All Reviews by DMcCunney
Frank and Fanny
by Mrs. Clara Moreton
Let's see...
Mrs. Clara Moreton is a pseudonym of General Dwight D. Eiosenhower, and Frank and Fanny was written in odd moments while winning World War II, yet the book was published in 1851, and Ike wasn't born until 1890?
The descriptions of Frank and Fanny are equally removed from reality.
Lovely little work of fantasy. Utterly useless review.
Voodoo Planet
by Andre Norton
I'd give this a higher rating than Parky, though I understand his complaints. At the time it was written, psi abilities were a major theme in SF, with the late John W. Campbell leading the way in stories he chose for Astounding SF/Analog SF.
Part of the problem with Voodoo Planet is length: it was published as half of an Ace Double novel, which had two books, back to back, under the same cover. Because of the format, books tended to be about 45,000 - 50,000 words long to be able to fit. If Andre had more space to play in, I suspect she would have provided more details. (And it's possible she did, and they got cut by the editor.)
It's a nice look at a pretty well realized foreign culture. No, Chief Ranger Asaki doesn't really understand his powers, either: he simply knows that he can do certain things, and is in tune with his environment in a way others aren't.
It isn't Andre's best book, but I don't believe she ever wrote a *bad* one.
The Worm Ouroboros
by E.R. Eddison
Eddidon was a Victorian gentleman who wrote Elizabethan prose. The style takes getting getting used to. I learned to appreciate it when I learned to relax and let the book read itself to me, rather than trying to actively read it, so to speak. Once I did, I was hooked. Now it goes down like fine cognac, and I read it precisely for the glory of the language.
The Wailing Asteroid
by Murray Leinster
Note to John Johnson: the movie adaptation - a British production called "The Terrornauts -- does have one thing to recommend it. The script was written by John Brunner. I didn't mind John's changes, such as making the protagonist a radio-astronomer who picked up the signals.
And there were a few loveley bits, like the scene early on where the hero, his assistant, and their girlfriends are in his office discussing the significance of the signals, when the charwoman arrives with tea: "Oh, hello, Mrs. Jones! We were just discussing the possibility of life on other planets." "Life on other planets? Cor! I don't believe it! It woulda been in the newspapers! Me 'usband woulda *told* me!" :-)
The book *is* a period piece, that takes a bit of suspension of disbelief, but it's a fun read if you don't expect brilliance.
Space Viking
by H. Beam Piper
A classic H. Beam Piper tale from his "Terran Federation" series.
The Federation has fallen, collapsing under its own weight. Raiders from the fringes of the former Federation are striking into former Federation space in search of wealth.
When a psychotic kills his fiancee at his wedding celebration, Baron Lucas Trask of Traskon on the Sword World planet Gram exchanges his barony for a starship, hires a space viking as his captain, and pursues his his fiancee's murderer back into the old Federation.
In the process, he finds himself re-establishing civilization and trade among the places he raids, and a quest for vengeance becomes something else.
Great fun, with amusing commentary on the nature and role of government in human affairs.
Star Surgeon
by Alan Nourse
One of my favorites as a kid. It's a good story, and also a pointed tale about prejudice. Membership in the galactic federation requires two things: that you have FTL travel, and that you have something to contribute. Earth is the most advanced in medicine, and becomes Hospital Earth. Humanity becomes the galaxy's doctors. The hero of the story is the first member of any alien race to try to become an Earth trained doctor, and must overcome resistance and prejudice from patients and human colleagues to do it. Good stuff for teh juvenile/YA audience, and fun for adults as well.
Triplanetary
by E. E. ''Doc'' Smith
The late EE "Doc" Smith created the archtypical stories later known as "Space Opera". "Triplanetary" was the first of six books in the Lensman series, and provided the background and the setting.
Our universe has been invaded by an ancient race known as the Eddorains. These beings want only power, and have destroyed thier own continuum in internecine strife. Their arrival has been detected by an even more ancient race known as the Arisians, who are native to our cosmos. To fight Eddore, Arisia grooms humanity to form first the Triplanetary Service, and later the Galactic Patrol, as the instrument by which Civilization will be spread through the galaxy and counter the efforts of Eddore.
To aid humans in the struggle, the Arisians provide carefully selected humans with the Lens, a jewel that bonds with the wearer, and provides the ability to read minds, among other things.
Smith was a master at pulling rabbits out of his authorial hat. Whenever you think he can't get any wilder, rest assure he has a topper up his sleeve, and a topper for the topper lined up behind that.
Great period fun, and one of the formative works of modern SF.
Uller Uprising
by H. Beam Piper
No, it's not a satire. It's Piper retelling the Sepoy Rebellion in India as SF. It originally was written for an anthology where the focus was silicon based life forms. It's not terrible, but it's not classic SF, either. Try Piper's "Little Fuzzy" instead.