A Time Foreclosed
by Edward M. Lerner
This a one of the best time travel stories I have read. It is a good, solid story with a classic feel to it. I'm surprised it is not more widely known.
by Edward M. Lerner
This a one of the best time travel stories I have read. It is a good, solid story with a classic feel to it. I'm surprised it is not more widely known.
Come, Hunt an Earthman
This is a 1970s pulp science fiction romp with an engaging premise but less-than-believable characters. It is told in plain language and presents unambiguous views on morality through stereotypical heroes and villains, focusing on a seemingly endless series of conflicts between alien and human military technology in which the underdog predictably comes out on top in the end.
Somewhere along the way it makes a strained foray into the philosophy of our place in the universe, but to the end remains incautiously optimistic about the capabilities, ingenuity, and integrity of humankind.
Although the book is reasonably well written and may be of interest to readers who revel in imaginatively destructive fictitious technologies, those who prefer character-driven novels and more contemplative content could find it becoming tedious before they are halfway through.
by Philip E. High
This is a 1970s pulp science fiction romp with an engaging premise but less-than-believable characters. It is told in plain language and presents unambiguous views on morality through stereotypical heroes and villains, focusing on a seemingly endless series of conflicts between alien and human military technology in which the underdog predictably comes out on top in the end.
Somewhere along the way it makes a strained foray into the philosophy of our place in the universe, but to the end remains incautiously optimistic about the capabilities, ingenuity, and integrity of humankind.
Although the book is reasonably well written and may be of interest to readers who revel in imaginatively destructive fictitious technologies, those who prefer character-driven novels and more contemplative content could find it becoming tedious before they are halfway through.
The Hercules Text by Jack McDevitt
The Hercules Text, which was first published in 1986, was Jack McDevitt's first full-length book, and it is a fine debut novel. I found that it had some definite similarities to Ancient Shores, a work written by McDevitt some ten years later and another excellent example of speculative fiction. Both books ask 'What if...?' certain prodigious events took place, changing mankind's view of reality and the universe, and both examine the implications of certain discoveries for science, politics, military affairs, the economy, and the everyday lives of ordinary people. While Ancient Shores involves the discovery of alien technology, The Hercules Text is a first-contact story. The aliens, however, never make an appearance because the message which scientists intercept was sent in the distant past.
What I enjoy about many of Jack McDevitt's novels is that they occur in realistic settings and revolve around characters to whom we can easily relate. The people in the story have their own strengths and weaknesses, and react in believable ways to extraordinary situations. This gives the plot developments a pleasing mixture of both the unpredictable and the predictable. And although the scientists working on the decoding of the alien message are experts on recondite subjects which laymen would have difficulty comprehending, the necessary details are presented by the author in a way which is accessible to the average reader.
In my view, this is an example of speculative fiction at its best, since it not only asks ‘What if...?’ but also compels readers to ask themselves what decisions they would make if they found themselves in the positions of the people in the story. At the same time, we are encouraged to consider the greater implications and possibilities for the future of humanity. Readers who enjoy quieter and more thoughtful science fiction which focusses on the human aspects of newly-gained knowledge will likely appreciate this novel.
Hearts, Hands and Voices
(aka The Broken Land)
by Ian McDonald
Other reviewers have described this as a challenging book to read and finish, and I am inclined to agree with that assessment.
The biopunk world building is absorbingly creative, and the excellent quality of the writing has an almost lyrical feel to it, while many of the descriptions are both dreamlike and disturbing.
The basic premise involves a conflict between two civilizations and religions in the far future when chemical and genetic engineering have reached remarkable heights.
Anyone familiar with the UK "Troubles" will recognize what is being obliquely referred to in some of the characterizations. But since many African place names are also mentioned, the reader may also be reminded of the intractable conflicts in that area of the world.
The principal message I took away from this story is related to the nature of politics, mainstream religions, and cultic organizations.
Through the narrative, politics is shown to be tribal and cultic like religion, since it causes divisions and conflicts in similar ways, which can be enumerated as follows:
1. Gross oversimplification of complex issues leading to
2. Black and white thinking, devoid of nuances and grey areas, producing
3. A 'them and us' mentality and entrenched prejudices.
4. A perception that "sitting on the fence" or maintaining a neutral stand is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. One cannot be neither nor. Those who are not for us are against us.
Indeed, this may be one of the reasons that extreme political and religious views are often to be found inextricably intertwined with each other.
The only character who honestly attempts to treat people fairly and on an individual basis ends up being hated by both sides.
The ending seems to imply that entrenched positions and hatreds, whether political or religious, could only be overcome by physically altering the makeup of humans in some way at the genetic level, although other readers may come to different conclusions of what is meant.
This book is highly imaginative and memorable, but somewhat grim and nightmarish, and probably not suitable for someone who prefers a light and entertaining read.
Marcus Aurelius The Dialogues
by Alan Stedall
by Alan Stedall
This is a short and highly readable imaginary account of the discussion that the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius may have had with a famous physician and an Egyptian priest in Aquileia in 168AD. The meeting evidently really did take place, but no one now knows what was said. It is likely, though, that the Emperor made the most of this opportunity to discuss science, religion, and philosophy with those present.
After providing an introduction to Marcus Aurelius' background and philosophical beliefs, Stedall sums up what he sees as the essential points of The Meditations through a dialectical discussion that the Emperor has with the two distinguished and influential personages. Fundamental philosophical concepts are defined and elaborated on, and conclusions on such questions as the meaning of life and pursuit of happiness are accepted or discarded depending on whether they accord with reason and logic. One particularly interesting point which is made is as follows: "...one could argue that religion - any religion - is not an imposition of understanding on reality but a conscious and willing surrender of any attempt at understanding ultimate reality in the face of the impossibility of the task - a surrender of reason to faith. Each of these naturally selected or socially evolved strategies offers the individual a buffer against a potentially catastrophic conflict between man's fundamental drive to understand and the essentially incomprehensible nature of reality on the other."
A conclusion is provided through a dream which the head of the Praetorian Guard has of a final conversation with the Emperor after his death.
This book is very well written and the factual and fictional sections fit together fairly seamlessly. While is it a good introduction to the ideas of Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations themselves are of course much more memorable and contain a greater amount of timeless wisdom and effective practical advice applicable to everyday life in our day.
I think Alan Stedall might also do quite well if he turned his hand to writing a thought-provoking science fiction or fantasy novel, as he certainly seems to possess the skills and imagination needed to produce fiction.
The Tea Master and the Detective 
This is another standalone novella in Aliette de Bodard's Xuya Universe, and is science fiction set against a background of Vietnamese culture.
Both of the main characters have traumatic pasts which drive them to search for truth. The Shadow’s Child is a sentient spaceship, or mindship, who was traumatized by her war experiences in the "deep spaces", and after losing her crew or "family" has to make her own living in a provincial backwater of the empire mixing special teas which can alter mental states and help people function in stressful or dangerous situations.
Long Chau, a private detective, hires her to help recover things from the deep spaces (which the shipmind is pathologically afraid of due to her harrowing experiences there) so she can study them. What they find sparks an investigation that threatens to expose their own private secrets as well as the illegal activities of others.
As with the other novellas in the Xuya series, the principal plot dynamics are powered by a conflict of personalities, this time between the shipmind and the arrogant and seemingly inscrutable private detective.
The Tea Master and the Detective obviously took its inspiration from the tales of Sherlock Holmes, and the dynamics of the relationship between the characters are similar to how Holmes and Watson interact, albeit with more emphasis on their inner lives than on action. The Shadow's Child is astonished and disturbed by Long Chau's deductive skills and worried by her reliance on drugs, and Long Chau is not impressed by the shipmind's "guesswork". But in the end, it turns out that they need each other in order to solve the mystery.
I think this story could well become the first of a series of tales featuring the same protagonists, and I am sure it would find a welcoming and eager readership among people who enjoy both science fiction and detective novels.
by Aliette de Bodard
This is another standalone novella in Aliette de Bodard's Xuya Universe, and is science fiction set against a background of Vietnamese culture.
Both of the main characters have traumatic pasts which drive them to search for truth. The Shadow’s Child is a sentient spaceship, or mindship, who was traumatized by her war experiences in the "deep spaces", and after losing her crew or "family" has to make her own living in a provincial backwater of the empire mixing special teas which can alter mental states and help people function in stressful or dangerous situations.
Long Chau, a private detective, hires her to help recover things from the deep spaces (which the shipmind is pathologically afraid of due to her harrowing experiences there) so she can study them. What they find sparks an investigation that threatens to expose their own private secrets as well as the illegal activities of others.
As with the other novellas in the Xuya series, the principal plot dynamics are powered by a conflict of personalities, this time between the shipmind and the arrogant and seemingly inscrutable private detective.
The Tea Master and the Detective obviously took its inspiration from the tales of Sherlock Holmes, and the dynamics of the relationship between the characters are similar to how Holmes and Watson interact, albeit with more emphasis on their inner lives than on action. The Shadow's Child is astonished and disturbed by Long Chau's deductive skills and worried by her reliance on drugs, and Long Chau is not impressed by the shipmind's "guesswork". But in the end, it turns out that they need each other in order to solve the mystery.
I think this story could well become the first of a series of tales featuring the same protagonists, and I am sure it would find a welcoming and eager readership among people who enjoy both science fiction and detective novels.
The Citadel of Weeping Pearls
by Aliette de Bodard
The Citadel of Weeping Pearls is the sequel to On a Red Station, Drifting, although it can also be read as a standalone novella. It is set in the "Xuya" Universe, which proposes an alternative historical setting in which Asian cultures, rather than Western ones, rose to become technologically dominant and forged empires in space. In this story, the galactic empire of Vietnam (Dai Viet) is ruled over by an aging empress.
The main plot revolves around the disappearance of an eminent scientist who was trying to find a citadel founded by a young rebellious princess which disappeared decades ago. The questions of where the citadel vanished to and whether it is possible to travel through time to find it in the “deep spaces” of the universe are also important strands of the story. The empire is facing invasion from outside by another spacefaring civilization, and the empress desires to locate the citadel so that she can acquire the use of the superior weaponry that she knows her estranged daughter, the Bright Princess, once possessed.
As in the first book, everything is set against a background of high technology and quasi-traditional Vietnamese culture, and the Linh (the protagonist of On a Red Station, Drifting) makes another appearance as a middle-aged advisor to the empress. We again encounter “mindships” and man-made living environments in space overseen by artificial intelligences. An added element in this work is time travel, and the author approaches this from an interesting angle, demonstrating in a rather tragic way why it is impossible for one of the characters to change the past, even though she seems to have managed to travel there successfully.
