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Bacigalupi唯yers (Pdf)

THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL GUIDE TO AND OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, VOLUME 1

EDITED BY NAT TILANDER

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Copyright © 2010 by Nathaniel Garret Tilander

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

Cover art from the novella Last Enemy by H. Beam Piper, first published in the August 1950 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, and illustrated by Miller. Image downloaded from the ―zorger.com‖ website which states that the image is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License.

Additional copyrighted materials incorporated in this book are as follows:

Copyright © 1949-1951 by L. Sprague de Camp. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1951-1979 by P. Schuyler Miller. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1975-1979 by . These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1978-1981 by . These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1979-1999 by Tom Easton. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1950-1954 by J. Francis McComas. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1950-1959 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1959-1960 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1960-1962 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1961-1973 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1962-1975 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1965-1969 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1965-1966 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1967-1980 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1974-1982 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1975-1993 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1987-1993 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1994-1999 by Charles de Lint. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1970-1982 by Barry N. Malzberg. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1993-1995 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1994-1999 by Robert J. Killheffer. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1964-1972 by Ron Goulart. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1968-1976 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1967-1974 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction and . Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works. Copyright © 1967-1968 by . These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1980-1982 by Bishop. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1971 by Baird Searles. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1977-1982 by Charles N. Brown. These articles originally appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction. Copyright © 1979-1993 by Baird Searles. These articles originally appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction. Copyright © 1983-1999 by . These articles originally appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction. Copyright © 1994-1996 by Moshe Feder. These articles originally appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction. Copyright © 1994-1999 by Paul Di Filippo. These articles originally appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction. Copyright © 1950-1955 by . These articles originally appeared in . Copyright © 1952-1953 by Villiers Gerson. These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1955-1963 by Floyd C. Gale. These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1965-1971 by Algis Budrys. These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1963 by . These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1963-1965 by . These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1972-1975 by Theodore Sturgeon. These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1975-1977 by Spider Robinson. These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1977-1979 by Paul Walker. These articles originally appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction. Copyright © 1959 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in IF Science Fiction. Copyright © 1959-1961 by Frederik Pohl. These articles originally appeared in IF Science Fiction.

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Copyright © 1969-1974 by Lester Del Rey. These articles originally appeared in IF Science Fiction. Copyright © 1955-1957 by Villiers Gerson. These articles originally appeared in . Copyright © 1957-1964 by S. E. Cotts. These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1964 by Lester Del Rey. These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1964-1965 by . These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1967-1968 by . These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1968-1969 by James Blish. These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1968-1973 by Alexei Panshin. These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1969-1974 by Ted White. These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1969-1976 by Barry N. Malzberg. These articles originally appeared in Amazing Stories. Copyright © 1962-1964 by S. E. Cotts. These articles originally appeared in Fantastic. Copyright © 1965 by Robert Silverberg. These articles originally appeared in Fantastic. Copyright © 1968-1978 by Fritz Leiber. These articles originally appeared in Fantastic. Permission to reprint quoted material courtesy of the Fritz Leiber Estate. Copyright © 1970-1972 by Ted White. These articles originally appeared in Fantastic. Copyright © 1954 by Robert Frazier. These articles originally appeared in Fantastic Universe Science Fiction. Copyright © 1955-1960 by Hans Stefan Santesson. These articles originally appeared in Fantastic Universe Science Fiction. Copyright © 1978-1979 by Spider Robinson. These articles originally appeared in Destinies. Copyright © 1979-1980 by Orson Scott Card. These articles originally appeared in Destinies. Copyright © 1952-1953 by James Blish. These articles originally appeared in Science Fiction. Copyright © 1953-1956 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in Future Science Fiction. Copyright © 1955-1958 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in Infinity Science Fiction. Copyright © 1958 by Robert Silverberg. These articles originally appeared in Infinity Science Fiction. Copyright © 1956-1958 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in Original Science Fiction. Copyright © 1955-1958 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in Science Fiction Stories. Copyright © 1950-1951 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in Worlds Beyond. Copyright © 1951 by George O. Smith. These articles originally appeared in Science Fiction Quarterly. Copyright © 1953-1956 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in Science Fiction Quarterly. Copyright © 1951-1952 by P. Schuyler Miller. These articles originally appeared in Other Worlds Science Stories. Copyright © 1952-1960 by Leslie . These articles originally appeared in New Worlds Science Fiction. Copyright © 1966-1969 by J. Cawthorn. These articles originally appeared in New Worlds Science Fiction. Copyright © 1987-1999 by Darrell Schweitzer. These articles originally appeared in Aboriginal Science Fiction. Copyright © 1988-1996 by Janice M. Eisen. These articles originally appeared in Aboriginal Science Fiction. Copyright © 1953-1954 by Mark Reinsberg. These articles originally appeared in Imagination Science Fiction. Copyright © 1954-1958 by Henry Bott. These articles originally appeared in Imagination Science Fiction. Copyright © 1966-1969 by Robert A. Lowndes. These articles originally appeared in Famous Science Fiction. Copyright © 1969-1970 by Ron Goulart. These articles originally appeared in Venture Science Fiction. Copyright © 1952-1953 by George O. Smith. These articles originally appeared in Science Fiction. Copyright © 1958 by Lester Del Rey. These articles originally appeared in Vanguard Science Fiction.

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“B” LISTING BY AUTHOR1

BACIGALUPI, Paolo (-) US science fiction author, whose books include Pump Six and Other Stories (2008). Acclaimed short fiction: The Calorie Man (2005-winner of the 2006 for best short fiction and finalist for the 2006 for best novelette), The People of Sand and Slag (2004-finalist for the 2005 Hugo award for best novelette), and Yellow Card Man (2006-finalist for the 2007 Hugo award for best novelette).

BAHNSON, Agnew H. (1915-c1964) US ―industrialist,‖ composer, and author, whose sole SF is The Stars Are Too High (1959).

Novels Stars Are Too High, The (1959) Scientists board a spaceship powered by anti-gravity and hold the world hostage.  ―A tense, smoothly written story‖ (Neil Barron, Anatomy of Wonder, 1981). ***  ―Three stars out of five‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, February 1960). **1/2  ―A rather familiar story . . . in which people sit around and talk‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, March 1960). **  ―Dull‖ (Frederik Pohl, IF, July 1960). *

BAILEY, Dennis R. (-) US (?) author, whose sole speculative novel is Tin Woodman (1979-with David Bischoff).

BAILEY, Hilary (1936-) UK author and anthologist, who is married to author , and whose include The

1 Note that ratings of reviewers’ excerpted reviews are not the reviewers’ ratings, but rather this editor’s estimates of their ratings based on a careful reading of the entirety of the reviews.

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Black Corridor (1969-with Michael Moorcock), Frankenstein’s Bride (1995), and Cassandra: Princess of Troy (1995). Acclaimed short fiction: Dogman of Islington (1970) and The Fall of Frenchy Steiner (1964).

BAIRD, Wilhelmina (1935-) Pseudonym of UK science fiction author JOYCE CARSTAIRS HUTCHINSON, whose books include Clipjoint (1994), Psykosis (1995), and Chaos Come Again (1996).

Novels Crashcourse (1993)  See complete GUIDE.

BAKER, Kage (1952-) US author, whose books include In the Garden of Iden (1997), Sky Coyote (1999), Mother AEgypt and Other Stories (2004), and The Sons of Heaven (2007). Acclaimed short fiction: The Empress of (2003-winner of the 2004 Theodore Sturgeon award for best short fiction).

BAKER, Nancy (1944-) US author, whose vampire novels include Blood Chrysanthemums (1994) and A Terrible Beauty (1996).

Novels Night Inside, The (1993) A female grad student is abducted and offered as ―food‖ to a vampire whose sadistic captors are recording footage for a series of lucrative snuff films.  ―I haven’t had this much fun with a vampire novel since reading ‘Sunglasses After Dark’ . . . sheer polish of her craft . . . good clean prose . . . superb characterization‖ (Charles de Lint, F&SF, August 1994). ***  ―Truly original‖ (Publishers Weekly).  ―Breathless, lingering, erotic‖ (The Globe and Mail).

BAKER, Scott (1947-) US translator and author, whose eleven books include Nightchild (1979; rev 1983), Dhampire (1982), and Ancestral Hungers (1995). Acclaimed short fiction: The Lurking Duck (1983-finalist for the 1984 World Fantasy award for best novella), Nesting Instinct (1987-finalist for the 1988 World Fantasy award for best novella), Still Life with Scorpion (1984-finalist for the 1985 World Fantasy award for best ), and Varicose Worms (1989-finalist for the 1990 World Fantasy award for best short story).

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Novels Symbiote’s Crown (1978) A young couple decides to emigrate to an offworld colony. Published in as The Idiot King (1981).  ―Excellent . . . a powerful writer with excellent command of both language and characterization . . . a quiet and thoughtful book which won't win any awards, but will attract many readers . . . manages to make a cast of not very heroic characters both human and interesting‖ (Charles N. Brown, Asimov’s, January 1979). ***  ―A slyly intelligent though uneasily metaphysical ‖ (John Clute, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Second Edition, 1993). **1/2  Winner of the 1982 Prix Apollo award for best novel.

BAKER, Sharon (1938-1991) US science fiction author, whose books include Journey to Membliar (1987) and Burning Tears of Sassurum (1968).

Novels Quarreling, They Met the (1984) A sex-slave on the planet Naphar flees his mistress and makes for the safety of a Spacer enclave. The first book in the Naphar series.  ―Almost total preoccupation with sex . . . the sex in this book is often not very pleasant . . . [but offers] an underpinning of real science fictional thinking‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, May 1985). **

BALCHIN, Nigel (1908-1970) UK screenwriter and author, whose sole science fiction novel is Kings of Infinite Space (1967).

Quotes On America’s astronauts: ―We like having people to idolize . . . if there‘s one thing you can say for the space program, it has provided us with a regular supply of custom-built national heroes‖ (Kings of Infinite Space).

On sex with beautiful people:  See complete GUIDE.

On the joys of sex: ―There is nothing whatever in sex that one need be ashamed of or feel guilty about. In fact sex, far from being dirty, is a glorious heritage of joy, and the fact that it occasionally smells a bit doesn‘t really matter‖ (Kings of Infinite Space).

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On worship: ―I don‘t know very much about God, but at least I‘m quite sure that He doesn‘t get childishly angry with people because they find it difficult to pray to Him . . . if He did that sort of thing, He wouldn‘t be worth praying to anyhow‖ (Kings of Infinite Space).

On the true meaning of space exploration:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels Kings of Infinite Space (1967)  A borderline SF novel about a British physiologist who‘s recruited into the U.S. space program in order to study the problem of cumulative fatigue in humans. The author makes a number of interesting observations on space exploration, and although his characters‘ attitudes are somewhat old-fashioned, the book evokes its of wonder.  ―A thoughtful book . . . its rewards will considerably surpass its disappointments‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, January 1969). **1/2

BALL, Brian N. (1932-) Working name of UK teacher, lecturer, and science fiction author BRIAN NEVILLE BALL, whose more than twenty novels include the Timepiece series (1968-1971), Sundog (1969), and The Doomship of Draz (1985).

Novels Space Guardians, The (1975) Commander Koenig and the inhabitants of Moon Colony Alpha are tempted by the prospect of an Edenic paradise. A novelization of episode #8 of the Space 1999 series.  ―Horrible . . . an outstanding example of anti-science anti-fiction‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, February 1976). *

Probability Man, The (1972)  See complete GUIDE.

BALL, Margaret (1947-) US author of nine fantasy novels, including the Flameweaver series (1991-1993), No Earthly Sunne (1994), and the Acorna series (1997-1998; with Anne McCaffrey). Pseudonyms: Catherine Lyndell.

Novels Shadow Gate, The (1990) Two women from the New Age Research Center in Austin are drawn back in to twelfth century France in order to help revive the fading magical powers of an elvish

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kingdom.  ―It’s a goody . . . an intricate, amusing and exciting story . . . with wonderfully (and rightfully) arrogant elves . . . and more than a few surprises‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, August 1991). ***1/2

BALLARD, J. G. (1930-2009) Working name of UK science fiction author, editor, and former RAF JAMES GRAHAM BALLARD, whose books include (1981), (1987), (2003), and Kingdom Come (2006). His non-genre novel (1984) was filmed by . Acclaimed short fiction: Air Disaster (1975), Answers to a Questionnaire (1985), The Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Considered as a Downhill Motor Race (1966), Billenium (1961), Chronopolis (1961), Dream Cargoes (1991), The Drowned Giant (1965- finalist for the 1965 for best short story), Escapement (1956), The Garden of Time (1962), The Illuminated Man (1964), (1963), A Question of Re-entry (1963), The Reptile Enclosure (1964), Report on an Unidentified Space Station (1982), Storm-Bird, Storm-Dreamer (1966), The Subliminal Man (1963), The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista (1962), The Watch-Towers (1962), and Why I Want to Fuck Ronald Reagan (1968).

Critical Overview & Quotes – In an examination of J. G. Ballard‘s precisely-wrought fiction, one is struck both by his protagonists‘ typical hyper awareness of the flawed universe and the corresponding decline of their own mental health. Symbols are rampant, substituting for reality, threatening to supplant the universe itself. Irony is the most comfortable of the narrative tones the author invokes; a detached sense of despair and psychosis lurk, as always, in the wings. There are worse things than death, Ballard seems to be pointing out. For in the author‘s formulation, the future remains stable and safe only as long as we continue to believe in it.

On the Apollo program: ―Space exploration is a branch of applied geometry, with many affinities to pornography‖ ().

On the configurations of inner space:  See complete GUIDE.

On :  See complete GUIDE.

On the femme fatale: ―Beatrice Dahl lay back on one of the deck-chairs, her long oiled body gleaming in the shadows like a sleeping python‖ (The

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Drowned World).

On unwanted sexual advances: ―Anne moved his hands from her left breast. For minutes, as he spoke, Sheppard had been obsessively feeling its curvatures, like a thief trying to crack a safe‖ (Myths of the Near Future).

On flying: ―The birds are teaching me how to fly. Did you know that, doctor? The birds are trying to get out of time‖ (Memories of the Space Age).

On the cause of global climate change:  See complete GUIDE.

On legal documentation: ―‗My dear Booth, you are speaking of mere pieces of paper. These are not proof of a man‘s identity‖ (Minus One).

On the void of outer space:  See complete GUIDE.

On free will:  See complete GUIDE.

On the meaning of life: ―There‘s no script, no star, no film in the cameras, and no one has the faintest idea what he‘s supposed to be doing‖ (The Screen Game).

On the role of the artist:  See complete GUIDE.

On the space race:  See complete GUIDE.

On the army: ―You know what they‘re like in emergencies. If a tree moves they declare war on it‖ (The Illuminated Man).

On the frozen past:  See complete GUIDE.

On soundness of mind and body: ―The only real cripples, Maitland reflected, were the perfect in limb‖ (The Gioconda of the Twilight Moon).

On the blind: ―They see with an inner eye, you know. In a sense everything there is more real‖ (The Gioconda of the Twilight Moon).

Novels and Collections Atrocity Exhibition, The (1970)  See complete GUIDE.

Burning World, The (1964) Widespread pollution leads to a dramatic

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reduction in the rate of evaporation from Earth‘s oceans and an equally dramatic decrease in worldwide precipitation. As rivers and lakes dry up, life heads lemming-like to the sea.  ―The elements and ideas merge into a surprisingly exciting piece of story-telling . . . a more easily readable book than ‘‘‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, January 1966). ***  ―The nightmare grows too extreme, too believable, and the reader loses any ability to identify with the miserable Dr. Charles Ransom, or even to care much what happens to him . . . another of [Ballard’s] nightmares of human passion and perversion‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, February 1965). *

Chronopolis and Other Stories (1971)  A collection of sixteen stories, in which, at his best, the author is atmospheric, disturbing, and fiercely intelligent. Standouts include The Drowned Giant (1964); Storm- Bird, Storm-Dreamer (1966), Chronopolis (1960), The Garden of Time (1962), The Watch-Towers (1961), Billennium (1961), Now Wakes the Sea (1963), Deep End (1961), and Build-Up (1957).  ―I am most pleased to watch where he is going‖ (Theodore Sturgeon, Galaxy, January 1972). **1/2

Concrete Island (1974)  See complete GUIDE.

Crash (1973)  See complete GUIDE.

Crystal World, The (1966)  A doctor in a remote region of Africa faces a mysterious crystalline infection which spreads across the planet. Ballard‘s offbeat disaster story is at turns visually mesmerizing, cautionary, and memorable. Skirting the edge of readability, the author mines enough veins of dark wonder to keep the reader coming back for more. Expanded from the short story The Illuminated Man (1964).  ―Relies heavily on complex writing and images . . . only partially successful‖ (Charles N. Brown, Asimov’s, Summer 1977). **1/2  ―Not his best‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1969). **  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

Drought, The (1965)  See complete GUIDE.

Drowned World, The (1962)  Civilization retreats to the Arctic in the wake of a sudden surge in solar activity. Seventy years later the planet‘s miasmic swamps and silted lagoons are recapitulating Earth‘s sweltering Mesozoic era. Two biologists in the drowned quarters of what

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was once downtown set about classifying the newly-emergent species. The author offers up an atmospheric tale in which nihilism regrettably wins out. As a novelette this might have worked, but as a full- length novel it‘s over-long and grim.  ―Classic . . . one of the most intelligent of the after-disaster novels‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, July 1982). ***1/2  ―Back on the right wave length . . . a superb introspective study‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, February 1963). ***1/2  ―Of unusual interest . . . the human aspects are confusing, terrifying, fascinating, and all too brilliantly credible . . . this is not a happy book‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, July 1965). ***  ―A run, hide, slither, grope and die book . . . in order to be a protagonist of a J. G. Ballard novel . . . you must have cut yourself off from the entire body of scientific education . . . in this way, when the world disaster . . . comes upon you, you are under absolutely no obligation to do anything about it but sit and worship it‖ (Algis Budrys, Galaxy, December 1966). *  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

High-Rise (1975)  See complete GUIDE.

Impossible Man, The (1966)  See complete GUIDE.

Love and Napalm: Export USA (1970) A collection of fifteen stories, including The Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Considered as a Downhill Motor Race (1966), ! (1969), Plan for the Assassination of Jacqueline Kennedy (1966), Notes Towards a Mental Breakdown (1967), and Why I Want to Fuck Ronald Reagan (1968). Also published as (1970).  ―Ballard's technique brought to its ultimate . . . the pain in this book is overwhelming, the impact devastating . . . cold, contained . . . a masterpiece . . . a work of such cold integrity . . . absolute anguish . . . purifying‖ (Barry N. Malzberg, F&SF, September 1976). ****

Memories of the Space Age (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

Overloaded Man, The (1967)  See complete GUIDE.

Passport to Eternity (1963)  A collection of nine stories on the themes of free will and psychological obsession. Standouts include The Thousand Dreams of Stellavista (1962), Escapement (1956), The Watch-

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Towers (1961), and A Question of Re-Entry (1963).  ―Stamped with a nightmare quality . . . bizarre‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). **

Running Wild (1988-not SF)  A vivid and all-too-realistic enactment of a mass murder which takes place within a gated community, and which eerily forecasts the Columbine Massacre. As in William Golding‘s The Lord of the Flies (1954), the author‘s youthful protagonists are not as innocent as they first seem. Some fine writing and clever detection is revealed, as as Ballard‘s predilection for exploring the damaged psyche: ―What they were rebelling against was a despotism of kindness.‖

Terminal Beach (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Terminal Beach, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Unlimited Dream Company, The (1979)  See complete GUIDE.

Voices of Time, The (1962) A collection of seven tales, including the nihilistic title story. None of these tales are badly done, but any upbeat elements would seem purely unintentional.  ―The best one-man collection we are likely to see in 1962 . . . intense emotional drive‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1962). ***1/2  ―Completely dark and grim‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, June 1962). **

War Fever (1990)  A collection of fourteen stories, including such standouts as Dream Cargoes (1991), Answers to a Questionnaire (1985), The Air Disaster (1975), Report on an Unidentified Space Station (1982), and The Man Who Walked on the Moon (1985). The writing is dense and detached, offering disturbing images of an uncomfortable world.  Average rating of five out of five stars on Amazon.com based on 5 reviewers.

Wind from Nowhere, The (1962)  A handful of British citizens contend with hurricane-force winds which girdle the world, downing airplanes and forcing mankind to retreat into underground . The survival of humanity begins to look doubtful until a bold industrialist steps forward with a plan to build an impregnable fortress. The gradual buildup of the wind is mesmerizing, but the melodramatic and murky ending disappoints.

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 ―So well handled that the stereotypes almost justify themselves . . . a real mastery of action and suspense‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, August 1962). ***  ―A good standard s-f magazine serial novel, well-handled and excitingly told . . . full of ingenious attention to detail‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, July 1965). ***  ―Mediocre‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, February 1963). **

Stories Air Disaster (1975)  See complete GUIDE. Answers to a Questionnaire (1985)  A blackly clever sketch about a disenchanted man who kills his lover in a fit of jealousy. The explanation for the homicide is gradually revealed in the responses to an apocryphal questionnaire. () Billenium (1961) A tour de force about a nightmarish future in which the resigned inhabitants of an overcrowded Earth struggle to hold onto a few square meters of living space. The author brilliantly depicts the ultimate in over-population. (CHRONOPOLIS) () Build-Up (1960)  See complete GUIDE. Cage of Sand, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Chronopolis (1961)  A young man rebels against the Time Police and flees into the core of an enormous which, before its abandonment, ordered itself through an intricate arrangement of clocks and time pieces. The story remains half-submerged and obscured like an incredibly potent nightmare. (CHRONOPOLIS) Cloud-Sculptors of Coral D, The (1967)  A retired Air Force pilot and his buddies, who spend their spare time out ―sculpting‖ clouds, become ensnared in the mesmeric impulses of a would-be Madonna. () Day of Forever, The (1966)  See complete GUIDE. Deep End (1961)  See complete GUIDE. Delta at Sunset, The (1964)  A dreary yet oddly memorable story about a gravely ill archaeologist on a scientific expedition to a remote stretch of the Indian coast. An affair ensues between the hero‘s wife and a colleague, but the real conflict takes place within the hero‘s own diseased mind. () (THE TERMINAL BEACH) Dream Cargoes (1991)  See complete GUIDE. Drowned Giant, The (1965)  A dead giant washes up without explanation along a stretch of sandy shoreline, causing the local inhabitants to flock to the site out of curiosity and perverse fascination. A surrealistic but unforgettable portrait of the giant as a

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slowly decomposing corpse. (CHRONOPOLIS) (THE IMPOSSIBLE MAN) (THE TERMINAL BEACH)  ―One of his calmest and strangest stories‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, April 1967). **1/2  Nominated for the 1965 Nebula award for best short story. Encounter, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Enormous Space, The (1985)  A painful story of a man who succumbs to agoraphobic withdrawal and madness. (WAR FEVER) End Game (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Escapement (1956)  See complete GUIDE. Garden of Time, The (1962)  A couple living in a villa at the end of time desperately observe the advance of a vast, brutish army, but manage to stave off the moment of doom by plucking deliquescing flowers from a dying garden. A hypnotically romantic tale. (CHRONOPOLIS) Gioconda of the Twilight Noon, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Illuminated Man, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Impossible Man, The (1966)  See complete GUIDE. Index, The (1990)  See complete GUIDE. Largest Theme Park in the World, The (1989)  Europeans spontaneously abandon their jobs and emigrate to the sun-drenched beaches of the Mediterranean: ―The determination of the exiles never to return to their offices and factories was underpinned by a new philosophy of leisure and a sense of what constituted a worthwhile life.‖ A sly, farfetched tale which envisions mankind‘s first totalitarian society dedicated to leisure. (WAR FEVER) The Last World of Mr. Goddard (1960)  See complete GUIDE. Lost Leonardo, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Love in a Colder Climate (1989)  Youthful citizens of the future are required to complete a compulsory two year stint of sexual service in order to reverse a troubling decline in world population. Subversive, and darkly amusing. (WAR FEVER) Man on the 99th Floor (1962)  A coy, twisted tale about a man with a compulsive desire to ascend to the top of a 100-story office building. A psychology professor eventually discovers the cause of his patient‘s obsession. ()  ―Nasty little murder bits‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). Man Who Walked on the Moon, The (1985)  See complete GUIDE. 69 (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Memories of the Space Age (1981)  A companion piece to Myths of the Near Future (1982) about a NASA physician who sets out across an abandoned Florida. In the process, the author

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underscores his phantasmagoric preoccupation with Cape Canaveral, birds, starvation, and frozen time—―the real Cape Canaveral is inside your head, not out here‖—while wittily and subversively equating the Space Program to the ―Time‖ program. (WAR FEVER) (MEMORIES OF THE SPACE AGE) Minus One (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Myths of the Near Future (1982)  A former architect searches obsessively for his dead wife among the decayed ruins of Florida. Awash with symbols (dead birds, drained swimming pools, crashed aeroplanes, failed astronauts, and space sickness), but bereft of real story, the tale reworks the themes of many of the author‘s more successful fictional efforts. In the end, the reader is left with a single potent image: the resurrected heroine striding across the time-frozen waters of Cape Kennedy. (MYTHS OF THE NEAR FUTURE) (MEMORIES OF THE SPACE AGE)  Finalist for the 1982 Nebula award for best novelette. Notes Towards a Mental Breakdown (1976)  An unhinged physician (is there any other kind?) murders his adulterous, ailing wife and is incarcerated in an asylum for the criminally insane. Fiercely intelligent, but not a lot of fun. (WAR FEVER) Now Wakes the Sea (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Now: Zero (1959)  See complete GUIDE. Object of the Attack, The (1984) A seriously disturbed (and disturbing) tale of a psychopathic youth‘s attempt to assassinate a former astronaut who advocates the nuclear destruction of the non- Christian world: ―I suspect that the Great Mission Controller in the Sky intends to bypass the Presidency and appeal directly to the US public as an astro-messiah, a space ayatollah descending to earth to set up his religious republic.‖ The author cleverly implicates the reader in his perversity. (WAR FEVER) Overloaded Man, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Passport to Eternity (1962)  A wife‘s incessant nagging leads to her abduction by an interstellar tour group. A mediocre tale, despite the evocative title and traditional SF trappings. (PASSPORT TO ETERNITY) (THE OVERLOADED MAN)  ―A bizarre comedy of the future rich‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). ** Prima Belladonna (1956)  See complete GUIDE. Question of Re-entry, A (1963)  The search for a downed lunar spacecraft leads an American official to a remote village in the Amazon ruled by a god-like white man. A consistently dark and ironically amusing story—―during the night the Indians had disappeared into the bush . . . like lemmings they were apparently

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prone to these sudden irresistible urges‖—whose overall effect is reminiscent of Joseph Conrad‘s Heart of Darkness (1902). (THE TERMINAL BEACH) (PASSPORT TO ETERNITY) (MEMORIES OF THE SPACE AGE)  ―Ironic adventure‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). ** Recognition, The (1967)  See complete GUIDE. Reptile Enclosure, The (1964)  Sunbathers on a crowded beach gather in anticipation of a comsat rocket launch, the firing of which triggers a sudden forward surge. Ironic perversity raised to new lows. (THE IMPOSSIBLE MAN) (THE TERMINAL BEACH) Report on an Unidentified Space Station (1982)  See complete GUIDE. Screen Game, The (1963-marginally SF)  See complete GUIDE. Secret History of World War 3, The (1988)  While the rest of the world focuses on the health of the President, a pediatrician recounts the details of a 4-minute nuclear war, now oddly forgotten by the rest of the world. A wealth of paranoid symbols ornament this darkly ironic and humorous story. (WAR FEVER) Sound Sweep, The (1960)  See complete GUIDE. Souvenir (1965)  See complete GUIDE. Storm-Bird, Storm-Dreamer (1966)  Humanity wages war against a plague of giant birds. Though shot through with veins of romantic despair, the story presents a number of haunting and ultimately memorable images. (CHRONOPOLIS) (THE IMPOSSIBLE MAN) Subliminal Man, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Sudden Afternoon, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Terminal Beach (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Thirteen to Centaurus (1962)  Passengers on a multi-generation starship bound for Alpha Centauri discover they have yet to leave Earth. The author toys with themes of claustrophobia, paranoia, and inner space. (PASSPORT TO ETERNITY) (THE OVERLOADED MAN)  ―A simulator to end all simulators‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). **1/2 Thousand Dreams of Stellavista, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Time of (1960)  See complete GUIDE. Time-Tombs, The (1963)  Martian tomb robbers plunder the burial sites of long-vanished aliens. The development and background are fascinating, but the ending is disappointingly routine. (TERMINAL BEACH) (THE OVERLOADED MAN)  ―A Mars as delicately beautiful as anything Bradbury ever suggested, and far more hauntingly real‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, January 1966). ***1/2

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Track 12 (1958)  A cuckolded husband takes revenge on his wife‘s lover, causing the latter to drown in the ―microsonic vibrations‖ of a penultimate embrace: ―his arms and legs had become enormous, like the bloated appendages of a drowned giant.‖ (PASSPORT TO ETERNITY) (THE OVERLOADED MAN) Venus Hunters, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Voices of Time (1960)  The ribonucleic templates of Earthly organisms are wearing out, prompting emissaries from Orion to assert that life is nearing its end. Even more disturbingly, numbers drawn in the dirt of the psychotic hero‘s windshield appear to be counting down the end of the universe: ―These are the voices of time, and they’re all saying goodbye.‖ Full of dark wonder. (VOICES OF TIME) (CHRONOPOLIS) Volcano Dances, The (1964)  A man and a woman living on the side of a volcano eagerly await the next massive eruption. Not up to the author‘s usual manically creative caliber. (THE TERMINAL BEACH) Waiting Grounds, The (1959)  See complete GUIDE. War Fever (1989)  See complete GUIDE. Watch-Towers, The (1962)  Enigmatic observers guard the inhabitants of a small town until a teacher decides to challenge the status quo. Powerful. (CHRONOPOLIS)  ―A haunting fantasy‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). *** of Terror (1960)  See complete GUIDE.

BALLOU, Arthur W. (-) Author of two science fiction novels, including Bound for Mars (1970) and Marooned in (1968).

Novels Marooned in Orbit (1968)  See complete GUIDE.

BALMER, Edwin (1883-1959) US author, whose works of speculative interest include Flying Death (1927), When Worlds Collide (1933-with Philip Wylie), After Worlds Collide (1934-with Philip Wylie), and The Golden Hoard (1934-with Philip Wylie).

BAMBER, George (1932-) US author, whose sole SF novel is The Sea Is Boiling Hot (1971).

Novels The Sea Is Boiling Hot (1971) A scientist tries to save a near future Earth from the effects of widespread pollution.

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 ―A well-paced, well-sexed, timely and . . . [a] damn good story‖ (Theodore Sturgeon, Galaxy, January 1972). ***  ―A coy fool as our main character . . . should not be . . . available‖ (Lester Del Rey, IF, February 1972). *

BANISTER, Manly (1914-1986) US author, whose science fiction novels include The Scarlet Saint (1956), Magnanthropus (1961), and Seed of Eloraspon (1964).

Novels Conquest of Earth (1957) A young man with advanced mental powers confronts beings who feed directly off energy.  ―An unpretentious tale that moves nicely . . . but gets off the road a bit in the later chapters‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, March 1958). **  ―You can skip . . . starts off as an incredible and mildly entertaining yarn . . . but soon gets so foolishly wild and super- super as to lose all contact with the reader and induce only boredom‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, September 1957). *

BANKS, Iain M. (1954-) Working name of Scottish author IAIN MENZIES BANKS, whose SF books include Use of Weapons (1990), Inversions (1998), and Look to Windward (2000). Banks has also written a number of mainstream novels, including The Wasp Factory (1984) and The Bridge (1986). Alternate names: Iain Banks (used for his mainstream novels).

