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Inspiration, v. 4, issue 1, April 1946

Page 32

32
INSPIRATION

Vincent's "Neutral Vessel" is the best story in the January 1940 ASTOUNDING, closely followed by a pair of good tales from a pair of the regular ASTOUNDING writers, Heinlein with "Requiem" and del Rey with "The Smallest God".

A classic in February, Heinlein's "If This Goes On --", first of the string of excellent socio-logical theme stories which the magazine was to feature in this era. It really rated the blurb "...one of the most powerful stories science-fiction has produced." Also very good were Fyfe's "Locked Out" and Vincent's "High Frequency War".

De Camp's "The Emancipated" is amusing enough to take first place in March. Another classic, and one of the greatest, begins in April 1940. Altho historically inaccurate, Hubbard's "Final Blackout" is the most powerfully and realistically written story in the history of science-fiction. This story had human beings instead of characters, and it's a story I've read many time with just as much effect as it had the first time I read it. "Final Blackout" is at the top of the list, to me, in science-fiction stories. Same issue had Rocklynne's "Unguh Made a Fire".

Liked Kelleam's "The Last of the Asterites" in May. Heinlein's "The Roads Must Roll", Drew's "The Carbon Eater", and Vincent's "Deputy Correspondent" are all good in June.

Best of the good stories in July 1940 is one which, to me, has never gotten the acclaim it deserved. Story is von Rachen's "The Idealist", and I'd give it classic rating as an exceptionally powerful job of writing. Also excellent in this issue is Heinlein's "Coventry", another of his superlative jobs of picturing future civilizations. August had del Rey's "The Stars Look Down" and van Vogt's "Vault of the Beast."

Another definite classic starts in September 1940, and in the opinion of many fans, van Vogt's "Slan"  is the greatest science-fiction story ever written. I wouldn't rate it that high, but I will call it one of the greatest. Certainly it stands at the top of its own particular type, the tale of the superman. Even after "Slan", there are such good stories in this issue as Heinlein's realistically interesting, in the light of current atom bomb knowledge, "Blowups Happen", Asimov's "Homo Sol", Rocklynne's "Quietus" and the Idealist sequel "The Kilkenny Cats". All in all, September was quite a month.

Bates' "Farewell to the Master" features October. Another of de Camp's Johnny Black stories, "The Exalted" is in the November issue. December is about the poorest issue of the year, but does have Bond's "Legacy".

1941 opens with the start of a near-classic by Heinlein (written under the name of MacDonald) "Sixth Column". Also good in January was the Walton space-opera, "Doom Ship". In February we have the unusual experience of finding a character who first appeared in the Ziff-Davis AMAZING, switching over to ASTOUNDING. Character is Bond's Meg, the Priestess, and the story, "Magic City", is very good. But the best story in the issue is Heinlein's "--And He Built a Crooked House".

In March it's Heinlein again with "Logic of Empire", D. B. Thompson with "Eccentric Orbit", and Simak again with "Masquerade", the latter probably being the best. April has the start of de Camp's "The Stolen Dormouse", a good story about a somewhat illogical future civilization. Best story in April, tho, and a classic, is Sturgeon's "Microcosmic God". Also very good were Asimov's "Reason", von Rachen's "The Mutineers" and a Jameson space-opera, "Slackers' Paradise".

May 1941 is magnificent, with two Heinlein stories both worthy of classic recognition. First, under his own name, is "Universe", while under the Mac Donald pseudonym there is the wonderfully omniscient "Solution Unsatisfactory". Almost a classic is Asimov's "Liar!", while Russell's "Jay Score" is almost lost in the crowd, altho in an ordinary issue it would have been a stand-out.

Best in June were Sturgeon's "Artnan Process" and Schachner's "Old Fireball". In July there is the start of Heinlein's excellent "Methuselah's Children," and runner-up was "MacDonald'"s "We Also Walk Dogs." ASTOUNDINGs best writers were Heinlein, Heinlein, and Heinlein!