Both stories are very much about family ties and relationships and the complexities and implications of these. The Citadel of Weeping Pearls beautifully portrays the pain of loss and the memories we may have of those who are no longer with us. Everyone in the story is highly sensitive to the significance of family obligations concerning themselves, except for the principal male character who sometimes misunderstands the motives of others due to a lack of awareness in this area.
The book comes to a somewhat sudden conclusion after the central mystery is in a way resolved, and I found myself wishing that it was longer and also included the progress and outcome of the war against the invaders.
It is rather astonishing that the author has managed to create such a rich and internally consistent universe in only two novellas, and The Citadel of Weeping Pearls has really spurred me on to read the other related Xuya stories. The reflective and melancholy tone and convincingly imagined galactic Viet empire is both moving and engaging. And I think it is true that science fiction with a strong human element can be science fiction at its very best.
On a Red Station, Drifting
by Aliette de Bodard
In this story, Vietnam has become a galactic empire (Dai Viet) currently ruled over by a young and ineffectual emperor against whom warlords have rebelled resulting in an ongoing war which is badly depleting the resources in many of the areas still under imperial control.
The main events take place on the space station of Prosper, which seems to be located in an obscure backwater corner of the Dai Viet Empire. Quyen is mistress of the station and responsible for its administration, although her abilities are limited by her educational background, social standing, and lack of imagination.
The principal plot revolves around Mistress Quyen and Cousin Linh, a refugee and distant relative of the Prosper family group, who until recently had been Magistrate over a planet before fleeing due to the civil war. Since Linh is both a family member and a high-ranking official Quyen reluctantly allows her to board and live on Prosper, but the two women find it impossible to coexist harmoniously. Linh resents having her life controlled by a "provincial housewife", while Quyen views Linh as ungrateful and overbearing.
This personal conflict is set against a background of high technology and quasi-traditional Vietnamese culture, which is a fascinating and somewhat contradictory mixture. The concept of “mindships” and space-station living environments run by artificial intelligences reminded me a little of books like The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey.
Aliette de Bodard is a talented stylist who very successfully evokes sights, sounds and smells through a prose replete with cultural references, and I found this highly creative and engaging.
When I was browsing reviews before I decided to read this work, I noticed that an unfamiliarity with Asian cultures seems to have detracted from the enjoyment of some readers, and I think it is true that if the reader has some knowledge of Asian traditions they are likely to understand the story more readily. My long experience with Chinese culture may have helped with comprehending the motivations of the characters and certain underlying themes, and remembering names was not too difficult since in some cases there were obvious Chinese cognates.
Although the book did not draw me in right away, after about thirty pages or so I was hooked and am very glad I persevered with it. I am now looking forward to reading another work set in the same universe, The Citadel of Weeping Pearls.
There Will Be Time by Poul Anderson (1972)
As an infant Jack Havig learns that he can move through time at will, and later on an older version of himself warns him to hide that ability from other people. The story employs a traditional storytelling device by having it narrated through Havig’s childhood doctor, Robert Anderson, through whose eyes the reader gets to know the protagonist and watches him develop as a person.
The premise of the story encourages the reader to consider how life could or should be lived by an individual with such a gift. Of course, on the one hand time travel could be very useful in mapping out your personal future and avoiding danger. On the other hand, however, it could be highly unpredictable and hazardous too. And in what time and location could you hope to find other people with the same natural ability (assuming there are any), and why might you want to contact them? One obvious place (which has also been used by other writers of time-travel stories) might be First Century Jerusalem, especially around the supposed time of Jesus’ ministry and death.
The somewhat idealistic Havig hopes that fellow time travelers can unite to create a bright future for mankind, and he discovers that an organization apparently engaged in such a mission is already in operation. Alas, abuse of power is a powerful temptation, and prejudices and hatreds brought from the ages in which the individual travelers were born are not easily overcome. When Jack’s secret idyll which he creates in ancient Byzantium (which is beautifully and poignantly described, as it is in Anderson’s book The Boat of a Million Years) is ruthlessly and mercilessly destroyed by other members of the organization, he resolves to establish his own to counter their nefarious disregard for basic human decency.
The book employs time travel as a means to show that societies and political entities naturally develop and disintegrate, and that it is impossible for them to endure forever. The intelligence and perspicacity of the author as a thoughtful observer of human nature is also powerfully manifested in this work.
There Will Be Time is relatively short at less than 180 pages, but there is so much packed into it that it may give the impression of being longer. That it is probably one of Poul Anderson’s better works is evidenced by the fact that it was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1973.
Here are some passages which I particularly enjoyed:
The air was cold and smelled of earth. Birds twittered. “Beyond one or two hundred years back,” Havig once said to me, “the daytime sky is always full of wings.”
“If anything does change man,” he said, “it’s science and technology. Just think about the fact--while it lasts--that parents need not take for granted some of their babies will die. You get a completely different concept of what a child is.”
I’ve seen photographs which he took on different occasions, and can well imagine this scene. It was less gaudy than you may suppose, who live in an age of aniline dyes and fluorescents. Fabrics were subdued brown, gray, blue, cinnabar, and dusty.
“Give them their religion, make the priests cooperate, and you have them.”
I’ve seen what happens when you try to straitjacket man into an ideology.
Mortal combat corrupts, and war corrupts absolutely.
A man can do but little. Enough if that little be right.
Nature never has been in perfect balance--there are many more extinct species than live--and primitive man was quite as destructive as modern. He simply took longer to use up his environment. Probably Stone Age hunters exterminated the giant mammals of the Pleistocene. Certainly farmers with sickles and digging sticks wore out what started as the Fertile Crescent.
But there are no happy endings. There are no endings of any kind. At most, we are given happy moments.
“…our freedom lies in the unknown.”
Above everything else, perhaps, was today’s concept of working together. I don’t mean its totalitarian version, for which Jack Havig had total loathing, or that “togetherness,” be it in a corporation or a commune, which he despised. I mean an enlightened pragmatism that rejects self-appointed aristocrats, does not believe received doctrine is necessarily true, stands ready to hear and weigh what anyone has to offer, and maintains well-developed channels to carry all ideas to the leadership and back again.
As an infant Jack Havig learns that he can move through time at will, and later on an older version of himself warns him to hide that ability from other people. The story employs a traditional storytelling device by having it narrated through Havig’s childhood doctor, Robert Anderson, through whose eyes the reader gets to know the protagonist and watches him develop as a person.
The premise of the story encourages the reader to consider how life could or should be lived by an individual with such a gift. Of course, on the one hand time travel could be very useful in mapping out your personal future and avoiding danger. On the other hand, however, it could be highly unpredictable and hazardous too. And in what time and location could you hope to find other people with the same natural ability (assuming there are any), and why might you want to contact them? One obvious place (which has also been used by other writers of time-travel stories) might be First Century Jerusalem, especially around the supposed time of Jesus’ ministry and death.
The somewhat idealistic Havig hopes that fellow time travelers can unite to create a bright future for mankind, and he discovers that an organization apparently engaged in such a mission is already in operation. Alas, abuse of power is a powerful temptation, and prejudices and hatreds brought from the ages in which the individual travelers were born are not easily overcome. When Jack’s secret idyll which he creates in ancient Byzantium (which is beautifully and poignantly described, as it is in Anderson’s book The Boat of a Million Years) is ruthlessly and mercilessly destroyed by other members of the organization, he resolves to establish his own to counter their nefarious disregard for basic human decency.
The book employs time travel as a means to show that societies and political entities naturally develop and disintegrate, and that it is impossible for them to endure forever. The intelligence and perspicacity of the author as a thoughtful observer of human nature is also powerfully manifested in this work.
There Will Be Time is relatively short at less than 180 pages, but there is so much packed into it that it may give the impression of being longer. That it is probably one of Poul Anderson’s better works is evidenced by the fact that it was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1973.
Here are some passages which I particularly enjoyed:
The air was cold and smelled of earth. Birds twittered. “Beyond one or two hundred years back,” Havig once said to me, “the daytime sky is always full of wings.”
“If anything does change man,” he said, “it’s science and technology. Just think about the fact--while it lasts--that parents need not take for granted some of their babies will die. You get a completely different concept of what a child is.”
I’ve seen photographs which he took on different occasions, and can well imagine this scene. It was less gaudy than you may suppose, who live in an age of aniline dyes and fluorescents. Fabrics were subdued brown, gray, blue, cinnabar, and dusty.
“Give them their religion, make the priests cooperate, and you have them.”
I’ve seen what happens when you try to straitjacket man into an ideology.
Mortal combat corrupts, and war corrupts absolutely.
A man can do but little. Enough if that little be right.
Nature never has been in perfect balance--there are many more extinct species than live--and primitive man was quite as destructive as modern. He simply took longer to use up his environment. Probably Stone Age hunters exterminated the giant mammals of the Pleistocene. Certainly farmers with sickles and digging sticks wore out what started as the Fertile Crescent.
But there are no happy endings. There are no endings of any kind. At most, we are given happy moments.
“…our freedom lies in the unknown.”
Above everything else, perhaps, was today’s concept of working together. I don’t mean its totalitarian version, for which Jack Havig had total loathing, or that “togetherness,” be it in a corporation or a commune, which he despised. I mean an enlightened pragmatism that rejects self-appointed aristocrats, does not believe received doctrine is necessarily true, stands ready to hear and weigh what anyone has to offer, and maintains well-developed channels to carry all ideas to the leadership and back again.
The Man Who Folded Himself
by David Gerrold
by David Gerrold
This is, of course, a must-read for anyone who is seriously interested in time-travel fiction. It seems to include every convolution of time travel you can think of, and deals with it all very succinctly and convincingly. As such, it is seriously confusing in places, and the reader can clearly feel the protagonist's puzzlement and consternation. The time loops are fascinating and complex, and (in a similar to Heinlein's All You Zombies and By His Bootstraps) most of the characters turn out to be alternate versions of the same person. Published in the mid 1970s when it became possible to include more controversial views, the book is well-known for its introspective and positive treatment of homosexuality.
I find the style and "voice" in some respects somewhat similar to those of Heinlein, Silverberg and Niven, all of whom were writing during the same period and none of whom I am overly fond of. Of those three, I prefer Heinlein. I disliked Silverberg's Up the Line quite intensely. So while Gerrold's classic time-travel novel is interesting and possesses considerable depth, I cannot say that I really enjoyed it.