Novels Against a Dark Background (1993)  Lady Sharrow, a woman on the run from the Huhsz, leads a hi-tech combat team on a galactic quest to acquire a super-powerful alien weapon known as the Lazy Gun. The resulting series of violent encounters leave Sharrow‘s friends and enemies strewn across the cosmos like empty beer cans. An interminable tale, full of promised revelations that reduce to mindless pulp clichés.  ―A long, complex, action-oriented plot . . . a realistic action- adventure heroine . . . a dark novel‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, April 1994). **1/2  ―Not so satisfying in the end . . . Banks fails in his subtlety and misdirection, and the tale is ultimately predictable‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, December 1993). **

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Algebraist (2004)  See complete GUIDE.

Consider Phlebas (1987) In a remote future in which billions have perished and entire planets have been consumed in a devastating space war, a shape-changing hero sets out to locate a powerful super-Mind that may tip the galactic balance of power. The first book in the Culture series.  ―Space opera . . . pulled off amazingly well . . . [but] the characters don’t have much depth . . . robs the story of much of its emotional impact‖ (Darrell Schweitzer, Aboriginal, November 1988). **1/2  ―A pleasurable experience, but the whole sags badly towards the middle‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, October 1990). **1/2  ―An intricate space opera with bizarre touches . . . it sounds like suspenseful, exciting, active fun . . . unfortunately, the marvelous far-future . . . is often distracting . . . the suspense falters‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, March 1989). **

Excession (1996)  See complete GUIDE.

Feersum Endjinn (1994) Humans attempt to activate a device that will increase the output of the sun sufficiently to offset the cooling effect of the Earth‘s passage through an interstellar dust cloud.  ―An exciting, challenging book . . . you won’t understand everything until the very last page‖ (Moshe Feder, Asimov’s, December 1995). ***  ―A rather traditional science fiction novel . . . descriptive powers, sense of humor, creation of a wealth of telling detail . . . some of it is pretty funny‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, April 1995). ***  Winner of the 1994 BSFA award for best novel.

Player of Games, The (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

BANKS, Michael A. (1951-) US editor and author, whose SF novels include Joe Mauser Mercenary from Tomorrow (1986- with Mack Reynolds) and The Odysseus Solution (1986-with Dean R. Lambe). Banks‘ nonfiction works include Understanding Science Fiction (1982).

BANKS, Raymond E. (1918-1974) US (?) author, whose borderline SF novels include The Kill (1961) and Daryk: Skull Keep of the Primal Clans (1978), the latter an erotic Conan-style

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adventure. Acclaimed short fiction: Christmas Trombone (1955) and The Littlest People (1954). Alternate names: Ray Banks, R. E. Banks.

Stories Transstar (1960)  A galactic agent reports back to Earth on an escalating conflict between human settlers and a rapacious alien menace. A suspenseful tale with well-drawn characters, but a tendency toward comic-book simplicity. (Galaxy, June 1960)

BARJAVEL, Rene (1911-1985) French author, screenwriter, and journalist, whose SF novels include The Tragic Innocents (1946; trans 1948), Future Times Three (1944; trans 1970), and The (1973; trans 1974).

Quotes On the virgin mystique: ―He was devouring her with his eyes . . . she was at that growing age when the body already suggests the riper forms of a full-fleshed woman, yet the flat belly, slender waist, and firm thighs still recall the little dancing girl‖ (Ashes, Ashes).

On future fashions:  See complete GUIDE.

On the training of women:  See complete GUIDE.

On a more practical method for preserving the dead: ―He planned to reduce the ancestors to half a centimeter, flatten them in a press, slip them into cellophane envelopes, and paste them in an album‖ (Ashes, Ashes).

On a strange disease afflicting women:  See complete GUIDE.

On the treatment of neurotics: ―Citizens underwent treatment by the deloonifier . . . [including] victims of simple nervousness or anxiety, twitching, grimacing, stammering, timidity, those who blushed without reason, and those who slept standing up‖ (Ashes, Ashes).

On the rights of man: ―One of the basic laws of the new State was that which made polygamy compulsory . . . [the men] were well pleased, anyhow, to acquire at the same time new hands to work their fields, and some variety for the nights to come‖ (Ashes, Ashes).

On leadership:  See complete GUIDE.

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Novels and Collections Ashes, Ashes (1943; trans 1967)  The widespread failure of electric, atomic, and internal combustion engines leads to the catastrophic collapse of civilization. A quick-witted agricultural student guides a small party of Parisians across a futuristic landscape fraught with fire, plague, looters, and swarms of ravenous bats. After numerous trials, he reaches the Rhone Valley and sets himself up as the patriarch of a polygamous community whose elders ruthless suppress technology and book-learning. Sketchy characterizations and occasional lapses of logic (e.g. the pharmacies that remain open even as Paris is descending into chaos) are offset by plentiful action. Some readers, however, may find the hero‘s male chauvinism and back-to-nature ethos unacceptably old-fashioned.  ―Cardboard people . . . pleasant for the first fifty pages . . . once the book gets serious the fun vanishes . . . pure cliché‖ (Joanna Russ, Analog, July 1968). **  ―Once the catastrophe is in progress, it settles down to a grim but lively adventure yarn . . . it’s easy to see why more [] hasn’t been published in English‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, April 1969). **

Ice People, The (1968; trans 1970)  See complete GUIDE.

BARKER, Clive (1952-) An English-born US author, whose horror-fantasy novels include Weaveworld (1987-finalist for the 1988 World Fantasy award for best novel), The Hellbound Heart (1991), The Thief of Always (1992), and Coldheart Canyon (2001). Acclaimed short fiction: The Hellbound Heart (1986-finalist for the 1987 World Fantasy award for best novella), Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament (1984-finalist for the 1985 World Fantasy award for best novella), and Son of Celluloid (1984).

Novels Damnation Game, The (1986) A paroled convict is ensnared in a businessman‘s scheme to invoke the powers of an ancient evil entity known as Mamoulian the Cardplayer.  ―Masterly . . . you should buy it . . . sheer brilliance‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, August 1987). ***1/2  Finalist for the 1986 World Fantasy award for best novel.

Sacrament (1996)  See complete GUIDE.

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Stories Human Remains (1984)  A male prostitute finds himself unwisely drawn to an archaeologist with a predilection for ancient Roman art. Creepy but ultimately farfetched. (BOOKS OF BLOOD:3) Scape-Goats (1984)  See complete GUIDE. Son of Celluloid (1984)  The ghost of a cancer-riddled scum-bag haunts an old movie theatre. A powerful story which features well- drawn characters, a twisty plot and vivid psycho-sexual horror. (BOOKS OF BLOOD:3)

BARLOW, James (1921-1973) UK author, whose novels include This Side of the Sky (1964) and The Hour of Maximum Danger (1962).

Novels One Half of the World (1957)  See complete GUIDE.

BARNES, Arthur K. (1911-1969) US pulp writer, whose sole SF novel is Interplanetary Hunter (1956). Barnes also published roughly thirty SF stories, four of which were written in collaboration with . Pseudonyms: Kelvin Kent.

Novels Interplanetary Hunter (1956) A collection of five linked stories, originally published in Thrilling , featuring a maverick huntress and her intrepid sidekick, who travel to other worlds in search of exotic animals.  ―These stories are still surprisingly readable‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1956). ***  ―An interesting . . . world . . . recommended‖ (Hans Stefan Santessor, Fantastic Universe, August 1956). ***  ―Old-fashioned . . . but a good deal of innocent fun‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, November 1956). **1/2  ―Old-time space melodrama . . . by no means outstanding‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, October 1956). **

BARNES, John (1957-) US author, whose nearly thirty SF novels include those in The Century Next Door series (1991-2002), the Million Open Doors series (1992-2006), the Timeline Wars series (1997), and the Jak Jinnaka series (2002-2003).

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Novels Man Who Pulled Down the Sky, The (1986) An agent from the outer planets challenges the domination of the Orbital Republics and stirs up rebellion within the gang-infested slums of Earth. ―Barnes is a storyteller . . . carries us away by giving the sweep of history a deftly personal touch . . . one of the best hard-sf novels of the year‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, June 1987). ***.

Million Open Doors, A (1992)  See complete GUIDE.

Mother of Storms (1994) The detonation of nuclear weapons leads to accelerated global warming and the spawning of deadly storms on a hitherto-unseen scale. As a vast hurricane gathers force and advances across the Pacific, politicians and scientists attempt to come up with a plan to halt the worsening disaster.  ―A page-turner . . . loaded with movie potential‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, December 1994). ***  ―A good, exciting disaster story . . . [and a] thought-provoking science fiction novel‖ (Robert J. Killheffer, F&SF, February 1995). ***  Finalist for the 1995 Hugo award for best novel.  Finalist for the 1995 Nebula award for best novel.

Orbital Resonance (1991)  A spoiled thirteen-year old comes of age on an asteroid colony in the 21st century. The heroine‘s angstful adventures make for reasonably lively reading, but the story fails to live up to its predecessor, Robert Heinlein‘s Podkayne on Mars (1963).  ―A good . . . juvenile . . . enjoyable‖ (Janice M. Eisen, Aboriginal, Summer 1992). ***  ―A well-structured coming-of-age tale with a very likable heroine‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, March 1992). ***  ―Pos-def fun . . . a neat mix . . . the kind of book I wasn’t sure they wrote any more‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, March 1992). ***  Finalist for the 1991 Nebula award for best novel.

Sin of (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

BARNES, Steven (1952-) US author, whose roughly twenty SF novels include Dream Park (1981-with ), The of Heorot (1987-with Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle), The Voodoo Game (1991-with Larry Niven), and Zulu Heart (2003). Acclaimed short fiction: The Locusts (1979-with Larry Niven; finalist for

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the 1980 Hugo award for best novelette).

Novels Achilles’ Choice (1991)  See complete GUIDE.

Dream Park (1981)  See complete GUIDE.

Legacy of Heorot, The (1987)  See complete GUIDE.

BARNETT, Lisa A. (1958-2006) US author and editor, who SF books, all co-authored with her partner, Melissa Scott, include The Armor of (1988), Point of Hopes (1995), and Point of Dreams (2001).

BARR, Donald (1921-) US science fiction author and educator, whose novels include Space Relations (1973) and A Planet in Arms (1981).

Novels Planet in Arms, A (1981)  See complete GUIDE.

Space Relations (1973) A diplomat-turned-slave undergoes a series of heroic adventures in a far future galactic Feudal Age.  ―A thoroughgoing delight . . . highly sophisticated . . . didn’t receive anywhere near the recognition it deserved‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, September 1981). ***1/2  ―Disturbingly good . . . exceptionally well-written‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, July 1976). ***  ―Poetry-filled . . . rousing adventures . . . a joyous dream‖ (John Clute, F&SF, September 1974). ***

BARR, Tyrone C. (-) UK science fiction author, whose sole SF novel is The Last 14 (1959).

Novels Last 14, The (1959) The occupants of a space station watch in horror as the Earth is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. Later, as food begins to run out, the spacemen attempt to land on a patch of real estate that was once at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Also published as Split Worlds (1959).  ―The slavering sector of his faithful followers will be disappointed

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. . . [the author] pulls his sensationalism out of the standards of 1910 to 1920, not 1960 . . . and functional equality of the sexes is simply not thought of . . . ridiculous, I calls it‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1961). *

BARRETT, Neal, Jr. (1929-) US author, whose roughly thirty SF books include The Gates of Time (1970), Kelwin (1970), Highwood (1972), the Aldair series (1976-1982), The Karma Corps (1984), Through Darkest America (1987), Dawn’s Uncertain Light (1989), The Hereafter Gang (1991), and The Prophecy Machine (2000). Acclaimed short fiction: Cush (1993), Ginny Sweethips’ Flying Circus (1988-finalist for the 1988 Nebula and 1989 Hugo awards for best novelette), and Trading Post (1986).

Novels Aldair: The Legion of Beasts (1982) A genetically-engineered humanoid and his beast-man crew set out across the galaxy in search of their fabled progenitors. The fourth book in the Aldair series.  ―Ends with a blast of action . . . fun, but it does not live up to its predecessors . . . with this one Barrett’s creativity seems to have flagged‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, August 1982). **1/2

Leaves of Time, The (1971)  See complete GUIDE.

Perpetuity Blues (2000)  See complete GUIDE.

Stress Pattern (1974)  Marooned on an alien planet, a mild-mannered economics professor finds the locals distressingly apathetic. Although the planet provides for the hero‘s bodily wants (water, food, sex), he laments the lack of intelligent conversation. A lightweight SF fantasy which offers the simple truth: ―Life begins . . . and life ends.‖  ―A densely constructed fable . . . more ambitious . . . striking‖ (John Clute, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Second Edition, 1993). ***

Westward Trail (1982-not SF)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Ginny Sweethips’ Flying Circus (1988)  A Mad -style futuristic adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world featuring a tough-talking madam who trades sexual favors for gasoline. The story offers a vigorous defense of capitalism, but its glib action fails to convince.

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(PERPETUITY BLUES)  Finalist for the 1988 Nebula award for best novelette.  Finalist for the 1989 Hugo award for best novelette. Trading Post (1986)  An entrepreneur struggles to make ends meet on an Earth overrun by reptilian invaders (the Snakes). The hero‘s business runs into a snag, however, when the aliens decide to turn his sexy girl friend into an object lesson in customer focus. The lean prose and likable protagonist provide a welcome counterpoint to the nightmarish setting. (PERPETUITY BLUES)

BARRETT, William E. (1900-1986) US aeronautics consultant and mainstream novelist, whose works of borderline SF interest include The Edge of Things (1960) and Lady of the Lotus (1989).

Novels Fools of Time, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE.

BARRON, D. G. (-) UK architect and author, whose sole SF novel is The Zilov Bombs (1962).

Novels Zilov Bombs, The (1962) A would-be writer living in Soviet-occupied England must decide whether his pacifist principles trump the needs of his country.  ―In many ways more effective [than ‘A Clockwork Orange’] because it saves its punches . . . understated . . . [the protagonist] remains intensely human and therefore very realistic . . . the end . . . is quite moving . . . stimulating reading‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, July 1963). ***  ―[There’s] nothing particularly novel about this plot from a science-fiction standpoint . . . the deadly quietness and dullness of the development is one of the book's most effective touches . . . realistically but too quietly played out‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1963). **1/2

BARRON, Neil (1934-) US editor and bibliographer, whose non-fiction books include Fantasy Literature: A Reader’s Guide (1990) and Horror Literature: A Reader’s Guide (1990).

Nonfiction Anatomy of Wonder (1976; rev 1981; rev 1987; rev 1995)  See

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complete GUIDE.

BARTH, John (1930-) US author, whose books include Lost in the Funhouse (1968), Chimera (1972), and The Last of Somebody the Sailor (1991).

Novels Giles Goat-Boy (1966)  See complete GUIDE.

BARTON, William (1950-) US science fiction author, whose novels include Hunting on Kunderer (1973), A Plague of All Cowards (1976), Iris (1990-with Michael Capobianco), When Heaven Fell (1994), and When We Were Real (1999). Acclaimed short fiction: Age of Aquarius (1996-finalist for the 1997 Hugo award for best novelette).

Novels Dark Sky Legion (1992) A powerful agent of a is sent to assess the fate of a rogue planet whose utopian society is built largely on slavery and oppression.  ―Some very nice work‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, June 1994). ***

BARZMAN, Ben (1912-1989) US-Canadian author and film-writer, whose sole SF novel is Echo X (1960).

Quotes On the need for swiftness: ―The only time a civilized man needs to run is in war or when he plays tennis . . . [and] who really needs to play tennis?‖ (Echo X).

Novels Echo X (1960)  The girlfriend of an emotional-scarred ex-GI develops a revolutionary new communication device which picks up a signal from a planet on the other side of the sun. Though the premise is based on a somewhat implausible scientific scenario, the novel effectively and at times movingly expresses the author‘s frustration at the horrors of war. Also published as Out of this World (UK, 1960) and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (US, 1960).  ―An extremely winning story . . . four and one half stars out of five‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, August 1961). ***1/2  ―A good story . . . handled it well‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog,

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June 1962 – May 1965). ***

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (1960)  See complete GUIDE.

BASS, T. J. (1932-) Pseudonym of US author THOMAS J. BASSLER, whose science fiction novels include Half Past Human (1971) and The Godwhale (1974).

Novels Godwhale, The (1974) A young man awakens in a far distant future only to discover mankind has devolved into various subterranean and aquatic forms, then teams up with Rorqual Maru, a cybernetic whale, to help reseed the planet. The second book in the Hive series.  ―A novel of great inventiveness . . . fascinatingly drawn . . . a nicely satisfactory ending‖ (Lester Del Rey, IF, June 1974). ***  Finalist for the 1974 Nebula award for best novel.

Half Past Human (1971)  See complete GUIDE.

BATCHELOR, John Calvin (1948-) US author and radio news commentator, whose books include The Further Adventures of Halley’s Comet (1980) and Peter Nevsky and the True Story of the Russian Moon Landing (1993).

Novels Birth of the People’s Republic of Antarctica, The (1983)  See complete GUIDE.

BATES, Harry (1900-1981) US editor and author, whose sole SF novel is Space Hawk (1952). Acclaimed short fiction: Alas, All Thinking! (1935), Death of a Sensitive (1953), and Farewell to the Master (1940)—the latter filmed as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Pseudonyms: Anthony Gilmore, A. R. Holmes, H. G. Winter, and Quien Sabe.

Novels Space Hawk (1931; 1952-with Desmond W. Hall, as by Anthony Gilmore) A series of four linked novelettes about a space-hero and his sidekick who battle pirates and attempt to thwart the plans of a brain- stealing madman.  ―Can hardly be taken seriously, but is strongly commended to all

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connoisseurs of prose so outrageously bad as to reach its own kind of greatness‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, October 1952). *  ―The lowest point I have ever reached in my delvings into . . . space opera . . . the incredible nonsense of its plot and characters is heightened by its oddly effective writing . . . the adventures go from absurdity to absurdity; the villains become more ludicrous from page to page‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, November 1952). *  ―A cardboard hero . . . every cliché of the period [is]here . . . one- dimensional . . . Hawk Carse was so bad that he was almost good‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, May 1953). *

BAXTER, Stephen (1957-) UK author, whose more than thirty novels include (1995), War Birds (1997), The Light of Other Days (2000-with Arthur C. Clarke), The Hunters of Pangaea (2004), and The H-Bomb Girl (2007). Acclaimed short fiction: The Gravity Mine (2000-finalist for the 2001 Hugo award for best short story), Mayflower II (2004-winner of the 2004 BSFA award for best short fiction), (1997-finalist for the 1998 Hugo award for best novelette), On the Orion Line (2000-finalist for the 2001 Hugo award for best novelette), and War Birds (1997-winner of the 1997 BSFA award for best short fiction).

Quotes On inexperience: ―Is there no limit to the stupidity of young men?‖ (Anti- Ice).

Novels Anti-Ice (1993) A lively pastiche of Victorian SF about a naïve British subject who blunders into the good graces of Prussian imperialists, then makes an unscheduled trip to the Moon. An entertaining tale which succeeds by virtue of its clever science fictional invention, quaintly appealing characters, and dry humor.

Raft (1991)  See complete GUIDE.

Time Ships, The (1995) A sequel to H. G. ‘ , in which the eponymous Time Traveler returns to the far future to rescue Weena from the Morlocks.  ―Worthy of the original . . . the scope is stupendous‖ (Moshe Feder, Analog, September 1996). ***1/2

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 ―A must-read for time travel fans‖ (F&SF, May 1996). ***  Nominated for the 1996 Hugo award for best novel.  Winner of the 1995 BSFA award for best SF novel.  Winner of the 1996 John W. Campbell Memorial award for best science fiction novel.  Winner of the 1996 Philip K. Dick award for best original SF paperback.

Vacuum Diagrams (1997)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories (1987)  See complete GUIDE. In the Picture (1996)  A contrived story about an idyllic planet whose mutable environment resembles a galactic special effects department. Space Butterflies (1989; rev 1996)  Space explorers argue over how to treat the fragile inhabitants of a world at the edge of the galaxy. The author combines poor character development with simplistic story-telling. (Back Brain Recluse, no. 13)

BAYLEY, Barrington J. (1937-) UK author, whose roughly twenty SF books include The Star Virus (1970), Annihilation Factor (1972), Soul of the (1974), The Seed of Evil (1979), and The Great Hydration (2005). Acclaimed short fiction: A Crab Must Try (1996-winner of the 1996 BSFA award for best short fiction).

Novels Forest of Peldain, The (1985) The would-be heir to a forest kingdom leads an army across an archipelago overrun by fearsome plants.  ―An often gripping, action-adventure odyssey . . . straightforward prose style and nimble imagination . . . one to scour used bookstores for‖ (T. M. Wagner, website review). ***  ―Combines the worst aspects of an old movie . . . the dialogue is execrable, characterization nil, and the concepts fuzzy . . . inept‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, March 1986). *

Pillars of Eternity, The (1982)  See complete GUIDE.

Zen Gun, The (1983) A mutant takes possession of the ultimate weapon and rips a hole in the space-time continuum.  ―Builds fresh wonders . . . as good an adventure premise as I’ve seen in a very long time‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, April 1984). ***

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 ―The invention is preposterous . . . give it a miss‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, March 1984). *

BEAGLE, Peter S. (1939-) US screenwriter, guitarist, and author, whose fantasy novels include A Fine and Private Place (1960), The Innkeeper’s Song (1993), The Unicorn Sonata (1996), and I’m Afraid You’ve Got (2007). Acclaimed short fiction: Come Lady Death (1963), The Naga (1992), and Two Hearts (2005-winner of the 2006 Nebula and Hugo awards for best novelette).

Novels Fine and Private Place, A (1960) A lonely man finds refuge from the outside world in a mausoleum and in the process gets another chance at life.  ―Tender, funny and wise . . . five stars out of five‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, April 1961). ****  Average rating of five out of five stars on Amazon.com based on 7 reviewers.

Folk of the Air, The (1986)  See complete GUIDE.

Innkeeper’s Song, The (1993) Three women set out in search of a missing wizard and end up confronting the wizard‘s ambitious student.  ―This is the kind of novel that absorbs you . . . convinces you of its reality, and you are reluctant to let him go at the end . . . I commend him‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, April 1994). ***1/2  ―A well-paced plot, a few surprises, and perhaps the best sex scene I've read in a fantasy novel . . . will please Peter Beagle's existing audience and add to it‖ (Moshe Feder, Asimov’s, May 1994). ***

Last Unicorn, The (1968)  See complete GUIDE.

Lila the Werewolf (1969)  See complete GUIDE.

BEAR, Greg (1951-) US author, whose roughly forty science fiction and fantasy books include Hegira (1979), Beyond Heaven’s River (1980), Summer (1998), Country of the Mind (1998), and City at the End of Time (2008). Acclaimed short fiction: Petra (1982-finalist for the 1982 Nebula award for best short story and for the 1983 World Fantasy award for best short fiction), Tangents (1986- winner of the 1986 Nebula and the 1987 Hugo award for best short

BEAGLE—BEAR—BENET...... 32

story), and Sisters (1989-finalist for the 1989 Nebula award for best novelette).

Quotes On modern science: ― has been a very close-minded field in biology, and only the brave few challenge the paradigm of the Darwinian Modern Synthesis‖ (Darwin’s Radio).

On the quest for perfection:  See complete GUIDE.

On Q-tips: ―What young women call men who are old enough to be their fathers‖ (Darwin’s Radio).

On depression:  See complete GUIDE.

On the perfect lover: ―The condom was still secure. He removed it and deftly tied it, dropped it over the side of the bed for disposal later‖ (Darwin’s Radio).

Novels and Collections (1985)  A self-centered biochemist infects himself with a new form of microbiotic life. Although the science is intriguing, the lack of sympathetic characters and the increasingly abstract threat keeps the reader at a distance.  ―A really fetching book . . . wholly striking . . . proceeds from strength to strength . . . until you begin to wonder if the man is even capable of faltering . . . unmatched for verisimilitude as well as pacing . . . [though] tails off [at the end]‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, September 1985). ***  ―Another worth recommending . . . our minds boggle at the vision‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, November 1985). ***  ―Pulled it off‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, March 1992). ***  Finalist for the 1985 Nebula award for best novel.  Finalist for the 1986 Hugo award for best novel.  Winner of the 1986 Prix Apollo award for best novel.  Winner of the 1983 Nebula award for best novelette.

Darwin’s Radio (1999)  A newly-discovered retrovirus causes fertile women to spontaneously conceive, but the offspring turn out horribly deformed. Pregnant women, the government decides, must report to newly-opened ―labor‖ camps. The novel, unfortunately, suffers from an overload of trendy jargon, lifeless characters, a telegraphed ending, and cutesy prose—―he picked a piece of sleep from his eye.‖

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 Winner of the 2000 Nebula award for best novel.  Finalist for the 2000 Hugo award for best novel.

Eon (1985)  See complete GUIDE.

Eternity (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

Forge of God, The (1987)  Jupiter‘s sixth moon disappears, a new volcano appears in Death Valley, and a dying alien pterodon explains: ―I’m sorry. There is bad news.‖ Actually, the disappearance of Jupiter‘s sixth moon is the good news. The bad news is that bomb-laying alien machines are seeding the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with black holes. A few lucky humans take refuge on interstellar arks, while the rest get a front row seat to Earth‘s conversion into a giant plasma spheroid. Despite its spectacular end-of-the-world pyrotechnics, Bear‘s tale fails to achieve much in the way of genuine emotion.  ―A fine and potent masterpiece‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, February 1988). ***1/2  ―Seems to be doing all the right things . . . yet, somehow, he doesn’t quite bring it off‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, March 1988). **1/2  Finalist for the 1988 Hugo award for best novel.  Finalist for the 1987 Nebula award for best novel.

Heads (1990)  See complete GUIDE.

Moving Mars (1993)  See complete GUIDE.

Psychlone (1979) Gifted combat a plague of elementals which sweeps across North America and inspires the populace to murder and mayhem.  ―A gripping, suspenseful cross between fantasy and SF . . . all well done . . . should not let yourself miss it‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, April 1980). ***

Queen of Angels (1990)  See complete GUIDE.

Serpent Mage, The (1986)  See complete GUIDE.

Strength of Stones (1981) Struggling to eke out a barren existence in the wild, the remnants of humanity challenge the authority of the nomadic robot cities their ancestors helped create.  His answer . . . does not satisfy . . . read the book . . . his story

BEAGLE—BEAR—BENET...... 34

will give you a good supply of fuel for the fires of argument‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, August 1982). **1/2  ―[The characters] move on tracks arbitrarily laid down by the author . . . in all this book there is not one person who displays any of that passion‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, August 1982). **

Wind from a Burning Woman, The (1983)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Hardfought (1982)  A self-consciously literary tale about a war between humanity and the alien Senexi. In his zeal to describe the various emergent forms of far-future humanity (tellmen, glovers, unders, and overhawks), the author forgets to generate much in the way of suspense. (WIND FROM A BURNING WOMAN)  ―One of Bear’s best stories . . . blends his customary sensitivity and imagination with a breathtaking scope‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, November 1983). ***1/2  Winner of the 1983 Nebula award for best novelette.  Finalist for the 1984 Hugo award for best novelette.

BEASON, Doug (1953-) US physicist, educator, and author, whose SF books include Return to Honor (1989), Assault on Alpha Base (1990), The Trinity Paradox (1991-with Kevin J. Anderson), and Wild Blue U (2005).

Novels Assemblers of Infinity (1993)  See complete GUIDE.

BEAUMONT, Charles (1929-1967) Working name of US screenwriter and author CHARLES LEROY NUTT, whose horror and fantasy books include The Hunger and Other Stories (1957), Yonder (1958), The Edge (1966), and The Howling Man (1992). Beaumont also wrote screenplays for The Seven Faces of Dr. Lau (1964) and The Masque of the Red Death (1964), and penned several episodes of television series. The author died of a rare disease at the age of 38. Acclaimed short fiction: Beautiful Woman (1952), Black Country (1954), Last Night the Rain, and Last Rites (1955). Pseudonyms: C. B. Lovehill, Michael Phillips, and S. M. Tenneshaw.

Stories Blood Brother (1961)  A vaudeville-style spoof about a vampire who visits his analyst and bemoans the life of the undead. (BEST OF

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BEAUMONT) (THE HOWLING MAN) Crooked Man, The (1955)  A clever story and a truly dangerous vision about a future Earth in which homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuals are persecuted. (THE HUNGER AND OTHER STORIES) (THE HOWLING MAN) Elegy (1953)  A handful of men, fleeing a world on the verge of war, arrive on an asteroid which offers respite from Earthly woes. An eerie tale in the evocative style of author . (Imagination, February 1953) Free Dirt (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Howling Man, The (1960-as by C. B. Lovehill)  See complete GUIDE. Hunger, The (1955-not SF)  A dark and unsettling story about an aging spinster who is attracted to the mystique of a rapist/strangler. (THE HUNGER AND OTHER STORIES) (THE HOWLING MAN) Keeper of the Dream (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Miss Gentilbelle (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Vanishing American, The (1955)  A milktoast accountant is ignored by his family and co-workers. (THE HUNGER AND OTHER STORIES) (THE HOWLING MAN)  ―Originality of treatment and quality of writing‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1961). ***

BELIAEV, Alexander Romanovich (1884- 1942) Russian author, whose SF novels include Professor Dowell’s Head (1926; trans 1980), The Struggle in Space (1928; trans 1965), and The Amphibian (1928; trans 1928). Alternate names used: A. Beliaev and Alexander Belayev.

Novels Professor Dowell’s Head (1926; trans 1980)  See complete GUIDE.

BELL, M. Shayne (1957-) US science fiction author, whose books include Nicoji (1991) and How We Play the Game in Salt Lake and Other Stories (2001). Acclaimed short fiction: Mrs. Lincoln’s China (1994-finalist for the 1995 Hugo award for best short story) and The Pagodas of Ciboure (2002-finalist for the 2002 Nebula award for best novelette).

Novels Nicoji (1991) Two men undertake a harrowing journey across a planet

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teeming with weird alien life forms.  ―Draws an expert portrait of this future society . . . a knockout, well-written, involving, taut, exciting . . . touching‖ (Baird Searles, Galaxy, July 1991). ***1/2  ―A well thought out, enjoyable science fiction novel . . . has much to recommend it . . . Jake is a living, breathing human in a complex environment . . . not an entirely satisfactory ending . . . but 'tis well enough done, 'twill serve‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, May 1991). ***

Stories Jacob’s Ladder (1987)  Three reporters on a space station escape terrorists by sliding down a cable to the surface of the Earth. An exciting and colorful tale. (, Volume III)  ―Only a hint of even stronger work to come‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, September 1987). **1/2

BELLAIRS, John (1938-1991) US English professor and author, whose twenty plus fantasy novels include The House with a Clock in its Walls (1973), The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn (1978), and The Curse of the Blue Figurine (1983).

Novels Face in the Frost, The (1969) Two wizards join forces to fight an evil power which threatens a world of magic.  ―A classic of fantasy . . . a delightful, witty, magical novel . . . the delights . . . rest in the writing, the characters, and the fantasy world . . . invention never lets up . . . [although] the plot bogs down slightly . . . four stars out of five‖ (Janice M. Eisen, Aboriginal, Fall 1992). ***  ―Very good . . . holds up well . . . sharp-tongued . . . humor . . . [but] hardly . . . a masterpiece . . . distinctly nightmarish‖ (Beard Searles, Asimov’s, July 1992). **1/2

BELLAMY, Edward (1850-1898) US author, famous for his classic utopian novel, Looking Backward (1888), and its sequel, Equality (1897). Bellamy‘s other works include Dr. Heidenhoff’s Process (1880) and The Blindman’s World and Other Stories (1898).

Novels Looking Backward, 2000-1887 (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

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BELLAMY, Francis Rufus (1886-1972) UK author, whose sole SF novel is Atta (1953).

Novels Atta (1953) A man shrinks to the size of an insect after being struck by lightning, then teams up with a warrior ant named Atta.  ―Slight but . . . vividly real and often very moving‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, February 1954). ***  ―Somehow just doesn’t come off‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1955). **

BENEDICT, MYRLE  Pseudonym of author SASHA MILLER.

BENCHLEY, Peter (1940-2006) US author, editor, and speechwriter, whose best-selling novels include Jaws (1973), The Deep (1976), and The Island (1979).

