Something To Read by Ken Slater

HOLE IN HEAVEN. F.Dubrez Fawcett (Sidgwick & Jackson), 9 /6.

Messrs. Sidgwick & Jackson have commenced their new series of titles in a BRITISH s-f library with HOLE IN HEAVEN, by F. Dubrez Fawcett. Honestly, while I'll admit that definitions of science-fiction are wide and varied, I do not think that any fan would include this work within his definitions. Except, perhaps, some few fans who consider the Psychic News as a technical journal... The story deals with the body of a man, severely burned in fire, which is occupied by a spirit entering through the "hole in heaven" used by the late-lamented for their departure from this life. By exerting its psychic powers this emotionless spirit turns the body into a sort of superman and goes in search of knowledge for its own sake. To keep from being returned to hospital it kills a man and the police get on its track; it kills a few police and escapes. The police follow the girl who believes the body still contains the spirit of her lover, and finally manage to destroy the "Nemo." Rather exciting in spots but despite the glowing claims of the editor of the series in his "Note," I hardly feel that Mr Fawcett has achieved "convincing and interesting characters." Worth reading if you can borrow it, but not for the died-in-the-wool s-f reader's bookshelf.

CHILDHOOD'S END.  Arthur C. Clarke (Sidgwick & Jackson), 10/6.

Mr. Clarke has ventured into more imaginative realms than in previous three works from this publisher, giving excerpts from a future of the human race under the guidance of the Overlords. Fascinating in parts, the book suffers from the disadvantage of being a composition of short stories too widely spaced in time to form a connected whole. However, the skill with which Mr. Clarke holds the reader's attention throughout goes far towards overcoming this defect. The Overlords arrive, and proceed to channel man's activity into the paths they desire. Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of the book is the section wherein Stormgren attempts to discover the shape and form of the Overlords. I'll not tell you just what that is because it would spoil the effect. In the next section the Overlords are mingling freely with mankind, still guiding him. And, again, a man attempts to visit the home planet of the Overlords - which he does, but not with the results he expects. Here we learn of the true relationship between Man and Overlord - again, a somewhat unexpected one. Finally, comes CHILDHOOD'S END, when the work of the Overlords is finished - at least, for humanity. Well worth reading, even if you have met parts of the story in magazine form before.

THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH. Robert A. Heinlein (Sidgwick & Jackson), 9/6.

The second work in the "Future History" series to be published in Britain , THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH comprises ten stories overlapping slightly with those printed in "The Man Who Sold The Moon," but with the exception of the last, "Logic of Empire," are more stories of people than of social influences. "Space Jockey," in which the marital troubles of the spacemen are demonstrated (and solved) ; "It's Great To Be Back," showing environment can change people socially, is the simple story of the family who return to the "old town" to find out that it is not quite up to their memories of it —the "old town" in this future tale is the Earth, of course. Lt. Johnny Dalquhist (one of the four major heroes of the Space Patrol, as readers of SPACE CADET will recall) is just an ordinary fellow doing his job as he sees it — and in the doing makes his name immortal. But I can't detail the yarns, just let me say two more things—if the only story Robert  A. Heinlein had written had been the title yarn, the story Rhysling, Blind Singer of the Spaceways, he would still be a well-known s-f author. But he has written more yarns - on a panorama of extrapolated history - and managed to interconnect them in a believable fashion (check on the reason for Jake Pemberton's moon-hop with oxygen, and the plot of "Gentlemen, Be Seated") he has become perhaps the best-known.

BEACHHEADS IN SPACE.  ed. August Derleth (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), 9/6.

Another fine anthology is edited by August Derleth, BEACHHEADS IN SPACE, and published in Gt. Britain by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Seven stories, including one which has long-been a favourite of mine, Eric Frank Russell's METAMORPHOSITE, in which we have man on two levels - one that of his present sociological type although technically far advanced, in control of a Galactic Empire; the other, that of a mankind which has suffered and been refined in the horrors of atomic war into something a little different. Mr. Russell holds the attention of the reader by his slow but steady disclosure of the powers of his hero, until the final line. One of the best "last lines" I know. The two preceding stories in the book, by Clifford D. Simak and Lester del Rey, depict the defeat of man; in the first by the unknown natural forces of a strange planet, in the second by the blind lifeless inimical universe. Isaac Asimov, with BREEDS THERE A MAN... also faces mankind with an over­powering enemy, but leaves us with some hope. John Wyndham shows how the silicon alien, underestimating the powers-natural-of the humble carbon-based human, is defeated. Contributions from Donald Wandrei and Clark Ashton Smith deal, in historical narrative style, with the invasion of Earth on a greater scale. Wandrei has the local and complete defeat of man, Smith lets his human race make a come-back. A pretty good collection, and I'm happy to get Russell's story in a lasting format at a reasonable price.

THE FIRST ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY ed. John W. Campbell, Jr. (Grayson & Grayson), 9 / 6.

This collection of stories, selected by the editor of the magazine from which it takes its name contains Robert Heinlein's BLOWUPS HAPPEN— A pity, as this story was included in the first of the Future History collections, recently published by Grayson & Grayson. HOBBYIST, by Eric Frank Russell, the story of a Galactic explorer who meets a Galactic collector (operating on an even larger scale!) is another good yarn. FIRST CONTACT describes what may well happen when an exploratory vessel from Earth meets its counterpart from another race—how can either return home safely, without giving away their home-planet to possible invaders? The writing of Murray Leinster is sound, as usual. James H. Schmitz is represented by THE WITCHES OF KARRES, a story which deserved a sequel but I can't recall having seen one yet. This one has a lighter treatment than most, and is a good swash­buckling space opera, with a little psychokinetics thrown in for good measure. Theodore Sturgeon's powerful THUNDER AND ROSES follows. A deeply moving story of a defeated America, and a man who puts race above nation. INVARIANT, by John Pierce, is an unusual tale. If a brain were so treated that when a train of thought were broken, it would be immediately completely lost, the brain reverting to the condition it was immediately before the treatment . . . ? Short, but good. And finally, William Tenn's  CHILD'S PLAY. A slightly whacky but utterly horrible story of the man who found a " Bild-A-Man " set ! Usually in an anthology one or two poor stories must be accepted along with the good ones. For my money, this does not apply here -they are all good ! They should be, they've been double-distilled, the original American edition contained 22 stories, and even they were all satisfying yarns !  

from Nebula No. 9. August 1954

 

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