In addition, if the reader is hoping for a time-travel "adventure" with a clear storyline, this book will probably also fall short of the mark. Concerning those kinds of stories, Poul Anderson (Time Patrol), Jack Finney (Time and Again) or Jack McDeviit (Time Travelers Never Die) are much more representative.
Thunderbird by Jack McDevitt
Thunderbird (McDevitt) was a wonderful book, even better in my opinion than Ancient Shores (to which it is the sequel). Judging by reader reviews, however, many people evidently did not like it very much.
I have considered reasons for the negative reviews, and come up with the following possible explanations:
1. Neither Ancient Shores nor Thunderbird are particularly action-oriented, and Thunderbird arguably has the least action of the two.
2. Readers may have been hoping for more focus on the exploration of other worlds through the newly-discovered alien teleport system in the sequel, but the action remains tantalizingly limited and restrained. Precedence continues to be given to the reactions of ordinary citizens, the mass media and the government, as well as to the effects on the human psyche, rather than to adventures on other planets. But I did feel that the experiences at other locations in the universe were fascinating, and the final trip was suitably gripping as a climax.
I think Thunderbird will likely appeal more to those who enjoy relatively detailed and slow-moving stories, and to those who like thought-provoking and introspective science fiction. One of the attractions of both Ancient Shores and its sequel is that the humility and humanity of the author is evident in the narration and permeates the whole text. Thunderbird features a handicapped character who was based on Jack McDevitt’s own daughter, and becomes an integral part of the development of the story and its conclusion.
And the feelings of despondency naturally evoked by the ending are ultimately offset by a heartening development in the Epilogue.
In conclusion, I must say that I found Thunderbird to be a highly enjoyable and engrossing tale throughout and a worthy sequel to Ancient Shores.
I have considered reasons for the negative reviews, and come up with the following possible explanations:
1. Neither Ancient Shores nor Thunderbird are particularly action-oriented, and Thunderbird arguably has the least action of the two.
2. Readers may have been hoping for more focus on the exploration of other worlds through the newly-discovered alien teleport system in the sequel, but the action remains tantalizingly limited and restrained. Precedence continues to be given to the reactions of ordinary citizens, the mass media and the government, as well as to the effects on the human psyche, rather than to adventures on other planets. But I did feel that the experiences at other locations in the universe were fascinating, and the final trip was suitably gripping as a climax.
I think Thunderbird will likely appeal more to those who enjoy relatively detailed and slow-moving stories, and to those who like thought-provoking and introspective science fiction. One of the attractions of both Ancient Shores and its sequel is that the humility and humanity of the author is evident in the narration and permeates the whole text. Thunderbird features a handicapped character who was based on Jack McDevitt’s own daughter, and becomes an integral part of the development of the story and its conclusion.
And the feelings of despondency naturally evoked by the ending are ultimately offset by a heartening development in the Epilogue.
In conclusion, I must say that I found Thunderbird to be a highly enjoyable and engrossing tale throughout and a worthy sequel to Ancient Shores.
Ancient Shores by Jack McDevitt
This 1996 novel by Jack McDevitt is an epic story of big ideas. The premise immediately captured my imagination. An alien artifact is found buried in North Dakota, and provides a clue which prompts the protagonists to excavate in another area where they uncover a portal leading to alien worlds. The first half of the book recounts the discovery and subsequent use of the portal and is permeated by a compelling sense of wonder, while at the same time being firmly grounded in a realistic setting. In the second half, the tension is maintained, but the focus is shifted to problems and conflicts caused by the psychological, social, economic and political ramifications of the world-changing find.
Readers who enjoy more action-oriented science fiction may find Ancient Shores a little slow, but I must say that I did not find it hard-going or plodding at any point, and I was always eager to get back to my reading of it.
As the plot builds to its climax, there are some slightly unlikely occurrences, but I am not inclined to find fault with these since they are, on the whole, woven seamlessly into a sufficiently strong story.
McDevitt writes quite succinctly, expresses all main points clearly, and succeeds in producing a modern story infused throughout with a Golden-Age ambience. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I am now tempted to move directly on to reading the sequel, Thunderbird, which was published nearly twenty years later in 2015.
Readers who enjoy more action-oriented science fiction may find Ancient Shores a little slow, but I must say that I did not find it hard-going or plodding at any point, and I was always eager to get back to my reading of it.
As the plot builds to its climax, there are some slightly unlikely occurrences, but I am not inclined to find fault with these since they are, on the whole, woven seamlessly into a sufficiently strong story.
McDevitt writes quite succinctly, expresses all main points clearly, and succeeds in producing a modern story infused throughout with a Golden-Age ambience. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I am now tempted to move directly on to reading the sequel, Thunderbird, which was published nearly twenty years later in 2015.
Star Well by Alexei Panshin
Some reviewers have described Star Well as a “comedy of manners”, something like a Jane Austen novel set in a future space-faring civilization or like a less overtly ludicrous The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I wonder if Douglas Adams ever read it, as there are certain similarities in the style of the narration. The narrator has definite opinions, and often expresses them with mild sarcasm. A similar feature to Rite of Passage may be found in the pithy and often humorous observations about the nature of life, the universe and society.
The protagonist, Anthony Villiers, is a very likable, mild-mannered gentleman with hidden depths. I identified with him because he loves books and has a tendency to walk about in public absorbed in reading (which can at times also provide Villiers with an excuse for ending up where he is not supposed to be), something I used to do frequently in my younger days. He is evidently practiced at searching antiquarian book sellers, which makes him a man after my own heart. The observation of the narrator that physical books never lost their popularity because nothing else of similar usefulness and portability could be invented to replace them has of course in our day to an extent been invalidated by the capacity of devices like mobile phones to store and display thousands of different texts, which you could conceivably become immersed in while navigating thoroughfares on foot.
Villiers’ invariably polite but highly intelligent and strategically witty conversational responses are one of the most amusing aspects of the story. The reader gradually realizes that there is more to this man than at first meets the eye, but you never really get a handle on exactly how ingenuous or calculating he really is.
And this brings us to Torve the Trog. I must admit that I chose to read this book on the basis of a fascination with this name and its promise of an unforgettable character. Torve is a book-loving alien who looks something like a man-sized furry toad, and he has a view of reality which is at variance with that of the humans around him, including Villiers, who apparently finds the Trog’s ideas impossible to comprehend. Torve’s central belief (which he maintains is a wholly scientific and self-evident fact, although others misunderstand it as being philosophical or religious in nature) is that causality does not exist, and that apparent links between events are simply coincidental interconnected “lines of occurrence” which may be either pleasingly serendipitous or discouragingly infelicitous. Denying causality might seem rather dangerous, but it works for Torve, who even seems able to use his method to predict how matters will turn out. Villiers claims to be non-plussed by all this, but I get the feeling that he understands more than he admits, and this way of thinking actually benefits him and gives him uncommon insight into events. However, I stress to add that this could just be my interpretation and may not have been the intention of the author.
In summary, Star Well is a light science fiction novel which is both quick and fun to read. The plot is adequate but rather basic and predictable. The most memorable aspects are arguably the quotable passages of narration and the witticisms. Here are some of them:
“Power does corrupt. Total personal honesty is a myth. Secret wrong righting is a make-believe game for children to toy with.”
“When you wish to insult a man — the Cut Direct. When you wish to snub a man — the Cut Indirect. The Studied Insult, the Pertinent Reflection — to be overheard, of course — even the smiles available for twelve separate effects.”
“You can take it as an axiom: celebrities who travel meet only fools, creeps, panhandlers, and climbers. People they would truly like to meet never have the bad taste to present themselves. The quality that makes them worth meeting automatically determines they will never be met.”
“While he lied little, he was excellent at being oblique.”
“It is a pity that the game of hare and hounds should suffer from savage rabbits and hen-hearted hounds, but if the world was as it ought to be we would all be playing wooden whistles and eating bananas in Eden, as my mother used to say.”
“Perhaps, if our minds were trained to accept the idea and our language permitted, it would be altogether better not to believe in causality.”
“Duels aren’t fair if the wrong people win them.”
“Look at him: Hisan Bashir Shirabi, a man near the end of the line. Purple robes, dark face, sharp nose, black mustache. Everything for total menace except the element of presence.”
Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin
Mia Havero was born on one of the seven great starships constructed from hollowed-out asteroids, originally intended to transport colonists from Earth to more than one hundred colony worlds. But then the people of Earth destroyed their own planet, and the survivors among mankind are now scattered among these colonies, with the Ships continuously traveling between them, trading technical knowledge for raw materials. When teenage inhabitants of these vessels reach the age of fourteen, they undergo Trial, which involves being abandoned on one of the colony worlds to fend for themselves for a month without any contact with their respective Ships. They are given comprehensive training in the months before they leave and are provided with a small amount of survival gear. But since the colony worlds can be dangerous, a small percentage of these young people do not survive. This loss helps to keep the strictly-controlled population within safe limits while weeding out those who may be less fit for survival. Those who do return are granted full rights as adults, hence the title Rite of Passage.
The first half of the book does not contain much in the way of adventure. It is a description of the everyday life of Mia, a young girl living on one of the Ships, told from her perspective and replete with her opinions and musings. Mia tells us about the culture and prejudices of those who live alongside her, and she shares the views of her influential father on most issues. Many of Mia’s experiences are common to all young people everywhere. The only hints of adventure in this part of the book are a dangerous exploration of the ventilation system in an unfamiliar part of the Ship, and the ‘borrowing’ of spacesuits to conduct a potentially fatal spacewalk on the exterior of the asteroid which encases the Ship.
Although Mia seems to make up her mind very easily about the relative values of philosophical systems, she really only has a very superficial grasp of the complexities of these ideas, and many obvious questions do not even occur to her until during and after her period of Trial. In this way, the book realistically portrays the confidence and the folly of youth. The second half of the book is much more action-packed, and describes Mia’s period of Trial on a particularly unfriendly colony planet.
Moral and ethical questions which seemed clear-cut to Mia before Trial, now appear much more complicated, and when some of these issues are discussed openly by a Ship’s Assembly in the final part of the story, Mia is forced by her newly-acquired convictions to take a stand diametrically opposite to that of her father.
Some of most thought-provoking content consists of Mia’s musings on the nature of things. Here are some direct quotes from the book:
"I don't like the idea of people who don't sing to themselves when they're all alone. They're too sober for me. At least hum-- anybody can do that."