Quotes On understanding the universe: ―Who says you must understand everything? For a human being to try to fathom all of God‘s works is a waste of time‖ (The Girl of the Sea of Cortez).

On taking risks: ―In front of children, he made sure they realized that failure was just as important as success because you had to fail in order to know that failure wasn‘t worth fearing. If you feared failure, you would never try difficult things, and trying was more important than failure or success‖ (The Girl of the Sea of Cortez).

On faith:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels Beast (1991)  See complete GUIDE.

Girl of the Sea of Cortez, The (1982)  The daughter of a fisherman who died tragically in a freak storm in the Sea of Cortez attempts to protect the marine life living in and around a pristine seamount. A suspenseful tale with superbly-drawn characters.

BENET, Stephen Vincent (1898-1943) US poet and author, whose books include The Devil and Daniel Webster (1937),

BEAGLE—BEAR—BENET...... 38

Thirteen O’Clock (1937), and Tales Before Midnight (1939). Acclaimed short fiction: The Angel Was a Yankee (1940) and By the Waters of Babylon (1937).

Stories By the Waters of Babylon (1937) A superior post-holocaust tale about a young man who sets out to explore a ruined city in the aftermath of a devastating nuclear war. Though far from educated, the hero doesn‘t lack for wisdom: ―Truth is a hard dear to hunt . . . if you eat too much truth at once, you may die . . . perhaps, in the old days they ate knowledge too fast.‖ Also published as The Place of the Gods (1937).  ―Subtler and more memorable‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1964). ***  ―Holds up rather well‖ (Avram Davidson, F&SF, May 1964). ***

BENFORD, Gregory (1941-) US physicist, university professor, and author, whose thirty plus SF books include Find the Changeling (1980-with Gordon Eklund), In Alien Flesh (1986), Cosm (1998), Immersion and Other Short Novels (2002), and Beyond Infinity (2004). Acclaimed short fiction: Doing Lennon (1975-nominated for the 1975 Nebula and 1976 Hugo award for best short story), Immersion (1996-finalist for the 1997 Hugo award for best novella), John of the Apocalypse (1975), Knowing Her (1977), Matter’s End (1989-finalist for the 1992 Nebula award for best novelette), Newton Sleep (1986-finalist for the 1986 Nebula award for best novella), Of Space-Time and the River (1985), A Snark in the Night (1977-nominated for the 1978 Hugo award for best novelette), Soon Comes Night (1994-finalist for the 1995 Nebula award for best novella), Swarmer, Skimmer (1981-nominated for the 1981 Nebula award for best novella), and White Creatures (1975- nominated for the 1975 Nebula award for best novelette). Acclaimed anthologies: Hitler Victorious (1986-with Martin H. Greenberg).

Quotes On of space: ―They were alone at the rim of the human universe, pressed against an infinity that did not bear contemplation‖ (Against Infinity).

On maturity: ―Johnny was getting beyond the age when parents deeply influenced him. From now on it was peer pressure . . . how to have it off with some girl and thus pass through the flame into manhood‖ ().

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On personal achievement:  See complete GUIDE.

On the scientific method:  See complete GUIDE.

On the joy of mathematics: ―Yet to follow the delicate tensors as they contracted, as the superscripts paired with subscripts, collapsing mathematically into concrete classical entities—potential; mass; forces vectoring in a curved geometry—that was a sublime experience‖ (Timescape).

On accepting failure: ―A man could give up . . . simply drift, cease battering himself on time‘s flat face like an insect flapping against a blossom of light‖ (Timescape).

On the rise and fall of America:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels and Collections Across the Sea of Suns (1984) Astronaut Nigel Walmsley sets off for the stars and runs into a race of alien machines. The second volume of the Galactic Center Saga.  ―Succeeds admirably . . . I heartily recommend the book‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, September 1984). ***1/2

Against Infinity (1983)  A pretentious tale about a young man who sets out across the world of Ganymede in order to hunt down an alien entity known as the ―Aleph.‖ In the process, he learns that killing is immoral, and that it‘s in our interest to preserve the untamed elements of the universe.  ―An extraordinary achievement . . . absolutely amazing‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, September 1983). ***1/2  ―Certainly deserves [consideration as] one of the best SF novels of 1983 . . . I suspect this is a very good book . . . there are some problems with grasping exactly what [it] is trying to say‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, July 1983). **1/2  ―Lit’ry as all get out . . . the stamp of thorough imagination . . . but it’s not quite my cup of tea‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, September 1983). **1/2  Finalist for the 1983 Nebula award for best novel.

Artifact (1985)  See complete GUIDE.

Deeper Than the Darkness (1970; rev 1978)  See complete GUIDE.

BENFORD—BERRYMAN...... 40

Furious Gulf (1994) A ragtag collection of humans flee into the black hole at the center of the galaxy. The fifth book in the Galactic Center saga.  ―I’m disappointed to have to say I was disappointed . . . sliced sausage meat . . . a desperate resort to empty symbolist hokum‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, April 1995). **

Great Sky River (1987) A race of self-replicating machines attempts to wipe out the last surviving colony of humans. The third volume of the Galactic Center Saga.  ―Works admirably . . . psychologically satisfying‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, March 1988). ***  ―Masterful‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, March 1988). ***  ―I was delighted . . . the perfect marriage of hard-sf and space opera‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, March 1988). ***  Finalist for the 1988 Nebula award for best novel.

Heart of the Comet, The (1977-with )  See complete GUIDE.

If the Stars Are Gods (1975-with Gordon Eklund)  See complete GUIDE.

In the Ocean of Night (1977) Astronaut Nigel Walmsley discovers an abandoned alien spacecraft on a comet about to collide with Earth. The first volume of the Galactic Center Saga.  ―A major novel . . . work on the award-winning level‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, July 1978). ***1/2  ―I liked the book one hell of a lot . . . some of the finest characterization . . . the dialogue is excellent . . . impresses the hell out of me‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, June 1978). ***1/2  ―I can’t find myself very impressed . . . the totality somehow isn’t convincing . . . an ending that suddenly becomes very arty and full of symbolism‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, January 1978). **  ―A book whose . . . prose has so much more distinction than anything else in it . . . ultimately tedious . . . tortuous . . . turgid . . . over-written . . . over-conceived . . . a patchwork . . . a stunted climax . . . literary constipation . . . a very boring book . . . I would not be at all surprised to find it nominated for a Nebula‖ (Paul Walker, Galaxy, February 1978). *  Finalist for the 1977 Nebula award for best novel.

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Jupiter Project, The (1975, rev 1980)  A seventeen-year old youth makes a discovery which could impact the future of a Jovian space station threatened with closure. A colorful and suspenseful interplanetary adventure. JUV

Matter’s End (1990)  See complete GUIDE.

Shiva Descending (1980-with William Rotsler)  See complete GUIDE.

Stars in Shroud, The (1978)  See complete GUIDE.

Timescape (1980)  As the world spirals toward ecological collapse, a team of scientists sends a desperate message back to the year 1962. Though reminiscent at times of a PhD thesis, the novel offers insight into the process of modern-day scientific research.  ―[One of the] best 25 books of 1980‖ (Charles N. Brown, Asimov’s, May 1981). ***  ―Don’t miss the book‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, March 1981). ***  ―Something is wrong . . . a fairly tedious lot‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, December 1981). **  ―Vast stretches of physics . . . well enough written [but] it fails to hold the attention‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, October 1980). **  Winner of the 1980 Nebula award for best novel.  Winner of the 1980 BSFA award for best novel.  Winner of the 1981 John W. Campbell Memorial award for best science fiction novel.  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

Stories Me/Days (1984)  See complete GUIDE. Of Space-Time and the River (1985)  A middle-aged couple travels to Egypt to view the pyramids, but ends up witnessing the theft of the Nile Valley. A moody, powerful tale which proves that aliens work in mysterious ways. (IN ALIEN FLESH) Time Shards (1979)  See complete GUIDE.

BENNETT, Margot (1912-1980) UK author, whose sole SF novel is the post-holocaust tale The Long Way Back (1954).

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Novels Long Way Back , The (1954)  See complete GUIDE.

BENSEN, D. R. (1927-1997) Working name of US author and anthologist DONALD ROYNALD BENSEN. Acclaimed anthologies: The Unknown (1963) and The Unknown Five (1964).

Novels And Having Writ . . . (1978) A four-man spaceship avoids a last minute collision with Earth, comes down off the coast of San Francisco, and lands President Teddy Roosevelt in political hot water.  ―Enormous inventiveness, historical acumen, deft skill and mordant satiric wit—a clichéd moral, but lots of fun getting there‖ (Spider Robinson, Destinies, August 1979). ***  ―A solid SF story with a remarkable freshness . . . ceaselessly ingenious and inventive . . . entertaining‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, November 1978). ***  ―Gentle satire and wry humor . . . a welcome change‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, August 1978). **1/2  ―A mild sf adventure . . . written with good humor and competence‖ (Richard E. Geis, Galaxy, June 1979). **1/2

BERK, Howard (1926-) US author and screenwriter, who has written scripts for Robocop (1987), Mission: Impossible (1969), The Rockford Files (1974), Columbo (1971), and other film and television projects.

Novels Sun Grows Cold, The (1971)  Chafing at his confinement within a claustrophobic underground shelter, an amnesiac patient escapes and sets out with a young woman across a war-ravaged Earth. The author‘s character insights and well-crafted prose make for engaging reading, but the hero‘s unexplained obsessions and relentless negativity eventually grow tiresome.

BERLINER, Janet  See under pseudonym JANET GLUCKMAN.

BERNA, Paul (1910-1994) French author of adventure books for young readers, whose SF novels include Continent in the Sky (1955; trans 1959) and Threshold of the Stars (1954; trans 1958).

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Novels Continent in the Sky (1955; trans 1959)  See complete GUIDE.

Threshold of the Stars (1954; trans 1958) A young man and his father take part in a top secret manned space program. JUV  ―Sparkles with a spirit of adventure and wonder . . . refreshing . . . four stars out of five‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, August 1962). ***  ―An especially good piece of writing . . . [though] perhaps a little too much ―scientific‖ double-talk‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, January 1962). ***

BERRYMAN, John (1919-1988) US author whose fiction appeared in Astounding and other SF magazines. Acclaimed short fiction: The Trouble With Telstar (1963) and Berom (1951). Pseudonyms: William C. Bailey and Walter Bupp.

Stories “X” for Expendable (1952-as by William C. Bailey)  An interplanetary police agent attempts to track down a gang of evildoers who plan to build a REALLY BIG atom bomb. A story made virtually unreadable by cardboard characters and hopelessly inane dialogue. (Dynamic Science Fiction, December 1952)

BESTER, Alfred (1913-1987) US editor, scriptwriter, and author, whose novels include The Rat Race (1953) and Tender Loving Rage (1991). Acclaimed short fiction: The Animal Fair (1972- finalist for the 1972 Nebula award), The Die-Hard (1958), Disappearing Act (1953), 5,271,009 (1954), The Flowered Thundermug (1964), The Four-Hour Fugue (1974-finalist for the 1975 Hugo award), Hell Is Forever (1942), Hobson’s Choice (1952), Ms. Found in a Champagne Bottle (1968), The Men Who Murdered Mohammed (1958-finalist for the 1959 Hugo award for best short story), Oddy and Id (1950), Of Time and Third Avenue (1951), Out of This World (1964), Push of a Finger (1942), Star Light, Star Bright (1953), They Don’t Make Life Like They Used To (1963), and Time Is the Traitor (1953). Pseudonyms: Sonny Powell.

Quotes On the etiquette of sex: ―Do you take your clothes off before or after you make love to a woman?‖ ().

BESTER--BEYER...... 44

On ambition:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels and Collections Computer Connection, The (1975) Eager to achieve the next stage in human evolution, a group of eccentric immortals unintentionally awaken a malevolent supercomputer whose goal is the elimination of human life on Earth.  ―Will grab your interest . . . a tour de force . . . purely entertaining‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, February 1976). ***  ―A jumbled, confusedly hectic tale . . . goes sour . . . devours itself‖ (John Clute, F&SF, February 1977). **  Finalist for the 1976 Hugo award for best novel.  Finalist for the 1975 Nebula award for best novel.

Dark Side of the Earth, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Deceivers, The (1981)  See complete GUIDE.

Demolished Man, The (1953)  A fast-paced thriller about a super- rational telepath who commits the perfect murder, then almost manages to get away with it. The suspense is undercut, unfortunately, by the hero‘s unsympathetic arrogance.  ―Very possibly the best fusion of science and crime fiction to date . . . masterful . . . a striking tour-de-force‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, July 1953 – March 1954 – June 1954). ***1/2  ―As fascinating a study of character as I have ever read . . . a superb murder-detective story‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, September 1953). ***1/2  ―A virtuoso job‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, November 1954). ***1/2  ―Pulls off every gimmick in a writer's retinue . . . completely different and effective . . . although the plot when recited sounds asinine, and the pace and special-effects slacken somewhat at about the halfway mark . . . an important experiment‖ (, Science-Fiction Plus, August 1953). **1/2  ―Never quite appreciated [it]‖ (Hans Stefan Santesson, Fantastic Universe, September 1958). **  Winner of the 1953 Hugo award for best novel.  Finalist for the 1954 International Fantasy award for best fiction.  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

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Extro (1975)  See complete GUIDE.

Golem100 (1980)  See complete GUIDE.

Indian Giver, The (1974)  See complete GUIDE.

Starburst (1958) A collection of eleven stories, including Oddy and Id (1950), Hobson’s Choice (1952), Disappearing Act (1953), Star Light, Star Bright (1953), The Starcomber (1954), Fondly Fahrenheit (1954), Of Time and Third Avenue (1951), and The Die-Hard (1958).  ―One of the most notable single-author collections ever published in our field . . . magnificent . . . sparkle even more brilliantly when strung together . . . may well be the Book of the Year‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, August 1958). ***1/2  ―A book for fans to devour . . . constructed with awesome skill . . . two stories are trivial, one is flatly bad, and the other eight begin at excellent and go upward from there‖ (Robert Silverberg, Infinity, November 1958). ***1/2  ―Very respectable . . . good‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1959). ***  ―I don’t ‘dig’ the world of Alfred Bester‖ (Hans Stefan Santesson, Fantastic, September 1958). **

Starlight: The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Bester (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Stars My Destination, The (1956; rev 1957)  An energetic but not entirely credible tale which mixes , planet-busting super- explosives, and large doses of futuristic wonder. The hero, an ordinary spaceship mechanic turned vengeful killer, tracks his would-be assassins across the solar system, but runs afoul of spies, radioactive villains, Maori space pirates, and super-wealthy oligarchs. Like Cordwainer Smith, Bester‘s prose is highly stylized. Rank improbabilities are disguised by the hyperkinetic plot and constant stream of pseudo- scientific hokum: ―Time was when Dagenham was one of the Inner Planets’ research wizards, a physicist with inspired intuition, total recall, and a sixth-order computer for a brain.‖  ―You’ll find the richest rewards . . . pyrotechnically dazzling . . . seems regrettably short‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, August 1957). ***1/2  ―An unquestioned classic . . . one of his all-too-rare masterpieces‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, September 1975). ***1/2

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 ―Glorious insanity . . . more vigorous and fresh than most ―new‖ books you’ll see‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, August 1987). ***1/2  ―Classic . . . beg, borrow, or even (gasp!) buy a copy . . . a novel without which SF would probably have taken a different path, a turning point indeed‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, Mid-December 1987). ***1/2  ―Isn’t quite up to the author’s first SF book, but it’s in the top rank‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, November 1957). ***  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

Tiger! Tiger! (1956)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Adam and No Eve (1941)  A dramatic but predictable tale about a scientist who invents a super powerful rocket fuel. (STARBURST)  ―Classic‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, August 1958). ***1/2  ―Top-notch‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, June 1955). ***  ―Hardly dated at all, a vivid and unforgettable story‖ (Robert Silverberg, Infinity, November 1958). ***  ―A lot of woodenness and contrivance‖ (John Clute, F&SF, February 1977). ** Flowered Thundermug, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Fondly Fahrenheit (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Men Who Murdered Mohammed, The (1958) A genius constructs a time machine, goes back in time to murder his wife‘s ancestors, and returns to find his spouse thriving and happy. A brilliantly original tale. (DARK SIDE OF EARTH)  ―Quite possibly the funniest time-travel story ever written . . . hilarious‖ (Robert Silverberg, Amazing, December 1964). ***1/2  ―A dazzling, dizzying variant‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, June 1959). ***  ―Delightful‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1959). ***  ―A faint purr‖ (Avram Davidson, F&SF, May 1975). **1/2  Finalist for the 1959 Hugo award for best short story. Of Time and Third Avenue (1951)  See complete GUIDE. Out of This World (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Pi Man, The (1959)  A cryptic, literary story about a superman who creates balance in the universe by conserving joy and happiness, then finds himself falling in love. (DARK SIDE OF THE EARTH)  ―Superior‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, December 1960). ***1/2  ―Excellent . . . at once a joy and a dismay to less gifted writers . . . lively, clever and stylistically coruscating‖ (Robert Silverberg,

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Amazing, August – December 1964). ***1/2  ―One of his zany experiments [that] leaves me behind‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, August 1960). **  Finalist for the 1960 Hugo award for best short story. They Don’t Make Life Like They Used To (1964) A manic tale about the last two survivors of a holocaust who make their home in a city whose skyscrapers are falling apart. A superbly characterized story which is both sexy and fun. (DARK SIDE OF THE EARTH) Time Is the Traitor (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Will You Wait? (1959)  See complete GUIDE.

BETHKE, Bruce (1955-) US author, whose SF books include (1995) and Rebel Moon (1996-with Vox Day).

Novels Headcrash (1995) A computer geek working for a large corporation gets fired by his tyrannical boss, but romanced in cyberspace by a woman who wants access to his employer‘s database.  Winner of the 1995 Philip K. Dick award for best original SF paperback.

BEYER, William Gray (-) US author of Minions of the Moon (1940) and Minions of (1941).

Novels Minions of the Moon (1950)  See complete GUIDE.

BIBLE, The (ca. 150 AD) In addition to its significance as a religious and historical document, the Bible includes many fantastic stories including the tale of a man swallowed by a big fish, a deluge sent by Yahweh which lasted forty days and forty nights, the parting of the Red Sea, and the Earth‘s creation in seven days. Thus some of the Bible‘s most vivid and memorable stories incorporate what some might consider fantastic elements today.

Quotes On creation: ―In the beginning of creation, when God made heaven and earth, the earth was without form and void, with darkness over the face of the abyss, and a mighty wind that swept over the surface of the waters. God said, ‗Let there be light,‘ and there was light; and God saw that the light was good, and he separated light from darkness. He called

BIBLE—BIGGLE...... 48

the light day, and the darkness night. So evening came, and morning came, the first day‖ (Genesis 1:1).

On slavery: ―When a man sells his daughter into slavery, she shall not go free as a male slave may. If her master has not had intercourse with her and she does not please him, he shall let her be ransomed‖ (Exodus:7).

On faith:  See complete GUIDE.

On a woman’s duty:  See complete GUIDE.

On wisdom:  See complete GUIDE.

On man’s temptation: ―For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell‖ (Proverbs 5:3).

On homosexuality:  See complete GUIDE.

On the chosen:  See complete GUIDE.

On war: ―All they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword‖ (Matthew 26:52).

On the Day of Judgment: ―All who are found will be stabbed, all who are taken will fall by the sword; their infants will be dashed to the ground before their eyes, their houses rifled and their wives ravished . . . and the earth shall be shaken from its place at the fury of the Lord of Hosts‖ (Isaiah 13:16).

BICKHAM, Jack M. (1930-1997) US author and professor of writing, whose SF novels include Ariel (1984) and Day Seven (1988). Bickham has also written westerns, thrillers and mainstream fiction, including the Wildcat O’Shea series (1966-1983), The Apple Dumpling Gang (1971), Twister (1977), and Miracle-Worker (1987). Pseudonyms: John Miles.

Novels Ariel (1984)  See complete GUIDE.

Day Seven (1988) A signal from Mars triggers a race to the Red Planet,

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but the death of NASA‘s training director raises the specter of sabotage.  ―The answers are entirely predictable . . . still, many will surely find it a satisfying thriller‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, March 1989). **1/2

BIEMILLER, Carl L. (1912-1979) US businessman, publisher, editor, journalist, and author, whose novels for young readers include The Magic Ball from Mars (1953), Hydronauts (1970), and Escape from the Crater: More Adventures of the Hydronauts (1974).

Novels Starboy (1956) The friendship of two boys from different worlds provides a model for interstellar cooperation. Also published as Jonny and the Boy from Space (1954) . JUV  ―Seems excellent, and even adults may find a quiet charm in it‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, February 1957). ***  ―Enjoyable‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, January 1957). **1/2

BIERCE, Ambrose (1842-1914?) US journalist, editorialist, satirist, critic, and author, whose books include Can Such Things Be? (1983), Fantastic Fables (1899), Shapes of Clay (1903), and The Devil’s Dictionary (1906). Bierce fought in the Civil War, was wounded at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, and disappeared while traveling with rebel troops in Mexico in 1913. Acclaimed short fiction: A Bottomless Grave (1911), The Damned Thing (1893), Eyes of the Panther (1897), The Haunted Valley (1871), and The Ingenious Patriot (1891).

Stories Moxon’s Master (1893)  See complete GUIDE. Staley Fleming’s Hallucination (1909)  A short tale about a murderer who falls prey to his victim‘s spectral dog. (Cosmopolitan, March 1906)

BIGGLE, Lloyd, Jr. (1923-2002) US musician, historian, and author, whose SF books include Monument (1974), A Galaxy of Strangers (1976), The Whirligig of Time (1979), Alien Main (1985-with T. L. Sherred), and The Chronocide Mission (2002). Biggle also wrote five mystery novels. Acclaimed short fiction: And Madly Teach (1966), The Frayed String on the Stretched Forefinger of Time (1971), In His Own Image (1968), Judgement Day (1958), Monument

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(1961-finalist for the 1962 Hugo award for best short fiction), Orphan of the Void (1960), The Perfect Punishment (1965), Petty Larceny (1958), The Rule of the Door (1958), Secret Weapon (1958), and The Tunesmith (1957).

Quotes On exporting democracy: ―Democracy is not a form of government; it is a state of mind. People cannot be arbitrarily placed in a state of mind‖ (The Still, Small Voice of Trumpets).

On regime change:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels and Collections Alien Main, The (1985)  See complete GUIDE.

All the Colors of Darkness (1963)  See complete GUIDE.

Angry Espers, The (1961)  See complete GUIDE.

Fury Out of Time, The (1965) A crashed spacecapsule prompts an investigation by military intelligence and sets an embittered air force engineer on a journey through time.  ―A warmly believable character . . . some of the neatest time- travel non-paradoxes I have come across‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, November 1965). ***

Light That Never Was, The (1972) A planet devoted to the arts becomes the focus of anti-alien prejudice and genocide.  ―Bad . . . a failure in dramatic resolution . . . awful‖ (Joanna Russ, F&SF, February 1973). *

Metallic Muse, The (1977) A collection of seven stories, including The Tunesmith (1957), Orphan of the Void (1960), and In His Own Image (1968).  ―Readable . . . sometimes amusing, sometimes poignant‖ (Theodore Sturgeon, Galaxy, January 1973). **1/2

Rule of the Door and Other Fanciful Regulations, The (1967)  See complete GUIDE.

Silent Sky, The (1967)  A collection of nine stories whose appealing wit and dry humor recalls the understated fiction of John Wyndham. Standouts include Judgement Day (1958), Rule of the Door

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(1958), and Petty Larceny (1958). Also published as The Rule of the Door and Other Fanciful Regulations (1967).  ―Nine varied stories‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1968). **1/2

Still, Small Voice of Trumpets, The (1961; 1968)  See complete GUIDE.

This Darkening Universe (1975)  See complete GUIDE.

Tunesmith (1957)  In a future in which classical music has been crowded out by more popular forms, a serious musician eschews the simplistic techniques of his peers and advocates a return to traditional practices. The author offers good SF extrapolation, credible characters, and effective story-telling, but the ending is a downer.  ―One of the best yarns in the book‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, December 1958). ***

Watchers of the Dark (1966)  See complete GUIDE.

World Menders, The (1971) A trainee in the Galactic Cultural Survey undertakes a study of the advanced inhabitants of Banoff IV, but learns that the planet‘s remarkably enlightened society is dependent on the enslavement of another race. The second book in the Cultural Survey series.  ―Annoys me . . . one of the most provocative ideas ever to come up the pike . . . [but problems with the credibility of the plot]‖ (Theodore Sturgeon, Galaxy, January 1973). **

Stories And Madly Teach (1966)  See complete GUIDE. Bridle Shower (1958)  See complete GUIDE. Department of Future Crime (1966)  See complete GUIDE. D.F.C. (1957)  A scientist‘s invention of a machine which predicts the future causes him to forecast the murder of his own girlfriend. The ending, unfortunately, employs an unsatisfying deus ex machina. (THE SILENT SKY) Judgement Day (1958) A convicted murderer awaits execution for a crime he didn‘t commit. A powerful story with superbly-drawn characters. (THE SILENT SKY) On the Dotted Line (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Pariah Planet (1965)  See complete GUIDE. Perfect Punishment, The (1965)  An Earthman kills an alien in

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self-defense and is sentenced to penal servitude on a world where inmates are required to reenact their crimes once every week. The premise is clever and the characters well-drawn, but the ending is straight out of Kafka. Also published as Pariah Planet (1965). (THE SILENT SKY)  ―Another good one‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1968). *** Petty Larceny (1958)  See complete GUIDE. Rule of the Door, The (1958)  Professor Skarn Skukarn sets out across the galaxy in order to obtain a specimen of intelligent life from a minor planet called Earth. A rare and delightful story, full of wit, wisdom, and compassion. (THE SILENT SKY) (THE RULE OF THE DOOR) Secret Weapon (1958)  See complete GUIDE. Slight Case of Limbo, A (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Wings of Song (1963)  The galaxy‘s last wood-carver attempts to repair an ancient musical instrument. The characters and story resonate with nostalgia for bygone days. (THE SILENT SKY)

BINDER, Eando  Pseudonym of US authors (and brothers) EARL ANDREW BINDER (1904-1965) and OTTO OSCAR BINDER (1911-1975), whose roughly twenty SF novels include The Cancer Machine (1940), Enslaved Brains (1965), Anton York, Immortal (1965), Puzzle of the Space Pyramids (1971), and The Mind from Outer Space (1972). Acclaimed short fiction: Teacher from Mars (1941) and Via Etherline (1937). Pseudonyms: Ian Frances Turek and John Coleridge.

Novels Adam Link, Robot (1939; 1965) A collection of seven linked stories about a robot who is wrongly accused of murdering his creator, but gets a chance to rehabilitate himself by taking on alien invaders.  ―I found myself reading [it] straight through in spite of the primitive structure and pulp prose‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, May 1966). **1/2

BINGHAM, Roger (-) US (?) author, whose sole SF novel is Wild Card (1974-with Raymond Hawkey).

BISCHOFF, David (1951-) US science fiction author, whose fifty plus novels include The Selkie (1982-with Charles Sheffield), Nightworld (1979), and the Dragonstar series (1980-1989). Acclaimed short fiction: The Warmth of the Stars (1983).

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Novels Personal Demon, A (1985-with Rich Brown and Linda Richardson) An expert on demonology awakens a sexy denizen from hell.  ―A good deal more fun . . . avoids clichés . . . the problems with the book are that the authors' description of Hell lacks a certain consistency . . . either way, Ana is just not devilish enough‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, April 1986). **1/2

Selkie, The (1982)  See complete GUIDE.

Star Fall (1980) A series of misadventures befall the passengers of an exotic galactic cruise ship.  ―Howlers . . . his grammar and syntax are dreadful . . . he misuses common, basic words . . . clumsy . . . I cannot account for this book publication‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, December 1980). *

Tin Woodman (1979-with Dennis R. Bailey)  See complete GUIDE.

BISHOP, Michael (1945-) US author, whose SF books include Windows & Mirrors (1977), Transfigurations (1979), Who Made Stevie Crye? (1984), Close Encounters with the Deity (1986), Time Pieces (1998), and Brighten to Incandescence: 17 Stories (2003). Acclaimed short fiction: Apartheid, Superstrings, and Mordecai Thubana (1991-finalist for the 1990 World Fantasy and 1991 Nebula awards for best novella), Blooded on Arachne (1975-nominated for the 1975 Nebula award for best novelette), Blue Kansas Sky (2000-finalist for the 2001 World Fantasy award for best novella), Cathadonian Odyssey (1974-finalist for the 1975 Hugo award for best short story), Cri de Coeur (1994-finalist for the 1995 Hugo award for best novella), Death and Designation Among the Asadi (1973-finalist for the 1974 Hugo award for best novella), A Gift from the Graylanders (1985-finalist for the 1986 Hugo and 1985 Nebula awards for best novelette), Her Habiline Husband (1983), The House of Compassionate Sharers (1977), If a flower Could Eclipse (1970), Life Regarded as a Jigsaw Puzzle of Highly Lustrous Cats (1991-finalist for the 1992 Nebula award for best short story), Monkey’s Bride (1983-finalist for the 1984 World Fantasy award for best novella), The Ommatidium Miniatures (1989), On the Street of the Serpents (1974-finalist for the 1974 Nebula award for best novella), Pinon Fall (1970), The Quickening (1981-winner of the 1981 Nebula award and finalist for the 1982 Hugo award for best novelette), The Samurai and the Willows (1976-finalist for the 1976 Nebula and 1977

BINDER—BISHOP—BIXBY...... 54

Hugo award for best novella), Vernalfest Morning (1979-finalist for the 1979 Nebula award for best hsort story), The White Otters of Childhood (1973-finalist for the 1973 Nebula and 1974 Hugo awards for best novella), and Within the Walls of Tyre (1978-finalist for the 1979 World Fantasy award for best short fiction).

Novels and Collections Ancient of Days (1985) A restaurant owner discovers a multimillion-year old hominid wandering in his pecan orchard who arouses the educational zeal of his former wife.  ―All anticlimax . . . far more potent when it was only a novella‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, May 1986). **  The novella Her Habiline Husband (1983) was a finalist for the 1983 Nebula award.

Blooded on Arachne (1982)  See complete GUIDE.

Brittle Innings (1994) A coming-of-age tale about a young shortstop from Oklahoma and an ungainly first basemen who together lead their Class C baseball team to the pennant.  ―Frankenstein's ‘monster’ has been brought back before, but never to such powerful effect . . . Bishop's success rests partly in his imaginative and daring . . . a warm evocation of a time, and a powerful re-imagining of a central figure of SF's underlying myth . . . of many fine SF novels . . . comes closest to being a serious candidate for the Great American Novel‖ (Moshe Feder, Asimov’s, Mid-December 1994). ***1/2

Catacomb Years (1979)  See complete GUIDE.

Count Geiger’s Blues (1992)  See complete GUIDE.

Funeral for the Eyes of Fire, A (1975) Two earthmen flee the hivelike future society of the Urban Nucleus and take a job relocating a community of nonconformists from the planet Trope to an inhospitable region on another planet.  Alexei & Cory Panshin‘s August 1975 review in F&SF: a mixed bag, though very good for a first novel. **1/2  Nominated for the 1975 Nebula award for best novel.

Little Knowledge, A (1977)  See complete GUIDE.

No Enemy But Time (1982) A black American is displaced millions of

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years back in time to an Africa populated by ancient protohumans.  ―Overall a pleasure to read . . . its treatment of anthropology is so effective that the few flaws are easily overlooked‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, September 1982). ***  ―A gritty, vividly realistic picture . . . I could have used . . . more fiction in the science fiction‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, October 1982). **1/2  Winner of the 1982 Nebula award for best novel.  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

One Winter in Eden (1984)  See complete GUIDE.

