Something To Read by Ken Slater

You'll probably have noticed that the reprint s-f magazines have become considerably fewer, and whilst the "original" magazines - those which are published in the U.K. in the first instance, and are certainly not the poorer offspring of an American magazine — have not increased in number, they are certainly holding their own. This seems to be a good sign; it shows that we are not entirely dependent on importation for our s-f. When the book publishers follow this lead it is definitely encouraging—and there is a strong indication that this is what is happening.

Michael Joseph have entered the field with a series of "Novels of Tomorrow," edited by Miss Clemence Dane. The first two of these are John Christopher's THE YEAR OF THE COMET (271 pp., 12/6), and Harold Mead's THE BRIGHT PHOENIX (303 pp., 12/6). Both original book-length novels. THE YEAR OF THE COMET continues the theme of Mr. Christopher's "future history," that of the managerial civilisation. Here, however, we have that civilisation on the downward path, heading towards decadence. The hero is Official Charles Grayner, a scientist who is pushed around by the manipulations of the big managerial groups—until he loses the girl he loves, and starts doing some pushing on his own account. Recommended. I'm afraid that THE BRIGHT PHOENIX did not interest me as much. We have the somewhat stereotyped future world of Ministries of Eugenics, citizens who are part of the ant­hill life—and who in the main require and can realise nothing better. There is the one man—the world's only explorer—who does not fit, the girl with whom he makes acquaintance, and the possibility of the President deciding to set up a colony in another part of the atom-wa r- devastated world. The book is largely concerned with the Colony, and the emergence of the Bright Phoenix of man's individuality. To this Mr. Mead lends a skill which holds the reader's interest, and it is a pity that the ground on which he spreads his fertile imagination should be such an overworked area.

From E. C. Tubb we have some more "future history," complete with a time scale covering a mere 35 years. A short period, yes, but a busy, exciting and adventurous period in man's history, when he is conquering Mars. At least, when a-section of mankind is conquering Mars; sometimes because they have no option, sometimes out of idealism, sometimes out of pity for those already there. This novel - or rather, connected set of stories - is based on tales which have seen magazine publication, but have been almost completely rewritten to form a connected whole. ALIEN DUST (Boardman, 224 pp., 9/6) is Mr. Tubb's best work to date, and a very fine book. And, for a science fiction novel, it has an emotional content which too often is lacking in even the best books of this kind. I commend to you the martyrship of such people as Sam Weston and "Pop," the devotion to duty of "DOC" Winter,    the egotistical and idealist drive of Jim Hargraves. You may have already read some of this book—but just the same, don't miss reading the revised version.

If you like plenty of intergalactic scope in your yarns you will enjoy Raymond F. Jones' THIS ISLAND EARTH (Boardman, 9/6, 220 pp.), which opens with research and development electronician Cal Meacham receiving some strange condensors to fill an order - obviously incapable of carrying a load even a fraction of what they are required to do - until they are tested! These are followed by a catalogue; a catalogue listing parts Cal has never dreamed existed. Working from the catalogue and parts obtained by ordering through the same mysterious channel, Cal builds an "interocitor" - and promptly finds himself in contact with the Peace Engineers. Taking employment with them, he discovers they are extra-terrestrials... and that is as far as you'll have got in the magazine version of this story. The rest of the book builds up to even greater heights. I'll not disclose the plot, but just say that looking back on the Pacific war, the title is most appropriate.

ASSIGNMENT IN ETERNITY by Robert Heinlein (Museum, 9/6) containing four stories. GULF, a two-part serial from American "Astounding Science Fiction," a superb bit of Heinlein's technological development, filled with adventurous happenings; ELSEWHEN, a somewhat older story of alternate time-tracks; LOST LEGACY, in which surprising discoveries about parapsychology are made by Dr. Coburn and his associates, leading them into a vast and age-old plot for world domination: and finally a story which I think gives the most sympathetic treatment to the question of when and how do we recognise humanity in only quasi-human form? Jerry, in JERRY WAS A MAN, is an ape into whom intelligence has been artificially induced, and he is a "chattel," a non-human slave, who can be destroyed when no longer of service—or can he? The court scenes, by the by, are up to "Perry Mason" standard.

Among the anthologies currently available is CATEGORY PHOENIX (Bodley Head, 9/6, 191 pp.) containing three long "novels." The title story is by Boyd Ellanby, and deals with a totalitarian state of the future, in which the discovery of eternal life is made. Complicated plotting, exceedingly well written, and suspenseful. FIREWATER, by William Tenn, tells of the aliens, "fearfully intelligent dots in multi­coloured bottles" who just watch mankind. Attempts to contact them lead to the destruction of the moral fibre of humans, at the same time conveying to these people a kind of "idiot genius." Yet there was one type of man—and one type of alien—who could make contact without harm! Finally, James Blish with SURFACE TENSION.  

from Nebula No. 13. September 1955

 

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