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32 INSPIRATION Vincent's "Neutral Vessel" is the best story in the January 1940 ASTOUNDING, closely followed by a pair of good tales from a pair of the regular ASTOUNDING writers, Heinlein with "Requiem" and del Rey with "The Smallest God". A classic in February, Heinlein's "If This Goes On --", first of the string of excellent socio-logical theme stories which the magazine was to feature in this era. It really rated the blurb "...one of the most powerful stories science-fiction has produced." Also very good were Fyfe's "Locked Out" and Vincent's "High Frequency War". De Camp's "The Emancipated" is amusing enough to take first place in March. Another classic, and one of the greatest, begins in April 1940. Altho historically inaccurate, Hubbard's "Final Blackout" is the most powerfully and realistically written story in the history of science-fiction. This story had human beings instead of characters, and it's a story I've read many time with just as much effect as it had the first time I read it. "Final Blackout" is at the top of the list, to me, in science-fiction stories. Same issue had Rocklynne's "Unguh Made a Fire". Liked Kelleam's "The Last of the Asterites" in May. Heinlein's "The Roads Must Roll", Drew's "The Carbon Eater", and Vincent's "Deputy Correspondent" are all good in June. Best of the good stories in July 1940 is one which, to me, has never gotten the acclaim it deserved. Story is von Rachen's "The Idealist", and I'd give it classic rating as an exceptionally powerful job of writing. Also excellent in this issue is Heinlein's "Coventry", another of his superlative jobs of picturing future civilizations. August had del Rey's "The Stars Look Down" and van Vogt's "Vault of the Beast." Another definite classic starts in September 1940, and in the opinion of many fans, van Vogt's "Slan" is the greatest science-fiction story ever written. I wouldn't rate it that high, but I will call it one of the greatest. Certainly it stands at the top of its own particular type, the tale of the superman. Even after "Slan", there are such good stories in this issue as Heinlein's realistically interesting, in the light of current atom bomb knowledge, "Blowups Happen", Asimov's "Homo Sol", Rocklynne's "Quietus" and the Idealist sequel "The Kilkenny Cats". All in all, September was quite a month. Bates' "Farewell to the Master" features October. Another of de Camp's Johnny Black stories, "The Exalted" is in the November issue. December is about the poorest issue of the year, but does have Bond's "Legacy". 1941 opens with the start of a near-classic by Heinlein (written under the name of MacDonald) "Sixth Column". Also good in January was the Walton space-opera, "Doom Ship". In February we have the unusual experience of finding a character who first appeared in the Ziff-Davis AMAZING, switching over to ASTOUNDING. Character is Bond's Meg, the Priestess, and the story, "Magic City", is very good. But the best story in the issue is Heinlein's "--And He Built a Crooked House". In March it's Heinlein again with "Logic of Empire", D. B. Thompson with "Eccentric Orbit", and Simak again with "Masquerade", the latter probably being the best. April has the start of de Camp's "The Stolen Dormouse", a good story about a somewhat illogical future civilization. Best story in April, tho, and a classic, is Sturgeon's "Microcosmic God". Also very good were Asimov's "Reason", von Rachen's "The Mutineers" and a Jameson space-opera, "Slackers' Paradise". May 1941 is magnificent, with two Heinlein stories both worthy of classic recognition. First, under his own name, is "Universe", while under the Mac Donald pseudonym there is the wonderfully omniscient "Solution Unsatisfactory". Almost a classic is Asimov's "Liar!", while Russell's "Jay Score" is almost lost in the crowd, altho in an ordinary issue it would have been a stand-out. Best in June were Sturgeon's "Artnan Process" and Schachner's "Old Fireball". In July there is the start of Heinlein's excellent "Methuselah's Children," and runner-up was "MacDonald'"s "We Also Walk Dogs." ASTOUNDINGs best writers were Heinlein, Heinlein, and Heinlein!