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wunder's review
4.0
What an interesting little book. The stories seem like straight up adventure, but they have odd misdirections, often where some personal goal is the real story instead of the obvious political spy adventure.
These stories were first published in 1949-51, so I expect that readers would have immediately recognized the planet-wide dictator as Hitler. He uses mind control and is slowly going insane. He's started mass murders, but they populace doesn't know it yet. That makes me think that these (and maybe other spy stories) are a reaction to the experience of WWII -- is there some way to defeat a powerful dictator without millions of casualties?
But you don't have to think that hard. You can just enjoy these.
These stories were first published in 1949-51, so I expect that readers would have immediately recognized the planet-wide dictator as Hitler. He uses mind control and is slowly going insane. He's started mass murders, but they populace doesn't know it yet. That makes me think that these (and maybe other spy stories) are a reaction to the experience of WWII -- is there some way to defeat a powerful dictator without millions of casualties?
But you don't have to think that hard. You can just enjoy these.
jameseckman's review
3.0
A set of four related short stories from the late 40's, early 50's. They also might be the first hard SF stories with female protagonists. I haven't found references to any earlier ones and I can't recall reading any! There's even one story that passes the Bechtel test and another that's rescue the prince dude.
Nowadays each of these would be their own book, and indeed later when Schmitz expanded on the theme of female secret agents with PSI powers, the stories were much longer. Has strong female characters, damsels and guys!!! in distress and paternalism. Still a good read, it's aged well.
Nowadays each of these would be their own book, and indeed later when Schmitz expanded on the theme of female secret agents with PSI powers, the stories were much longer. Has strong female characters, damsels and guys!!! in distress and paternalism. Still a good read, it's aged well.
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