"The truth is, I guess, I just find it easier to cope with things than with people."
"It doesn’t hurt to like the inevitable."
"I had never realized before that adventures took so much doing, so much preparation and so much cleaning up afterward. That’s something you don’t see in stories. Who buys the food and cooks it, washes the dishes, minds the baby, to swing from, blows fanfares, polishes medals, and dies beautifully, all so that the hero can be a hero? Who finances him? I’m not saying I don’t believe in heroes — I’m just saying that they are either parasites or they spend the bulk of their time in making their little adventures possible, not in enjoying them."
"The trouble with stoicism, it seems to me, is that it is a soporific. It affirms the status quo and thereby puts an end to all ambition, all change. It says, as Christianity did a thousand years ago, that kings should be kings and slaves should be slaves, and it seems to me that that is a philosophy infinitely more attractive to the king than the slave."
"Whether or not your actions are determined, you have to act on the assumption that you have free will. If you are determined, your attempt at free will loses you nothing. However, if you are not determined and you act on the assumption that you are, you will never attempt anything. You will simply be a passive blob that things happen to."
"I believe in judging people by their faces, myself. A man can’t help the face he owns, but he can help the expression he wears on it. If a man looks mean, I generally believe he is unless I have reason to change my mind."
"Maturity is the ability to sort the portions of truth from the accepted lies and self-deceptions that you have grown up with. "
"I've always wondered what it would be like to be a spear carrier in somebody else's story. A spear carrier is somebody who stands in the hall when Caesar passes, comes to attention and thumps his spear. A spear carrier is the anonymous character cut down by the hero as he advances to save the menaced heroine. A spear carrier is a character put in a story to be used like a piece of disposable tissue. . . . The trouble is that each of us is his own hero, existing in a world of spear carriers. We take no joy in being used and discarded. "
"If I had the opportunity, I would make the proposal that no man should be killed except by somebody who knows him well enough for the act to have impact. No death should be like nose blowing. Death is important enough that it should affect the person who causes it."
"If you meet life squarely, you are likely to make mistakes, do things you wish you hadn't, say things you wish you could retract or phrase more felicitously, and, in short, fumble your way along. Those "mature" people whose lives are even without a single sour note or a single mistake, who never fumble, manage only at the cost of original thought and original action. They do without the successes as well as the failures."
I think this book would have been viewed as considerably unconventional when it was first published in 1968, and that is partly why it won a Nebula Award for Best Novel and was nominated for a Hugo. It is a very well-written and structured piece of work which still contains much of relevance for readers today, and it clearly has a unique place among science fiction coming-of-age stories.
Star Ka’at by Andre Norton, Dorothy Madlee
Andre Norton wrote many science fiction books about cats and other animals, and as the title and cover suggest, this is one of them. However, the Star Ka’at Series is for a younger audience than most of her works, and I think would probably be enjoyed most by people between 10 and 12 years of age. This book was first published in 1976.
The basic idea fueling the plot is that terrestrial cats are the descendants of a telepathic star-faring race of beings called Ka’ats who visited and settled on Earth in the distant past. At first, mankind could communicate with these alien visitors and respected them as equals (hence the ancient Egyptian obsession with cats), but this gradually changed as human civilization developed. Over countless generations, most of the Ka’ats on Earth lost their original sentience and became cats, but some still retain traces of their former powers.
The extraterrestrial Ka’at civilization has learned that humanity is about to destroy itself through greed and selfishness, and so embarks on a mission to rescue any earthly cats who can still respond to their call. The Ka’at operatives are commanded not under any circumstances to forge close connections with any humans, as this species is seen as too capricious and unreliable. The rescue operation seems set to run smoothly until a couple of the Ka’at scouts encounter two orphaned children who have the ability to respond to their telepathic messages. This presents the two scouts with a thorny ethical dilemma and potentially threatens the success of their whole mission.
This story is definitely well-suited to the age-group for which it is intended. The characterizations are generally good, and the descriptions of the children’s thoughts and feelings are quite convincing. Although they are both orphans, they come from widely different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and this situation is realistically reflected in the ways they think about the world and their places in it.
Themes and undercurrents related to environmental protection and stewardship responsibility for the planet run through quite a few of Andre Norton’s books, and this story may help young readers to become more aware of related issues.
Adult readers will find this a simple story and a quick read. While I think people of any age could enjoy it, those of the intended target group may especially be interested in the creative concepts, unfamiliar vocabulary, and the notion of super-intelligent talking cats from another planet! And the detailed and attractive pencil illustrations throughout the book will likely be appreciated by young and old alike.
The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner
This highly prescient novel by the British author John Brunner was published in 1975. Although by this time computer viruses were becoming a reality, I think that Brunner may have been the first to show the amount of disruption that a skilled hacker might achieve. He may also have been the one who coined the term "worm" to describe a malicious program infecting a network.
Some reviewers have not found the plot and the characterizations found in this book to be wholly satisfying, but I do not feel inclined to criticize either. The story starts off a little slowly (perhaps by design), but it soon becomes engrossing. The true character of the protagonist (Nick Haflinger) becomes gradually clearer, especially after he is able to throw off his false identities and embark upon a journey of self-discovery, but I felt that the main female character encapsulated the soul of the story.
As others have pointed out, Brunner took certain ideas which were circulating at the time and made them accessible in the form of a novel. One of these was the realization that technological advancement may become problematic if it outpaces the speed at which people can adapt socially and psychologically. It may be argued that the effects of this phenomenon are being experienced today, perhaps making this book even more relevant today than it was in the seventies.
The Shockwave Rider is a very well-written piece of work, and there are many memorable and quotable passages in it. To conclude, I have selected some of the ones which particularly resonated with me, and which I highlighted while I was reading.
There are two kinds of fools. One says, "This is old, and therefore good." And one says, "This is new, and therefore better."
Ah, you don't have to know everything. You just have to know where to find it.
...from the patronizing stage to the persecuting stage has always been a very short step.
But they don’t compel where they can persuade. They're not stupid. They're aware that one volunteer working his guts out on their behalf is worth a score of reluctant conscripts.
One needs solid perceptual food same as one needs solid nutriment; without it, you die of bulk-hunger.
In this age of unprecedented information flow, people are haunted by the belief they're actually ignorant.
If there is such a phenomenon as absolute evil, it consists in treating another human being as a thing.
The way to go faster is to slow down.
While Triceratops sported his triple horns, while Diplodocus waved his graceful tail, something without a name was stealing their tomorrow.
In an age when we have more choice than ever before, more mobility, more information, more opportunity to fulfill ourselves, how is it that people can prefer to be identical?
You don't have to live by logic. You're wise. And that can transcend logic.
Governments rely on threat and trauma to survive. The easiest populace to rule is weak, poor, superstitious, preferably terrified of what tomorrow may bring.
...the history of liberty. It's the story of how principle has gradually been elevated above the whim of tyrants.
AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU YOU
Sargasso of Space by Andre Norton
This is a well-paced adventure with a mystery to solve.
The crew of the Solar Queen, a free-trader starship, buys commercial rights to a distant world at an auction. At first, they are disappointed to learn that the planet is just a war-ravaged remnant of what it once was, but after arriving there they find much more than they had bargained for.
The story is well written and quite absorbing, but it does not possess much introspective depth. Characterization of crew members is also a little bland, although descriptions of their different personalities are distinct enough. There are no female characters, and even the shipboard cat (Sinbad) is male. The book was originally published under the pseudonym "Andrew North".
It has a couple of elements which I really like, such as a planet with ancient advanced technology left behind by a vanished alien race, and a graveyard of crashed spaceships, some of which are at least centuries old. I found the archaeological aspect intriguing, along with the idea that the geometry and colors of "Forerunner" buildings and structures cause human observers to feel considerable unease.
Although some of the equipment used by the crew seems primitive by today's standards (for example, their communications devices and perhaps even the shape of the spacecraft), these details are not hard to forgive considering that this story was first published in 1955. I enjoyed the explanation of the dangers of hyperspace travel, and I certainly think that there are plenty of other fascinating ideas and descriptions in this work to keep the reader engaged.
Daybreak 2250AD by Andre Norton
This is a seminal example of a story set some time after a nuclear holocaust, and is a solid and well-written piece of pulp fiction.
At the time, the Cold War terrified people with the prospect of nuclear annihilation, so the subject of this novel would certainly have been something that was on the minds of the American public.
Humans have reverted to non-technical tribal societies, and while they are hostile to each other, they also have a common enemy in the mutant Beast Things which inhabit the ruined cities.
The hero, Fors, also has certain strange physical traits and abilities (explained as the effects of radiation), and since he is not truly accepted by his own mountain people, he decides to leave for the wild world outside where he intends to fulfill his late father's ambition to find an as-yet undiscovered ruined city. Fors is fascinated by the technology which the ancestors possessed and hopes to learn more about it from the artifacts he may uncover. Like other works by Norton, the main character has a telepathic link to a feline companion.
Norton was ahead of her time in using her science fiction to address racial issues in an age before the American civil rights movement got fully underway, as well as to examine what it means to be 'normal'. The protagonist encounters a man from a dark-skinned tribe who shows himself to be at least the equal of Fors in both strength and intelligence.
Although this is in many ways a traditional tale of adventure in which many highly unlikely coincidences occur in order to keep the heroes alive, this may be part of what makes it a compelling read. The story ends on an optimistic but predictable note.
This is the first book by Andre Norton I have read, and it was certainly intriguing.
Catseye is classed as Juvenile or Young Adult fiction, and it is a coming-of-age story about a young man named Troy Horan who is an orphan living in ghetto for subcitizens on an alien planet.
Young people may relate to Troy's thoughts on how to carve out a place for himself in the world. He manages to secure employment in a business selling offworld animals as pets, and he hopes to pursue a career there. But the chance discovery that he shares a telepathic link with certain animals imported from Earth derail his plans and turn him into a fugitive on the run from both the law and certain dangerous underworld figures.
Young people may relate to Troy's thoughts on how to carve out a place for himself in the world. He manages to secure employment in a business selling offworld animals as pets, and he hopes to pursue a career there. But the chance discovery that he shares a telepathic link with certain animals imported from Earth derail his plans and turn him into a fugitive on the run from both the law and certain dangerous underworld figures.
Fleeing into the wild with five animals, Troy eventually enters a maze of subterranean tunnels under the remains of an ancient alien city where a scientific expedition was previously lost under mysterious and frightening circumstances. This part of the story reminded me a little of At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft. Through all the danger and uncertainty, Troy is able to find a measure of true companionship with his animal friends, even though these look, think and feel differently than he does.