Secret Ascension (1987) The ghost of Philip K. Dick visits the wife of a Georgia pet shop salesman and sets about saving the world after four terms with Richard Nixon as President of the United States. Also published as Philip K. Dick Is Dead, Alas (1987).  ―[Demonstrates an] ability to create characters who are believable and believably good people . . . [including] Bishop's wonderful version of Philip K. Dick himself . . . excels as a story . . . tension and danger from beginning to end . . . the audience can read the book passionately, with sweating fingers, eager to see what happens next . . . a damn fine book . . . [however] . . . Bishop's version of Nixon is not a character, but a caricature . . . turns his otherwise fine novel into an exercise in falsehood . . . the literary equivalent of a lynching‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, February 1988). **1/2  ―Makes his book an act of worship for Philip K. Dick . . . Bishop seems quite explicitly to be talking out his grief for a writer he knew and loved‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, May 1988). **

Stolen Faces (1977)  See complete GUIDE.

Under Heaven’s Bridge (1980-with Ian Watson)  See complete GUIDE.

Unicorn Mountain (1988) A Colorado rancher comes to the aid of a herd of unicorns dying of a strange illness.  ―Works very well indeed . . . Bishop handles [the symbolism] deftly and effectively‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, December 1988). ***  ―[In the beginning] I nearly gagged on the officious sweetness of it all . . . wonderful . . . richly human and full of sensible magic‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, September 1988). ***

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BISSON, Terry (1942-) US author of , whose novels include Wyrldmaker (1981), Fire on the Mountain (1988), The Pick-Up Artist (2001), and Planet of Mystery (2006). Acclaimed short fiction: (1990-winner of the 1990 Nebula and 1991 Hugo awards for short fiction), By Permit Only (1993), Dead Man’s Curve (1994-finalist for the 1995 Hugo award for best short story), England Underway (1993-finalist for the 1993 Nebula and 1994 Hugo award for best short story), Get Me to the Church on Time (1998-finalist for the 1999 Hugo award for best novella), (1999-winner of the 2000 Nebula award and finalist for the 2000 Hugo award for best short story), Necronauts (1993-finalist for the 1994 Nebula award for best novelette), Over Flat Mountain (1990), Press Ann (1991-finalist for the 1992 Hugo award for best short story), The Shadow Knows (1993-finalist for the 1994 Hugo award for best novelette), They’re Made Out of Meat (1991-finalist for the 1991 Nebula award for best short story), Two Guys from the Future (1992), and The Two Janets (1990).

Novels and Collections Bears Discover Fire (1993) A collection of nineteen stories, including Over Flat Mountain (1990), Bears Discover Fire (1990), The Two Janets (1990), They’re Made Out of Meat (1991), Necronauts (1993), By Permit Only (1993), and The Shadow Knows (1993).  ―No one has mined this evocative territory like Bisson‖ (John Kessel, F&SF, February 1994). ***

Pirates of the Universe (1996)  See complete GUIDE.

Talking Man (1986)  A Mississippi hillbilly with a knack for fixing old cars sets out on a phantasmagoric trip across country in a 1962 Chrysler, all the while listening to nostalgic radio tunes and steering clear of former demon-lover Dgene. An enchanting backwoods fantasy.  ―Brings off his story . . . with panache‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, May 1987). ***  ―Carries you along . . . the images stay‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, May 1987). ***  Nominated for the 1987 World Fantasy award.

Voyage to the Red Planet (1990)  See complete GUIDE.

BIXBY, Jerome (1923-1998) Working name of US editor, screenwriter, and author DREXEL JEROME LEWIS BIXBY,

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whose SF and horror tales are collected in Space by the Tale (1964) and Devil’s Scrapbook (1964). Bixby also wrote screenplays for Fantastic Voyage (1966) and It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1979), as well as for several episodes of (1967-1969) and The Twilight Zone (1983). Acclaimed short fiction: The Draw (1953), It’s a Good Life (1953), The Magic Typewriter (1963), and Who Shall Dwell... (1962). Pseudonyms: Harry Neal, H. C. Neal (?), D. B. Lewis, Jay B. Drexel, and others.

Collections Space by the Tale (1964)  A collection of eleven lively, if somewhat dated, stories. Standouts include The Magic Typewriter (1963) and The Draw (1954).  ―Only one of the lot is at all memorable . . . but the rest are good entertainment‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1965). **1/2

Stories Angels in the Jets (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Bad Life, The (1962) An unpleasant tale about a man stranded on an asteroid with savage murderers. (SPACE BY THE TAIL)  ―One you won’t forget . . . grimly brutal‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1965). **1/2 Battle of the Bells, The (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Draw, The (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Good Dog, The (1953) A lame trick-the-Devil tale involving a dog unfairly consigned to hell. (SPACE BY THE TALE) It’s a Good Life (1953)  A brilliant tale about average people trapped in a small town with a boy who possesses paranormal powers.  ―Completely terrifying‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, July 1954). ***  ―One of the most powerful and appalling science fiction stories ever written‖ (Alfred Bester, F&SF, January 1961). ***1/2  ―Superduper topnotcher‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Analog, August 1961). ***1/2 Laboratory, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Magic Typewriter, The (1963)  A bawdy, clever tale about a lecherous hedonist who comes into possession of a typewriter ruled by a magic genie. (SPACE BY THE TALE)  ―Fine—up to a point‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1965). **1/2 Old Testament (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

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One Way Street (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Page and Player (1952-as by Harry Neal)  A simple farmer on the backwater world of Goran III stumbles upon a vicious murderer. (, August 1952). Small War (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Trace (1961)  See complete GUIDE. Who Shall Dwell . . . (1962-as by H. C. Neal)  A surprising tale about a family forced to make hard decisions in the minutes leading up to nuclear attack. Packs a wallop. (Playboy, July 1962) Young One, The (1953)  An unmemorable story about a young werewolf who tries to befriend a local farm boy. (SPACE BY THE TALE)

BLACKBURN, John (1923-) UK author of suspense thrillers, whose books of speculative interest include A Scent of New- Mown Hay (1958) and Children of the Night (1966).

Quotes On the Germanic people: We Germans respect authority . . . perhaps it is our national vice. Someone called us a race of carnivorous sheep . . . he may have been right‖ (A Scent of New-Mown Hay).

Novels Bury Him Darkly (1969) The pursuit of a family curse leads to the sealed and booby trapped tomb of an alleged Satanist.  ―An excellent example of one of the minor, but venerable sf sub- genres—science fiction crossed with the Gothic horror tale . . . well done‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, October 1970). ***

Children of the Night (1966)  See complete GUIDE.

Scent of New-Mown Hay, A (1958)  A distinguished British biologist tries to halt the spread of a ghastly man-made disease, born of a defunct Nazi weapons program. A suspenseful tale which offers a genuinely creepy variant on the Frankenstein theme. However, the final resolution, in which the villains are kept talking to explain the mystery, smacks of hoary old detective movies from the 1940s.  ―Excellent . . . coincidence runs amok . . . the story is beautifully developed both in suspense and unfolding logic‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding-Analog, September-November 1959 - October 1970). ***

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Sour Apple Tree, A (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

BLACKWOOD, Algernon (1869-1951) UK author, whose shorter works of horror and are gathered in A Mysterious House (1889), The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories (1906), The Listener and Other Stories (1907), The Lost Valley and Other Stories (1910), Incredible Adventures (1914), and many subsequent collections. Blackwood‘s novels include The Centaur (1911), Le Vallon (1916) and The Bright Messenger (1921). Acclaimed short fiction: Ancient Sorceries (1908) and The Trod (1910).

Collections In the Realm of Terror (1957) A collection of eight horror stories, including The Willows (1907), A Psychical Invasion (1908), and The Man Whom the Trees Loved (1912).  ―Unarguable masterpieces of occult fiction‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, August 1957). ***1/2

Tales of the Uncanny and Supernatural (1949)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Running (1920)  A fisherman camped out along the shore of a lake in northern Canada is stalked by a bedeviled wolf. A low-key horror tale which never quite sinks in its teeth. (TALES OF THE UNCANNY AND SUPERNATURAL) Trod, The (1946)  A young man sets out on a hunting trip across the moors of northern England, but gets distracted by faeries. Evocative writing with well-drawn characters and a suspenseful premise. (TALES OF THE UNCANNY AND SUPERNATURAL) Valley of the Beasts, The (1910)  See complete GUIDE.

BLAYLOCK, James P. (1950-) US author of more than a dozen fantasy and science fiction novels and collections, including The Digging Leviathan (1984) and Night Relics (1994). Acclaimed short fiction: The Better Boy (1991-with -finalist for the 1992 World Fantasy award for best short fiction), Thirteen Phantasms (1996- winner of the 1997 World Fantasy award for best short fiction), and Paper Dragons (1985-finalist for the 1985 Nebula award and winner of the World Fantasy award for best short story). Pseudonyms: William Hastings, William Ashbless.

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Novels All the Bells of Earth (1995) The proprietor of a toy and novelty cataloguing business comes upon an ancient good luck charm in the mail.  ―A deal-with-the-Devil story as only Blaylock can write it, full of madcap action and heart-warming insight . . . one Hell of a book‖ (F&SF, February 1996). ***  Finalist for the 1996 World Fantasy award for best novel.

Elfin Ship, The (1982)  See complete GUIDE.

Homunculus (1986) A well-meaning group of Victorian scientists and philosophers discover a tiny alien with the power to drive men to murder. The first book in the Homunculus series.  ―Quirky, fast-moving . . . [but] a few problems along the way . . . such a plethora of people that there's not that much room for a plot ...... the action (as opposed to the plot) . . . consists of [the characters] chasing and being chased and bashing each other all over the mid-Victorian landscape . . . a certain lack of focus . . . pretty consistently amusing‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, October 1986). **1/2  Winner of the 1986 Philip K. Dick award for best original SF paperback.

Last Coin, The (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

Paper Grail, The (1991)  See complete GUIDE.

Rainy Season, The (1999) A photographer discovers a freshwater spring on his property which turns out to be a portal to the past.  ―An enchanting novel that simply ends too soon‖ (Charles de Lint, F&SF, December 1999). ***

BLEILER, Everett F. (1920-) US science fiction editor, perhaps best known for his series of ―year‘s best‖ anthologies which he edited with T. E. Dikty. Acclaimed anthologies: The Best Science Fiction Stories: 1949-1954 (1949-1954; with T. E. Dikty), Frontiers in Space (1955), Imagination Unlimited (1952), Science Fiction Omnibus (1952), and The Year’s Best Science Fiction Novels: 1953 (1953-with T. E. Dikty).

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Anthologies: Best Science Fiction Stories (Fifth Series), The (1954-with T. E. Dikty) An anthology of ten entertaining stories. Standouts include ‘s DP! (1953), Walter M. Miller, Jr.‘s Crucifixus Etiam (1953), Richard Matheson‘s The Last Day (1953), William Morrison‘s The Model of a Judge (1953), G. Gordon Dewey‘s The Collectors (1953), and ‘s Lot (1953).  ―If I were buying only one anthology a year, I would be safe in waiting for [this] collection . . . no exception to the excellence of previous years‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, March 1955). ***1/2  ―Will make a fine addition to your library‖ (Henry Bott, Imagination, May 1955). ***  ―Among the best . . . strongly recommended‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, February 1955). ***  ―Not the ‘best’ of the 1953 output by a long shot, but it does contain some of the year’s best‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, March 1955). **1/2

BLISH, James (1921-1975) US science fiction author and critic, who served as a medical technician in the US Army during World War II, and whose books include The Seedling Stars (1956), The Vanished Jet (1968), and The Quincunx of Time (1973). Blish also published a series of Star Trek books (1967-1977), based on episodes adapted from the original television series. He was married to literary agent and, most recently, to author J. A. Lawrence. Acclaimed short fiction: Beep (1954), Darkside Crossing (1970), Earthman, Come Home (1953), Get Out of My Sky (1957), Nor Iron Bars (1957), Okie (1950), Sargasso of Lost Cities (1952), Shipwrecked Hotel (1965-with Norman L. Knight; nominated for the 1965 Nebula award for best novelette), Skysign (1968), Sunken Universe (1942), Surface Tension (1952), There Shall Be No Darkness (1950), A Time to Survive (1956), We All Die Naked (1969-finalist for the 1970 Hugo award for best novella), A Work of Art (1956), and The Writing of the Rat (1956). Pseudonyms: William Atheling, Jr. and Arthur Merlyn.

Critical Overview & Quotes – With the universe giving way to the combined forces of science and faith, the death of a man or of the universe itself holds no fear for the enlightened Christian. Though James Blish allows, in his fiction, that bad things can and will happen to ordinary men, the affirmation of God makes these travails of secondary importance. Death, as it turns out, is only the ―beginning.‖

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On the birth-cries of the universe: ―And it was then and there, in the utter silences of intergalactic space, that their instruments detected for the first time in human history the whispers of continuous creation: the tiny ping of new atoms of hydrogen being born, one by one, out of nothing at all . . . no one could view the birth . . . out of what was demonstrably nothingness, without being shaken by the conviction that there must also be a Creator‖ (The Triumph of Time).

On interstellar travel:  See complete GUIDE.

On faith in science: ―Once you give a scientist the idea that a certain goal can be reached, you‘ve given him more than half of the information he needs‖ (They Shall Have Stars).

On success:  See complete GUIDE.

On a woman’s right to choose: It‘s the women who control the situation . . . they‘re the ones who get to say no. The real freedom is all on their side‖ (Skysign).

On your typical elitist:  See complete GUIDE.

On evangelical faith:  See complete GUIDE.

On the impact of immortality: ―Think for the moment . . . what it will do to the religious people . . . what happens to the after-life if you never need to leave this one?‖ (They Shall have Stars)

On self-interest:  See complete GUIDE.

On man’s fate:  See complete GUIDE.

On fear of death: ―Weakness is fear. Fear is evil‖ (VOR).

On the universal bottom line:  See complete GUIDE.

On scientific research: ―All the science I ever needed to know I got out of a bottle of scotch‖ (Blish attribution in Barry Malzberg‘s Galaxies).

On the epitaph of Man: ―‗We did not have the time to learn everything that we wanted to know‘‖ (The Triumph of Time).

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Novels and Collections And All the Stars a Stage (1971)  See complete GUIDE.

Anywhen (1971)  A collection of eight stories, including The Writing of the Rat (1956) and Skysign (1968).  ―Seven excellent stories . . . [but] passionless . . . there is no blood there2‖ (Harlan Ellison, F&SF, June 1971). **1/2

Best of James Blish, The (1979)  See complete GUIDE.

Black Easter (1968) Exploitative arms dealers hire a black magician to loose the demons of Hell, thereby touching off a cataclysmic war.  ―The portraits of the magicians are superb . . . the most enjoyable Blish I’ve ever read‖ (Samuel R. Delany, Amazing, November 1968). ***1/2  ―One of the most chilling books I have ever read . . . perfect as it stands‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, March 1981). ***1/2  ―Brilliant . . . beautifully worked . . . bare, powerful, and immensely suggestive . . . a stunning book‖ (Joanna Russ, F&SF, December 1968). ***1/2  ―Left me curiously dissatisfied . . . unreasonably inflated‖ (Algis Budrys, Galaxy, January 1969). **  Finalist for the 1968 Nebula award for best novel.  Selected by James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock as one of the 100 best fantasy novels.

Case of Conscience, A (1958)  An ambiguous melodrama about an anxiety-ridden priest who considers the spiritual status of a race of sentient reptiles. He concludes the aliens were created by the Devil to lead mankind into chaos and must be destroyed. A carefully-wrought tale whose powerful theme leaves the reader wanting more.  ―[One of] the ten best books of the 1950’s‖ (Damon Knight, F&SF, April 1960). ***1/2  ―A masterpiece . . . a landmark in science fiction‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, November 1958). ***1/2  ―Intriguing . . . thought-provoking . . . not equally successful on all the levels . . . marvelous exposition of character‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, August 1958). ***  ―Extreme unevenness . . . a provocative, serious, commendable work‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, April 1959). **1/2

2 Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works.

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 ―The Catholic reader will be over-conscious of inadequacies, while the non-Catholic will simply wonder what all the shootin's fer . . . admirable . . . detailed care . . . a credible and moving figure . . . [but] loses focus and impact . . . wanders about among assorted subplots . . . errors of religious education which no Jesuit could possibly fall into . . . [a] chaotic . . . ending‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, August 1958). **  Winner of the 1959 Hugo award for best novel.  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

Cities in Flight (1955-1962)  See complete GUIDE.

Clash of Cymbals, A (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

Day After Judgment, The (1971)  See complete GUIDE.

Doctor Mirabilis (1964-not SF) A medieval philosopher is accused of sorcery and witchcraft, and spends thirteen years shackled in a .  ―A major work . . . all but incomprehensible . . . vast digressions . . . [but] warrants searching out‖ (Robert Silverberg, Amazing, March 1965). **1/2

Duplicated Man, The (1959-with Robert A. W. Lowndes) An agent for the Pro-Earth Party uses a matter duplication machine to stymie a push for war with Venus.  ―Deviousness of plotting . . . three and a half stars out of five‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, April 1960). ***  ―Suffers most from over-van Vogtian complication . . . it all becomes very confusing . . . a minor adventure yarn‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, March 1960 – March 1966). **

Earthman, Come Home (1950; 1955)  See complete GUIDE.

Fallen Star (1957)  A bleak tale, full of teeth-gnashing and whining, about a doomed expedition to the North Pole in search of otherworldly artifacts. The quest leads to the disquieting, though hardly surprising, revelation that modern civilization is on the verge of destruction. Melodramatic plotting and murky narration lessen the impact. Also published as The Frozen Year (1957).  ―By a long way the best that the author has done—even by his own tough standards . . . wonderful‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, October 1957). ***1/2

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 ―[His] most successful work to date . . . unflaggingly stimulating‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, June 1957). ***  ―Vivid, interesting characterization . . . the science is sound . . . the only major weakness comes at the end . . . a note of unfortunate anti-climax . . . still . . . one of Blish's and Ballantine's best . . . buy‖ (Lester Del Rey, Vanguard Science Fiction, June 1958). ***  ―Careful craftsmanship . . . [though] a strange and rather complicated [hero]‖ (Hans Stefan Santesson, Fantastic Universe, November 1957). **1/2  ―An exasperating book . . . [but] will make for cool, adventurous reading on a sweltering day‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, August 1957). **1/2

Frozen Year, The (1957)  See complete GUIDE.

Galactic Cluster (1959) A collection of eight stories from the 1950s, including Beep (1954), A Work of Art (1956), and Nor Iron Bars (1957).  ―Excellent‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1960). ***

Jack of Eagles (1952)  See complete GUIDE.

Life for the Stars, A (1962)  An unschooled sixteen-year old is shanghaied aboard the thug-run city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, whose economically-depressed populace has been lured into space with the promise of financial gain. Blish‘s yarn realistically chronicles the coming- of-age of his down-on-his luck hero, but the turgid action keeps the story from fully taking off. The second book in the Cities in Flight series. JUV

Midsummer Century (1972)  See complete GUIDE.

Mission to the Heart Stars (1965)  See complete GUIDE.

Night Shapes, The (1962) A search of uranium ore in the turns up a lost valley haunted by monstrous ―night shapes.‖ The hero, a latter-day Tarzan from Kansas, trades in his chimpanzee companion, , for a devoted super-python, outwits greedy imperialists and wins the favor of a beautiful widow. After a promising start, however, the story succumbs to rank implausibility.  ―I can’t make up my mind whether the author was a bit careless . . . all can be forgiven for the creation of that magnificent and magnificently curious python‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, March 1963). **1/2

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 ―Small inducement for those who hunger for something more substantial‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, April 1963). **

Seedling Stars, The (1957)  See complete GUIDE.

So Close to Home (1961)  See complete GUIDE.

Star Dwellers, The (1961) Space cadets negotiate a treaty between Earth and members of a super-advanced, million-year old race. The sequel to Mission to the Heart Stars (1965). JUV  ―A fairly routine piece of work‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1962). **1/2

Star Trek 2 (1968)  A collection of eight episodes from the original Star Trek television series, adapted by James Blish. The writing is excellent and the themes uniformly appealing. Includes the superb prequel to the second Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Khan (1982).  ―Managed to bring style, grace, and logic to the job of turning the scripts themselves into stories that a real SF writer could sign his name to without wincing‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, August 1981). ***  ―Tantalize more than they convey . . . no time to do more than pose a challenging idea . . . then let it fizzle out‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, April 1968). **

They Shall Have Stars (1956; rev 1957)  See complete GUIDE.

Titan’s Daughter (1961) Genetic experiments lead to the development of a strain of giant polyploids whose superior intelligence and longevity arouse the envy of ordinary mortals. While the scientific rationale is modestly intriguing, the story boils down to the old chestnut of a goofy professor with a hankering to father a race of . Revised and expanded from the short story Beanstalk (1952).  ―Illustrates the author’s thorough versatility . . . [but] a standard story . . . conventional SF‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, September 1961 – October 1966). **

Torrent of Faces, A (1967-with Norman L. Knight)  See complete GUIDE.

Triumph of Time, The (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

VOR (1958)  An unstoppable robotic doomsday device crashes into

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the wilds of Michigan, prompting government leaders to mobilize the Civil Air Patrol. The characters are sharply drawn, the background details believable, and the plot suspenseful. One of the author‘s more gripping tales. Expanded from the story, The Weakness of RVOG (1949-with Damon Knight).  ―Less ambitious but more successful—indeed the most satisfactory . . . of Blish's books to date . . . credible . . . plausible ingenuity . . . nice balance‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, August 1958). ***  ―I happen to like it‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, January 1959). ***  ―Surprisingly good . . . economy, precision, and scientific accuracy . . . moves swiftly and well, reaching a considerable peak of excitement . . . readable and exciting . . . [but] an inflated novelette . . . not science fiction‖ (Robert Silverberg, Infinity, November 1958). ***  ―[Not] enough meat in this story to be worth developing into a novel . . . the CAP background is authentic and impressively technical . . . [but the characters] simply get in the way . . . slowed to a crawl . . . endless, repetitive emotional Laocoöns . . . the writing itself..is as tortuous and knob-jointed as Blish's worst . . . the result is the same as if it were noise‖ (Damon Knight, IF, February 1959). *

Warriors of Day, The (1953)  See complete GUIDE.

Welcome to Mars! (1967)  An eighteen-year old discovers the secret of antigravity, builds a homemade spaceship disguised as a tree house, and accidentally maroons himself on Mars. The situation looks up, however, when a young female earthling braves the perils of space to keep him company. The author serves up a grim tale of survival on the Red Planet. JUV  ―Unbelievable but sort of fun‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, January 1969). **

Year 2018! (1957)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories And Some Were Savages (1960)  A rescue mission to a frontier planet attempts to undo damage wrought by the tobacco mosaic virus. (ANYWHEN)

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 ―Flat constructions . . . without . . . passion3‖ (Harlan Ellison, F&SF, June 1971). ** Beanstalk (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Beep (1954) A newly-invented device for instantaneous galactic communication provides access to every Dirac transmission that has or ever will be sent, providing scientists a means of listening in on the future and preventing disasters before they happen. Though a little dry at times, the story offers ample sense of wonder. (GALACTIC CLUSTER) (THE BEST OF JAMES BLISH)  ―Classic‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1957). *** Bindlestiff (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Bridge (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Common Time (1953)  The sole crewmember of an FTL ship on its first interstellar flight is horrified to find his mind stuck on Earth-local time while the rest of his body undergoes relativistic dilation. A credible tale up until the hero‘s existential encounter with the clinesterton beademung radioceles. An example of religious symbolism run seriously amok. (GALACTIC CLUSTER) (TESTAMENT OF ANDROS)  ―Extraordinary‖ (Paul Walker, Galaxy, February 1978). ****  ―A star item‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, March 1954). ***  ―A technically tangled story . . . strange time confusions . . . the reader’s trying to decide what’s going on‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1960). ** Dusk of Idols, A (1961)  See complete GUIDE. Earthman, Come Home (1953) The inhabitants of NYC decide to settle down in the Lesser Magellanic Cloud, but the proctors of Thor Five and the master traders of IMT have other plans. (EARTHMAN, COME HOME) How Beautiful with Banners (1966)  An attractive young female scientist exploring the world of takes a tumble after an unwanted alien sexual advance. Begins promisingly, but the long- winded prose proves the tale‘s undoing: ―The repeated nanosecond birth and death of primordial ylem the drills had induced while the cavern was being imploded had seemed to convulse the whole demon womb of this world, but in the present silence the very of the noise seemed false.‖ (ANYWHEN)  ―Strange and suggestive . . . wonderful choices‖ (John Kessel, F&SF, April 1994). ***  ―A little bewildering . . . [but] very well written‖ (Algis Budrys, Galaxy, October 1966). **1/2

3 Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works.

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 ―Rich, meaty, absorbing in its opening pages . . . it seems to run out of content half way through . . . a compelling emotional experience seems to degenerate into a pale dirty joke‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, September 1966). **  ―Flat constructions . . . without . . . passion4‖ (Harlan Ellison, F&SF, June 1971). ** No Jokes on Mars (1965)  See complete GUIDE. None So Blind (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Nor Iron Bars (1957)  The first ―FTL jump‖ hurls the Flyaway II 800 light years off course. A hard-SF story with intriguing concepts and plausible science. Reads like an episode from the original Star Trek series. (GALACTIC CLUSTER) Okie (1950)  The administrators of a spaceborne face a treacherous Nazi-like regime on the world of Gort. The plot is straight out of the pulps, but the background details are vivid and intriguing. (EARTHMAN, COME HOME) To Pay the Piper (1956)  See complete GUIDE. Sargasso of Lost Cities (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Skysign (1968)  An embittered hippie seizes control of a vast alien spaceship and uses it as a weapon against his enemies. A good story, though the hero wins a tad too easily. (ANYWHEN) Solar Plexus (1941, rev 1952)  See complete GUIDE. Style in Treason, A (1967)  Earth‘s Traitor-in-Chief arrives on the planet Boadacea under orders to overthrow the Green Exarch. The I’m-doing-this-for-your-own-good excuse is particularly relevant in the age of Islamic terrorism. (ANYWHEN)  Finalist for the 1970 Nebula award for best novella. Sunken Universe (1942)  See complete GUIDE. Surface Tension (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Weakness of RVOG, The (1949-with Damon Knight)  See complete GUIDE. Work of Art, A (1956)  See complete GUIDE. Writing of the Rat, The (1956)  Mankind discovers the habitable planets of the galaxy have been overrun by rat-like vermin. A moving plea for the maturation of our own species. (ANYWHEN)  ―The best in the book for me5‖ (Harlan Ellison, F&SF, June 1971). ***

4 Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works. 5 Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works.

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Stories adapted from the Star Trek television series (1968) Peace-loving Metrons pit Kirk against a Gorn warrior in a battle that will decide the fate of the stars. Based on an original script by Gene L. Coon. (STAR TREK 2) City on the Edge of Forever, The (1968)  See complete GUIDE. Court Martial (1968)  Federation authorities court-martial Kirk for allowing a personal grievance to warp his judgment and indirectly cause the death of a crewmember. A compelling drama with a satisfying resolution. Based on an original script by Don M. Mankiewicz and Steven W. Carabatsos. (STAR TREK 2) Errand of Mercy (1968)  See complete GUIDE. Operation – Annihilate (1968)  A spreading contagion threatens the Federation. Based on an original script by Steven W. Carabatsos. (STAR TREK 2) Space Seed (1968)  See complete GUIDE. Taste of Armageddon, A (1968) The Enterprise intervenes in a 500- year war between two worlds whose order the execution of inhabitants based on the results of simulated bombing attacks. Based on an original script by Robert Hamner and Gene L. Coon. (STAR TREK 2) Tomorrow is Yesterday (1968)  Thrown back to the year 1970 by a time warp, the Enterprise finds itself under attack by an Air Force fighter jet. Based on an original script by D. C. Fontana. (STAR TREK 2)

BLOCH, Robert (1917-1994) US author, whose more than forty books include Psycho (1959), Atoms and Evil (1962), Bogey Men (1963), Tales in a Jugular Vein (1965), Fear Today, Gone Tomorrow (1971), Cold Chills (1977), and Lori (1989). Acclaimed Short Fiction: The Animal Fair (1971), A Case of the Stubborns (1976), Crime Machine (1961), The Dream Makers (1953), The Model (1975), The Movie People (1969), The Opener of the Way (1936), See How They Run (1973), and A Way of Life (1956).

Quotes On self-delusion: ―Everybody has secrets, or almost everybody. It‘s better not to know the whole truth—about others, or about yourself. [People] need lies to help them. Lies about abstract justice and romantic love everlasting‖ (Word of Honor).

Novels Dead Beat, The (1959-not SF)  A routine suspense thriller about a

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lowlife jazz pianist who finds safe haven in suburbia and plots vengeance on the woman who rejected him.

Jekyll Legacy, The (1990-with )  See complete GUIDE.

Ladies’ Day & This Crowded Earth (1968) A collection of two science fiction novellas. Includes Ladies’ Day (1968), about a scientist who wakes up in a future in which women are in control of society; and This Crowded Earth (1958), about a man who begins to lose his grip on sanity but finds himself rewarded with an unexpectedly pleasant form of group therapy.

Lost in Time and Space with Lefty Feep (1987)  See complete GUIDE.

Night of the Ripper, The (1984-not SF) An American doctor in London has a close encounter with a sick puppy named Jack.  ―It’s certainly not SF, but it does deserve at least brief mention . . . grittily true to the period . . . gripping, gory stuff‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, April 1985). **1/2

Stories Fear Planet, The (1942)  See complete GUIDE. Hell-Bound Train, The (1958)  A lowlife drifter‘s attempt to outwit the devil and achieve immortality, lands him on a fast train to hell.  Winner of the 1959 Hugo award for best short story. Hungry Eye, The (1959) A mysterious jewel finds its way into the hands of a stand-up comedian. A creepy but routine variant on the standard ―vampire-from-the-stars‖ shtick. (FEAR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW) (BITTER ENDS) Old College Try, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Prowler in the City, The (1967)  See complete GUIDE. Son of a Witch (1942)  See complete GUIDE. Toy for Juliette, A (1967) An attractive young psychopath toys with with the mind of a famous mass-murderer. Gruesome, warped, and self-indulgent. (DANGEROUS VISIONS) Way of Life, A (1956)  A chuckle-worthy story about the rise of an evangelical SF movement in the aftermath of an apocalyptic nuclear war. Clever and amusing. (OUT OF MY HEAD) Word of Honor (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

BLOCK, Francesca Lia (1962-) US author, whose ―postmodern‖ young adult novels include Weetzie Bat (1989), Ecstasia

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(1993) and Dangerous Angels (1998). Acclaimed short fiction: Blue (1995).

Novels Baby Be-Bop (1995) A gay youth attempts to conceal his true nature, but is attacked by a gang of gay-bashers and retreats into dreams haunted by his long-dead relatives. The fifth book in the Weetzie Bat series.  ―Warmth, humor, truth, and a whimsical nature . . . like the best fairy tales and myths . . . timeless . . . I highly recommend [it]‖ (Charles de Lint, F&SF, May 1996). ***1/2

BLUM, Ralph (1932-) US novelist and New Age author, whose novels include The Simultaneous Man (1970) and Old Glory and the Real-Time Greaks (1972)—the latter reportedly drawing on his experiences as a paid medical volunteer for LSD testing.

Novels Simultaneous Man, The (1970)  See complete GUIDE.

BLUMLEIN, Michael (1948-) US physician and author, whose SF books include The Brains of Rats (1989) and The Healer (2005). Acclaimed short fiction: The Brains of Rats (1986-finalist for the 1987 World Fantasy award for best short fiction), Tissue Ablation and Variant Regeneration: A Case Report (1984), and The Wet Suit (1989).

Novels Healer, The (2005)  See complete GUIDE.

