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Mutant, v. 2, issue 2, May 1948
Page 17
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FEBRUARY: February brought Theodore Sturgeon's "Maturity," a beautifully-written story that rates a straight A. The concept was what Campbell would call "lovely," and the characterization was strong. Both "Robin" and "Pog" should be long remembered. "The Timid Tiger" (B) by Eric Frank Russell was another finely done yarn, an interplanetary that was unusual. I enjoyed it fully as much as his earlier yarns, such as the "Jay Score" tales. "Pete Can Fix It" by Raymond F. Jones rates a D; it is another atomic war yarn where an alternate time-track in which the atomic problem has been dealt with differently impinges upon our world. An unconvincing gimmick at best, this device was used too frequently by ASF in 1946 and 1947 to be effective. "Eye To The Future" (C) by Rita Dragonette and "The Answer" (C) by George O. Smith were both worth your while. Outside of Sturgeon's fine yarn, the best thing about the February issue was the use of the new semi-slick paper and slightly larger-size format which spruced ASF up considerably. MARCH: One of the best issues of the year presented a real plum in old reliable Jack Williamson's masterful "The Equalizer" (A-) which is a classic if he ever wrote one (and he did!). I have much affection for the theme -- spacefarers returning to Earth and finding the old globe strangely changed -- and Williamson really spellbound with this sharply-drawn depiction. This is a story to remember and reread. Another cause for rejoicing was Hubert Rogers' return to the cover. He turned in a beautiful painting for the Williamson story. New author Poul Anderson's debutale, "Tomorrow's Children" (B-) was a picture of a post-atomic civilization, very convincingly done. Poul (whom I know) says his premise that mutants would appear in such numbers in the first generation is a big shaky, but his treatment of the idea is excellent -- and believable. The mood of despair evoked in this story has been equalled only by "Thunder and Roses" and "The Nightmare." "Turning Point" (C-) was a so-so atomic war yarn. Asimov's "Little Lost Robot" (B) was based on his magic plot formula -- the laws of robotics. It was the equal of most, and therefore very amusing and thought provoking. "Child's Play" (A) by William Tenn was one of those rarities: a genuinely funny story. it was not true stf, but one of those hilarious incredibilities that with fantasy treatment was a staple of Unknown. This yarn is a good bet for future stf anthologies, and should rate author Tenn among the top ten stfictioneers in the humor classification. De Camp, watch your laurels! ((BOGGS! Watch your puns!)) APRIL: April produced a disastrous slump in quality, both in fiction and in artwork. Timmins' cover was muddy crud, and none of the featured fiction was world-beating either. A.E.vanVogt's first 1947 appearance was "Hand of the Gods" (C), which was a novelette in the Clane, child of the atom gods, series. Unfortunately, although it occasionally contains one of vanVogt's characteristically good touches, the series is written in history-book style. Alexander M. Phillips' "An Enemy of Knowledge" (C-) is another unconvincing post-atom war thing. Phillips, who is best known for his terrific humor classic, "The Mislaid Charm," really did lose his charm when he wrote this yarn! -11-
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FEBRUARY: February brought Theodore Sturgeon's "Maturity," a beautifully-written story that rates a straight A. The concept was what Campbell would call "lovely," and the characterization was strong. Both "Robin" and "Pog" should be long remembered. "The Timid Tiger" (B) by Eric Frank Russell was another finely done yarn, an interplanetary that was unusual. I enjoyed it fully as much as his earlier yarns, such as the "Jay Score" tales. "Pete Can Fix It" by Raymond F. Jones rates a D; it is another atomic war yarn where an alternate time-track in which the atomic problem has been dealt with differently impinges upon our world. An unconvincing gimmick at best, this device was used too frequently by ASF in 1946 and 1947 to be effective. "Eye To The Future" (C) by Rita Dragonette and "The Answer" (C) by George O. Smith were both worth your while. Outside of Sturgeon's fine yarn, the best thing about the February issue was the use of the new semi-slick paper and slightly larger-size format which spruced ASF up considerably. MARCH: One of the best issues of the year presented a real plum in old reliable Jack Williamson's masterful "The Equalizer" (A-) which is a classic if he ever wrote one (and he did!). I have much affection for the theme -- spacefarers returning to Earth and finding the old globe strangely changed -- and Williamson really spellbound with this sharply-drawn depiction. This is a story to remember and reread. Another cause for rejoicing was Hubert Rogers' return to the cover. He turned in a beautiful painting for the Williamson story. New author Poul Anderson's debutale, "Tomorrow's Children" (B-) was a picture of a post-atomic civilization, very convincingly done. Poul (whom I know) says his premise that mutants would appear in such numbers in the first generation is a big shaky, but his treatment of the idea is excellent -- and believable. The mood of despair evoked in this story has been equalled only by "Thunder and Roses" and "The Nightmare." "Turning Point" (C-) was a so-so atomic war yarn. Asimov's "Little Lost Robot" (B) was based on his magic plot formula -- the laws of robotics. It was the equal of most, and therefore very amusing and thought provoking. "Child's Play" (A) by William Tenn was one of those rarities: a genuinely funny story. it was not true stf, but one of those hilarious incredibilities that with fantasy treatment was a staple of Unknown. This yarn is a good bet for future stf anthologies, and should rate author Tenn among the top ten stfictioneers in the humor classification. De Camp, watch your laurels! ((BOGGS! Watch your puns!)) APRIL: April produced a disastrous slump in quality, both in fiction and in artwork. Timmins' cover was muddy crud, and none of the featured fiction was world-beating either. A.E.vanVogt's first 1947 appearance was "Hand of the Gods" (C), which was a novelette in the Clane, child of the atom gods, series. Unfortunately, although it occasionally contains one of vanVogt's characteristically good touches, the series is written in history-book style. Alexander M. Phillips' "An Enemy of Knowledge" (C-) is another unconvincing post-atom war thing. Phillips, who is best known for his terrific humor classic, "The Mislaid Charm," really did lose his charm when he wrote this yarn! -11-
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