This novel was written in 1961, around sixty years ago, but clearly advocates the protection of the natural world and its resources. It also shows the need to be honorable in dealings with others, while maintaining a healthy wariness of their possibly sinister motives. Another theme which is emphasized is how wars and political machinations often selfishly set the wants of the few over the needs and rights of the many. Although Catseye is written in the style of an action adventure and thriller, all of the above elements are woven into a memorable narrative set in a convincingly realistic fictional society.
I think that a couple of complaints could be that the characters except for the protagonist are not very three-dimensional, and the expectations created by suggestive occurrences in the passages beneath the abandoned alien city are not brought to an entirely satisfying conclusion, but apart from these possible weaknesses the story is told in a competent and engaging manner.
I will certainly go on to read more books by Andre Norton.
Superluminal
by Vonda N. McIntyre
"She gave up her heart quite willingly" is the arresting first line of Superluminal.
Figuratively? Literally? Or both?
This novel has three protagonists who seem equally important to the story. Laenea Trevelyan has submitted to physical alterations in order to pilot starships at superluminal speeds safely. Ordinary crew members must remain in a drug-induced sleep during transit in order to survive, and waking up prematurely means certain death. Laenea is anxious to embark on her first training flight so that she can experience for herself what no pilot has ever been able or willing to explain to any outsiders.
Radu Dracul is a crew member who accidentally regains consciousness during faster-than-light travel, but who suffers no ill effects. He eventually discovers he can even perceive dimensions which are closed to most pilots, and this deepens his special relationship with Laenea.
Another crew member, Orca, is a "diver", a genetically modified human who is most at home in the ocean with her killer-whale "cousins".
As the plot unfolds, the adventures of these well-drawn characters take them to the end of the universe and among the wise denizens of the oceans, and they begin to discern that these seemingly largely dissimilar realms may in fact be closely connected with each other.
The story is not as tightly plotted as McIntyre's The Exile Waiting, which packed a huge amount of detail into just over two hundred pages. Superluminal moves at a relatively slow place in parts, but this may be in keeping with the more transcendent subject matter.
An overall theme would seem to be the limitations of language to express the unique experiences of individuals, although by the end of the book at least partial solutions to this difficulty are entering within the range of possibility.
The narrative ends quite abruptly, and the fact that many of the fascinating ideas introduced are never fully explored may disappoint some readers. The author could certainly have extended this novel or written a sequel, but she did not do so. In some ways, it might be more poignant to leave to our imaginations the eventual fates of the characters.
The Exile Waiting
by Vonda N. McIntyre
Like many good books, I think The Exile Waiting can be read on different levels. If I was still in my teens, I would probably feel that it is simply an engaging post-apocalyptic adventure story. More mature readers, though, will likely identify the complex web of dysfunctional and tragic relationships as what stands out most clearly. And it is these relationships which power much of the story.
The Exile Waiting (1975) is set in the same world as Dreamsnake (1978), but cannot really be considered a prequel. The characters are all different and the stories are unrelated, although there are points of convergence. In Dreamsnake, the people who have to fend for themselves in the outside world seem to imagine the inhabitants of Center (an enclosed enclave, and supposedly the last bastion of civilization remaining after a global nuclear war) as enjoying a high standard of living and technology, but in The Exile Waiting we see that in some ways they suffer more than their outdoor counterparts. In Dreamsnake, tunnels behind certain desert caves in which cave panthers dwell are thought to lead into Center, and these dark galleries beneath the city are the focus for some of the most important events in The Exile Waiting. Similar to Dreamsnake, this novel also features a strong female lead character, in this case a determined young girl named Mischa.
The overarching theme of the book seems to be how people react and behave under various forms of slavery. Some of the characters are bound in physical slavery, and some are controlled by manipulative individuals or by their own fears and vices. One is dependent on a certain kind of drug. Prejudice and mistreatment due to perceived differences or disabilities is another theme, and Mischa has to conceal carefully the way in which she is different from the others around her. Eventually, many of those who on the surface appear strongest prove to be weak, and those considered the weakest triumph through their reserves of inner strength and their willingness to learn and adapt.
The above description probably sounds somewhat grim and depressing, but I found the novel quite uplifting. Other reviewers have identified certain details they see as weaknesses in the plot, but I did not even notice these and they did not affect my enjoyment in any way. I think this work is at least as good as Dreamsnake, although I would not like to choose between the two books. After finishing The Exile Waiting, the reader can also ponder on the meaning of the title.
Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre
Vonda N. McIntyre wrote books with well-developed female characters at a time when they were relatively uncommon in science fiction literature. I think you would be hard-pressed to find another novel from the 1970s which features a stronger female lead role. And Snake is no cliched Amazon warrior woman. In fact, she is quite the opposite, since she eschews violence whenever possible on principle. Rather, Snake is a healer, and is described with all the nuances and contradictions that a complete human being should have.
The worldbuilding in this post-apocalyptic story is superb, which is surprising if you consider how little we are told about it by the author. There are no tedious information dumps masquerading as conversations, and everything about the history and state of the world is achieved through well-timed hints and oblique references. The landscape of the semi-desert environment is described in sumptuous detail, but this is seamlessly merged into the lyrical and fast-paced narrative so that the reader absorbs the atmosphere effortlessly. The author evidently devoted considerable effort to developing the emotional identities of her principal characters, since the novel possesses a strongly introspective element which adds a satisfying dimension of depth and meaning.
Since Snake is a practitioner of medicine in a world which has in many ways returned to primitive conditions, and probably due to the need for sufficiently powerful and convincing scenarios to drive the plot forward, some of the descriptions of medical conditions and procedures may be disconcerting to more squeamish readers. Also, this may not be the ideal book for people who suffer from herpetophobia, unless they are actively seeking to overcome the condition. While reading the first third of the novel, I was impressed by the author's ability to make me feel quite an intense level of concern about the fate of one particular snake, which I think is quite an achievement in itself.
Dreamsnake works well on several levels, not least as a tightly-plotted mystery and adventure story which culminates in a gratifying climax. For me, the whole work was suffused with a surreal quality which evoked an engaging sense of wonder.
Barbary by Vonda N. McIntyre
Since I have been reading science fiction literature related to cats lately, I thought I would have a look at this classic story from the 1980s.
This is a work of children's/young-adult fiction, so more mature readers may feel that the content is a little lacking in depth. It is a relatively short book, and the writing style of the author makes it engaging and very easy to read.
The main plotline is about a twelve-year-old girl who smuggles a cat onto a space station, while a first-contact subplot unfolds in the background.
The characters are well developed and realistic, and there are women in positions of influence in science and government. The young people (Barbary and Heather) care about the kinds of things you would expect. Thus, while the attention of the adults in the story is firmly fixed on the alien craft swiftly approaching the space station, the two girls are more concerned with the activities of Mickey the cat.
Although this book was written in the relatively recent 1980s (which I remember well), there are aspects which make it feel dated. Firstly, the spaceport security is frighteningly lax, which marks this as a pre-911 work of fiction. Secondly, although the girls interact with talking computers, there are none of the handheld devices which now rule the lives of many people.
Despite those excusable divergences from our reality, the ways in which the laws of physics affect life on a space station are described very convincingly, and are more detailed and accurate than the depictions in many novels written for more mature audiences. Vonda McIntyre's Barbary would undoubtedly be a good introduction to hard science fiction for young people. In addition, the aliens are also quite believable and certainly not of the stereotypical little-green-man kind.
I am sure that if I had read this book as a child, I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. As an adult and regular reader of science fiction, I still found it satisfying. So much so, in fact, that I have gone on without delay to read the award-winning novel Dreamsnake by the same author.
This is a work of children's/young-adult fiction, so more mature readers may feel that the content is a little lacking in depth. It is a relatively short book, and the writing style of the author makes it engaging and very easy to read.
The main plotline is about a twelve-year-old girl who smuggles a cat onto a space station, while a first-contact subplot unfolds in the background.
The characters are well developed and realistic, and there are women in positions of influence in science and government. The young people (Barbary and Heather) care about the kinds of things you would expect. Thus, while the attention of the adults in the story is firmly fixed on the alien craft swiftly approaching the space station, the two girls are more concerned with the activities of Mickey the cat.
Although this book was written in the relatively recent 1980s (which I remember well), there are aspects which make it feel dated. Firstly, the spaceport security is frighteningly lax, which marks this as a pre-911 work of fiction. Secondly, although the girls interact with talking computers, there are none of the handheld devices which now rule the lives of many people.
Despite those excusable divergences from our reality, the ways in which the laws of physics affect life on a space station are described very convincingly, and are more detailed and accurate than the depictions in many novels written for more mature audiences. Vonda McIntyre's Barbary would undoubtedly be a good introduction to hard science fiction for young people. In addition, the aliens are also quite believable and certainly not of the stereotypical little-green-man kind.
I am sure that if I had read this book as a child, I would have thoroughly enjoyed it. As an adult and regular reader of science fiction, I still found it satisfying. So much so, in fact, that I have gone on without delay to read the award-winning novel Dreamsnake by the same author.
Beginning Operations
(Sector General #1-3)
by James White
This is classic science fiction from the 1960s, but with a rare pacifist message.
The book is really a series of short stories or vignettes which unfold in the setting of the same massive galactic hospital.
While the content is very imaginative and positive, it certainly has a dated feel to it.
James White proved that he had a fertile imagination through the aliens he envisaged, who are certainly not of the Roswell kind. He described oxygen, chlorine, and methane breathers, and the many strange shapes and sizes of those from planets with wildly different environments and gravitational strengths. There are even some who need hard radiation to survive, and like to bathe in the heat of atomic furnaces.
However, it will probably be noted that the author failed to predict technologies and attitudes of the coming decades. For example, despite the many widely differing environments on the hospital station, many of which would be instantly lethal to a being unsuited to them, people can simply walk in and out through the airlocks without any security measures like ID cards or passwords. For this reason, a runaway shape-changing alien is able cause havoc on the station. Also, the staff do not carry portable communicators, and have to rush to the nearest wall unit to answer urgent messages.
All the doctors and administrators seem to be male, while the nurses who get ordered around are female and sometimes objects of desire. At one point, the protagonist's superior states that misogyny is an allowable neurosis. So, while some elements of the story may be considered groundbreaking, in other ways it is very much a work of its time.