Movement of Mountains, The (1987) A doctor leaves a plague-ridden Earth to commune with strange humanoids on a distant colony world.  ―I was delighted . . . at once repulsive and fascinating . . . the clinically graphic sex . . . is off-putting . . . flaws and all, this is a marvelous first novel‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, January 1988). ***

X,Y (1993) A topless dancer awakens one morning after a drunken bout to discover she‘s a man.  ―One of Blumlein's triumphs . . . convincingly portray[s] how blind and deaf all of us are to real changes in those we are most familiar with . . . I had two minor problems with this otherwise compelling book . . . the lack of empathy possible with Frankie

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. . . [and] the [shallow] investigation of what a sex-role reversal means‖ (Paul di Filippo, Asimov’s, December 1994). ***  ―One of the stranger books you are likely to read this year . . . [the hero] grows increasingly unsympathetic . . . I can't say that X, Y is a fun read, or an uplifting story—but it's a fascinating one . . . becomes a haunting, iconic descent into the murky depths of sexuality‖ (John Kessel, F&SF, August 1994). **1/2

BOK, Hannes (1914-1964) US artist, illustrator, poet, and author, whose speculative fiction includes The Sorcerer’s Ship (1942), The Fox Woman and The Blue Pagoda (1946-with A. Merritt), The Black Wheel (1947-with A. Merritt), The Blue Flamingo (1948), Beyond the Golden Stair (1970), and Spinner of Silver and Whistle (1972).

BOND, H. Harvey  Pseudonym of author RUSS R. WINTERBOTHAM.

BOND, Nelson (1908-2006) US science fiction author, whose books include Exiles of Time (1949), That Worlds May Live (1970), and The Far side of Nowhere (2002). Acclaimed short fiction: The Abduction of Abner Greer (1941), The Last Outpost (1948), To People a New World (1950), and The World of William Gresham (1951).

Novels and Collections Nightmares and Daydreams (1968)  See complete GUIDE.

No Time Like the Future (1954)  See complete GUIDE.

Remarkable Exploits of Lancelot Biggs, Spaceman, The (1950) A collection of fourteen linked stories, chronicling the exploits of third mate Lancelot Biggs and the officers of a dilapidated space freighter. Includes F. O. B. Venus (1939), Honeymoon in Bedlam (1941), and Mr. Biggs Goes to town (1942).  ―A gumbo of good fun‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, March 1951). **1/2  ―Far inferior . . . juvenilitis‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, November 1950). *  ―Neither good science nor good fiction . . . painfully moronic . . . comedy‖ (Damon Knight, Worlds Beyond, December 1950). *

Thirty-First of February, The (1949) A collection of thirteen short

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stories, including The Man Who Walked Through Glass (1938), The Mask of Medusa (1945), and The Enchanted Pencil (1946).  ―First-class fantasy‖ (Forrest J. Ackerman, Astounding, June 1950). ***

Stories Conqueror’s Isle (1946)  The crewmembers of a WWII fighter plane shot down over the South China Sea discover an island inhabited by mutant supermen. The theme is reminiscent of ‘s Odd John (1935), but Bond‘s approach is more melodramatic. (NO TIME LIKE THE FUTURE)  ―You may like [it] better than I‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, January 1952). **

BONE, J. F. (1916-1986) Working name of US author and educator JESSE FRANKLIN BONE, whose novels include Legacy (1976), The Meddlers (1976), Gift of the Manti (1977-with Roy Meyers), and Confederation Matador (1978). Acclaimed short fiction: Triggerman (1958-finalist for the 1959 Hugo award for best short story). Alternate Names: Jesse Bone.

Novels Lani People, The (1962) A veterinarian hired to maintain the health of a slave labor force on a plantation world endeavors to promote the rights of his aboriginal charges.  ―Fascinating . . . an original‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1962). ***  ―His most memorable [work] . . . graphically related‖ (John Clute, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Second Edition, 1993). ***  ―An entertaining novel . . . not a profound or serious story—nor even a highly original one . . . [but] I doubt if any of [the other authors] has as much fun doing so as J. F. Bone‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, July 1962). **1/2  ―We beg science fiction authors to drop this nonsense . . . there are the same odds on the people of an alien world having sexual characteristics matching ours as there are on Maxwell’s Demon going into action‖ (Alfred Bester, F&SF, July 1962). *

BONHAM, Frank (1914-1988) US author, principally of westerns and mysteries, whose SF for young readers includes The Missing Persons League (1976) and The Forever Formula (1979).

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Novels Forever Formula, The (1979)  A young man awakens from suspended animation to find himself courted by two futuristic factions: a group of bad dudes who want the formula for a revolutionary new longevity drug (―Substance 1000‖), and their rivals who think a normal lifespan is good enough. The story fails to rise above its over-familiar plot. JUV  ―Well-paced suspense devices‖ (Booklist)  ―Compelling . . . a brisk, well-written plot‖ (Children‘s Book Review Service)

BORGES, Jorge Luis (1899-1986) Argentine poet, university professor, and author, whose books of speculative interest include The Aleph (1949), Ficciones (1956), Labyrinths (1962), and The Book of Imaginary Beings (1969). Acclaimed short fiction: The Aleph (1945), Funes the Memorious (1941), The Garden of Forking Paths (1941), The Immortal (1962), and The Library of Babel (1941), The Secret Miracle (1943), and Utopia of a Tired Man (1975-nominated for the 1975 Nebula award for best short story).

Novels and Collections Labyrinths (1962)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Circular Ruins, The (1941; 1962-trans. by James E. Irby)  A magician living in an abandoned ruin creates a demigod-son, then watches as he‘s devoured by fire. The special decoder is not included. (LABYRINTHS)

BOSTON, Bruce (1943-) US college professor, poet, and author, whose works of speculative fiction include After Magic (1990) and Cold Tomorrows (1998).

Novels Hypertales and Metafictions (1990)  See complete GUIDE.

Night Eyes (1993) A collection of stories which contains a few speculative pieces, the latter including The Eyes of the Crowd (1988), The Curse of the Alien’s Wife (1990), and The Animist (1990).  ―Deft, quirky short stories . . . it is the best of the classics he brings to mind‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, January 1994). ***

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BOUCHER, Anthony (1911-1968) Pseudonym of US writer, editor, and anthologist WILLIAM ANTHONY PARKER WHITE, whose books of speculative interest include Far and Away (1955) and The Compleat Werewolf (1969), and who edited The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction from its inception in 1949 through 1958. Boucher also wrote a number of mystery novels, including The Case of the Seven of Crumpled Knave (1939) and The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars (1940). Acclaimed short fiction: The Ambassadors (1952), Conquest (1953), Elsewhen (1943), Nine-Finger Jack (1951), The Quest for Saint Aquin (1951), Transfer Point (1950), and We Print the Truth (1943). Acclaimed anthologies: The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction (1952-with J. Francis McComas), The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Third Series (1954-with J. Francis McComas), The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Fourth Series (1955), The Best from Fantasy and Science fiction: Fifth Series (1956), The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: Sixth Series (1957), and A Treasury of Great Science Fiction (1959). Pseudonyms: H. H. Holmes and Herman Mudgett.

Quotes On the role of army chaplains: ―We are no longer priests of the Lord, but boosters of morale‖ (Balaam).

Novels and Collections Far and Away (1955)  A collection of eleven urbane and intelligent stories, reminiscent of the short fiction of Gerald Kersh. Standouts include Elsewhen (1943) and Balaam (1954).  ―Warm humanity . . . impish humor . . . an excellent collection . . . deserves to be on the bookshelf of every s-f fan‖ (Villiers Gerson, Amazing, November 1955). ***1/2  ―Of the eleven stories in the collection, the greater number are . . . [mixture of] top-notchers [and lesser tales] ‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, December 1954 – March 1956). **1/2

Rocket to the Morgue (1942-as by H. H. Holmes)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Anomaly of the Empty Man, The (1952)  A reporter investigates the disappearance of a collector of rare antiquities whose clothes are

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found in an abandoned pile on the floor of his apartment. A somewhat dry and pedantic tale, though one which offers excellent historical detail and a refined sense of humor. (FAR AND AWAY) (THE COMPLEAT BOUCHER)  ―A fascinating blend of black magic and detection . . . [a] top- notcher‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, March 1956). ***  ―Skillfully blends crime detection with s-f‖ (Villiers Gerson, Amazing, November 1955). *** Balaam (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Barrier (1942)  A twentieth century man vaults four hundred years into the future, only to find the world taken over by a powerful elite which stifles creativity and change. A routine dystopian tale whose only spark of originality is the hero‘s replication of himself into a vast insurgent army. (THE COMPLEAT BOUCHER)  ―A time-travel classic‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, April 1966). ***  ―Smoothly written . . . [but] reads like the work of a man who is not overly fond of his theme . . . going through the motions‖ (Robert Frazier, Fantastic Universe, July 1954). **  ―Not very good‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, March 1981). ** Elsewhen (1943)  A quintessential locked-room mystery about a self- absorbed inventor who builds a ―short-range‖ time machine and uses it to help murder his wealthy cousin. The conceptual details and characterization are excellent. (FAR AND AWAY) (THE COMPLEAT BOUCHER) First, The (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Greatest Tertian, The (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Other Inauguration, The (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Quest for Saint Aquin, The (1951)  A fiercely intelligent but confusing tale about a priest who sets out across a desolate, futuristic California in search of a legendary holy man: ―Does it matter what small untruth leads people into the Church if, once they are in, they . . . believe what you think to be the great truths?‖ (THE COMPLEAT BOUCHER)  ―A minor miracle . . . one of the dozen best science-fiction short stories of the past ten years‖ (Damon Knight, Science Fiction Adventures, February 1953). ****  ―Absolutely top-notch . . . worth the price of the book . . . memorable‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1952 – December 1954 – April 1959). ***1/2  ―A great science fiction story‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, August 1995). ***1/2 Review Copy (1949)  See complete GUIDE. Secret of the House (1953)  See complete GUIDE.

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Snulbug (1941)  A cash-strapped biochemist conjures up a demon to help fund his scientific experiments. Mildly amusing. (FAR AND AWAY) (THE COMPLEAT WEREWOLF) Sriberdegibit (1943)  See complete GUIDE. Star Bride (1951)  See complete GUIDE. They Bite (1943)  A ruffian murders his friend and takes refuge in a haunted adobe hut. A tale of slithering horror that takes no prisoners. (FAR AND AWAY) (THE COMPLEAT WEREWOLF)  ―Justly famed‖ (Villiers Gerson, Amazing, November 1955). ***

Anthologies The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, Seventh Series (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

BOULLE, Pierre (1912-1994) French author and engineer, who served as a secret agent during World War II, and whose books include Bridge Over the River Kwai (1952), Planet of the (1963), Garden on the Moon (1965) and Time Out of Mind (1966).

Quotes On the love between a man and an : ―I feel her shapeless body tremble against mine. I force myself to rub my cheek against hers. We are about to kiss like lovers when she gives an instinctive start and thrusts me away violently‖ (Planet of the Apes).

Novels Planet of the Apes (1963)  Three Earth explorers seek refuge on a world where apes are the dominant species. The premise allows Boulle to question the basis for mankind‘s supremecy over the rest of the animal kingdom. An entertaining and thought-provoking tale.  ―A rather obvious satire . . . I doubt [it] would have been published by any present SF magazine‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964 – May 1965). **  The film original version directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter was released in 1968. A remake, released in 2001, was directed by Tim Burton and starred Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth and Helena Bonham Carter.

BOUNDS, Sydney J. (1920-2006) UK author, whose SF novels include Frontier Legion (1952-1953), The Adaptable Planet (1953), Dimension of Horror (1953), The Moon Raiders (1955),

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The World Wrecker (1956), and The Robot Brains (1956).

Stories Lonely Alien, The (1996)  A likable tale about a pilot- who‘s befriended by an alien mimic.

BOVA, Ben (1932-) US editor, anthologist, and author, who edited Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact magazine from 1971-1978, Omni magazine from 1978-1982, and whose nearly sixty SF novels include The Multiple Man (1967), The Exiles Trilogy (1971-1975), the Voyagers trilogy (1981-1990), and the Orion series (1984-1995). Acclaimed short fiction: Brillo (1970-with Harlan Ellison; finalist for the 1971 Hugo award for best short story), The Dueling Machine (1963), Fifteen Miles (1967), Inspiration (1994-finalist for the 1994 Nebula award for best short story), A Slight Miscalculation (1971), Zero Gee (1972), and Thy Kingdom Come (1993). Acclaimed anthologies: The Best of Analog (1978), The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume 2A (1973), and The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume 2B (1973).

Quotes On the need for a strong military: ―The other side has got to respect you, or else he‘ll push you around‖ (Out of the Sun).

On interplanetary politics:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels As on a Darkling Plain (1972) A team of scientists discover humongous alien machines on Saturn‘s largest moon.  ―I liked it . . . neatly interwoven‖ (Theodore Sturgeon, Galaxy, March 1973). ***

City of Darkness (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Colony (1978) An overpopulated Earth‘s last hope for salvation is a genetically-modified human raised on an orbital colony.  ―His best to date . . . a fast moving story that gives a very convincing picture of the future‖ (Edward Wood, Analog, March 1979). ***  ―[One of Bova’s] major SF novels‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, November 1981). ***  ―Does everything that 'Inherit the Stars' did wrong . . . scientifically defensible . . . people with characters who breathe

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and suffer . . . [and] it ends at the goddam end of the book . . . you could do much worse‖ (Spider Robinson, Destinies, January 1979). ***  ―Long, dull preachy . . . zero stars out of four‖ (David Pringle, The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, 1990).

Empire Builders (1985)  See complete GUIDE.

Exiles Trilogy, The (1971-1975)  See complete GUIDE.

Kinsman Saga, The (1976-1979; rev 1987) As and the United States approach the brink of war, an Air Force pilot raised as a devout Quaker is selected to head up the first U.S. colony on the Moon. Includes revised versions of his novels Millennium (1976) and Kinsman (1979).  On Kinsman (1979): ―[One of Bova’s] major SF novels . . . by no means in ‘Millenium’s’ league . . . [but] definitely belongs next to it on your shelf . . . I was not disappointed‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, November 1981). ***1/2  ―Grab this one . . . you won’t regret the purchase‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, June 1988). ***

Mars (1992)  A suspenseful and rewarding tale about a native American geologist who plays a key role in the exploration of Mars. Bova keeps the politics to a minimum and the scientific speculation firmly in focus.  ―A wonderful character story . . . what hard-sf can be at its best . . . I cannot fathom . . . why such seminal works as ’s ‘Mars’ and Norman Spinrad’s ‘Russian Spring’ managed to make it through the award season without mention by the Nebula voters‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, March 1992 - August 1993). ***1/2  ―The tale has a certain fundamental weakness, but it remains quite readable‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, August 1992). **1/2

Millennium (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Multiple Man, The (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Orion and the Conqueror (1994) The descendants of modern man send a superman back to the time of Alexander the Great in order to insure the proper development of history. The fourth volume in the Orion series.

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 ―He has done a marvelous job with his tale . . . the best in the series‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, June 1994). ***1/2

Orion in the Dying Time (1990)  See complete GUIDE.

Out of the Sun (1968; rev 1984)  See complete GUIDE.

Return to Mars (1999)  A fast-moving interplanetary thriller about the exploration of Mars which doesn‘t quite measure up to the first book in the series. The author throws in several melodramatic subplots, including that of a cowardly astronaut who‘s willing to go as far as commiting murder in order to speed up his return to Earth: it appears the astronaut-screening program isn‘t quite as effective as it used to be. The second book in the Mars series.

Sam Gunn, Unlimited (1992)  See complete GUIDE.

Star Conquerors, The (1959) A young member of the Star Watch goes up against the galactic Masters and their reptilian henchmen, the Saurians. The first book of the Star Watch trilogy.  ―A notch or two above the average for the series . . . lively action . . . the characters are nicely complicated . . . a Pyrrhic twist . . . vivid . . . fast-moving adventure . . . more adult than all but the very best of the Winston[s]‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1960). ***

Starcrossed, The (1975) Executives of a twenty-first century media conglomerate hire a young engineering genius to help create a hit 3-D science fiction television show in the hope of resuscitating their ailing business. Reportedly inspired by the author‘s real-life travails working as science advisor for the Canadian-produced television series The Starlost (1973).  ―Delightful . . . a good book‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, July 1976). ***  ―Mildly amusing‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, July 1977). **1/2

Star Watchman (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Titan (2006)  See complete GUIDE.

To Save the Sun (1992-with A. J. Austin) A long-winded saga about a future human empire threatened by rebellion, an incursion of aliens, and the imminent destabilization of the Earth‘s sun. Resettlement to

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another world is an option, but the aging decides to back a grandiose plan to rejuvenate the sun. The novel is billed as the beginning of a spectacular new epic on the scale of Asimov‘s Foundation series, but relies too much on a cast of stock characters and routine political machinations.  ―The heroes . . . aren’t really as clichéd as the bad guys . . . a good read . . . good enough, indeed, for me to predict you’ll see it on award ballots‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, March 1993). ***

Triumph (1993)  See complete GUIDE.

Voyagers (1981) An astronomer detects radio pulses originating from the vicinity of Jupiter and is recruited for a deep space mission to investigate the signal‘s source. The first book in the Voyagers series.  ―A page turner . . . subplot after verisimilitudinous subplot . . . the very best fiction writing I’ve ever seen from him . . . a good book‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, November 1981). ***1/2  ―[His] latest and . . . biggest . . . [a] major SF novel . . . massive . . . maturity and skill . . . the most plausible and convincing account I have ever read of how the human race might really react to First Contact . . . refreshing . . . one of his very best efforts‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, November 1981). ***1/2  ―You’ll enjoy it . . . more believable . . . may be his best work to date . . . [but] his story’s major flaw . . . everything works out too neatly‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, May 1982).***

Voyagers II: The Alien Within (1986)  See complete GUIDE.

Voyagers III: Star Brothers (1990)  See complete GUIDE.

BOWEN, John (1924-) Working name of UK author, playwright, editor, copywriter and producer JOHN GRIFFITH BOWEN, who served as captain in the Mahratha Light Infantry during World War II, and whose speculative novels include Pegasus (1957), The Mermaid and the Boy (1960), and No Retreat (1994)—the latter an tale about what might have happened if the British had capitulated to during the start of World War II.

Quotes On shame: ―It is not bad to be a coward; that is a natural thing. But it is bad to make excuses‖ (After the Rain).

On effective leadership skills:  See complete GUIDE.

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On the secret to a happy life:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels After the Rain (1958)  A worldwide deluge results in widespread flooding and the collapse of civilization. Washed out to sea on a dinghy, a journalist and a young female acquaintance are rescued by the passengers of an immense ruled over by a former accountant with a messiah complex. A suspenseful and original premise, but the claustrophobic setting and lack of humor place it a notch or two short of the brilliant disaster tales of John Wyndham and John Christopher.  ―Literate, profound and funny . . . nearly all these people are marvelously real . . . slow, dismally fascinating . . . curious power‖ (Damon Knight, F&SF, May 1959). ***1/2  ―He draws his characters broadly but well . . . one of the better British cataclysm yarns‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1959 – March 1966). ***  ―Something fresh to offer . . . hard-hitting‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1959). ***  ―Noteworthy‖ (Damon Knight, F&SF, April 1960). ***

BOWES, Richard (1944-) US author, whose books include Warchild (1986), Minions of the Moon (1999), Transfigured Night and Other Stories (2001), and From the Files of the Time Rangers (2005). Acclaimed short fiction: The Ferryman’s Wife (2001-finalist for the 2002 Nebula award for best novelette), The Max of the Rex (2002- finalist for the 2003 Nebula award for best novelette), and Streetcar Dreams (1997-winner of the 1998 World Fantasy award for best novella).

BOWKER, Richard (1950-) US author, whose SF novels include Forbidden Sanctuary (1982), Replica (1986), and Summit (1989).

Quotes On romantic despair: ―I know what you are thinking, because I thought the same thoughts. There‘s got to be happiness somewhere, sometime. If not in America, then in England. If not in this life, then [in] another life. But that‘s so stupid, don‘t you see? There is only me . . . a wretched, lost soul in a wretched, lost world‖ (Dover Beach).

On the limits of self-knowledge:  See complete GUIDE.

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Novels Dover Beach (1987)  In a near future still reeling from the aftermath of a limited nuclear war, a private investigator his ‘s mysterious past to a series of cloning experiments carried out in pre-war England, then uncovers the book‘s incredibly inane premise: the deranged sperm- donor who fathered the clones wants to kill his duplicates to prevent their turning out like him. A novel peopled by cardboard characters and fashioned around a truly boneheaded plot.  ―Believable . . . ruined Boston is very well drawn with some great touches . . . a minor tour de force‖ (Baird Searles, F&SF, February 1988). ***

Marlborough Street (1975)  See complete GUIDE.

BOYD, John (1919-) Pseudonym of US author BOYD BRADFIELD UPCHURCH, whose SF novels include The Last Starship from Earth (1968), The Slave Stealer (1968), The Gorgon Festival (1972), Barnard’s Planet (1975), and The Girl with the Jade Green Eyes (1978). Pseudonyms: Boyd Upchurch.

Quotes On the revelation that an attractive alien female has been traveling among the stars since before the birth of Christ: ―‗You certainly look young for your years . . . what is your beauty secret?‘‖ (The Girl with the Jade Green Eyes)

On desire: ―‗What a wonderful world you live in, Malcolm, where every problem can be solved by the pope or a prostitute‘‖ (The Last Starship from Earth).

On the needs of an alien in estrus:  See complete GUIDE.

On the mighty forest ranger, dangerous when aroused:  See complete GUIDE.

On family ties:  See complete GUIDE.

On attaining Godhead: ―He was undergoing a transfiguration, becoming a soaring phallic angel, God‘s ultimate drone . . . plunging upward toward creation‘s fiery womb‖ (The Girl with the Jade Green Eyes).

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Novels Andromeda Gun, The (1974)  See complete GUIDE.

Doomsday Gene, The (1973) A man genetically bred for self-destruction attempts to warn the inhabitants of Greater Los Angeles of an impending earthquake.  ―This isn’t one of John Boyd’s best books, but it is better than most that come this way‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1973). **1/2  ―Wholly irrational and unbelievable . . . [reading it] was hell6‖ (Harlan Ellison, F&SF, January 1974). *  Fifteenth on the 1974 Locus Poll Award for best novel.

Girl with the Jade Green Eyes, The (1978)  A ranger hikes into the mountainous Idaho wilderness to investigate reports of a nude sunbather and stumbles upon a nubile alien brood-queen whose invisible spaceship requires a teaspoonful of uranium to power its depleted hyper-engines back. A disappointing SF thriller which spends too much time developing its implausible cross-species romance and not enough building suspense.

Gorgon Festival, The (1972)  See complete GUIDE.

I.Q. Merchant, The (1972) A pharmaceuticals researcher discovers an intelligence-heightening compound and decides to test the drug on his own mentally retarded son.  ―May be the best science-fiction novel of 1972 . . . extraordinary‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1973). ***1/2  Alexei Panshin‘s June 1973 review in F&SF: morally reprehensible. *

Last Starship from Earth, The (1968)  A brilliant mathematician rebels against a rigid dystopia whose laws limiting procreation prevent him from marrying the woman he loves. The author crafts a believable portrait of a stagnant futuristic society, but gets a bit carried away when he sends his immortal hero back to rescue the Son of God. On the plus side, Haldane IV‘s personal sacrifice means he‘ll have another couple thousand years to teach the young ladies of his patented ―swizzle- stick‖ technique.  ―Wholly original‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1970). ***1/2  ―Slightly uneven . . . some breathtaking twists . . . worked for me‖

6 Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works.

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(Spider Robinson, Galaxy, December 1976). **1/2

Organ Bank Farm, The (1970)  See complete GUIDE.

Pollinators of Eden, The (1969)  See complete GUIDE.

Rakehells of Heaven, The (1969)  See complete GUIDE.

Sex and the High Command (1970) The war between the sexes heats up when a revolutionary drug gives women the option of bearing children without the aid of men.  ―May finally get the recognition it and its author deserve . . . don’t miss the story‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1970). ***1/2

BRACKETT, Leigh (1915-1978) US author and screenwriter, who was married to pulp-era SF author , and whose SF books include The Secret of Sinharat (1964), People of the Talisman (1964), The Ginger Star (1974), The Hounds of Skaith (1964), and Follow the Free Wind (1974). Brackett also wrote scripts for The Long Goodbye (1973), The Big Sleep (1946), Rio Bravo (1958), and The Empire Strikes Back (1979). Acclaimed short fiction: Black Amazon of Venus (1951), Enchantress of Venus (1949), The Queer Ones (1957), Queen of the Martian (1949), Sea-Kings of Mars (1949), The Tweener (1955), and The Veil of Astellar (1944). Pseudonyms: George Sanders.

Quotes On the last of the Martians: ―Lithe men and women pass him on the shadow streets, silent as cats except for the chime and the whisper of the tiny bells the women wear, a sound as delicate as rain, distillate of all the sweet wickedness of the world‖ (The Sword of Rhiannon).

On coming home again:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels Alpha Centauri or Die! (1963)  A group of Martian colonists reject the limitations placed on them by an over-protective society. Reconditioning an old freighter, they set off for the stars. However, killer robot-ships sent to hunt them down threaten their bid for freedom. The thrilling opening and skillfully-depicted interstellar chase sequence make for an amply satisfying read.  ―Isn’t top Brackett . . . no classic, but fun and rich with ideas‖ (P.

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Schuyler Miller, Analog, December 1963). **1/2

Best of Leigh Brackett, The (1977)  See complete GUIDE.

Big Jump, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

Coming of the Terrans, The (1967) Earthmen arrive on Mars and discover a world of crumbling ruins, primitive customs, and unearthly magic. A collection of five linked stories, including The Beast-Jewel of Mars (1948), The Road to Sinharat (1963), and Purple Priestess of the Mad Moon (1964). The third book in the Mars series.  ―Depicted with a color and verve that Burroughs never managed‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1968). ***

Eric John Stark: Outlaw of Mars (1982)  See complete GUIDE.

Eye for an Eye, An (1957-not SF) A suspense thriller about a psychopath who kidnaps a lawyer‘s wife in retaliation for his having represented the kidnapper‘s wife at a divorce proceeding.  ―By no means as good a book as her striking ‘The Tiger Among Us’ . . . [but] still a very good job . . . a pure suspense yarn‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, September 1958). ***

Galactic Breed, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

Halfling and Other Stories, The (1973) A collection of eight stories, including The Halfling (1943), Enchantress of Venus (1949), and of the Gone Forever (1949).  ―Glittering short fiction . . . vivid, action-packed stories‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, January 1984). ***

Hounds of Skaith, The (1974)  A hard-bitten agent of the Earth Police Control leads a coalition of mutants and northhounds against the powerful Wandsmen of Skaith. A colorful heroic fantasy which builds toward a satisfying climax. The tale falls short, however, of the breadth and wonder of Tolkien. The second book in the Eric John Stark series.

Long Tomorrow, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

Nemesis from Terra, The (1944; 1961)  See complete GUIDE.

Reavers of Skaith, The (1976) A mighty swordsman sets out across a nightmare world, pursued by a treacherous alien. The third book in the

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Book of Skaith series.  ―A rousing adventure yarn . . . splendid color . . . I recommend the book without qualifications‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, October 1976). ***

Secret of Sinharat, The (1949; 1964) A renegade mercenary, blackmailed by Earth Police Control, betrays a barbarian chieftan who leads a bloody uprising across Mars. One of the earliest of the Eric John Stark tales.  Average rating of five out of five stars on Amazon.com based on 5 reviewers.

Shadow Over Mars (1951)  See complete GUIDE.

Starmen (1952)  See complete GUIDE.

Starmen of Llyrdis (1952) A descendent of mutant Starmen challenges the galactic domination of the Vardda and braves the rigors of space travel in order to open up the stars to all men. Also published as Starmen (1952), and in abridged form as The Galactic Breed (1955).  ―A very skillful tale . . . just a good story, very well told‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, April 1953 – November 1955). ***  ―Writes well, moves her plot along . . . a pleasant time-passer‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, April 1953 – September 1955). **1/2  ―An able job of writing . . . completely routine . . . oversimplified adventures‖ (Anthony Boucher, Astounding, February 1953). **  ―Readable . . . but the plotting and background make me wish Leigh Brackett would get back to Earth and surround herself with characters that look, act, and stay human‖ (George O. Smith, Space Science Fiction, May 1953). **

Sword of Rhiannon (1953)  See complete GUIDE.

Tiger Among Us, The (1957-not SF)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Terror Out of Space (1934) A muddled space fantasy set on Venus about an intrepid agent of the Tri-World Police who attempts to bring a cunning crystalline entity to justice. (Amazing Stories, February – May 1944)  ―Stereotyped plot elements . . . [handled] with superb craftsmanship‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1960). ***

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BRADBURY, Edward P.  Pseudonym used by author MICHAEL MOORCOCK.

BRADBURY, Ray (1920-) US author, poet, screenwriter, and anthologist, whose books include (1950), (1951), (1953), (1972), A Graveyard for Lunatics (1990), Ahmed and the Oblivion Machine (1998), and (2006). Acclaimed short fiction: (1954), And the Rock Cried Out (1953), April Witch, The (1952), The Big Black and White Game (1945), Come Into My Cellar (1962), The Emissary (1947), The Fire Balloons (1950), (1951), The Fox and the Forest (1950), Frost and Fire (1946), In Memoriam (2002), The Kaleidoscope (1949), King of Gray Space (1943), The Long Rain (1950), The Love Affair (1988), Million Year Picnic, The (1946), The Next in Line (1947), The Other Foot (1951), (1951), The Playground (1953), Referent (1948), The Screaming Woman (1951), Scythe, The (1943), The Shape of Things (1948), The Sound of Summer Running (1957), (1952), There Will Come Soft Rains (1950), Tomorrow and Tomorrow (1947), Traveler, The (1946), (1950), and Way in the Middle of the Air (1950).

Critical Overview & Quotes – Ray Bradbury‘s poignant images of the universe evoke power through the layering on of symbols and figurative language. The author is fundamentally concerned with such things as youth, innocence, hope for the future, disillusionment, nostalgia, fellowship, prejudice, happiness and melancholy. When deeper thoughts intrude, they touch on uneasy longings: fear of the unknown, faith, the limits of knowledge, regret, sexuality, intolerance, disappointment and death. But at heart, the author‘s fiction is affirming and upbeat, eternally remembering the magical summers of a youth spent in the heartland of America, dreaming of space and worlds beyond.

On the season of youth: ―Hold summer in your hand, pour summer in a glass, a tiny glass‖ ().

On age:  See complete GUIDE.

On the meaning of life:  See complete GUIDE.

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On do-it-yourself projects: ―Those . . . Popular Mechanics publishers should be forced to see all the half-finished rowboats, helicopters, and one-man gliders‖ (The Time of Going Away).

On the difference between writing and talking: ―I never knew a writer yet was a good talker‖ (The Kilimanjaro Device)

On realism versus creation: ―Intuited novels are far more ‗true‘ than all your scribbled data-fact reportage in the history of the world!‖ (The Man in the Rorschach Shirt).

On the evidence for God:  See complete GUIDE.

On the impact of evolution: ―Faith has always given us answers to all things. But it all went down the drain with Freud and Darwin. We were and still are a lost people‖ (—And the Moon Be Still As Bright).

On the risk of knowing too much:  See complete GUIDE.

On the limits of knowledge:  See complete GUIDE.

On marriage: ―He . . . wakes up one morning and all the dreaminess is gone . . . he finds himself . . . with a butterfly metamorphosed into a wasp‖ (The Great Fire).

On what’s important:  See complete GUIDE.

On the wrong stuff:  See complete GUIDE.

On a woman’s place: ―A girl one or two paces back is a respectful thing‖ (I Sing the Body Electric).

On familiarity:  See complete GUIDE.

On dead ends:  See complete GUIDE.

On those who are marked: ―Some people turn sad awfully young . . . no special reason, it seems, but they seem almost to be born that way‖ (Dandelion Wine).

On a robot’s life: ―This I do know: being mechanical, I cannot sin, cannot be bribed, cannot be greedy or jealous or mean or small. I do not relish power for power‘s sake . . . sex does not run me rampant through the world. I have time and more than enough time‖ (I Sing the Body

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Electric).

