet, and their interactions and understanding of a small, telepathic, alien lifeform. Ashwell's ideas tended to be somewhat brighter than her prose, which could verge on the sluggish, however. This was highlighted a little by the next story in the issue.
Randall Garrett - ...And Check the Oil
Garrett's story is written in his usual peppy, engaging style, and it was more enjoyably readable than Ashwell's. A large spaceship has settled to Earth on an Indonesian island, and various world science and linguistic experts, including the protagonist - a chemist - are brought in the try and understand why it's here, and whether the inhabitants can be conversed with. It's certainly entertaining and a nice idea, though the ending is a bit on the negative side, I guess. A decent novelette though.
Jay Williams - False Image
This was quite a good short story. Told from the perspective of an alien farmer on Earth, we learn by the end what the state of the world is, and how humans see the aliens. But the different perspective is well done, and you don't see it all coming, so the end is quite satisfying. Williams wrote a dozen or so adult SF stories between '54 and the '70's but was perhaps most well known for his Danny Dunn children's SF series (co-written with Raymond Abrashkin).
Overall Thoughts
This was an excellent issue of Astounding, possibly only matched this year by May '58. If you see copies of Astounding from this year in a used book store, grab October '58, as it won't disappoint. Book reviews this month include Leinster's Out of this World (described as a pot-boiler).
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I’ve now read a further three issues of the British edition of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction: July, August and September 1954. (There’s now a gap until December 1959 - the British edition ceased publication until then - so I’ll be moving on next to several issues of Startling Stories.)
These three issues have 29 stories by some 27 authors (6 are women, totalling about 22%) as follows:
Robert Abernathy, Poul Anderson, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Bester, Charles Beaumont, Marion Zimmer Bradley, R. Bretnor, Esther Carlson, Roger Dee X 2, Miriam Allen Deford , Bruce Elliott X2, Jack Finney, David Grinnell, H.F. Heard, Robert A. Heinlein, Elisabeth Sanxay Holding, Shirley Jackson, C.M. Kornbluth, Fritz Leiber, William Morrison, H. Nearing Jr, Alan Nelson, Martin Pearson and Cecil Corwin, Evelyn E. Smith, Will Stanton, William Tenn
The titles/authors can be found here, courtesy of Phil Stephensen-Payne:
These are the stories I liked best – please be aware of possible PLOT SPOILERS.
In alphabetical order.. ..
“Ghetto” by Poul Anderson
Kenri Shaun is returning to Kith Town after his latest trip to the stars. He’s told his fellow crew members that he intends to resign from the Kith to become an Earthling. He’s fallen in love with a girl from a wealthy family who was travelling on his starship. The ‘Ghetto’ refers to how the earth populace is becoming more and more prejudiced against the Kith.
Good solid Poul Anderson story.
“5,271,009” by Alfred Bester
Ingenious story that revolves around a painter’s regression to childhood after looking into the eyes of a most unusual man, and that man’s take on Freudian analysis. Wonderful turns of phrase. I enjoyed it so much I read it three times to pick up on the nuances. Reminds me of R.A.Lafferty, but hey, Lafferty is later….
First lines: “Take two parts of Beelzebub, two of Israfel, one of Monte Cristo, one of Cyrano, mix violently, season with mystery and you have Mr Solon Aquila”.
“Centaurus Changeling” by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Good story. Beth Ferguson has become pregnant while accompanying her husband on a diplomatic posting on Megaera. There are huge implications, not least of which are the certain death of both her and her child.
“Maybe Just a Little One” by R. Bretnor
First lines: “Maximus Everett, who taught physics at Woodrow Wilson Union High School for nearly twenty years, was the first man to accomplish nuclear fission in his basement.” As it happens, no one believes him. I have a soft spot for Bretnor’s sense of humour, though I have moved on from the fourteen year old me who found Papa Schimmelhorn hilarious.
“Man Friday” by Roger Dee
The man chosen to spend two years as the first human on Mars is surprised to find some berries and water left for him outside his tent. A different take on the Robinson Crusoe story.
“Star Lummox” (Part I of III) by Robert A. Heinlein
The Lummox has been the pet of several generations of the Stuart family, ever since Johnnie’s great-grandfather brought him back on the return journey of the Trail Blazer’s second trip.
Annoying that I do not have the issues for Parts II and III. I may have to pick up a copy of the book as it's so long since I've read it.
“I Never Ast No Favors” by C.M. Kornbluth
Desperate letter from Tough Tony who has just been taken by the New York police to a remote farm where he has agreed to serve three years probation. He’s out of his depth, not least because the formidable farm owner is, among other things, a powerful witch. Most enjoyable.
“The Inner Worlds” by William Morrison
Unusual take on planetary surveys. The team cannot understand how they're being prevented from achieving their goals, but eventually discover that intelligent internal parasites are living within the wildlife.
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dask
dark and stormy knight
Enjoyable reviews, thank you. Is “Star Lummox” a serialized novel later published under a different title?
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"The Star Beast"
Wikipedia:
The Star Beast is a 1954 science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein about a high school senior who discovers that his extraterrestrial pet is more than it appears to be. The novel was originally serialised, somewhat abridged (as Star Lummox), in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (May, June, July 1954) as Star Lummox and then published in hardcover as part of Scribner's series of Heinlein juveniles.
The Star Beast - Wikipedia
Thanks Hugh - the Bester and the Kornbluth sound particularly good.
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