All the doctors and administrators seem to be male, while the nurses who get ordered around are female and sometimes objects of desire. At one point, the protagonist's superior states that misogyny is an allowable neurosis. So, while some elements of the story may be considered groundbreaking, in other ways it is very much a work of its time.
Although this is pacifist literature in an age dominated by military science fiction, and features many species of aliens all working together toward a common objective, the way that humans sometimes refer to their alien colleagues and patients is less than flattering, and seems to imply an overall sense of human superiority. Some of the medical cases are quite interesting, but the minimal character development can sometimes make the stories feel a little flat and unengaging.
I would, however, highly recommend other works by this author. All Judgement Fled (1968) is in some ways similar to Hospital Station, but has more complex and convincing characters and a more interesting plot. The Silent Stars Go By (1991) shows a far greater level of maturity, and is probably his best work.
A Beautiful Friendship
(Honorverse: Stephanie Harrington #1)
by David Weber
A Beautiful Friendship is a revision and expansion of a novella published in 1998. It is a work of young adult fiction by an author who usually specializes in more mature military science fiction.
The Manticore star system has only been colonized by humans for a short time, and twelve-year-old Stephanie Harrington has moved there with her parents. The planet Sphinx has seasons lasting several terrestrial years, high gravity, a coldish climate, unfamiliar flora and fauna, and few human settlers.
Stephanie's parents forbid her to explore the bush on her own, since dangerous creatures roam the areas unfrequented by humans. But precocious Stephanie is determined to investigate a mystery that piques her curiosity, and this leads her to discover a hitherto unknown sentient species. The first treecat Stephanie meets forges an empathic bond with her, and this semi-telepathic link is what drives many of the plot elements as the novel progresses.
Of course, the discovery of a tool-using sentient species on Sphinx threatens certain business interests and investments. In addition, a greedy pet dealer arrives from outside the Manticore system because he sees the potential for huge profits from the capture and sale of treecats.
A Beautiful Friendship is a competently written and readable book, but I fear some of the young adults it is aimed at would not appreciate all of the lengthy conversations and infodumps which the reader has to plow through. The impression left in my mind is of a book which has a couple of very engaging high points separated by much more tedious sections. The best part is undoubtedly Stephanie's second meeting with the treecat Climbs Quickly (Lionheart), at which their friendship is cemented in a dramatic and moving way.
by David Weber
A Beautiful Friendship is a revision and expansion of a novella published in 1998. It is a work of young adult fiction by an author who usually specializes in more mature military science fiction.
The Manticore star system has only been colonized by humans for a short time, and twelve-year-old Stephanie Harrington has moved there with her parents. The planet Sphinx has seasons lasting several terrestrial years, high gravity, a coldish climate, unfamiliar flora and fauna, and few human settlers.
Stephanie's parents forbid her to explore the bush on her own, since dangerous creatures roam the areas unfrequented by humans. But precocious Stephanie is determined to investigate a mystery that piques her curiosity, and this leads her to discover a hitherto unknown sentient species. The first treecat Stephanie meets forges an empathic bond with her, and this semi-telepathic link is what drives many of the plot elements as the novel progresses.
Of course, the discovery of a tool-using sentient species on Sphinx threatens certain business interests and investments. In addition, a greedy pet dealer arrives from outside the Manticore system because he sees the potential for huge profits from the capture and sale of treecats.
A Beautiful Friendship is a competently written and readable book, but I fear some of the young adults it is aimed at would not appreciate all of the lengthy conversations and infodumps which the reader has to plow through. The impression left in my mind is of a book which has a couple of very engaging high points separated by much more tedious sections. The best part is undoubtedly Stephanie's second meeting with the treecat Climbs Quickly (Lionheart), at which their friendship is cemented in a dramatic and moving way.
The description of treecat culture and society is also very imaginative. I found the defeat of the unscrupulous dealer in the final part entertaining but somewhat cliched and predictable. Overall, A Beautiful Friendship was enjoyable and memorable, but not to the point that I feel compelled to go on to read the sequels.
The Uplift War
(The Uplift Saga #3)
by David Brin
The senior races which make up Galactic civilization are engaged in a dangerous struggle for power, which is accumulated by becoming patrons of client races, uplifting them to sentience and thereafter binding them in servitude for many thousands of years before permitting them to exist in their own right. Some of these senior patron races are highly displeased when human 'wolflings' appear on the scene and in no time at all acquire two clients of their own, dolphins and chimpanzees. To make matters worse, these upstart humans apparently bootstrapped themselves into sentience, something which is considered impossible by all Galactic races.
The title of the book may lead some to imagine that this is a work of military science fiction, but that would be an incorrect assumption. So, what war is referred to here? Firstly, there is the general warring between the Galactics for status and the right to uplift other races, and then there is the specific war which becomes the focus of this story. This is the conflict between the avian Gubru and humans who have been granted a charter to care for the ecology of a backwater planet named Garth. The Gubru intend to employ superior military force and their detailed knowledge of Galactic Law to demonstrate that humans are not qualified to serve as a patron race to the sentient chimps, and they are prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to take those clients and the planet Garth away from mankind. So, while it is true that certain battles are described in some detail, the overall emphasis is always on the process and implications of Uplift rather than on military technology and strategy.
One of the strengths of Startide Rising and its sequel The Uplift War is the outstanding quality of David Brin’s world-building. Each alien race has its own rich culture, thought patterns and foibles. They all find it almost impossible to comprehend one another. One of the few alien civilizations which is openly friendly to humanity is that of the Tymbrimi, who are known for their highly-developed and rather wicked sense of humor. And since the narrative alternates between several protagonists, we get to view what is happening through alien eyes, as well as through those of humans and uplifted chimps.
A reader expecting this book to answer the questions raised in Startide Rising regarding the Dolphin starship Streaker and the ancient derelict fleet it discovered may well feel somewhat disappointed. I think it is natural to hope that a sequel would provide more information on the mythical progenitors, which patron race originally uplifted humanity, and why they disappeared. However, David Brin fails to do the obvious by satisfying the reader's curiosity on those points, and perhaps this in a sense makes the story more realistic.
There is a lot of science in this book, and some of the fields drawn on include linguistics, biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Although it certainly contains many fantastic elements, The Uplift War can still be considered hard science fiction because many of the plot drivers involve plausible scientific and technological developments.
One main theme seems to be this: In the same way that humans consider themselves vastly superior to animals, the Galactic patron races consider themselves infinitely more advanced than humans and client races. However, throughout The Uplift War, we see that all walk a fine line between rational behavior on the one hand and purely instinctive responses to situations on the other. In Startide Rising, we saw how the senior patron races of the Soro and the Tandu frequently act in vicious and animalistic ways, and how many of these Galactics are tainted by religious fanaticism. Now, in the sequel we see how the Gubru are almost completely bound by convention, ritual and genetic programming. Readers can draw their own conclusions from this, but what the author intended is hinted at in a postscript at the end of the book.
Startide Rising
(The Uplift Saga #2)
by David Brin
When I first began to read about dolphins piloting a spaceship, I was doubtful if I would be able to maintain the suspension of belief required past the first few chapters. However, I was quickly convinced by the vivid and believable descriptions of the interactions between humans and their uplifted clients, and by the intriguing plotline. Although it was written in the 1980s, the technologies envisaged do not seem in the least dated. The dolphins have their own culture, logic, and poetry, and these add depth and realism to the story. In short, David Brin was able to take an idea which seems ridiculous on the surface and turn it into a classic of science fiction by creating an immersive world complete with history and philosophies. The only minor flaw might be that since the story is told from the point of view of many different individuals rather than a single narrator, character development seems to have suffered slightly. In addition, if the reader prefers more action-oriented traditional space operas, parts of Startide Rising may seem a little sluggish. For me, though, the tempo was just right, and I found it to contain the perfect blend of action and rumination.
The Practice Effect by David Brin
David Brin has made his name writing hard science fiction, but this earlier work (1984) is one of his softer pieces.
The premise of a new world which has slightly different physical laws from Earth, and how those laws affect everyday life, is fascinating. However, the reader should not expect any great depth of insight from this novel, since is it written in the manner of a nonstop action adventure. It is highly readable in the manner of pulp fiction like Burroughs' A Princess of Mars, and science fiction is mixed with traditional fantasy elements such as castles, dungeons, an imprisoned princess who needs rescuing, and an calculating baron who wants to take over the world.
The storytelling is engaging, but the characters could perhaps have been developed more fully and the central concept explored in more depth. But on the other hand, it is evident that Brin was not aiming for any great profoundness of meaning when he wrote this work, since a light-hearted humor permeates the whole book.
Although it is an action adventure, it reads more like science fiction than fantasy, and Brin provides a scientific explanation (albeit not a very convincing one) for everything at the end of the novel.
For me it was a light but thoroughly enjoyable read.
The Boat of a Million Years
by Poul Anderson
The greater portion of the book concentrates on the efforts of several ageless characters to survive through the centuries. Various places and times in antiquity are beautifully recreated, and the real power and depth of the story lies in its rich undercurrents of history and mythology. Anderson is very clever in that he weaves detailed information throughout the text without affecting the flow of the narrative. The lyricism of the writing just carries the reader along.
The characterization is excellent, and although the names of the main players change at various points (ageless people must constantly change their identities in order not to arouse suspicion), the reader can often intuitively determine who individuals are from their personalities.
I do think that the story weakened a little after the viewpoint changed to the future of mankind. One reason for this might be that the main characters seem to become overly concerned with petty personal squabbles. One could argue, though, that Anderson was implying that even people who had lived for millennia may still find it hard to transcend selfish inclinations and view life from a broader perspective all of the time. This may be an inherent part of the humanity that the ageless ones are loath to relinquish.
As with all great literature, the reader will remember for a long time to come not just the story but also the reading experience itself.
Sherlock Holmes : The Ultimate Collection
by Arthur Conan Doyle
Something I found interesting is that in Arthur Conan Doyle's stories Holmes' ideas are not always correct. Although his reasoning is always solidly based on the known facts, occasionally his theories prove to be wrong, or he is unable to assist the police to apprehend criminals (examples are the cases of The Yellow Face and The Engineer's Thumb). I actually welcomed this as making the character more realistic and human. The story of The Three Students, on the other hand, is a good instance of where Holmes possesses enough of the facts to arrive at wholly correct conclusions using his deductive method. Other cases, such as The Stock-Broker's Clerk, require that Holmes actually be present while events unfold and the truth is gradually revealed. Thus, while on the surface the stories may seem to progress in a similar manner to each other, in fact the details and the processes involved in bringing the cases to their conclusions can be very different.