Novels and Collections Dandelion Wine (1957-not SF)  The author brilliantly captures the summer of a twelve-year old boy growing up in the heartland of America (Green Town, Illinois) during the mid 1900s. From the purchase of a pair of tennis shoes to the death of his grandmother, young Douglas Spaulding never strays far from his core of youthful innocence and wonder. Reading this book at age fourteen, I remember thinking how Bradbury had got it right; this was indeed a boy‘s life, rushing swiftly past, savored like a sip of rare dandelion wine. More original than Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962) and less abstract (and science-fictional) than Fahrenheit 451 (1953), the author‘s ode to youth remains as poignant and captivating today as when it was written.  ―Syrupy . . . seen through the wrong end of a rose-colored glass . . . no feeling of genuine recollection . . . diving with arms spread into the glutinous pool of sentimentality . . . limp . . . [yet] vivid images . . . poignant‖ (Damon Knight, Original Science Fiction, June 1958). **  ―Artificial . . . consciously poetic . . . the evocation of a small Midwestern town in the 1920s is all but lost when everyone . . . talks like the author‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, September - November 1958). **

Dark Carnival (1947)  See complete GUIDE.

Death Is a Lonely Business (1985) A mystery set in 1950s Venice (California) about two men who set out in search of a killer amid the backdrop of decaying waterfront shops, amusement parks, and flophouses.  ―Absolutely insufferable! . . . a thin plot . . . becomes endlessly irritating‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, September 1987). *

Fahrenheit 451 (1953)  See complete GUIDE.

From the Dust Returned (2001)  See complete GUIDE.

Golden Apples of the Sun, The (1953)  A collection of twenty-two short stories, containing an assortment of fantasy pieces as well as a sprinkling of genuine science fictional tales. Standouts include The Big Black and White Game (1945), The Fog Horn (1951), The Pedestrian (1951), and A Sound of Thunder (1952).  ―Bradbury at his best . . . we like this book very much‖ (H. J.

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Campbell, Authentic, May 1953). ***1/2  ―Some of the best imaginative stories he or anyone else has ever written . . . one cannot even begin to describe their delights‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, August 1953). ***1/2  ―Writing that is often simply and perceptively moving . . . and just as often sadly lacking any particular strength or color . . . bothersomely uneven‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, June 1953). **1/2  ―Contains only a few stories which can be considered science fiction‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, October 1953). **1/2

I Sing the Body Electric (1969)  See complete GUIDE.

Illustrated Man, The (1951)  A collection of eighteen stories about rockets, , aliens, Martians, nuclear war, time machines, and children. The author provides a wonderfully poetic frame in the concept of the tattooed man, whose lively body art offers disquieting glimpses of other places and other times. Standouts include The Veldt (1950), The Kaleidoscope (1949), The Other Foot (1951), The Highway (1950), The Long Rain (1946), and The Fox and the Forest (1950).  ―Horror, adventure, whimsicality . . . demonstrates that its author is one of the most literate and spellbinding writers in science fiction today‖ (Villiers Gerson, Astounding, July 1951). ***1/2  ―The cream off the top of the bottle . . . an absolute must . . . a better book than ‘The Martian Chronicles‘‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, June 1951). ***1/2  ―Way ahead of the field . . . [though] not up to last year’s ‘Martian Chronicles‘‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, January 1952). ***  ―A few of the eighteen stories seem less wisely chosen . . . but enough excellent ones . . . to provide a feast‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, August 1951). ***  Finalist for the 1952 International Fantasy award for best fiction.

Machineries of Joy, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Martian Chronicles, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE.

Medicine for Melancholy, A (1959)  A collection of twenty-two stories, including the classic All Summer in a Day (1954).  ―An intense emotional impact . . . four stars out of five‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1959). ***  ―The stories are short and varied . . . every one of them is capable of delivering a jolt to the glands . . . but twenty-two of

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these in a row?‖ (Frederik Pohl, IF, September 1960). **1/2

October Country, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

One More for the Road (2002)  See complete GUIDE.

R is for Rocket (1962) A collection of seventeen entertaining SF stories, including The Long Rain (1946), The Fog Horn (1951), A Sound of Thunder (1952), (1955), The Sound of Summer Running (1956)—and the classic SF pulp adventure Frost and Fire (1946).  ―Seventeen of Bradbury's better SF stories are here . . . the chief virtue is that they are ‘Bradbury’ stories‖ (Avram Davidson, F&SF, May 1963). ***

S Is for Space (1966)  See complete GUIDE.

Small Assassin, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962)  Two boys living in a small mid-Western town fall under the charm of an evil carnie manager. In the best sequence of the book, the hero‘s father, a meek library janitor, confronts the smooth-tongued villain in a quixotic attempt to save his son. The novel is modestly suspenseful, but lacks the startling originality and unpredictability of the author‘s best work. JUV

Switch on the Night (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

Toynbee Convector, The (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

Twice 22 (1966)  See complete GUIDE.

Vintage Bradbury, The (1965)  A collection of twenty-six stories, a majority of them fantasy. Standouts include The Kaleidoscope (1949), There Will Come Soft Rains (1950), The Veldt (1950), The Fox and the Forest (1950), The Fog Horn (1951), and And the Rock Cried Out (1953).  ―I would have enjoyed a few more samples of early stories and fewer of the over-stylized excerpts‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, April 1966). **

Stories After the Ball (2002)  An aging couple on their way home from an evening dance rediscover youth and love as the miles slip behind. A

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nice tale once it gets going with a bit of genuine romance at the end. () All Summer in a Day (1954)  An emotionally wrenching story about a young girl living on Venus who becomes a victim of a cruel practical joke. Strikes deeply at the heart of man‘s inhumanity to man. (A MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY)  ―The best of the science fiction in the book‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, June 1959). *** Almost the End of the World (1964)  See complete GUIDE. And So Died Riabouchinska (1964-borderline SF)  See complete GUIDE. And the Moon Be Still As Bright (1948)  A crew member of the Fourth Martian Expedition obsesses over the victims of a deadly strain of chicken-pox. (MARTIAN CHRONICLES)  ―Tries too hard . . . a sentimental tale‖ (L. Sprague de Camp, Astounding, May 1950). ** And the Rock Cried Out (1953)  Fleeing south in advance of the nuclear bombardment of the U.S., a wealthy American couple encounters a Mexican populace still sensitive over past affronts. An evocative tale with excellent characters. Also published as The Millionth Murder (1953). (VINTAGE BRADBURY) And the Sailor Home from the Sea (1960)  See complete GUIDE. Anthem Sprinters, The (1963-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Any Friend of Nickleby’s Is a Friend of Mine (1966)  A Charles Dickens impersonator meets an Emily Dickenson impersonator and falls in love. The author sings the praises of gentle madness. Also published as Charlie Is My Darling (1966). (I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC) April Witch, The (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Asleep in Armageddon (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Autumn Afternoon (2002-not SF)  An aging woman recalls the past with the help of pages from an old calendar. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) Beasts (2002)  See complete GUIDE. Beautiful One is Here, The (1969)  See complete GUIDE. Beggar on O’Connell Bridge, The (1961-not SF)  A man‘s sense of compassion is awakened by the homeless of Dublin. (MACHINERIES OF JOY) Best of All Possible Worlds, The (1960-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Big Black and White Game, The (1945)  A small Wisconsin town holds an annual baseball game between the Whites and the Blacks. Recalls the happy-go-lucky days before racial profiling and contract

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renegotiations. A charming and original tale. (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN) Blue Bottle, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Boys! Raise Giant Mushrooms in Your Cellar! (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Charlie Is My Darling (1966)  See complete GUIDE. Christus Apollo (1969)  An awkward poem about the notion that even weird-looking aliens deserve saving. (I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC) Chrysalis (1946)  See complete GUIDE. Cistern, The (1947)  Two sisters quarrel over the affections of a dead lover whose spirit haunts the cisterns of an old city. Romantically nihilistic stuff about love and death. (OCTOBER COUNTRY) (SMALL ASSASSIN)  ―Has no substance . . . [the] action is patched on‖ (Damon Knight, Original SF, July 1956). ** City, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Cold Wind and the Warm, The (1964-not SF)  Six gay men visit Dublin and make a spectacle of themselves at Heeber Finn‘s pub. A humane tale about a close encounter of the non-heterosexual kind. (I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC)  ―One of Bradbury’s gentlest and best ‘straight’ stories‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1970). *** Collision on Monday (1959)  See complete GUIDE. Come Into My Cellar (1962)  A spirited story about an which takes the form of mail-order mushroom kits. A classic horror tale. Also published as Boys! Raise Giant Mushrooms in Your Cellar! (1964). (S IS FOR SPACE) (MACHINERIES OF JOY)  ―Rather old-fashioned‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1964). ** Concrete Mixer, The (1949)  A dreary tale about Martians who invade Earth but fall prey to the ills of capitalism. (ILLUSTRATED MAN)  ―Bitter and shuddery‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, June 1951). **1/2 Creatures That Time Forgot, The (1946)  See complete GUIDE. Cricket on the Hearth, The (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Crowd, The (1943)  See complete GUIDE. Dark They Were, and Golden-eyed (1949)  A family of settlers, marooned on Mars after the outbreak of atomic war, move into the hills and go native. A promising premise that fails to deliver. Also published as The Naming of Names (1949). (MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY) (S IS FOR SPACE)  ―A yarn of pure magic‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1959). ***

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 ―Delicate . . . one of this best‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, July 1954). ***  ―Really good‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, April 1954). ***  ―Makes no sense at all, but it generates a mood well and movingly‖ (Frederik Pohl, IF, September 1960). **1/2 Day It Rained Forever, The (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Dead Man, The (1945)  See complete GUIDE. Death and the Maiden (1960)  See complete GUIDE. Death Wish (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Diane De Forêt (2002)  A gentle fantasy about a ghostly girl and a 73-year old writer who strike up a warm friendship. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) Downwind from Gettysburg (1969)  A robotic Abraham Lincoln resurrects a gentleman named John Wilkes Booth. Unremarkable, despite the evocative title. (I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC) Dragon, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Dragon Danced at Midnight, The (1966-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Drummer Boy of Shiloh, The (1960-not SF) A drummer boy, on a dark night in 1862, contemplates the horror of impending battle. A sentimental ode to war. (MACHINERIES OF JOY) Dwarf, The (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Earth Men, The (1948)  See complete GUIDE. El Diá de Muerte (1964)  A boy living in Mexico City celebrates the day of death. A case of poetic license run amok. (MACHINERIES OF JOY) Embroidery (1951)  Three women about to be caught up in a nuclear war spend their final minutes embroidering. A poignant cautionary tale. (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN) Emissary, The (1947)  See complete GUIDE. En Noche (1952-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. End of the Beginning, The (1956)  A sentimental and predictable tale about a proud father who watches his son go off into space on a rocket. (R IS FOR ROCKET) (MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY)  ―A downright disappointment . . . flat, trite, and sentimentally obvious‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, May 1960). * Enemy in the Wheat, The (1984-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Exiles, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Fever Dream (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Final Sceptre, a Lasting Crown, A (1969)  See complete GUIDE. Fire Balloons, The (1950)  A delegation of Episcopalian missionaries examines the spiritual health of the native Martians. Also published as In This Sign (1951). (ILLUSTRATED MAN) (MARTIAN

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CHRONICLES, some editions)  ―One of the best stories in the volume . . . massive and moving simplicity‖ (Villiers Gerson, Astounding, July 1951). ***1/2 First Day (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. First Night of Lent, The (1956-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Flight of Ravens (1964-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Flying Machine, The (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Fog Horn, The (1951)  A classic story about two men in a lonely lighthouse who are stirred by the mournful call of a foghorn: ―Whoever hears it will know the sadness of eternity and the briefness of life.‖ (R IS FOR ROCKET) (VINTAGE BRADBURY) Fore! (2001-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Forever Voyage (1964)  See complete GUIDE. Fox and the Forest, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Frost and Fire (1946)  The inhabitants of a radioactive planet attempt to reach the safety of their ancestors‘ wrecked spaceship. A remarkable story which offers adventure, pathos, and superb sense- of-wonder. Also published as The Creatures That Time Forgot (1946). (R IS FOR ROCKET) Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl, The (1948-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. F. Scott/Tolstoy/Ahab Accumulator, The (2002)  See complete GUIDE. Garbage Collector, The (1953)  A garbage collector discovers the horror of nuclear war. (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN) Gift, The (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Golden Apples of the Sun, The (1953)  An implausibly dumb story about a rocketship which travels to the sun and scoops up cupfuls of molten plasma. (ROCKET IS FOR ROCKET) (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN)  ―A really inexcusable effusion of drab writing and scientific nonsense‖ (Anthony Boucher, Galaxy, June 1953). * Golden Kite, the Silver Wing, The (1953-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Great Collision on Monday Last, The (1958)  See complete GUIDE. Great Fire, The (1949)  A young woman finds true love. (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN) Great Wide World Over There, The (1953-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Green Morning (1950)  The first settlers to Mars terraform a dying planet: ―And from the rockets ran men with hammers in their hands to beat the strange world into a shape that was familiar to the eye, to bludgeon away all the strangeness.‖ More poetic than practical.

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(MARTIAN CHRONICLES) Hail and Farewell (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Handler, The (1947)  See complete GUIDE. Haunting of the New, The (1969)  See complete GUIDE. Headpiece, The (1958)  A man suffers the emotional scars of getting hit over the head by his wife. Inane. (MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY) Heart Transplant (1981-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Heavy-Set (1964-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Henry the Ninth (1969)  See complete GUIDE. (1951)  The crew of an exploratory ship encounter a world ready-made for human occupation. (R IS FOR ROCKET)  ―Bitterly enchanting‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, March 1952). ***  ―Not one of his best stories but well ahead of most of the field‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1952). **1/2  ―Not a fresh idea‖ (Damon Knight, Science Fiction Adventures, February 1953). ** Homecoming (1946)  See complete GUIDE. Icarus Montgolfier Wright (1956)  See complete GUIDE. I, Mars (1949)  The phone rings off the hook for the last man on Mars. Also published as Night Call, Collect (1949). (I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC)  ―One of Bradbury’s best‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1970). *** (1947-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. I Sing the Body Electric (1969)  See complete GUIDE. Illustrated Man, The (1950)  A powerful story, marred by a somewhat facile ending, about an obese man who seeks employment with a traveling circus. Ironically, the story was excluded from The Illustrated Man (1951). (VINTAGE BRADBURY) Illustrated Woman, The (1960)  See complete GUIDE. In a Season of Calm Weather (1956-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. In Memoriam (2002) A father plays one last game of basketball with his son. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) In This Sign (1951)  See complete GUIDE. Inspired Chicken Motel, The (1969)  See complete GUIDE. Invisible Boy, The (1945)  A witch living in the woods staves off loneliness with the help of an imaginary boy. (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN) (VINTAGE BRADBURY) (S IS FOR SPACE)  ―A pathetic little story‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, October 1953). * Jack-in-the-Box (1947)  See complete GUIDE.

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Jar, The (1944)  See complete GUIDE. Kaleidoscope, The (1949)  An explosion aboard a rocket scatters a handful of men in space. An original, poignant, and powerful story. (ILLUSTRATED MAN) (VINTAGE BRADBURY)  ―Not so impressed‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1964). ** Kilimanjaro Device, The (1965) A time traveler rescues Hemingway from a fate worse than death. A sentimental journey. (I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC) Lake, The (1944)  See complete GUIDE. Last Night of the World, The (1951)  See complete GUIDE. Laurel and Hardy Alpha Centauri Farewell Tour, The (2000)  Space colonists fight off loneliness with a dose of Laurel and Hardy. A nostalgic tale about the scariness of deep space. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) Leftovers (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Let’s Play “Poison” (1946)  See complete GUIDE. Life Work of Juan Díaz, The (1963-not SF)  A family converts their father into a tourist attraction. (MACHINERIES OF JOY) Little Mice, The (1955-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Long Rain, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Long Years, The (1950)  A rocket, years after the Great War, makes the long and arduous voyage back to Mars. (THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES) Lost City of Mars, The (1967)  See complete GUIDE. Machineries of Joy, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Mad Wizards of Mars, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Magic White Suit, The (1958)  See complete GUIDE. Make Haste to Live (2001)  A bold young woman lives her life in reverse. (FROM THE DUST RETURNED) Man, The (1948)  The people of a world visited by God react adversely to Earthmen: ―Take your filth somewhere else and foul up nests with your doubt and your—scientific method!” (ILLUSTRATED MAN) (S IS FOR SPACE)  ―Notable‖ (Villiers Gerson, Astounding, July 1951). *** Man in the Rorschach Shirt, The (1966)  See complete GUIDE. Man Upstairs, The (1947)  See complete GUIDE. Marionettes, Inc. (1949)  See complete GUIDE. Marriage Mender, The (1959-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Mars is Heaven! (1948)  The Third Martian Expedition arrives on the Red Planet only to discover a town with an oddly familiar look and eerily familiar faces. The author does a masterful job of developing a fundamentally implausible premise and making it seem real. Also published as The Third Expedition (1948). (MARTIAN

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CHRONICLES)  ―Ingenious‖ (L. Sprague de Camp, Astounding, May 1950). ***  ―Beautifully written, poetically effective . . . evokes the empty stuff of nightmares‖ (Algis Budrys, Galaxy, October 1967). *** Martian, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Meadow, The (1947-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Medicine for Melancholy (1959-not SF)  A family searches for a cure for their daughter‘s melancholia. An overly sentimental handling of an intriguing premise. (MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY) Mice, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Million Year Picnic, The (1946)  Fleeing an Earth on the brink of nuclear war, an ordinary family begins a new life for themselves on Mars. (THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES) (S IS FOR SPACE)  ―Has all the elements of his best work . . . still not wholly choked by style‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1966). ***1/2 Millionth Murder, The (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Miracle of Rare Device, A (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Mouse, Far-Traveling (2001)  A tiny rodent journeys all the way from ancient Egypt to Green Town, Illinois. (FROM THE DUST RETURNED) Murderer, The (1953)  See complete GUIDE. My Son, Max (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Naming of Names, The (1949)  See complete GUIDE. Next in Line, The (1947)  A woman on vacation with her husband teeters on the verge of a nervous breakdown: ―She could not speak to him for she knew no words that he knew and he said nothing to her that she understood.‖ A grimly effective tale. (OCTOBER COUNTRY) (SMALL ASSASSIN)  ―Worthy overwriting‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, February 1956). **1/2  ―Disappointing . . . a big letdown‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, March 1956). ** Next Stop: the Stars (1956)  See complete GUIDE. Night, The (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Night Call, Collect (1949)  See complete GUIDE. Night Meeting, The (1950)  A truck driver crosses the Martian desert and encounters a 4000-year old Martian. The author holds up a mirror to man, and reveals our all-too-human limitations. (MARTIAN CHRONICLES) (VINTAGE BRADBURY)  ―Brilliant . . . the prize piece‖ (Mark Reinsberg, Imagination, October 1993). ***1/2 Nineteenth, The (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. No Particular Night or Morning (1951)  See complete GUIDE.

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Off Season, The (1948)  An Earthman builds the first hotdog stand in the middle of the Martian desert. (THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES) One More for the Road (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. One Who Waits (1949)  See complete GUIDE. One Woman Show (2002-not SF) A confusing tale about an actress whose life is overshadowed by the characters she plays. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) Other Foot, The (1951)  See complete GUIDE. Pedestrian, The (1951)  A nonconformist roams the deserted streets of a suburban city. A memorable, chilling, and cautionary tale. (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN) (S IS FOR SPACE) Perchance to Dream (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Perhaps We Are Going Away (1964-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Pillar of Fire (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Playground, The (1953) A memorable story about a man who balks at taking his son to a playground frequented by bullies. (FAHRENHEIT 451) Powerhouse (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Prehistoric Producer, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Queen’s Own Evaders, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Quid Pro Quo (2000)  An old man promises his younger self a second chance at success. The story‘s effectiveness is hamstrung by the implausible approach to time travel. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) Return to the Dust (2001)  See complete GUIDE. R is for Rocket (1943)  See complete GUIDE. Rocket, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Rocket Man, The (1951)  A rocket pilot returns home to his wife and son. An affecting tale about a quintessentially dysfunctional family. (ILLUSTRATED MAN) (R IS FOR ROCKET)  ―It hit me a blow just when I thought it was only an excellent exercise in which I might call ‘adumbrated’ nostalgia‖ (Avram Davidson, F&SF, May 1963). ***1/2  ―Beautiful‖ (Villiers Gerson, Astounding, July 1951). *** Scent of Sarsaparilla, A (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Screaming Woman, The (1951)  See complete GUIDE. Scythe, The (1943)  A farmer and his family decide to homestead a mysteriously deserted farm. A grim but deeply resonant story. (OCTOBER COUNTRY) Shopping for Death (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Shoreline at Sunset, The (1959)  See complete GUIDE. Silent Towns, The (1950)  Martian settlers opt to return home to Earth following the outbreak of war. (THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES) Skeleton (1945)  See complete GUIDE.

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Small Assassin, The (1946)  A mother fears the wrath of her newborn child. A good horror tale with a surprising twist. (OCTOBER COUNTRY) (SMALL ASSASSIN) (VINTAGE BRADBURY)  ―A minor masterpiece of horror‖ (Damon Knight, Original SF, July 1956). *** Smile, The (1952)  See complete GUIDE. Smiling People, The (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Some Live Like Lazarus (1960-not SF)  An old woman manipulates her son, driving him away from the woman he loves. (MACHINERIES OF JOY) Sound of Summer Running, The (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Sound of Thunder, A (1952)  A time safari to the Mesozoic meets with misfortune. (R IS FOR ROCKET) (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN)  ―A threadbare . . . gimmick‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, April 1960). **  ―Less elevated . . . but clearly of sufficient stature‖ (Algis Budrys, Galaxy, May 1969). *** Strawberry Window, The (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Sun and Shadow (1953-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Tangerine (2002-not SF)  A young artist is propositioned by a homosexual. A sensitively handled tale that wanders far from typical escapist entertainment. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) Terrible Conflagration up at the Hill, The (1969-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Tête-à-Tête (2002-not SF) A widow finds comfort in the ravings of her deceased husband. (ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) There Was an Old Woman (1944)  See complete GUIDE. There Will Come Soft Rains (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Thing at the Top of the Stairs, The (1988)  See complete GUIDE. Third Expedition, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Time In Thy Flight (1953)  Children from an antiseptic world of the future travel back in time to witness the horror of a small town circus. (S IS FOR SPACE) Time Intervening (1947)  See complete GUIDE. Time Machine, The (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Time of Going Away, The (1959)  An old man senses his time has come. A gently humorous and wistful tale. (MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY) To the Chicago Abyss (1963)  See complete GUIDE. Tombstone, The (1945)  See complete GUIDE. Tombing Day, The (1952)  An equally lame story about an old woman

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who exhumes the corpse of her strangely-preserved sweetheart. (I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC) Tomorrow and Tomorrow (1947)  See complete GUIDE. Tomorrow’s Child (1969)  See complete GUIDE. Touched with Fire (1955) Two retired insurance agents encourage a foul-mouthed woman to clean up her act. Originally published as Shopping for Death (1954). (OCTOBER COUNTRY) Town Where No One Got Off, The (1958-not SF)  A nasty tale about a frustrated commuter who contemplates a senseless murder: ―It would do me a world of good . . . to get off this train in a small town . . . where nobody knows me, with this gun under my arm, and find someone and kill them . . . and nobody the wiser.‖ (MEDICINE FOR MELANCHOLY) Toynbee Convector, The (1988)  See complete GUIDE. Trapdoor (1985; horror)  See complete GUIDE. Traveler, The (1946)  An ambiguous but poignant tale about an evil Transylvanian lord who attempts to corral a wandering, free-spirited woman. An updated and less effective version of the story appeared in From the Dust Returned (2001). (DARK CARNIVAL) (THE OCTOBER COUNTRY) Trolley, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Rex (1962-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Uncle Einar (1947)  See complete GUIDE. Undersea Guardians (1944)  Ghostly underwater legions haunt the cold Atlantic, protecting American convoys from prowling German U- boats. A colorful, though not entirely plausible, tale. (Amazing Stories, December 1944) Usher II (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Vacation, The (1963)  A family escapes their busy lives on a mysteriously abandoned Earth: ―Wouldn’t it be nice . . . if we woke tomorrow and everyone in the world was gone?‖ A fine pastoral disaster story—without the disaster. (MACHINERIES OF JOY) Veldt, The (1950)  Two spoiled children transform their nursery into an African playground, complete with tall grass and man-eating lions. When the parents complain, the lions feast. A strong, atmospheric tale. (ILLUSTRATED MAN) (VINTAGE BRADBURY) Very Late in the Evening (1960)  See complete GUIDE. Visitor, The (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Watchful Poker Chip of H. Matisse, The (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Way in the Middle of the Air (1950)  Black Americans abandon a bigoted Earth for the wide open vistas of Mars. A classic blending of SF and humanistic sentiment. (MARTIAN CHRONICLES)

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Well, What Have You To Say for Yourself? (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Where All is Emptiness (2002-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Wilderness, The (1950)  An undemanding tale about two sisters who face their fears and relocate to Mars. (GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN) (MARTIAN CHRONICLES; some editions)  ―Utterly overwhelms . . . heartwarming‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, June 1953). ***1/2 Wind, The (1943)  See complete GUIDE. With Smiles as Wide as Summer (1961-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Women, The (1948-horror)  See complete GUIDE. Wonderful Death of Dudley Stone, The (1954-not SF)  A talented writer drops out of sight at the peak of his career, but is tracked down years later by a persistent fan. (OCTOBER COUNTRY) Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, The (1958-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Year the Glop Monster Won the Golden Lion at Cannes, The (1966)  See complete GUIDE. Yes, We’ll Gather at the River (1969-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Ylla (1950)  A telepathic Martian woman risks angering her husband by consorting with a Terran space captain. (MARTIAN CHRONICLES) (VINTAGE BRADBURY)  ―I love this tale‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, April 1952). ***  ―Outstanding‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, May 1952). *** Zero Hour (1947)  See complete GUIDE.

Anthologies: Timeless Stories for Today and Tomorrow (1952)  A collection of twenty-six horror and fantasy stories. Standouts include Robert M. Coates The Hour after Westerley (1947), Roald Dahl‘s The Sound Machine (1949), and Ray Bradbury‘s The Pedestrian (1951),  ―If there is anyone around who thinks creative writing is in the doldrums . . . he should have a look at this collection‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, January 1953). ***1/2  ―Unusual and pleasant reading . . . a superb bargain‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, November 1952). ***1/2

BRADLEY, Marion Zimmer (1930-1999) US author, whose roughly sixty novels include the Darkover series (1972- 1993), the Atlantean series (1983), the Avalon series (1983-2007), and the Shadow’s Gate series (1995-1998). Early in her career, Bradley also

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wrote a number of erotic novels, including The Strange Women (1967-as by Miriam Gardner), I Am a Lesbian (1962-as by Lee Chapman), Spare Her Heaven (1963-as by Morgan Ives), Twilight Lovers (1964-as by Miriam Gardner), No Adam for Eve (1966-as by John Dexter), and Knives of Desire (1966-as by Morgan Ives). Acclaimed short fiction: The Dark Intruder (1962). Pseudonyms: Lee Chapman, John Dexter, Miriam Gardner, and Morgan Ives.

Quotes On the orgies of Darkover: ―Some were simply stroking one another with total animal absorption and a complete lack of inhibitions . . . others had already proceeded, totally without discrimination—man and woman, woman and woman, man and man—to more direct and active satisfactions. Captain Leicester stared at the daylight orgy . . . and began to weep‖ (Darkover Landfall).

On telepathic healing:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels and Collections Black Trillium (1990-with Julian May and Andre Norton) Three young women whose parents were killed by the king of a neighboring province set out to find a magic talisman. The first book in the Trillium series.  ―A lot of interesting detail . . . a variable quality . . . everybody’s invention seems to flag about two-thirds of the way through . . . the reader begins to weary‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, March 1991). **

Bloody Sun, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Colors of Space, The (1963) A young Space Academy graduate challenges an alien monopoly on space travel. Unabridged versions include The Colors of Space (1983) and The Colours of Space (1989). JUV  ―Handles action smoothly and convincingly . . . her characters come to life‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). ***

Dark Intruder, The (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Darkover Landfall (1972)  A sexy about survivors of a downed Terran spaceship, whose passions and paranormal powers are aroused by the planet‘s intoxicating winds. A colorful adventure with appealing characters. The first book in the Darkover series (internal chronology).

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 ―Action, color, and generously applied detail‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1973). ***

Door Through Space, The (1961)  See complete GUIDE.

Falcons of Narabedla (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Forbidden Tower, The (1977)  See complete GUIDE.

Heritage of Hastur, The (1975)  Two young lords of Darkover—one troubled by his apparent lack of paranormal powers and the second persecuted because of his mixed ancestry—are drawn into a rebel leader‘s plot to awaken the powers of the Shaara matrix. A colorful which builds to a suspenseful and satisfying climax. The fifteenth book in the Darkover series (internal chronology).  ―Adventure and romance . . . at its best . . . plenty of wonder . . . topflight adventure in every way‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, November 1975). ***1/2  Average rating of five out of five stars on Amazon.com based on 11 reviewers.

House Between the Worlds, The (1980)  See complete GUIDE.

Hunters of the Red Moon (1973-with Paul Edwin Zimmer)  See complete GUIDE.

Mists of Avalon, The (1982) A retelling of the ancient Arthurian legend from the perspective of four women of power: Viviane, the Lady of the Lake and High Priestess of Avalon; Igraine, Arthur‘s mother; Guinevere, Arthur‘s wife; and Morgaine, a tormented sorceress. The first book in the Avalon series.  ―An enormous work with infinite detail . . . one of those novels one sinks into and gets lost in‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, April 1983). ***1/2

Planet Savers, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE.

Ruins of Isis, The (1987)  See complete GUIDE.

Seven from the Stars (1960; 1962) A shipload of survivors from a world devastated by the alien Rhu‘inn find refuge on the third planet of the Sol system.  ―Well-done action, adventure and cloak-and-dagger stuff . . .

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lively‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1962). ***

Shattered Chain, The (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Stormqueen! (1978)  See complete GUIDE.

Sword of Aldones, The (1962) The world of Darkover, long isolated from the rest of the galaxy, is jolted by sudden exposure to the advanced and enlightened culture of Terra. The sixteenth book in the Darkover series (internal chronology).  ―Even the early stories have the wonderful allure of this strange world . . . highly recommended‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, March 1977). ***1/2  Finalist for the 1963 Hugo award for best novel.

Winds of Darkover, The (1970)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Bird of Prey (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Wind People, The (1959)  The crew of a starship abandons a young mother and her child on an idyllic world inhabited by ghostly dryad-people. The background details are interesting, but the story unmemorable. (BEST OF )

BRAMAH, Ernest (1868-1942) Pseudonym of author ERNEST BRAMAH SMITH, whose Kai Lung series includes The Wallet of Kai Lung (1990) and Kai Lung Beneath the Mulberry Tree (1940).

Novels Kai Lung’s Golden Hours (1922; exp 1986) A collection of thirteen stories in the Kai Lung cycle about a wandering storyteller in ancient China who sets about telling a series of fantastic tales in order to delay his own execution. Includes The Degraded Persistence of the Effete Ming-shu (1900) and The Inopportune Behavior of the Covetous Li-loe (1900).  ―A heavy little casket of jewels . . . you’ll be enchanted‖ (Theodore Sturgeon, Galaxy, September 1972). ***

BRENNERT, Alan (1954-) US author, television producer, and screenwriter, whose books of speculative interest include City of Masques (1978), Spirits (1984), Her Pilgrim Soul and Other Stories (1990), Time and Chance (1990), and Ma Qui and Other

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Phantoms (1991). Acclaimed short fiction: In This Image (1974), Ma Qui (1991-winner of the 1991 Nebula award for best short story), Queen of the Magic Kingdom (1980), and Stage Whisper (1980).

BRETNOR, Reginald (1911-1992) US author, editor, and anthologist, best known for his series featuring the brilliant but lecherous clockmaker, Papa Schimmelhorn, whose humorous stories are collected in The Schimmelhorn File: Memoirs of a Dirty Old Genius (1979); and a second series featuring the punning Ferdinand Feghoot whose tales are collected in Through Time and Space with Ferdinand Feghoot (1962-as by Grendel Briarton). Bretnor‘s sole novel is Gilpin’s Space (1986). Acclaimed short fiction: Dr. Birdmouse (1962), The Doorstop (1956), Earthwoman (1967-finalist for the 1967 Nebula award for best short story), Gnurrs Come from the Voodvork Out (1950), Gratitude Guaranteed (1953-with Kris Neville), Little Anton (1951), and Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All (1973).

