Something To Read by Ken Slater

It seems to me that there is a temporary dearth of good science fiction between boards in Britain at the moment. This may be because publishers are hiding their science fiction novels under other guises, but although I've kept an eye open for "prophetic novels", "Wellsian romances" and "works of imaginative fiction" I've not come upon much of interest.

Perhaps the best thing I've read recently is Alastair Mars' ATOMIC SUBMARINE (Elek Books, 192 pp., 12/6) which, incidentally, is described as "A Story of Tomorrow". Now, a word of warning first. Should you be convinced that the weapon is the I.C.B.M., the earth Satellite or the lunar station, the high altitude aircraft or perhaps some monstrous development of the "tank", then you'll be apt to fall out with Alastair Mars, D.S.O., D.S.C., a submariner with a couple of other submarine novels, and a war-time autobiography (two volumes) of life and action in submarine service. Because Mr. Mars is convinced that the weapon of tomorrow is the atomic submarine, armed with nuclear missiles and capable of a speed of 45 knots.

It is on this premise that the novel is based, and I must admit that the author presents a very strong case. In addition, he weaves it into a nice tidy plot complete with a love interest, plenty of action and a not too obvious element of suspense.

Lieutenant-Commander Dering has been in a spot of trouble and has been pushed into a dead-end job. A friend rescues him from this naval backwater and they become the two officers who will receive command of Britain's first atomic submarines, the first of which, the Avenger, is nearing completion. Russian agents take out Dering's friend by a faked car accident, bringing Dering into the position for command of the first atom sub. They then try to bring pressure on to Dering through his girl friend, Nina, who is an unsuspected low-grade agent (now in revolt because of her love for Dering), and also through a promissory note which Dering has signed and which, although based on an exorbitant rate of interest would, of course, wreck his naval career if brought to light.

At the same time Communist threats in the Far East make it apparent that war is probable and the Avenger's departure is hastened . Paul Wright, of the U.S. Bureau of Ships representing U.S. interests in the building of Britain's atomic subs, gets the pressure taken off Dering and in aiding Nina to escape from the spy-ring, obtains evidence which he passes on for use in breaking up the ring. Nina also gives him data on Russia's plans for invasion of Singapore and Africa! Wright smuggles Nina aboard the Avenger, keeping her hidden until he is sure that Dering will not return to base. They then tell Dering the story, and from there I'll let you read the book. I'll just mention that the Avenger makes a passage under the Arctic ice, that the shipboard pile runs away due to sabotage, that she is successful in destroying Vladivostok and then in chasing and defeating the Russian/Chinese fleet,  which is on the way to the invasion of Africa! Fast and furious action...!

Perhaps it is unfortunate that this book, which contains a number of derogatory remarks about Russian technological standards, should appear so shortly after this theory has been somewhat definitely been exploded this - it casts a reflection on the probability/accuracy of the rest of the extrapolation which I feel is not justified.

The impact of the Russian achievement has not yet reached the printed pages of the science-fiction magazines, nor has it affected any of the science-fiction books, at the time I write this. With one exception. THE SPACE ENCYCLOPAEDIA (Artemis Press, 287 pp., 35/-) considered it sufficiently important (as it indeed was) to produce a three-sheet folder supplement, dated November, '57, giving data on SPUTNIK ONE. The Encyclopaedia itself is an excellent reference work on all things connected with space research. It gives clear and simple explanations of terms used in rocketry, astronomy and associated sciences. You'll find "Honest John" quickly defined, a short explanation of Spectral Classification, Space Medicine gets a precise but quite full discussion; subjects such as Astronomy, the Solar System, the individual planets  (and the Moon), Telescopes and many others get a full treatment, sufficient to  serve as an introduction to the subject to any enquiring mind desirous of enlarging its scope of knowledge. The text of the work is illustrated with photographs and sketches, tables and graphs, which form an invaluable aid to clear presentation. If you have a bookshelf, this item should be on it. Even if you keep your books in a box under the bed... well, try this under the pillow!

There have occurred in the history of mankind a number of inexplicable events which have given rise to considerable speculation. Quite often far more speculation than the events themselves have justified, and the records (and recorders) of each individual event have snowballed into colossal masses of opinion, theory, explanation and general wild surmise with a very tiny core of observed data. In GREAT WORLD MYSTERIES (Dennis Dobson, 16/-, 191 pp.) well-known science-fiction author and Fortean Society member Eric Frank Russell has attempted to remove the outer layers and get down to the data.

He commences with the case of the Mary Celeste; it is doubtful whether there is anyone who has not at least heard of this mystery of the sea. It has been "reported" in shocker-article form in almost every periodical and newspaper which uses that type of journalism, it has been mentioned or discussed in more serious works than I can recall, and—at least for the science fiction fraternity—has been used as an appendage to, if not the body of, a great many science-fiction plots. Mr. Russell peels off the rind of scare-surmise and gives the few known facts, with some observations on their sources and validity. In addition, he gives a refreshing new possible solution to the mystery, one which whilst, not exactly commonplace does bring the mystery from the realms of the supernatural or extraterrestrial into the severely mundane. A very similar treatment is given to the case of the Devil's Footprints, those marks in the snow which occurred in Devon back in the middle of the 19th century. (Rather farcically, in an article, I once suggested that these footprints were caused by a member of that race which inhabits the Himalayas visiting the Abominable Little Men of the Snowless Lands - Mr. Russell's  suggestion, I regretfully state, is far more logical.)