I would definitely recommend that people who are only familiar with the TV or film versions of Sherlock Holmes read at least some of the original stories for themselves, since these allow the reader to discern more clearly how the author intended this rich and complex character to be understood.
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: War of the Worlds by Manly Wade Wellman, Wade Wellman
I was prepared to be disappointed when I started this book. However, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the execution. Although the story intentionally departs from some of what Doyle and Wells wrote, this is done in a way that makes the reader feel like they are gaining insights into previously undisclosed details regarding what occurred during the alien invasion. Having said that, I thought the Holmes character was a little weaker than the other two, and I am pretty sure Sherlock Holmes purists would find him a little hard to swallow.
If the reader comes to this novel without any knowledge of the stories it is based on, they will probably miss many of the finer points. It would therefore be a good idea at least to read the short story The Crystal Egg and the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells before starting on this one. Other reading could include a couple of the original Sherlock Holmes adventures, and a story or two featuring Professor Challenger.
Although a few Americanisms present in the text were not spotted by the editors, the narrative is nevertheless a largely successful attempt to write in the style of late nineteenth-century England. And while the novel is not deep or introspective, it is certainly a well-told and enjoyable tale of deduction and adventure.
Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
I have been meaning to read Calculating God for quite some time, but never quite got around to it. I am now very glad that I finally did so. I enjoy novels which are set in real locations (most of the action in this one takes place at the Royal Ontario Museum) because you can find out more about those places online and view maps and photos while you are reading. Reactions to this novel seem to be polarized. If a reader has a prior commitment to either purely naturalistic evolution or young-earth creationism, it is unlikely that the message of the novel will go down well. However, for people who have no such commitments and can see the shortcomings of both arguments, the speculations which run throughout this work of science fiction take a fascinating middle road. Of course, this is a fictional account of visits by aliens to our planet, and it is not entirely clear where the author himself stands on some of the issues presented, but I feel that the story does no disservice to the true spirit of scientific inquiry. In a slightly weaker subplot, religious extremism is condemned, although this may just be a device used by the author to prove to readers that he has no desire to support traditional religious ideas of creationism. I feel that the story is well-written, the characterizations (even of the principal alien character) are convincing, and the fact that it addresses some of the perplexing issues related to the human condition make it a captivating read.
The Best of Murray Leinster
Sidewise in Time (1934)
This does not describe conventional time travel to the past or future, but rather alternate realities on parallel timelines. The idea is similar to that in Paratime written by H. Beam Piper in the 1940s and 50s, and Richard C. Meredith's Timeliner Trilogy (1970s). There is an interesting take on the possible nature of hyperspace. It must be said that the story is repetitive and drags a little, but the concepts are fascinating.
Proxima Centauri (1935)
This story has been dismissed by some reviewers as pulp fiction having no merits, but I think that is extreme. It is at the very least imaginative, even if the weak and weepy female character makes it feel dated. Prior to the 1970s, well-developed and realistic women are few and far between in science fiction. On the positive side, there is interstellar travel (apparently at half the speed of light), which the author tries to make seem as real as possible. That life on board is similar to that on an ocean-going vessel is probably due to the fact that when this novelette was written space travel was still a couple of decades in the future, so a limited amount was known about it. The aliens are frequently described as 'fiends', but they are nevertheless interesting. Their buildings and spaceships are not built but are grown from plant matter which is then held in stasis. They value animal flesh as men crave wealth or gold. Thus, when we are made to feel disgust at the unreasoning and destructive actions of the Centaurians, we might reflect on similar crimes perpetrated by avaricious humans. Apart from this, the relationship between humans and Centaurians is presented in a very black-and-white manner, and the deus-ex-machina finale does nothing to add sophistication to the story. However, it was probably what most readers in the 1930s would have wanted.
The Fourth-Dimensional Demonstrator
This short story is a humorous account of a young man who inherits a time machine capable of replicating matter from his uncle. It is a madcap tale of dissatisfied fiancées, cigarette-eating kangaroos and thwarted policemen. It was mildly amusing, but a little over the top. Fortunately, it was not too long.
First Contact
This is one of the works Murray Leinster is remembered for. It was one of the first science fiction stories to address the practical aspects of first contact with an alien race. The aliens are neither all good nor all bad, but are in many ways just like humans. The dilemma is caused by the fact that they encounter each other in deep space and then do not dare to leave in case the locations of their homeworlds are revealed. Both groups would like to trust the other, but cannot take the risk. I immediately thought of the Dark Forest (黑暗森林) principle from Liu Cixin's Three Body Trilogy, even though Liu's aliens are much more predatory in nature. In First Contact, there is a universal translator with similarities to the one in the story Proxima Centauri, which was also written in 1935. The fact that the translator system uses cards in its output makes the story feel a little dated, but at the time the start of the digital age was still four decades away, so it would not really be fair to criticize this point. I guessed the solution to the impasse between the groups slightly before it was revealed, but on the whole this was a compelling read and deserves its place as a classic of early modern science fiction.
The Ethical Equations
This story was published 1945. I must say that I really enjoyed it. Some reviewers raise the point that because the equations mentioned in the title are not based on real scientific principles (the equations state that what goes around comes around, good begets good and vice versa), this story cannot be considered a work of hard science fiction. While this may or may not be true, short stories appearing in Astounding magazine in the 1940s principally had to meet the requirements of being entertaining and thought-provoking, and I think The Ethical Equations certainly succeeds in meeting those standards. Probably owing to the similar titles, I immediately thought of The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin which appeared in the same magazine in 1954 and which I read a few months ago. I am not sure whether the parallelism between the two works is coincidental or not. The Cold Equations ends with the equation balanced by the forfeit of a human life, thereby averting a disaster. A catastrophe is avoided in Leinster's story by satisfying the ethical equations.
A curious point is that, although the protagonist in Leinster's tale is absolutely convinced that the principles behind the ethical equations are real, nobody else in the story seems to care about them one bit. This could mean that the equations are in fact a personal superstition of the lead character, or that they are an established fact which most people choose to ignore. At any rate, acting in accord with the ethical principles embodied in the equations provides a farsighted solution to the problem at hand and saves the day. Even though 'what goes around comes around' is not true from a scientific point of view, if more people believed it the world would probably be a much happier place.
Pipeline to Pluto
This short story was also first published in Astounding magazine in 1945. It is a little different from the first five pieces in this book because it is a science fiction horror story. Despite the fact that it is pretty tame by modern standards of horror, and although I had a premonition of how it would end, it does produce a chilling effect on the reader. That it was successful in its day can be seen from the fact that it was included in an anthology entitled Science Fiction Terror Tales edited by Groff Conklin ten years later in 1955.
Sidewise in Time (1934)
This does not describe conventional time travel to the past or future, but rather alternate realities on parallel timelines. The idea is similar to that in Paratime written by H. Beam Piper in the 1940s and 50s, and Richard C. Meredith's Timeliner Trilogy (1970s). There is an interesting take on the possible nature of hyperspace. It must be said that the story is repetitive and drags a little, but the concepts are fascinating.
Proxima Centauri (1935)
This story has been dismissed by some reviewers as pulp fiction having no merits, but I think that is extreme. It is at the very least imaginative, even if the weak and weepy female character makes it feel dated. Prior to the 1970s, well-developed and realistic women are few and far between in science fiction. On the positive side, there is interstellar travel (apparently at half the speed of light), which the author tries to make seem as real as possible. That life on board is similar to that on an ocean-going vessel is probably due to the fact that when this novelette was written space travel was still a couple of decades in the future, so a limited amount was known about it. The aliens are frequently described as 'fiends', but they are nevertheless interesting. Their buildings and spaceships are not built but are grown from plant matter which is then held in stasis. They value animal flesh as men crave wealth or gold. Thus, when we are made to feel disgust at the unreasoning and destructive actions of the Centaurians, we might reflect on similar crimes perpetrated by avaricious humans. Apart from this, the relationship between humans and Centaurians is presented in a very black-and-white manner, and the deus-ex-machina finale does nothing to add sophistication to the story. However, it was probably what most readers in the 1930s would have wanted.
The Fourth-Dimensional Demonstrator
This short story is a humorous account of a young man who inherits a time machine capable of replicating matter from his uncle. It is a madcap tale of dissatisfied fiancées, cigarette-eating kangaroos and thwarted policemen. It was mildly amusing, but a little over the top. Fortunately, it was not too long.
First Contact
This is one of the works Murray Leinster is remembered for. It was one of the first science fiction stories to address the practical aspects of first contact with an alien race. The aliens are neither all good nor all bad, but are in many ways just like humans. The dilemma is caused by the fact that they encounter each other in deep space and then do not dare to leave in case the locations of their homeworlds are revealed. Both groups would like to trust the other, but cannot take the risk. I immediately thought of the Dark Forest (黑暗森林) principle from Liu Cixin's Three Body Trilogy, even though Liu's aliens are much more predatory in nature. In First Contact, there is a universal translator with similarities to the one in the story Proxima Centauri, which was also written in 1935. The fact that the translator system uses cards in its output makes the story feel a little dated, but at the time the start of the digital age was still four decades away, so it would not really be fair to criticize this point. I guessed the solution to the impasse between the groups slightly before it was revealed, but on the whole this was a compelling read and deserves its place as a classic of early modern science fiction.
The Ethical Equations
This story was published 1945. I must say that I really enjoyed it. Some reviewers raise the point that because the equations mentioned in the title are not based on real scientific principles (the equations state that what goes around comes around, good begets good and vice versa), this story cannot be considered a work of hard science fiction. While this may or may not be true, short stories appearing in Astounding magazine in the 1940s principally had to meet the requirements of being entertaining and thought-provoking, and I think The Ethical Equations certainly succeeds in meeting those standards. Probably owing to the similar titles, I immediately thought of The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin which appeared in the same magazine in 1954 and which I read a few months ago. I am not sure whether the parallelism between the two works is coincidental or not. The Cold Equations ends with the equation balanced by the forfeit of a human life, thereby averting a disaster. A catastrophe is avoided in Leinster's story by satisfying the ethical equations.
A curious point is that, although the protagonist in Leinster's tale is absolutely convinced that the principles behind the ethical equations are real, nobody else in the story seems to care about them one bit. This could mean that the equations are in fact a personal superstition of the lead character, or that they are an established fact which most people choose to ignore. At any rate, acting in accord with the ethical principles embodied in the equations provides a farsighted solution to the problem at hand and saves the day. Even though 'what goes around comes around' is not true from a scientific point of view, if more people believed it the world would probably be a much happier place.