Novels Schimmelhorn File: Memoirs of a Dirty Old Genius, The (1979)  See complete GUIDE.

Schimmelhorn’s Gold (1986)  See complete GUIDE.

BREUER, Miles J. (1989-1947) US science fiction author, whose novels include The Girl from Mars (1929-with ), The Birth of a New Republic (1931-with Jack Williamson), and Paradise and Iron (1930). Acclaimed short fiction: Appendix and the Spectacles (1928), A Baby on Neptune (1930), Gostak and the Doshes (1930), and The Hungry Guinea Pig (1929).

BRIN, David (1950-) US science fiction author, whose nearly twenty novels and collections include The Practice Effect (1984), Sundiver (1980), Tomorrow Happens (2003), and Sky (2007- with Scott Hampton). Acclaimed short fiction: The Giving Plague (1988-finalist for the 1989 Hugo award for best short story), Infinity’s Shore (1996), Piecework (1990), Shhhh (1989), Thor Meets Captain America (1986-finalist for the 1987 Hugo award for best novelette), and What Continues, What Fails (1991).

Novels Brightness Reef (1995)  See complete GUIDE.

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Earth (1990) A black hole fallen into the Earth‘s core will destroy the planet unless scientists can find a way to retrieve it.  ―Fulfilled expectations in every possible respect‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, November 1993). ***1/2  ―The back-and-forthing among many characters . . . dilute the plot line . . . [but] extrapolation of the highest and most subtle order‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, November 1990). ***  ―Well-realized, believable . . . if it is not entirely successful, it is not for lack of scope and ambition‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, June 1991). **1/2  Finalist for the 1991 Hugo award for best novel.

Glory Season (1993)  See complete GUIDE.

Heart of the Comet (1986)  See complete GUIDE.

Kiln People (2002) A private investigator searches for the missing co- founder of Universal Kiln, a corporation that markets disposable humans.  Finalist for the 2003 Hugo award for best novel.

Otherness (1994) A collection of thirteen stories, including The Giving Plague (1988), Piecework (1990), and What Continues and What Fails (1991).  ―No less enticing . . . enjoy‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, January 1995). ***

Postman, The (1985)  See complete GUIDE.

Practice Effect, The (1984) A physicist is sent through a ―reality-probe‖ to an anti-entropic world where cars, tools, and other manmade devices are renewed with use and degrade with idleness.  ―Light and frothy . . . with a good measure of satisfaction . . . Brin works out the implications thoroughly and imaginatively‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, July 1984). ***  ―Astonishingly varied . . . rollicking adventures . . . [but] the plot ingredients are pretty standard‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, July 1984). **1/2  ―A really first-rate Sfnal idea . . . as plotsmith Brin is just another guy . . . not a storyteller . . . [but] he is a first-rate inventor of SF ideas‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, July 1984). **1/2

Startide Rising (1983)  See complete GUIDE.

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Sundiver (1980)  See complete GUIDE.

Uplift War, The (1987) A dolphin-crewed spaceship searches for a lost fleet of ships belonging to an ancient race known as the Progenitors while, across the galaxy, a hostile force launches an attack on the human and chimp-occupied world of Garth. The third book in the series.  ―A wonderfully diverse, many-cultured universe . . . all the excitement SF used to have . . . bravo!‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, Mid-December 1987). ***1/2  ―Handles the basic concept well . . . very satisfying plots, characters, and sheer storytelling . . . masterly‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, November 1987). ***1/2  Winner of the 1988 Hugo award for best novel.  Finalist for the 1987 Nebula award for best novel.

Stories Crystal Spheres, The (1984)  A deepspace explorer makes contact with the inhabitants of a world whose protective sphere has been shattered. An intriguing premise, but the characters lack depth and warmth. (THE RIVER OF TIME)  Winner of the 1985 Hugo award for best short story.

BRINTON, Henry (1901-1977) UK author, whose sole SF novel is Purple-6 (1962). Brinton has also written mysteries, including An Apple a Day (1958) and Rude Awakening (1961).

Quotes On winning a nuclear war: ―If the Communists won tomorrow, without a fight, do you think that in five hundred years—even a hundred—it would have made much difference?‖ (Purple-6).

Novels Purple-6 (1962)  See complete GUIDE.

BRODERICK, Damien (1944-) Australian editor, critic, anthologist, popular science writer, and author, whose roughly twenty SF books include A Man Returned (1965), The Sea’s Furthest End (1993), The Hunger of Time (2003-with Rory Barnes), and K-Machines (2006). Acclaimed short fiction: The Magi (1982).

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Novels Black Grail, The (1970; rev 1986) Born centuries after a nuclear holocaust, a youth from a nomadic tribe sets out to vanquish a rampaging sorcerer, and in the process stumbles on a portal to the distant future. The fourth book in the Faustus Hexagram series. Also published as Sorcerer’s World (1970).  ―The tale is a quiet one, lacking the raucousness of standard adventure fare, but it is also satisfying . . . a nicely circular whole . . . however, the ending, while dramatically suitable, may not suit the modern reader . . . it has the feel of the first installment in a trilogy . . . [and] promises to be one of the most scopeful, sweeping things in recent SF history‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, October 1986). **1/2

Dreaming Dragons, The (1980)  See complete GUIDE.

Judas Mandala, The (1982; rev 1990)  See complete GUIDE.

BROOKE-ROSE, Christine (1923-) UK author and literary critic, whose SF and fantasy works include Out (1964), Amalgamemnon (1984), and Verbivore (1990).

Novels Xorandor (1986) Two teenagers find a way to communicate with a sentient being living inside an ancient stone cairn. The first book in the Xorandor series (1990).  ―A winner . . . hilarious . . . suspenseful . . . because of its style, wit and intelligence, Xorandor is definitely award material on anybody’s turf‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, May 1987). ***1/2

BROOKS, Terry (1944-) US attorney and author, whose roughly thirty fantasy books include those in the commercially successful Shannara series (1977-2007).

Novels Sword of Shannara, The (1977)  See complete GUIDE.

BROOKS, Walter R. (1886-1958) US editor, author and Red Cross worker, whose books include the Freddy the Pig series (1927-1958) about a group of animals—including a pig and a rooster— who are caught up in various fantastic adventures. Individual titles

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include Freddy Goes to the North Pole (1930), The Clockwork Twin (1937), and Freddy and the Flying Saucer Plans (1957).

Novels Freddy and the Space Ship (1953) An overachieving pig from upstate New York attempts to become a successful astronaut. JUV  ―We recommend [it] . . . very little science fiction in [it] . . . [and the story] suffers somewhat from the flaws mentioned above . . . [but] offers wit, sound structural plotting, genuine character- humor, and admirable English prose . . . results to entrance readers of every age‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, January – March 1954). ***

BROSNAN, John Raymond (1947-2005) Australian author, whose SF and horror novels include Skyship (1981), Slimer (1983-with Leroy Kettle, as by Harry Adam Knight), Carnosaur (1984-as by Harry Adam Knight), War of the Sky Lords (1989), The Fungus (1985-with Leroy Kettle, as by Harry Adam Knight), The Opoponax Invasion (1993), and Mothership (2004). Pseudonyms: James Blackstone, Simon Ian Childer, and Harry Adam Knight.

Novels Sky Lords, The (1988) A woman from the feminist enclave of Minerva is enslaved by the overlords of a giant dirigible, but escapes with the help of one of her ultra-wealthy captors. The first book of the Sky Lords trilogy.  ―I was not impressed . . . I think it contemptible to suggest that the only way to assure a feminist utopia is to take the spine out of men‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, Mid-December 1991). **

BROWN, Dan (1964-) US author, English teacher, pop singer, and songwriter whose thrillers include Digital Fortress (1998), Angels and Demons (2000), and The Da Vinci Code (2003).

Quotes On early Christian : ―In the battle between the pagan symbols and Christian symbols, the pagans lost; Poseidon‘s trident became the devil‘s pitchfork, the wise crone‘s pointed hat became the symbol of a witch, and Venus‘s pentacle became a sign of the devil‖ (The Da Vinci Code).

On the Wages of Original Sin:  See complete GUIDE.

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On the Bible:  See complete GUIDE.

On control of the media: ―History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books—books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe‖ (The Da Vinci Code).

Novels Da Vinci Code, The (2003)  See complete GUIDE.

BROWN, Eric (1960-) UK author, playwright, and editor, whose roughly twenty-five SF books include Meridian Days (1992), Penumbra (1999), Threshold Shift (2006), and Helix (2007). Acclaimed short fiction: Children of Winter (2000-winner of the 2001 BSFA award for best short fiction) and Hunting the Slarque (1999-winner of the 1999 BSFA award for best short fiction).

Novels The Time-Lapsed Man and Other Stories (1989)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Status Extinct (1996)  Miniature humanoids on an alien world come to the aid of an injured space explorer. A colorful tale whose ironic ending is a bit heavy-handed. (Space Stories, edited by Mike Ashley)

BROWN, Fredric (1906-1972) US author and anthologist, whose roughly sixty mystery, detective, and SF books include The Fabulous Clipjoint (1947), The Screaming Mimi (1949), Night of the Jabberwock (1951), Mitkey Astromouse (1971), and Sex Life on the Planet Mars (1986). Acclaimed short fiction: All Good Bems (1949), The Angelic Angleworm (1943), Arena (1944), Dark Interlude (1951-with Mack Reynolds), The End (1961), Etaoin Shrdlu (1942), The First Time Machine (1955), Hall of Mirrors (1953), The Last Martian (1950), Letter to a Phoenix (1949), Mouse (1949), Paradox Lost (1943), Placet Is a Crazy Place (1946), Politeness (1957), Puppet Show (1962), Reconciliation (1954), Rustle of Wings (1953), The Waveries (1945), and The Weapon (1951). Acclaimed anthologies: Science-Fiction Carnival (1953-with Mack Reynolds). Pseudonyms: Felix Graham.

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Novels and Collections (1954) A collection of seventeen stories, including Etaoin Shrdlu (1942), Placet Is a Crazy Place (1946), Letter to a Phoenix (1949), Reconciliation (1954), and Politeness (1957). Also published as Star Shine (1956).  ―Sparkling originality an delightfully crisp writing . . . a very high average indeed . . . [one of the top] 50 review copies I would not part with [ published from 1949-1957]‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, December 1954 – October 1958). ***1/2  ―Perfectly delightful . . . eight of his very best stories‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, March 1955). ***  ―A joy indeed . . . good fun‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1955). *** Daymares (1968) A collection of seven SF stories, including Daymare (1943), to Darkness (1949), and (1950).  ―There’s not much of the Brown flavor here . . . more of a dark brown taste‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1969). **

Honeymoon in Hell (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

Lights in the Sky Are Stars, The (1953)  The moving story of an aging spaceman‘s efforts to take part in the first manned mission to Jupiter.  ―Heart-wrenching . . . sensitive and moving with a fine understanding of the human motives‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, March – April 1954 – October 1958). ***1/2  ―Richly human, exciting, tragic . . . inspiringly imaginative‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, June 1954). ***  ―Fine . . . Brown’s best science fiction . . . an intensely human story‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, June 1954 – May 1955 – December 1963). ***

Martians, Go Home (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

Mind Thing, The (1961)  See complete GUIDE.

Nightmares and Geezenstacks (1961) A collection of 47 short-short stories, including Dark Interlude (1951-with Mack Reynolds) and The Ring of Hans Carvel (1961).  ―Outrageous . . . shouldn’t be missed‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1961). ***  ―[A] sure thing . . . a delightful can of 47 mixed nutsies . . . bite-

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sized and inordinantly piquant . . . whimsy, irony, extreme cleverness‖ (Spider Robinson, Destinies, October 1979). ***

Paradox Lost (1973)  See complete GUIDE.

Rogue in Space (1957)  See complete GUIDE.

Space on My Hands (1951)  A collection of nine entertaining and generally humorous tales. Standouts include All Good Bems (1949), (1948), Come and Go Mad (1949), and Daymare (1943).  ―Each of these stories is . . . a gem . . . unerringly precise economy of words . . . an artist who doesn’t miss a bet‖ (Sam Merwin, Amazing, June 1952). ***1/2  ―A volume of unusual distinction . . . highly enjoyable . . . brilliantly written‖ (Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, F&SF, February 1952 – April 1953). ***1/2  ―Nine top-notch stories . . . you’ll have fun with this one‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1952). ***  ―A fine, high-spirited, fantastical, super-scientifical book for the human-hearted‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, May 1952). ***

What Mad Universe (1946)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories All Good Bems (1949)  A gleefully wacky tale about aliens from a crashed spaceship who decide to while away a few hours in the home of a science fiction writer. (SPACE ON MY HANDS)  ―Witty but slight‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, May 1952). **1/2 Arena (1944)  See complete GUIDE. Come and Go Mad (1949)  See complete GUIDE. Crisis 1999 (1949)  A scientist develops a technique for hypnotizing criminals in order to help them pass lie detector tests, but in the process cures them of their criminal ways. Eminently forgettable. (SPACE ON MY HANDS)  ―I didn’t like this much‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, May 1952). ** Daymare (1943)  See complete GUIDE. End, The (1961)  See complete GUIDE. Expedition (1957) A lone man and twenty-nine women set out on the first interplanetary voyage to Mars. (NIGHTMARES AND GEEZENSTACKS)  ―A delightful twist . . . very well done‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, September 1958 – May 1959). *** Imagine (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

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Knock (1948)  See complete GUIDE. Nothing Serius (1944)  An off-the-wall tale about a family of entrepreneurs who visit a planet inhabited by intelligent cockroaches. Worth reading if only for the superb dialogue. (SPACE ON MY HANDS)  ―Not one of the best . . . B minus‖ (Groff Conklin, Galaxy, May 1952). ** Obedience (1950)  See complete GUIDE. Pi in the Sky (1945)  See complete GUIDE. Puppet Show (1962)  A galactic representative calls on the inhabitants of a small Arizona town to determine humanity‘s qualification for admittance into the Federation of Worlds. A brilliant variation on a familiar theme. (THE BEST OF ) Something Green (1951)  See complete GUIDE. Star Mouse (1942)  See complete GUIDE. Undying Ones, The (1950)  See complete GUIDE.

BROWN, Jerry Earl (1940-) US author, whose SF novels including Earthfall (1989) and The Crevasse (1990)—the latter a thriller involving a downed Soviet space station in the Himalayas.

Quotes On galactic tolerance:  See complete GUIDE.

On familiarity: ―[I know it] like the—well, like the body of my last mistress . . . a body that relinquished its every treasure to me‖ (Under the City of Angels).

Novels Darkhold (1985)  See complete GUIDE.

Under the City of Angels (1981)  In the aftermath of a series of devastating earthquakes, a down-and-out environmentalist lives by scavenging off the submerged ruins of Los Angeles. Teaming up with an amnesiac woman, he discovers an ancient city under the San Gabriel Mountains and learns the shocking truth: the earthquakes were caused by illegal oil drilling beneath the national parks! The story starts promisingly, but devolves into farfetched nonsense.  ―A good first novel . . . the characters come alive . . . [though] the alien revolution is too timely‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, September 1981). **1/2

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BROWN, Molly (-) UK author, whose books include Virus (1994) and Bad Timing and Other Stories (2001). Acclaimed short fiction: Bad Timing (1991-winner of the 1991 BSFA award for best short fiction).

BROWN, Rich (-) US (?) author, whose sole SF novel is A Personal Demon (1985-with David Bischoff and Linda Richardson). Alternate names used: Michael F. X. Milhaus.

BROWN, Rosel George (1926-1967) US author, teacher, and welfare worker, whose books include A Handful of Time (1963), Sibyl Sue Blue (1966), and Earthblood and Other Stories (2008- with Keith Laumer).

Novels Earthblood (1966)  See complete GUIDE.

Handful of Time, A (1963) A collection of twelve stories, including Lost in Translation (1959), A Little Human Contact (1960), and Fruiting Body (1962).  ―The people are real enough so that the slightness shows only in retrospect . . . you’re right with them, all the way‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, August 1963). **1/2

Sibyl Sue Blue (1966) A tough police officer‘s probe into the source of a series of narcotics-related murders leads to the world on which her husband mysteriously disappeared years earlier. The first book in the Sibyl Sue series. Also published as Galactic Sibyl Sue Blue (1968).  ―Delightful . . . I hope we see more of her‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1967 – October 1970). ***  ―Froth and fun and furious action . . . more acute comment . . . than you are likely to find in any half dozen deadly serious social novels‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, January 1967). ***

Waters of Centaurus, The (1970)  See complete GUIDE.

BROWN, Slater (1897-1997) US (?) author, whose books include The Burning Wheel (1942), The Talking Skyscraper (1945), and World of the Wind (1961).

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Novels Spaceward Bound (1955)  See complete GUIDE.

BROXON, Mildred Downey (1944-) US author, whose SF novels include The Demon of Scattery (1979-with ) and Too Long a Sacrifice (1981). Acclaimed short fiction: The Night Is Cold, The Stars Are Far Away (1981) and Where Is Next Door? (1978).

Stories Night Is Cold, The Stars Are Far Away, The (1981)  The last of a family of alien star gazers maintains a lonely vigil in the hope of proving the non-Ptolemaic theory of the universe. A well-rounded tale with likeable characters and a classic hard-SF theme. (UNIVERSE 5)

BRUNNER, John (1934-1995) Working name of UK science fiction author JOHN KILIAN HOUSTON BRUNNER, whose more than eighty books include The Brink (1959), Echo in the Skull (1959), The World Swappers (1959), The Enigma from Tantalus (1965), Martian Sphinx (1965), A Planet of Your Own (1966), Born Under Mars (1967), (1967), The Evil That Men Do (1969), The Gaudy Shadows (1970), The Dramaturges of Yan (1972), Players at the Game of People (1980), (1980), While There’s Hope (1982), The Shift Key (1987), The Days of March (1988), Children of the Thunder (1989), and A Maze of Stars (1991). Acclaimed short fiction: The Berendt Conversion (1975), A Better Mousetrap (1963), Dread Empire (1971-finalist for the 1972 Hugo award for best novella), Elected Silence (1959), Fair Warning (1964), In the Season of the Dressing of the Wells, Jack Fell Down (1963), Out of Mindshot (1970), Some Lapse of Time (1963), Stimulus (1962), Such Stuff (1962), The Suicide of Man (1978), The Taste of the Dish and Savor of the Day (1977), The Totally Rich (1963), The Vitanuls (1967), and What Friends Are For (1974). Pseudonyms: Gil Hunt, Keith Woodcott, K. H. Brunner, Trevor Staines, and others.

Quotes On the last laugh: ―I laugh at the foolishness of humankind‖ (The Compleat Traveler in Black).

Novels and Collections

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Age of Miracles, The (1973)  See complete GUIDE.

Altar of Asconel, The (1965; exp 1976)  As the galaxy slips into a new Dark Age, three high-born brothers attempt to reclaim their past on a world taken over by powerful telepaths. A colorful story which begins promisingly, but reverts to routine melodrama. Also published (with two additional novellas) as Interstellar Empire (1976).  ―One of Brunner’s less noteworthy efforts . . . a more than adequate adventure yarn . . . well-told, well-paced . . . [but] scientific gobbledygook . . . I just don’t know why he bothered‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, March 1966). **1/2

Astronauts Must Not Land, The (1963; rev 1973)  See complete GUIDE.

Atlantic Abomination, The (1960)  The crew of a bathysphere discovers the bloated corpse of a giant alien who returns to life and forces its discoverers to take it to Jacksonville, Florida. An eerily convincing tale of psychic enslavement, but the careless writing and awkward dialogue prevent this one from becoming a classic.  ―Pretty ordinary‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1961). **

Avengers of Carrig (1969)  See complete GUIDE.

Bedlam Planet (1968) Colonists land on the idyllic world of Sigma Draconis, dismantle their ship, and begin building a new settlement.  ―Characters so real they tug at your fingers [sic] . . . poignant irony, masterful plotting . . . insight and wit . . . one of those rare books that engages the brain and the heart‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, July 1976). ***1/2

Castaways’ World (1963)  See complete GUIDE.

Crucible of Time, The (1983)  See complete GUIDE.

Day of the Star Cities, The (1965; rev 1973) Aliens invade Earth, barricade themselves in impregnable cities, and detonate the world‘s nuclear stockpiles. Revised as Age of Miracles (1973).  ―A carefully thought-out, colorfully written science fiction puzzle story . . . some scenes and incidents . . . are especially well done‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, April 1966). ***  ―A clunky, competent book . . . plods a bit‖ (Theodore Sturgeon on Age of Miracles, Galaxy, October 1973). **

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Devil’s Work, The (1970)  See complete GUIDE.

Double, Double (1969)  See complete GUIDE.

Dreaming Earth, The (1963) Earth‘s burgeoning masses begin tripping out on low-cost narcotics in order to escape ever-worsening housing and food shortages. The stratagem backfires, however, when high concentrations of a mescal-like drug end up transporting its users to an alternate Earth.  ―This is his . . . best yet‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, August 1963). ***  ―Weakness in plotting . . . [but] far from the novice level in most other respects . . . action-packed . . . anti-climactic‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, June 1963). **

Echo in the Skull (1959)  See complete GUIDE.

Endless Shadow (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Foreign-Constellations (1980) A collection of eight short stories, including Pond Water (1968) and The Berendt Conversion (1975).  ―Two . . . are just a bit predictable . . . the rest are superior‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, March 1981). ***

I Speak for Earth (1961-as by Keith Woodcott)  See complete GUIDE.

Interstellar Empire (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Into the Slave Nebula (1968)  See complete GUIDE.

Jagged Orbit, The (1969) An ambitious television reporter takes advantage of the disintegration of society and the abundance of news- worthy stories to advance his career. An expose of violence and corruption in the year 2014.  ―Another beautiful job . . . thoroughly believable . . . without quite the—successful—fireworks‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, September 1969). ***  ―[I] held on until page 21‖ (Ron Goulart, Venture Science Fiction, August 1969). *  Finalist for the 1969 Nebula award for best novel.  Winner of the 1970 BSFA award for best novel.

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Ladder in the Sky, The (1962-as by Keith Woodcott)  See complete GUIDE.

Listen! The Stars! (1963; rev 1972)  See complete GUIDE.

Long Result, The (1965) A group of xenophobic Earthmen sabotage a rocket transporting a visiting alien to Earth, in the process triggering an interstellar crisis.  ―Almost a total success7‖ (Harlan Ellison, Dangerous Visions, 1967). **1/2  ―Good reading . . . keeps all his eggs in the air expertly . . . although Brunner has been writing better and more ambitious books lately‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, August 1968). **1/2  ―A bit disappointing . . . a touch of preachiness . . . the tempo is a bit off . . . but the basic idea, as usual, is solidly thought through, and interestingly developed‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, February 1967). **1/2

Manshape (1964; rev 1982)  See complete GUIDE.

Meeting at Infinity (1961) A mysterious device imported from a primitive world offers hope of restoring the life to a horribly injured woman, but threatens to topple the reality of the universe.  ―One of his best stories . . . deftly shifts the spotlight of action from character to character . . . one of the most fascinating SF intrigues I’ve read in a long time‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1961). ***1/2

More Things In Heaven (1973)  See complete GUIDE.

No Future In It (1962)  See complete GUIDE.

100th Millennium, The (1959; rev 1968) A scholar detects a star on collision course with Earth and warns his descendants, one hundred thousand years in the future, of the impending catastrophe. Revised as Catch a Falling Star (1968).  ―A creepily beautiful job of story-telling that haunts you long after the book is laid down‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1960). ***1/2

7 Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works.

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Out of My Mind (1967)  See complete GUIDE.

Polymath (1963; rev 1974)  See complete GUIDE.

Psionic Menace, The (1963-as by Keith Woodcott) An archaeologist sets out across known space in order to find the source of a powerful psychic scream which disrupts telepathic communications throughout the psi-hating Starfolk worlds.  ―Handles a similarly way-out adventure yarn smoothly . . . it's fun, but you won't remember it as you will Delany's [‘Captives of the Flame’] . . . enjoy . . . and if you can, believe a little‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1963). **1/2

Quicksand (1967)  See complete GUIDE.

Rites of Ohe, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE.

Sanctuary in the Sky (1960) Two warlike worlds vie for control of space, with the loser guaranteed total annihilation. The outcome remains in question until a mysterious stranger appears on the scene.  ―One of the best science-fiction adventure offerings that Ace . . . has had in a long time . . . a masterful job . . . a tantalizingly good story‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, July 1961). ***1/2

Secret Agent of Terra (1962; rev 1969)  See complete GUIDE.

Sheep Look Up, The (1972)  See complete GUIDE.

Shockwave Rider (1975) A brilliant young man challenges a computer- controlled near-future society whose citizens are under constant surveillance and for whom privacy is virtually nonexistent.  ―Plenty of ideas . . . a generally fascinating story . . . a lucid presentation‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, August 1975). ***  ―Strikingly modern . . . often wooden or at least artificial . . . not only one of Brunner’s best works but a superbly science-fiction one‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, May 1989). ***  ―Had me convinced in the first . . . half that I was reading a genuine masterpiece, and then kinda petered out‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, May 1976). **1/2

Skynappers, The (1960)  See complete GUIDE.

Slavers of Space (1960; rev 1968)  See complete GUIDE.

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Space-Time Juggler, The (1963) The death of a strong-willed King destablizes a feudal empire, leading to a power grab by rival factions.  ―Never as believable as its flip [Ace] companion, but the people . . . are interesting and the plot intricate‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, March 1964). **1/2

Squares of the City, The (1965)  See complete GUIDE.

Stand on Zanzibar (1968)  See complete GUIDE.

Stardroppers, The (1972)  See complete GUIDE.

Stone That Never Came Down, The (1973) In a near future poised on the brink of social and economic upheaval, a new drug offers both heightened sensory awareness and a desire to change the world.  ―One dandy piece of work . . . one of John’s best‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, August 1975). ***

Super Barbarians, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE.

Threshold of Eternity (1959)  See complete GUIDE.

Tides of Time, The (1984) Two refugees from a problem-plagued FTL program attempt to hide out on an island in the Mediterranean where the progressive instability of their surroundings begins to erode their sanity.  ―An intriguingly told love story . . . I enjoyed it‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, July 1985). ***

Timescoop (1969)  See complete GUIDE.

To Conquer Chaos (1964; rev 1981)  See complete GUIDE.

Tomorrow May Be Even Worse (rev 1978) An alphabetical compilation of SF clichés, arranged in quatrains.  ―Minor Brunner‖ (Anthony R. Lewis, Analog, October 1979). **

Total Eclipse (1974)  See complete GUIDE.

Web of Everywhere (1974)  See complete GUIDE.

Whole Man, The (1964)  A misshapen youth discovers his latent telepathic talent and joins a group of secret psi mutants whose mission is

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to avert world disasters. The story sensitively explores the psychology of its wounded hero whose progression from resentment to mature acceptance is reminiscent of the hero‘s journey in Theodore Sturgeon‘s More Than Human (1953).  ―Brilliant8‖ (Harlan Ellison, Dangerous Visions, 1967). ***1/2  ―Brunner’s best book to date . . . terrifyingly real . . . an unusually good story‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, October 1965 – February 1966). ***  ―A good deal more meaningful and more exciting than the usual run of Brunner’s carefully constructed novels‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, February 1966). ***  Finalist for the 1965 Hugo award for best novel.

World Swappers, The (1959)  See complete GUIDE.

Wrong End of Time, The (1971)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Elected Silence (1959)  Held in captivity by aliens for twenty-eight years, an ex-security officer is rescued by Earth forces but has difficulty adjusting to his new life among humans. The portrayal of the officer and his inner ordeal is effectively handled, but the ending seems a tad simplistic. (NO FUTURE IN IT)  ―Quite good in many places . . . could obviously have been told with more economy‖ (Algis Budrys, Galaxy, April 1965). **1/2  ―Emotionally the most compelling . . . convincing‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, August 1964). *** Imprint of Chaos (1960)  See complete GUIDE. The Iron Jackass (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Judas (1967)  A routine tale about a man who tries to destroy the artificial God he created. (Published in Harlan Ellison‘s Dangerous Visions) No Future In IT (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Puzzle for Spacemen (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Singleminded (1963) A crash victim wins unexpected help from a lonely Russian female infected with a telepathy virus. The unappealing characters lose their way amid a confusing plot. (IF, May 1963)  ―Dullish sermon‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, August 1967). ** Stimulus (1962)  See complete GUIDE. Thou Good and Faithful (1953)  See complete GUIDE.

8 Permission to reprint quoted material is granted by Richard Curtis Associates, Inc., literary agent of Harlan Ellison, and by E-Reads (ereads.com), publishers of Harlan Ellison‘s works.

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Totally Rich, The (1963)  A fabulously wealthy member of a society of super-elites hires a scientist to reincarnate her husband. Written with a brooding, downbeat tone: ―Don’t you see [that] the crack from the corner of the window is getting wider . . . time is gnawing at it like a dog at a bone.‖ (BEST OF )  ―One of the most haunting stories‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, October 1967). ***  ―It is the intensity of Brunner’s political attitudes that give life to [it]‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, August 1967). ***

BRUST, Steven (1955-) US-Hungarian author, whose fantasy works include The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars (1987), The Gypsy (1992), and the Vlad Taltos series (1983-2008). Acclaimed short fiction: When the Bow Breaks (1998-finalist for the 1999 Nebula award for best short story).

BRYAN, P. H. H. (-) Working name of UK (?) author PATRICK HENRY HAMILTON BRYAN, whose sole book of speculative interest is The Barford Cat Affair (1958).

Novels Barford Cat Affair, The (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

BRYANT, Dorothy (1930-) US playwright and author, whose books include Ella Price’s Journal (1972) and Killing Wonder (1981).

Novels Kin of Ata Are Waiting, The (1971) A writer responsible for the death of his girl friend accompanies a woman on a journey of spiritual redemption. Also published as The Comforter, A Mystical Fantasy (1971).  ―This book is a gem . . . an exciting read that never lost my interest . . . the cleanest, sparest, simplest prose I’ve seen all year‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, July 1977). ***1/2

BRYANT, Edward (1945-) US science fiction author, anthologist, and critic, whose books include Phoenix Without Ashes (1975-with Harlan Ellison), Among the Dead (1973), and Wyoming Sun (1980). Acclaimed short fiction: Particle Theory (1977-finalist for the 1977 Nebula award for best novelette), Prairie Sun (1980), A Sad Last

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Love at the Diner of the Damned (1989-finalist for the 1990 World Fantasy award for best short fiction), Shark (1973-finalist for the 1973 Nebula award for best short story), Stone (1978-winner of the 1978 Nebula award and finalist for the 1979 Hugo), Strata (1980-finalist for the 1980 Nebula award for best novelette), Their Thousandth Seas (1972), and The Thermals of August (1981-finalist for the 1981 Nebula and 1982 Hugo award for best novelette).

Novels and Collections Cinnabar (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Particle Theory (1981) A collection of twelve stories, including Shark (1973), Particle Theory (1977), giANTS (1979), Strata (1980), and The Thermals of August (1981).  ―All good to excellent‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, March 1982). ***

Stories giANTS (1979)  A molecular biologist uses recombinant DNA technology to enhance the size of invading marabunta ants. (WYOMING SUN) (PARTICLE THEORY)  Winner of the 1979 Nebula award for best short story. Jody After the War (1972)  See complete GUIDE. Prairie Sun (1980)  See complete GUIDE.

BRYANT, Peter  Pseudonym used by author PETER GEORGE.

BUCHAN, John (1875-1940) UK author, publisher, lawyer, Governor General of Canada, and the first Baron of Tweedsmuir, who worked for the British Intelligence Corps as a propagandist during World War I (Wikipedia), and whose books include The Watcher by the Threshold (1901), The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), Greenmantle (1916), The Dancing Floor (1926), The Gap in the Curtain (1932), and The Far Islands and Other Tales of Fantasy (1984).