The eleven sections of the book also include "Gadgets in the Sky", the Easter Island statues, Sea Monsters, levitation, the disappearance of Benjamin Bathurst and other similar mysteries. Whilst Eric Frank Russell is not always able to offer an explanation' he does present the evidence fairly, attempting as far as possible to distinguish between the probable and the doubtful. In each case he draws attention to the existing parallels which lack the publicity of the well-known case, thus disabusing—I hope—many people of the idea that such things as the vanishing of the crew of the Mary Celeste are isolated marvels. The book is well and entertainingly written, salted here and there with that touch of humour which is now the hallmark of a Russell science fiction yarn of the topmost quality.

I have a complaint, however. Mr. Russell has appended a  bibliography and an index. For a work of this type I feel it is imperative that the bibliography should be referenced to the text, in order that the reader can with ease check the source from which Russell quotes, may form his own opinion of the "authority" of that source and in general not to have to take Mr. Russell as an authority—for  accepting the word of "authority" is, at least indirectly, one of the things Mr. Russell warns the reader against. But, in effect, the  lack of such notation puts the reader in the position of having to take Mr.Russell's word for it, or else of reading in their entirety the 37 books and the complete file of Doubt (Magazine of the Fortean Society) plus the several newspapers to which reference is made in the text—it is not clear whether Mr. Russell made reference to them in fact, or has simply quoted from other sources what those other sources said the newspapers said. If you follow me. Only in that way can they accept Mr. Russell's authority as backed by the authorities he quotes . . . and, of course (as I full well know) each of these books in turn quotes others... we are going to be busy! But I rather doubt that anyone will bother to question what Mr. Russell has said... and he'll go down as an authority, much as he may dislike the idea!

In pocket-books I can recommend Charles Dye's PRISONER IN THE SKULL (Corgi, 219 pp., 2/6); the story opens with Alister Conrad awakening, and not being able to recall anything... he discovers who he is from his identity card; and tries to televise his wife—when she sees who is calling she screams and breaks connection. Shortly afterwards Conrad is arrested for impersonating Conrad, who is dead, believed murdered! Then retina patterns prove that he is Conrad... well, you can take it from there. Or, let Charles Dye take it from there. He gets it even more confused before he straightens it all out again. On the serious (factual) side there is Milton W. Rosen's THE VIKING ROCKET STORY (Panther, 2/6, 192 pp.), now of historical interest! Then for the fantasy fan, a published edition of Abraham Merritt's BURN, WITCH, BURN (Pedigree Books, 2/6, 192 pp.). An interesting point here is that the data page still states that this book was first published in Britain by Spearman in 1955. I guess that copy of the Methuen edition on my shelf must be fictitious...

There is a Collins Classic edition of H. Rider Haggard's AYESHA : The Return of She available at 5/6; a collection of vintage horror stories, edited by John Keir Cross under the title of BEST HORROR STORIES, has been published by Faber at 15/-. There is some worthwhile material in this book, but if you already have a wide range of horror-yarn-anthologies, you are likely to get repetition. Check it before buying. For the weird fan, Dion Fortune's THE DEMON LOVER may be of interest. It is rather inclined to the "occult " reader than the science-fiction weird story fan, however. Aquarian Press, 15/-, that one. Ray Bradbury's latest is, of course, a must for the Bradbury fan, but may be overlooked by the science fiction reader. One wonders how much of it is autobiographical? Title is DANDELION WINE, publisher Hart-Davis, price 16/-. A new edition of THE COLLECTED SHORT STORIES OF H. G. WELLS has been published by Ernest Benn at 13/6—all 1,038 pages of it. Eric Knight's famous SAM SMALL, THE FLYING YORKSHIRE MAN, has been reprinted by Spearman at 12/6, and THE WORLD OF CHANCE, by Philip K. Dick, reprinted by Rich & Cowan at 6/6.

Those last seven are, of course, between boards. I regret that so few new items are mentioned this time, but short of recommending that you all buy two copies of each title and thus encourage the publisher to issue some more science fiction, I don't see what I can do about it. There is one thing, perhaps, you can do to help me—if you happen to notice any science fiction or fantasy titles around that I've not mentioned within two or three months of publication, drop a card to me in care of Peter Hamilton. This will help me keep track of those titles which slide past under such disguises as "futuristic romances". (By the by, I found two science fiction novels on the "romance" shelves at the local library—even the librarians get fooled!)

 

from Nebula No.27. February 1958

 

Return to Something To Read index

Return to NEBULA SF home page