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Scientifictionist, v. 2, issue 1, November 1946-January 1947
Page 11
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Tweenies on Venus, and how they enlist the aid of amphibious Venusians to scare off Earth colonizers. TROUBLE IN TIME another of S.D. Gottesman's masterful satires on science-fiction, is the best tale in the issue. You'll have to read it yourself to fully appreciate it. AGE OF THE CEPHALODS by J.C. Craig is one of those dismal things wherein our hero is bored with a too-perfect society, and after blowing up a water pipe-line to show the people that something can happen to their world, goes toff to start a "brave new world" all over again with the heroine. The remaining shorts are as bad as this novelette. The February 1941 issue of Astonishing, with the exception of the conclusion of the Jameson serial is just so-so. Neil R. Jones is present with another Zorome yarn. Though nothing exceptional, the old style of writing is still a pleasant relief from contemporary thud and blunder. HE WASN'T THERE is another time-travel story, with a rather pointless ending. Maybe I'm just too simple-minded to grasp the intricacies of the Futurians' thought-patterns. I dunno. The only other interesting story in the issue is Alfred Bester's THE PET NEBULA. It's a rather odd little tale, but just didn't seem to go over with this reviewer. An astronomer steals one of Hershel's mirrors, rigs it up according to directions, and winds up with a creature from the interior of a nebula. It is composed of pure protons, is immensely heavy, and devours matter at an alarming rate. The paucity of above-par stories in the two previous issues is more than made up for by the abundance of unusual tales in the April 1941 issue. The lead novelette, HEREDITY, by Isaac Asimov, appeared run-of-the-mill to this reviewer, but judging by the letters and votes of the readers, others thought quite differently at the time. OUR DIRECTOR by John E. Harry, a novelette, is the first of a series of stories about the Director of Solutions of Hydroponics Station number 23. A rather different setting and set of circumstances from those of the average stf story; coupled with very good, if slightly cynical characterization, make a very enjoyable tale. The remaining novelette, IT'S A YOUNG WORLD, by James MacCraigh, is one of the three best stories in the issue, although the Bok illustration is one to discourage the unprepared. This is the story of what appears to be a half-civilized half-savage 'civilization' existing on the surface of an Eden-like planet. But what exists beneath the surface of the planet is very different indeed! [Nope, it's definitely not a dero story -- I read it. -- ed.] Ralph Milne Farley, of "Radio Man" fame, turns out a short quite different from his usual material. THE TIME CAPSULE is an ironic, fascinating story of the time capsule -- rather, two time capsules, one constructed in 5938 -- and of their delivery in the future. Dave Kyle's illustration is very well done, and symbolically portrays the essence of the story. BEYOND DOUBT by Lyle Monroe and Elma Wantz is one of the wackiest and yet most slyly satirical little yarns I've ever read. Here again is one that no review can do justice to. It concerns the enigmatical Easter Island images, which is seems, were not religious idols at all, but part of an ingenious political campaign! If you don't get a kick out of this one, you'd better see the doctor -- but quick! (To be concluded in Stfist #8) Page 11
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Tweenies on Venus, and how they enlist the aid of amphibious Venusians to scare off Earth colonizers. TROUBLE IN TIME another of S.D. Gottesman's masterful satires on science-fiction, is the best tale in the issue. You'll have to read it yourself to fully appreciate it. AGE OF THE CEPHALODS by J.C. Craig is one of those dismal things wherein our hero is bored with a too-perfect society, and after blowing up a water pipe-line to show the people that something can happen to their world, goes toff to start a "brave new world" all over again with the heroine. The remaining shorts are as bad as this novelette. The February 1941 issue of Astonishing, with the exception of the conclusion of the Jameson serial is just so-so. Neil R. Jones is present with another Zorome yarn. Though nothing exceptional, the old style of writing is still a pleasant relief from contemporary thud and blunder. HE WASN'T THERE is another time-travel story, with a rather pointless ending. Maybe I'm just too simple-minded to grasp the intricacies of the Futurians' thought-patterns. I dunno. The only other interesting story in the issue is Alfred Bester's THE PET NEBULA. It's a rather odd little tale, but just didn't seem to go over with this reviewer. An astronomer steals one of Hershel's mirrors, rigs it up according to directions, and winds up with a creature from the interior of a nebula. It is composed of pure protons, is immensely heavy, and devours matter at an alarming rate. The paucity of above-par stories in the two previous issues is more than made up for by the abundance of unusual tales in the April 1941 issue. The lead novelette, HEREDITY, by Isaac Asimov, appeared run-of-the-mill to this reviewer, but judging by the letters and votes of the readers, others thought quite differently at the time. OUR DIRECTOR by John E. Harry, a novelette, is the first of a series of stories about the Director of Solutions of Hydroponics Station number 23. A rather different setting and set of circumstances from those of the average stf story; coupled with very good, if slightly cynical characterization, make a very enjoyable tale. The remaining novelette, IT'S A YOUNG WORLD, by James MacCraigh, is one of the three best stories in the issue, although the Bok illustration is one to discourage the unprepared. This is the story of what appears to be a half-civilized half-savage 'civilization' existing on the surface of an Eden-like planet. But what exists beneath the surface of the planet is very different indeed! [Nope, it's definitely not a dero story -- I read it. -- ed.] Ralph Milne Farley, of "Radio Man" fame, turns out a short quite different from his usual material. THE TIME CAPSULE is an ironic, fascinating story of the time capsule -- rather, two time capsules, one constructed in 5938 -- and of their delivery in the future. Dave Kyle's illustration is very well done, and symbolically portrays the essence of the story. BEYOND DOUBT by Lyle Monroe and Elma Wantz is one of the wackiest and yet most slyly satirical little yarns I've ever read. Here again is one that no review can do justice to. It concerns the enigmatical Easter Island images, which is seems, were not religious idols at all, but part of an ingenious political campaign! If you don't get a kick out of this one, you'd better see the doctor -- but quick! (To be concluded in Stfist #8) Page 11
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