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spacecomics's review
4.0
This issue of Astounding Science Fiction, the best pulp magazine ever, includes "Goldfish Bowl" by Robert A. Heinlein (as Anson MacDonald), Recruiting Station by A. E. van Vogt, Runaround by Isaac Asimov, and other stories.
"Goldfish Bowl" is one of Heinlein's least excellent stories, in my opinion, but still one of the best stories in this issue. Likewise "Recruiting Station" is not among van Vogt's better works, though it may be the origin of the sci-fi idea of time-traveling recruiters. "Runaround" is one of Asimov's robot stories, perhaps a little less polished than his later works, playing with the notion that his 3 laws of robotics are relative and not rigid. It takes place on Mercury, which is more interesting than the robot aspects.
"The Wings of Night" by Lester Del Rey puts the lie to the currently fashionable accusation that the editor, John W. Campbell, Jr., was a "racist" -- if that were true, this gem wouldn't have gotten into his magazine.
"Describe A Circle" by Eric Frank Russell follows a typical space pirate/mutiny theme, written better than the typical pulp versions, though it does get bogged down in a lengthy action sequence.
I found "The Day After Tomorrow" by Roby Wentz interesting because it's American underground forces fighting back against invaders reminded me of Heinlein's "Sixth Column," which very coincidentally was published in paperback under the title "The Day After Tomorrow." In this case America has lost World War Two (though that's not specified, it's implied who the invaders are).
This issue is also interesting because it's apparently the first issue to go to press after Pearl Harbor; there are several references to things like Heinlein (MacDonald) not being available to write more for the duration, which Campbell predicts will take at least two and a half more years. Also the letter column, "Brass Tacks" is interesting because both Heinlein and MacDonald are praised by readers who don't know they're the same man.
I'd give the issue 5 stars for it's historical interest, only 4 stars for it's literary quality.
"Goldfish Bowl" is one of Heinlein's least excellent stories, in my opinion, but still one of the best stories in this issue. Likewise "Recruiting Station" is not among van Vogt's better works, though it may be the origin of the sci-fi idea of time-traveling recruiters. "Runaround" is one of Asimov's robot stories, perhaps a little less polished than his later works, playing with the notion that his 3 laws of robotics are relative and not rigid. It takes place on Mercury, which is more interesting than the robot aspects.
"The Wings of Night" by Lester Del Rey puts the lie to the currently fashionable accusation that the editor, John W. Campbell, Jr., was a "racist" -- if that were true, this gem wouldn't have gotten into his magazine.
"Describe A Circle" by Eric Frank Russell follows a typical space pirate/mutiny theme, written better than the typical pulp versions, though it does get bogged down in a lengthy action sequence.
I found "The Day After Tomorrow" by Roby Wentz interesting because it's American underground forces fighting back against invaders reminded me of Heinlein's "Sixth Column," which very coincidentally was published in paperback under the title "The Day After Tomorrow." In this case America has lost World War Two (though that's not specified, it's implied who the invaders are).
This issue is also interesting because it's apparently the first issue to go to press after Pearl Harbor; there are several references to things like Heinlein (MacDonald) not being available to write more for the duration, which Campbell predicts will take at least two and a half more years. Also the letter column, "Brass Tacks" is interesting because both Heinlein and MacDonald are praised by readers who don't know they're the same man.
I'd give the issue 5 stars for it's historical interest, only 4 stars for it's literary quality.
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