Pipeline to Pluto
This short story was also first published in Astounding magazine in 1945. It is a little different from the first five pieces in this book because it is a science fiction horror story. Despite the fact that it is pretty tame by modern standards of horror, and although I had a premonition of how it would end, it does produce a chilling effect on the reader. That it was successful in its day can be seen from the fact that it was included in an anthology entitled Science Fiction Terror Tales edited by Groff Conklin ten years later in 1955.
A Logic Named Joe
A 1946 issue of Astounding Science Fiction magazine ran a short story by Murray Leinster that contains an amazingly accurate prediction of the technology and culture of our day. Leinster describes a society in which every home possesses a "logic", a machine that can provide entertainment and virtually unlimited access to information. Each "logic" accesses a central "tank" where raw data are kept on "plates". Sound familiar? The eponymous "logic" becomes self-aware due to a slight flaw in the manufacturing process and, in order to be helpful, decides to provide humans with the answers to any questions they ask through the network. On the surface, this sounds like a good idea, but Leinster continues to show how human moral deficiencies make this a less-than-desirable development. We should keep in mind that this story was written in an age when most people had a naively optimistic view of science and before science fiction was known for warning about the potential dangers of technology. What also makes it fascinating to read is the fact that in 1946 computing machines still filled whole rooms and the first phase of the internet would not come into existence for another 23 years. This story has been included in many science fiction anthologies over the years, and rightly so, since it was predictive of personal computers, computer networks, and artificial intelligence.
Symbiosis
This 1947 tale tells of a small and peaceful country which is invaded by a powerful and ruthless neighbor state. The conquered people, however, are prepared and apply an intriguing medical solution to the problem, much to the dismay of the aggressors. I am not sure if it is, but this might be the first example of biological warfare in science fiction literature. Of course, H.G. Wells' invading Martians in The War of the Worlds were wiped out by bacteria, but that was a fortuitous occurrence rather than the result of deliberate action. Symbiosis is certainly a fine example of how to write a short story.
The Strange Case of John Kingman
This tells a story about John Kingman, who is a patient in a mental asylum. Despite the fact that he has an obvious physical anomaly, not much notice is taken of him because he is aloof and uncommunicative. It is assumed that he is foreigner who cannot speak English, and that he is paranoid with delusions of grandeur because his manner is so supercilious. A young and enthusiastic doctor decides to check the asylum records, and is shocked to discover that Kingman has been an inmate of the institution for more than 160 years. When the doctor expresses an interest in him, Kingman draws intricate diagrams which turn out to be explanations of scientific processes not yet known to humans. When this comes to the attention of the authorities, the government is anxious to extract more technological information in order to secure a firm advantage in the arms race against enemy nations. The methods they use eventually render the patient unable to provide any further assistance. On the surface, this might appear to be merely an entertaining story. I think, however, that it possesses hidden depths. Something which is noticeable is that Kingman is thought all along by everybody to be insane, even when doctors conclude that he is probably an extraterrestrial, and when he shows his superior knowledge and a high level of intelligence. Readers may find themselves asking if the patient or the humans who handled his case showed more evidence of madness in thought and action. It is possible that the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan about three years earlier (this story was published in 1948) had caused Leinster to wonder whether military considerations would always be a principal catalyst for technological development, and whether a desire for knowledge would always be linked to mankind's baser instincts. Perhaps Kingman's condescending attitude towards the humans around him was not unjustified.
The Lonely Planet
This 1949 story is about a planet-wide organism which humans name Alyx after its homeworld. Through serving the needs of men, Alyx learns and becomes self-aware, only to find its very existence threatened. In an interesting twist on the "dark forest" theme, we see that the miscommunication between men and Alyx all seems to be the result of a human inability to conceive of an intelligent being which would not be as predatory as mankind. Fortunately, not all humans are so narrow-minded, and at least some are willing to embrace the mutually beneficial symbiosis envisioned by Alyx. This is another very absorbing and thought-provoking short story by Murray Leinster.
Keyhole
This story was published in 1951, and is another one which paints humanity in a less-than-positive light as far as relations with extraterrestrial lifeforms is concerned. Of course, individual people are a different matter, since these may think up ways to persuade their contemporaries to act with a greater degree of foresight than they would have done otherwise. The Moon creatures in this story are subjected to study by humans who wish to identify their weaknesses. However, in the end the specimen the men capture manages to learn much more about humanity than human scientists can learn about its people. It is another warning that appearances can be deceptive.
Critical Difference (aka Solar Constant)
This is a solid story about a planetary survey officer who tries to overcome technological problems in order to save human colonists on two worlds. The characterization is quite good, perhaps because it is a slightly later story which was first published in 1956. The author may have by that time got to grips with how to make his characters a little more three-dimensional and interesting. The self-effacing quality of the protagonist which never allows him to take full credit for his achievements may be something some readers can relate to. This is a good example of a hard science fiction story which uses most of its length to describe technical details, but also has a romance element thrown in to make the plot more absorbing.
Leinster's strengths are showcased very clearly in the works in this book. He is adept at defining or identifying problems, and then working logically through his plots to provide solutions without letting readers guess the endings too soon. Although perhaps a little pessimistic on the surface, many of his tales do have positive outcomes. While very entertaining, the stories are obviously also written to convey deeper meanings, but this is achieved in subtle ways and without the author needing to moralize or preach. Probably the only easily detectable weakness is in his characterizations, which never really allow you to get into the minds of the protagonists. But, overall, this is an excellent short-story collection which is well worth reading if you are interested in the history and development of science fiction literature.
The Runaway Skyscraper by Murray Leinster
This novelette is considered a seminal work of science fiction. After reading it, it is not hard to see why. It was first published in a general-interest fiction magazine in 1919 (there were not yet any magazines devoted to science fiction, and the term had probably not even been coined at that time).
It was Murray Leinster's first published work of science fiction.
It was Murray Leinster's first published work of science fiction.
In the story, a New York skyscraper is suddenly transported back in time to Pre-Columbian America with all of its C20th occupants, who then have to devise ways to survive in the new setting. The mechanism for the time travel, while not wholly convincing, is one of the strangest I have come across. This work is clearly a precursor of later "hard" science fiction because the author attempts to describe everything in a scientific way and explain the reasons behind why things happen. Where real science is involved, the writer clearly wishes to be accurate. An attempt is made to provide plausible reasons for the fantasy elements too. While it exhibits the biases of gender and race prevalent at the time, the narrative has a very obvious human side to it in that it probes into the effects that suddenly being uprooted and sent back into a more 'primitive' environment would have on individuals and on a group. If people living in 1919 would have had serious problems, how much more true that would be for people living in developed countries today, where they might hardly ever come into direct contact with nature. It also shows that people who are not considered very successful in one environment might come into their own when sudden changes occur. From the point of view of historical interest and story content, it is a worthwhile read. It is good that is now free to read from gutenberg.org.
Legacy by James H. Schmitz
This title is a little difficult to review. I found myself enjoying it, and then suddenly feeling it was tedious, and then getting absorbed again. Firstly, the storytelling itself is quite go0d, and the female protagonist is very likeable. The original book, A Tale of Two Clocks, was written in 1962, and was reissued as Legacy in 1979. The story holds up quite well considering that it was written more than half a century ago. Of course, there are attitudes which reflect the time in which it was written, mainly sexist ones, which would not go down so well today. But that is part of the fascination with reading vintage novels. So although the main character is a strong-willed and independent girl, gender roles are very traditional. What I found a little irksome was that the plot moves along too slowly. I think there is a lot of dialogue in the book which could have been omitted or condensed to make the pacing more brisk. Also, although we are introduced to the Plasmoids which have been left over from a vanished ancient galactic civilization, no serious attempt is made to evoke a sense of wonder about what they are and what secrets they may conceal. In some ways Legacy reminded me of Charles Sheffield's Heritage Universe series, but Sheffield created that sense of wonder very successfully. Legacy was an interesting read, and there were some imaginative ideas and technologies described in it. It is however essentially a rather two-dimensional action novel which includes little of an introspective nature in its narrative.
All Judgment Fled by James White
This author is quickly becoming one of my favourites. James White was an excellent storyteller, and a sadly underrated master of the science fiction genre. I thoroughly enjoyed his novel The Silent Stars Go By, and All Judgment Fled certainly exhibits the same standard of writing. As a Big Dumb Object book, it invites comparison with Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama and Niven's Ringworld, but it was actually written in 1967 before either of those two novels were published. Personally, I found it more thought-provoking than those standard works, too. While it is undoubtedly now classed as old-school science fiction, it does not feel especially dated and is, in my opinion, definitely worth reading.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
This is more of a political satire than a true time-travel novel. It was first published in 1889, and at first seems to be a eulogy of modern scientific progress and American democracy in comparison to absurdities of the British hereditary aristocratic system. However, as the book progresses, we see that things are not quite as they at first appear. The descriptions of the final battle, with electrified fences, trenches, explosives and machine guns are eerily prophetic of First World War battlefields. Nineteenth Century rational thinking and technology was unable to win out against the ingrained superstition and religious dogma of King Arthur's age. The protagonist sets out on a mission to enlighten and educate the ignorant people of the Sixth Century, but in the end commits atrocities which are at least as bad as those perpetrated by the Catholic Church and its supporters. And he did these things on the basis of reason, and so cannot offer religious brainwashing or superstition as excuses. The book is a little long-winded and tedious in places, but there are many well-written episodes of high adventure which more than balance these out.
A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum
This was a short and interesting read. The dialogue feels dated, but there is a real effort to depict the alienness of extraterrestrial lifeforms which defy human logic and are not readily understandable to the protagonist. It was certainly something entirely new when it was first published in 1934.
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
I read Bester's The Demolished Man (which won a Hugo) a few years ago, but it did not leave much of an impression. I enjoyed The Stars My Destination much more. This is an intense and frenetically-paced novel manifesting many different science-fiction elements. There is space travel, teleportation, cybernetics, telepathy and time travel. Since it was written in the 1950s, much of the content and manner in which the story is told is necessarily experimental and innovative. I am not usually keen on books in which the main protagonist is an antihero, but the reader can relate to Foyle's obsessions and the educational and introspective processes which raise him up from savagery. I am sure that this story will leave a deep impression, and that I will remember the images it evoked for a long time to come.
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