Novels Witch Wood (1927) A young minister in the remote village of Woodilee uncovers evidence of a coven of witches operating in a nearby forest.  ―Curiously impersonal, and by our horror movie-trained conventions, rather dry and lacking in confrontational drama . . . on the other hand, it is an absorbing glimpse of a farming village of the time . . . an air of reality . . . most of the dialogue is in near

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incomprehensible Scots . . . those who want speed, gore, and instant comprehensibility should stand clear‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, March 1990). **1/2  Selected by James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock as one of the 100 best fantasy novels.

BUCHWALD, Art (1925-2007) US newspaper columnist, humorist, political satirist, and author, whose speculative fiction includes Stella in Heaven (2001). Acclaimed short fiction: Mars Is Ours! (1965).

Stories Mars Is Ours! (1965)  An amusing news article which reports the discovery of intelligent life on Mars—and the lack of same on our own planet. (Published in Judith Merril‘s 11th Annual of the Year’s Best S-F)

BUCKLEY, Kathleen (-) US (?) author, whose speculative novels include Alien Trace, The (1984-with Sharon Jarvis; as by H. M. Major), Time Twister (1984-with Sharon Jarvis; as by H. M. Major), and The Ring Bearer (2003-with Kathy Thomas). See also under co-author Sharon Jarvis. Psuedonyms: H. M. Major.

BUCKNER, Mary M. (-) US author, environmental activist, and former marketing vice president, whose SF books include HyperThought (2004), Neurolink (2004) and Watermind (2008).

Novels War Surf (2005)  See complete GUIDE.

BUDRYS, Algis (1931-) US novelist and critic, whose books include The Furious Future (1963), Entertainment (1997), The Electric Gene Machine (2000), and The Death Machine (2001). Acclaimed short fiction: And Then She Found Him… (1957), Be Merry (1966), The Distant Sound of Engines (1959), Due Process (1960), Edge of the Sea (1958), The End of Summer (1954), The Executioner (1955), For Love (1962), Lost Love (1957), Lower Than Angels (1956), Never Meet Again (1957), Nobody Bothers Gus (1955), The Peasant Girl (1956), A Scraping at the Bones (1975-finalist for the 1975 Nebula award for best short story), The Silent Eyes of Time (1975-finalist for the 1976 Hugo award for best novella), and The War Is Over (1957). Acclaimed

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anthologies: L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume III (1987). Pseudonyms: Paul Janvier, Janvier, John A. Sentry, William Scarff, Frank Mason, and others.

Quotes On writing SF: ―All writing consists of arranging a systematic lie so as to achieve a resemblance to truth . . . attempting to lie successfully about something the reader knows isn‘t factually true is a tricky business . . . it takes more native wit to do that than it does to just give the facts in a plausible order‖ (Galaxy Science Fiction, June 1970).

On the search for wonder:  See complete GUIDE.

On a deadly alien artifact:  See complete GUIDE.

On a career in agriculture: ―Everything on a farm . . . is so close to the edge between growing and rotting . . . you‘ve got to work hard, every day, all day, just to stay a little bit better than even‖ (Who?).

On ice skating:  See complete GUIDE.

On owning a tractor: ―A machine won‘t ever let you down, if you‘ll only take the trouble to use it right . . . a man has no business buying machinery if he won‘t treat it right‖ (Who?).

On man, the anti-entropic wonder: ―Only one thing in the entire universe grows fuller, and richer, and forces its way uphill . . . intelligence—human lives—we‘re the only things . . . that don‘t obey the universal law‖ (Rogue Moon).

On the Creator: ―Only God can make a tree‖ (Nobody Bothers Gus).

On the law of conservation:  See complete GUIDE.

On scientific objectivity: ―It‘s funny with scientists, you know—they‘re supposed to be objective and detached, and formulate theories according to the evidence. But a man‘s baby is a man‘s baby, and sometimes they feel it very badly when an idea of theirs is proved wrong‖ (Who?).

On luck:  See complete GUIDE.

Novels and Collections

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Amsirs and the Iron Thorn, The (1967)  See complete GUIDE.

Blood & Burning (1978) A collection of nine stories, including All for Love (1962) and Be Merry (1966).  ―Not one jolly, harmless, predictable story . . . written with massive skill and power and control . . . some of the most memorable stories I have read this year . . . so unfunny it’s funny‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, May 1979). ***1/2

Budrys’ Inferno (1963)  See complete GUIDE.

Falling Torch, The (1959) Falling Torch, The (1959) Two Earthmen assemble a guerilla force capable of defeating the most powerful empire in the galaxy.  ―Extremely interesting . . . uncanny power as a characterizer‖ (Alfred Bester, F&SF, June 1962). ***1/2  ―Crackling good . . . four stars out of five‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1962). ***  ―Another such definitive story . . . excellence . . . a realized book . . . earns high marks . . . a winner . . . and yet there is one thing . . . hardly . . . science fiction‖ (Frederik Pohl, IF, November 1959). ***  ―Dig[s] deeper than is customary . . . pares down the futuristic trappings almost to the vanishing point . . . [but] the half- familiarity helps rather than hinders‖ (J. Cawthorn, New Worlds, October 1966). ***  ―Nine-tenths non-science-fiction . . . never quite clear . . . what turns the hero overnight from a callow youth into a magnetic leader of men . . . muddy writing . . . hokum . . . [but] at his best, Budrys is brilliantly lucid and believable . . . the old man . . . is a moving, thoroughly convincing portrait‖ (Damon Knight, F&SF, November 1959). **1/2  ―One of the better interplanetary underground yarns . . . [though] more of the attention to [background detail] that Heinlein gives . . . would have helped‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1962). **1/2

False Night (1954)  See complete GUIDE.

Hard Landing (1993) The humanoid passengers and crew of a crashed spaceship attempt to blend in with the natives of modern-day New Jersey.  ―A literary event . . . [but] not exactly a ground-breaking concept‖

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(Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, August 1994). **1/2  Nominated for the 1994 Hugo award for best novel, but disqualified because of ineligibility.  Finalist for the 1993 Nebula award for best novel.

Iron Thorn, The (1967)  See complete GUIDE.

Man of Earth (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

Michaelmas (1977)  With the help of his far-reaching intelligence network, a popular news journalist discovers that a scientist has been surreptitiously replacing humans with artificial constructs. For all its highfalutin language, a routine tale about alien invaders.  ―Good enough to have propelled him into the front ranks, [but] somehow didn’t‖ (Norman Spinrad, Asimov’s, August 1994). ***1/2  ―You have no idea how stupid I feel recommending a book I didn’t unnastan . . . [but it] left me breathless‖ (Spider Robinson, Analog, February 1978). **1/2  ―A believable, well-developed [hero] . . . the writing [is] tense and exciting . . . the actual menace . . . is unbelievable . . . a perfunctory denouement . . . the letdown . . . was too much‖ (Charles N. Brown, Asimov’s, Winter 1977). **1/2  ―A deus ex machine behind it all . . . I can’t give the novel the recommendation I was hoping to give . . . yet so much of it is so good that I can’t really advise against it‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, September 1977). **1/2  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.

Rogue Moon (1960)  See complete GUIDE.

Some Will Not Die (1954; rev 1961; rev 1978)  See complete GUIDE.

Unexpected Dimension, The (1960) A collection of seven stories, including The End of Summer (1954), The Executioner (1956), and The Distant Sound of Engines (1959).  ―As good as anything we have had in a long time . . . good writing with good story-telling‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, March 1961). ***  ―Shows to good advantage . . . no griping about the quality . . . gives the reader something that has immediate impact, and yet is thought-provoking enough to stay in the mind long after‖ (S. E.

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Cotts, Amazing, September 1960). ***  ―The stories themselves are fine . . . walks a crooked mile . . . but the detours are not without point and never without power‖ (Frederik Pohl, IF, September 1960). ***

Who? (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories And Then She Found Him . . . (1957-as by Paul Janvier)  A woman with psychic powers satisfies her craving for love by forcing local townspeople to shower her with gifts. One of the author‘s moving tales about the consequences of being different. (BUDRY‘S INFERNO) Between the Dark and the Daylight (1958)  See complete GUIDE. Cerberus (1967)  See complete GUIDE. Contact Between Equals (1958)  A blind millionaire undergoes a remarkable eye operation only to discover his waking mind has been transferred into the body of another. The author‘s cast of characters includes an alien who waxes philosophic: ―Practicality is the only worthwhile rule of conduct . . . it has raised my people to the heights . . . it is what separates us from the animals . . . it is the test of humanity.‖ A farfetched tale whose fast-paced narrative makes for engrossing reading. (BUDRY‘S INFERNO) Distant Sound of Engines, The (1959)  See complete GUIDE. Dream of Victory, A (1953)  See complete GUIDE. Edge of the Sea (1958)  A hard-bitten man, driving north across the Florida Keys, stops to examine a strange object washed up along the highway by the heavy surf of an approaching hurricane. A potent and intriguing tale. (Venture, March 1958)  ―One of the best stories to come from [his] pen‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, January 1959). ***  ―Good . . . impressive‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, November 1958). ***  ―Not particularly original . . . but a very well done story‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, February 1959). **1/2 End of Summer, The (1954)  See complete GUIDE. Executioner, The (1955)  See complete GUIDE. Go and Behold Them (1958)  Two space explorers crash on a metalic planetoid, and encounter eerie and threatening life forms. A dark tale with good characters but a bit too much angst and teeth gnashing. (THE UNEXPECTED DIMENSION) Lost Love (1957-as by Paul Janvier)  See complete GUIDE. Lower Than Angels (1956)  A disillusioned front-man for a huge

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interstellar corporation tries to convince the natives of a planet slated for exploitation that he‘s not God. Outstanding verisimilitude, though the ending‘s a bit of a letdown. (BUDRY‘S INFERNO)  ―My favorite‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). *** Man Who Tasted Ashes, The (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Never Meet Again (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Nobody Bothers Gus (1955-as by Paul Janvier)  An aging prizefighter deals with the challenge of going through life as an anonymous superman. Moving and unforgettable.  ―Unimprovable‖ (Damon Knight, Infinity, October 1956). ***1/2  ―A ponderous, posturing narrative . . . straight out of a commercial . . . a common sophomoric quality‖ (Algis Budrys, Galaxy, June 1968). * Peasant Girl, The (1956-Paul Janvier)  See complete GUIDE. Scream at Sea (1954-not SF)  See complete GUIDE. Silent Brother (1956-as by Paul Janvier)  A wheelchair-bound ex-rocket pilot weighs the benefits of restored health versus the loss of free will. (BUDRY‘S INFERNO)  ―A masterful bit of intelligent entertainment‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1964). ***  ―Rewarding‖ (Anthony Boucher, F&SF, December 1957). *** Skirmisher (1957)  See complete GUIDE. Snail’s Pace (1953)  See complete GUIDE.

BUJOLD, Lois McMaster (1949-) US author and anthologist, whose SF and fantasy books include Shards of Honor (1986), Borders of Infinity (1989), Beguilement (2006), and Dreamweaver’s Dilemma (1996). Acclaimed short fiction: The Mountains of Morning (1989-winner of the 1990 Hugo and 1989 Nebula award for best novella), (1990-finalist for the 1990 Nebula award for best novella), and Winterfair Gifts (2004-finalist for the 2005 Hugo award for best novella).

Novels (1991)  See complete GUIDE.

Brothers in Arms (1989)  A twenty-four year old officer in the Dendarii Space Force travels to Earth in order to arrange refitting of twelve damaged space shuttles. Shedding his mercenary identity, the diminutive aristocrat settles into London high society, but soon uncovers a plot by rebel Komarrans to replace him with his clone. An entertaining and lively space romance, in which the science fictional elements are largely window dressing. The fourth book in the Miles Vorkosigan series.

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Civil Campaign, A (1999)  See complete GUIDE.

Curse of Chalion, The (2001) The private tutor to a royal princess helps his protégée fight off assassins, overcome an ancient curse, and find her one true love. The first book in the Chalion series.  Finalist for the 2002 Hugo Fantasy award for best novel.  Finalist for the 2002 World Fantasy award for best novel.

Diplomatic Immunity (2002)  See complete GUIDE.

Falling Free (1988) A powerful corporation continues to exploit bioengineered humans for manual labor in space until a determined engineer-instructor raises the issue of Quaddies‘ rights. The first book in the Quaddies-Verkosigan universe.  ―May still hold that honor . . . her best book‖ (Peter Heck, Asimov’s, June 1994). ***1/2  Winner of the 1988 Nebula award for best novel.  Finalist for the 1989 Hugo award for best novel.

Memory (1996)  See complete GUIDE.

Mirror Dance (1994) Miles‘s identical brother takes his place as admiral in the Dendarii Mercenary Fleet and sets out to rescue a shipment of clones slated for memory transplantation. The sixth book in the Miles Vorkosigan series.  ―Plenty of action and intrigue . . . solid world-building . . . an excellent novel‖ (Peter Heck, Asimov’s, June 1994). ***  Winner of the 1995 Hugo award for best novel.  Average rating of five out of five stars on Amazon.com based on 35 reviewers.

Paladin of Souls (2003)  See complete GUIDE.

Shards of Honor (1986)  See complete GUIDE.

Vor Game, The (1990) A young Academy graduate (Miles Vorkosigan) is posted to a weather station in the Arctic, but despite the remote location, finds himself caught up in the search for a missing emperor. The second book in the Miles Vorkosigan series.  Winner of the 1991 Hugo Award for best novel.

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BULL, Emma (1954-) US author and anthologist, whose SF and fantasy books include War for the Oaks (1987), Double Feature (1995-with Will Shetterly), and Territory (2007). Acclaimed short fiction: Silver or Gold (1992-finalist for the 1992 Nebula award for best novella).

Novels Bone Dance: A Fantasy for Technophiles (1991)  See complete GUIDE.

Falcon (1989)  A predictable tale about an augmented gestalt-pilot, the last surviving member of a deposed royal family, who attempts to save his world from the clutches of the Central Worlds Concorde. Unfortunately, the plot is straight out of the Sunday matinee movies. As one minor character observes: ―I don’t believe this . . . you’d think [we] were in a bad goddamn vid.‖  ―A textured, strikingly verisimilitudinous account . . . I could not put it down . . . remarkably effective‖ (Algis Budrys, F&SF, January 1990). ***  ―Bull makes it wonderfully resonant with . . . believable details . . . the roundabout voyage . . . is full of surprises . . . the novel scores a bull’s eye indeed‖ (Baird Searles, Asimov’s, March 1990). ***

Finder: A Novel of the Borderlands (1994)  See complete GUIDE.

BULMER, Kenneth (1921-2005) UK author of over one hundred SF and fantasy novels, including the Keys to the Dimensions series (1961-1983), the Dray Prescot series (1972-1988; as by Alan Burt Akers and Dray Prescot), and the Hook series (1974-1975; as by Tully Zetford). Bulmer has also written numerous historical novels, a western, and several adventure novels. Pseudonyms: Alan Burt Akers, Dray Prescot, Tully Zetford, Manning Norvil, Philip Kent, Karl Maras.

Quotes On aerial warfare: ―One vessel was shattered and broken into pieces and so fell . . . all that awful distance to the ground with her people spilling out like dust shaken from a broom‖ (Werewolves of Kregen).

Novels Beyond the Silver Sky (1961) With Earth‘s oceans shrinking and

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humanity‘s aquatic descendents confined to an ever more restrictive realm, a young member of the Emperor‘s shark cavalry sets out on a scientific expedition to see what‘s beyond the ―silver sky.‖  ―The concept . . . isn’t wholly new, but it is well handled . . . good entertainment‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, November 1961). **1/2

Changeling Worlds, The (1959)  See complete GUIDE.

City Under the Sea (1957)  See complete GUIDE.

Diamond Contessa, The (1983) A boy stumbles upon a doorway to a parallel universe where he‘s enslaved by the Diamond Contessa and her band of bestial aliens. The seventh book in the Keys to the Dimensions series.  ―An action story, and nothing but . . . good enough in its own simple terms, though Laumer has done it better‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, February 1984). **

Doomsday Men, The (1968)  See complete GUIDE.

Earth Gods Are Coming, The (1960)  See complete GUIDE.

No Man’s World (1961) A man challenges the elitist attitude that opportunity and social standing should be based on a person‘s planet of birth rather than his character and accomplishments. Also published as Earth’s Long Shadow (1962).  ―Plain uncomplicated entertainment‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, January 1962). **1/2

Secret of Zi, The (1958)  See complete GUIDE.

Transit to Scorpio (1972-as by Alan Burt Akers) Rival factions vie for control of the planet Kregen, a barbarian world inhabited by both human and nonhuman races. The balance of power shifts, however, when one of the contending groups plucks an intrepid British seaman from 17th century Earth. The first book in the Dray Prescot series.  ―Sadly lacking in the texture of a Burroughs world . . . it isn’t bad—but I didn’t find it particularly good either‖ (Lester Del Rey, IF, June 1973). **

Werewolves of Kregen (1985)  See complete GUIDE.

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Witches of Kregen (1985)  The Witch Csitra follows up her Pronouncement of the Nine Unspeakable Curses with a series of gruesome and gratuitous attacks perpetrated by her loyal legions of werewolves, vampires, and zombies. Fortunately, ex-Earthman Dray Prescott is up to the challenge. A relentlessly stupid novel and an inferior Burroughs pastiche. The thirty-fourth book in the Dray Prescott series.

Wizard of Starship Poseidon, The (1963)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Adjusted, The (1966) A grim dystopian tale about a future human race hypnotized and shepherded by robotic caretakers who feed their charges gruel and force them to live like cattle in open concrete pens. A story so vile and disturbing, it‘s almost entertaining. (F&SF, June 1966)

BULYCHEV, Kirill (1934-2003) Pseudonym of Russian author and historian IGOR VSEVOLODOVICH MOZHEYKO, whose SF books include Half a Life (1977), Gusliar Wonders (1983), Those Who Survive (1988; trans 2000), and Alice: The Girl from Earth (2001). Several of Bulychev‘s stories have been made into films, including Guest from the Future (1985) and The Mystery of the Third Planet (1981). Acclaimed short fiction: Another’s Memory (1985), Half a Life (1973; trans 1977), and Life Is So Dull for Little Girls (1965; trans 1968).

BUNCH, David R. (1925-2000) US poet and author, whose SF collections include Bunch! (1992-finalist for the 1993 Philip K. Dick award for best original paperback) and The Heartacher and the Warehouseman (2000).

Novels Moderan (1971) A collection of forty-six short fictional pieces about an endless internecine war waged by -like . Despite their physical perfection, the robots display the usual parade of human quirks and foibles.  ―Beautiful, dense . . . and vividly fantastic‖ (Joanna Russ, F&SF, December 1972). ***1/2

Stories Investigating the Bidwell Endeavors (1965)  See complete GUIDE.

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Escaping, The (1967)  A cryptic story about a group of humans who try to break into (?) an army tank (?) in order to free (?) a Moderan cyborg trapped (?) inside. Literary SF, and thus pretty boring. (Published in Harlan Ellison‘s Dangerous Visions) Incident in Moderan (1967)  See complete GUIDE.

BURDICK, Eugene (1918-1965) US psychologist and author, whose books include The Ugly American (1958-with William Lederer) and The 480 (1965).

Novels Fail-Safe (1962; with Harvey Wheeler)  See complete GUIDE.

BURGESS, Anthony (1917-1993) UK author, journalist, linguist, critic, composer, and playwright, whose novels of speculative interest include Devil of a State (1961), The Eve of Saint Venus (1964), Beard’s Women (1976), The End of the World News (1983), (1989), and 1985 (1978).

Novels Clockwork Orange, A (1962) Roving bands of violent youths terrorize a near future England. Authorities manage to capture one of the gang leaders and brain-wash him in order to cure his sociopathic tendencies.  ―Left me with nothing but admiration‖ (Lester Del Rey, Analog, May 1975). ***  ―You’ll find it hard to like, but it’s unforgettable‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1966). **1/2  ―Extremely disturbing . . . an original and important work . . . but I don’t care for [it] . . . nihilistic . . . bludgeoning the reader‖ (S. E. Cotts, Amazing, July 1963). **  ―If I have to learn Russian I am sure I can find better things to read than ‘A Clockwork Orange,’ which I find unreadable . . . incomprehensible and . . . unreadable‖ (Avram Davidson, F&SF, October 1963 – April 1964). *  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction novels.  The film version directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Malcolm McDowell and Patrick Magee was released in 1971.

Wanting Seed, The (1962)  See complete GUIDE.

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BURKETT, William R., Jr. (1943-) US science fiction author, whose novels include Bloodsport (1998) and Blood Lines (1998).

Novels Sleeping Planet (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

BURROUGHS, Edgar Rice (1875-1950) US author, ranch hand, war correspondent, and soldier (in the U.S. 7th Cavalry), whose more than seventy novels include those in the Martian series (1912-1964), the Tarzan series (1912-1965), the series (1914-1963), the Venus series (1934-1964), the Caspak series (1918), and roughly two dozen standalone science fiction, western, detective, adventure, and historical romances. Acclaimed short fiction: Savage Pellucidar (1963-finalist for the 1964 Hugo award for best short fiction).

Quotes On the man of pure intellect:  See complete GUIDE.

On brain transplantation: ―Later we will let you examine . . . a case where a man‘s brain has been transferred to a woman‘s skull, and a woman‘s brain to a man‘s. And there was also the interesting cases where a portion of diseased or injured brain has been replaced by a portion of the brain from another subject; and, for experimental purposes alone, those human brains that have been transplanted to the craniums of beasts, and vice versa . . . offer tremendous opportunities for observation‖ (The Master Mind of Mars).

On human fallibility: ―There is nothing more annoying than to commit an egregious error of judgment and have no one but yourself upon whom to blame it‖ (Carson of Venus).

On the philosophy of pragmatism:  See complete GUIDE.

On religious fervor: ―Hanging from . . . their knees were a number of men and women, repeating monotonously, over and over again, something that sounded to me like, bibble-babble-blup. I asked Dar Tarus what the words were that we had repeated and what they meant, but he said he did not know. I asked him if anyone knew, but he appeared shocked and said that such a question was sacrilegious and revealed a marked lack of faith‖ (The Master Mind of Mars).

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On the influence of a higher power:  See complete GUIDE.

On the Venusian term for wife:  See complete GUIDE.

On the inevitability of war: ―War is Nature‘s state. It is a folly to combat it. Peace should be considered only as a time for preparation for the principal business of man‘s existence. Were it not for constant warring . . . the planets would be overrun. We must all die—let us therefore go out and die in a great and exciting game, and make room for the millions who are to follow us‖ (The Master Mind of Mars).

Novels At the Earth’s Core (1922)  An American scientist (David Innes) and his humorously effete sidekick descend five hundred miles into the Earth where they encounter a world of prehistoric dinosaurs and men. The tale offers a colorful mix of action-adventure, politically incorrectness, and occasional moments of genuine wisdom: ―And with these thoughts came a realization of how unimportant to the life and happiness of the world is the existence of any one of us.‖ One scene in which evil vampiric lizard-monsters conduct human sacrifices in the confines of a creepy bathhouse is particularly gripping. The first book in the Pellucidar series.  ―A great underground classic‖ (Theodore Sturgeon, Galaxy, March 1973). ***  ―The best of the [Pellucidar] series‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1964). **1/2  ―Rip-snorting adventure . . . there are holes as big as Pellucidar itself in his theories, but Burroughs’ concepts are intriguing and his combat scenes gripping‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, June 1963). **1/2

Beyond the Farthest Star (1941)  See complete GUIDE.

Beyond Thirty (1916)  See complete GUIDE.

Carson of Venus (1939)  Earthman Carson Napier travels by airplane with his beloved, prepubescent girlfriend, Duare, to the Venusian island of Korva and there gets caught up in a civil war between the Sanarans and the Nazi-like followers of the tyrant, Mephis. After aerial spying and a daring prison escape, Napier thinks his troubles over, only to have Duare kidnapped and spirited away across a vast ocean. The novel is rich with colorful background details, but the palace politics are as predictable and stupefying as ever. The third book in the Venus

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series.  ―The most interesting of the Napier series . . . a rough-and-ready satire of Nazi Germany‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, April 1964). **1/2

Cave Girl, The (1913)  See complete GUIDE.

Escape on Venus (1946)  See complete GUIDE.

Fighting Man of Mars, A (1931)  Kidnappers make off with the spoiled daughter of a rich nobleman, but a young officer tracks the scoundrels to the palace of Tul Axtar, an evil jeddak obsessed with enlarging his harem of nubile young women. Determined to rescue the poison-tongued babe, the hero confronts a power-mad scientist and falls in love with an escaped slave-princess. A story whose colorful action offsets a rather formulaic plot. The seventh book in the Barsoom series.  ―His choice of a model [The Arabian Nights] is a good one‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1963). **1/2  ―A style lush and old-fashioned and at times almost unbearably clumsy . . . a rich inventiveness‖ (Avram Davidson, F&SF, August 1963). **1/2

Gods of Mars, The (1913; 1918)  See complete GUIDE.

John Carter of Mars (1964)  See complete GUIDE.

Land That Time Forgot, The (1918) British and German sailors aboard a German U-boat discover an uncharted island in the Antarctic overrun by creatures which flourished during Earth‘s Mesozoic era. The first book in the Caspak series.  ―The most noteworthy of Burroughs’ singles . . . a startling concept . . . sheer, headlong adventure‖ (Floyd C. Gale, Galaxy, October 1963). ***

Lost Continent, The (1957)  See (1916).

Lost on Venus (1935)  See complete GUIDE.

Man-Eater, The (1915) A man-eating African lion makes a meal of would-be murderers.  ―Pure nothing . . . Burroughs’ white aristocratic supremacy tone may have been fashionable enough at the time, but it is purely ridiculous now‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Astounding, August 1958). *

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Mastermind of Mars, The (1928)  See complete GUIDE.

Monster Men (1929)  See complete GUIDE.

Moon Maid, The (1923) An officer in the International Peace Fleet sets out for the Red Planet aboard an exploratory spaceship, but is forced by saboteurs into making an emergency landing on the Moon. Crashing through the floor of a crater, he discovers an underground world inhabited by sentient centaurs. The first book in the Moon trilogy.  ―Burroughs’ best book‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, April 1970). ***

Pellucidar (1915)  See complete GUIDE.

Pirates of Venus (1934)  See complete GUIDE.

Princess of Mars, A (1912)  An American soldier of fortune (Captain John Carter) is whisked away from the wilds of Arizona to the strife-torn world of Mars, a land of ancient cities and dusty sea bottoms. Coming upon the so-called ―Green Men‖ of Mars, Carter gains an ally in Tars Tarkus and frees the Green Men‘s beautiful prisoner, Dejah Thoris. The author‘s inventiveness is never in better form than in this first Barsoomian tale, which includes a race of Martians birthed from incubators and an atmosphere renewed by an enormous oxygen- generation plant. A memorable tale from the early days of SF. Also published as Under the Moons of Mars (1912).  ―Any man who could write that book cannot be all bad . . . powerful impact‖ (Harry Harrison, Amazing, October 1967). ***  ―Still good reading . . . detail after bizarre detail . . . successfully obscured the fact that his plots were so trite and coincidence- crammed‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, June 1963). **1/2  Selected by James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock as one of the 100 best fantasy novels.

Skeleton Men of Jupiter (1942)  See complete GUIDE.

Swords of Mars (1936) Determined to bring an end to the Assassins Guild, John Carter infiltrates a secret organization of super assassins infesting the Martian city of Zodanga and travels to one of Barsoom‘s moons. The eighth tale in the Barsoom series.  ―The low point in the Martian series . . . some truly remarkable physics is invented . . . loose ends are bundled into a few

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paragraphs and dropped in the trash‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, December 1963). **

Synthetic Men of Mars (1940)  See complete GUIDE.

Tanar of Pellucidar (1930)  See complete GUIDE.

Tarzan and the Madman (1964) In the next-to-last book in the Tarzan series, the apeman‘s evil twin kidnaps an attractive young women in order to satisfy the prurient demands of his despotic master, Cristoforo da Gama, a distant relative of explorer Vasco da Gama. The twenty- third book in the Tarzan series.  ―The plot of this newly discovered Tarzan book is the same as always . . . [but with] the added pleasure of a character who thinks he is Tarzan . . . Tarzan seems to stand at the threshold of growing up‖ (Ron Goulart, F&SF, January 1965). **1/2

Thuvia, Maid of Mars (1916)  See complete GUIDE.

Warlord of Mars, The (1913)  See complete GUIDE.

BURROUGHS, William S. (1914-1997) US avant-garde novelist, critic, painter, and reputed heroin addict (Wikipedia), whose novels of speculative interest include Naked Lunch (1959), The Soft Machine (1961), and The Ticket That Exploded (1962).

Novels Express (1964) In their quest to suppress use of the highly addictive drug Apomorphine, the Nova Police pursue a gang of criminals across the galaxy, tracking them from the Crab Nebula to the oceans of Venus.  ―I cannot recommend this book . . . you probably won’t like it . . . I don’t know yet whether I do . . . I am not at all sure that I either like or approve of Burroughs’ (anti-) novel technique‖ (Judith Merril, F&SF, May 1965). **1/2  ―Grimmer, filthier, more hopeless . . . uses the clichés of science fiction smoothly and well . . . lubricated with manure . . . may be more than you can stomach‖ (P. Schuyler Miller, Analog, May 1965). *  Average rating of five out of five stars on Amazon.com based on 9 reviewers.  Nominated for the 1965 Nebula award for best novel.  Selected by David Pringle as one of the 100 best science fiction

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novels.

BURSTEIN, Michael A. (1970-) US author, whose SF works include roughly thirty-five stories. Acclaimed short fiction: Cosmic Corkscrew (1998-finalist for the 1999 Hugo award for best short story), Decisions (2004-finalist for the 2005 Hugo award for best short story), Kaddish for the Last Survivor (2000-finalist for the 2001 Nebula and Hugo awards for best short story), Paying It forward (2003-finalist for the 2004 Hugo award for best short story), Reality Check (1999-finalist for the 1999 Nebula award for best novella), Sanctuary (2005-finalist for the 2006 Nebula award for best novella), Seventy-Five Years (2005- finalist for the 2006 Hugo award for best short story), and Spaceships (2001-finalist for the 2002 Hugo award for the best short story).

BUSBY, F. M. (1921-2005) Working name of US communications engineer, author, and fanzine editor FRANCIS MARION BUSBY, whose SF books include All These Earths (1978), Star Rebel (1984), The Breeds of Man (1988), and The Triad Worlds (1996). Acclaimed short fiction: First Person Plural (1980) and If This Is Winnetka, You Must Be Judy (1974).

Quotes On Demu overtures of cooperation: ―After several depictions of a concept that he was fairly sure meant ‗friendship,‘ he stood up and deliberately pissed on the window‖ (Cage a Man).

Novels Alien Debt (1984)  See complete GUIDE.

Cage a Man (1974) An engrossing tale about a drifter-artist imprisoned by aliens and subjected to surgical and psychological disfigurement who wages a one-man war against his inscrutable captors. A powerful, though sometimes brutal, story of human-alien conflict and redemption. The first book in the Demu trilogy.  ―I liked [it] considerably . . . run out and get a copy‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, October 1975 – December 1976). ***

Islands of Tomorrow (1994)  See complete GUIDE.

Proud Enemy, The (1975) A former prisoner of war strikes back at his alien captors. The second book in the Demu trilogy.  ―Entirely satisfactory . . . excellent . . . there are flaws . . .

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profound this book ain't . . . but it's exciting, entertaining, well- thought-out and carefully crafted . . . delightfully real, human people . . . [a] surprise ending . . . you'll love it‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, October 1975). ***1/2

Rissa Kerguelen (1976)  See complete GUIDE.

Singularity Project, The (1993)  See complete GUIDE.  ―If you . . . love a hero who’s too dumb to find the door under the ‘Exit’ sign, you’ll love this one . . . the action moves right along . . . the characters are adequate . . . [but] when he poses a mystery, it isn’t much of a mystery . . . it’s no great surprise . . . good enough to keep you reading . . . this time, however, that isn’t quite enough‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, July 1993). **

Slow Freight (1991)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories If This Is Winnetka, You Must Be Judy (1974)  A superior SF tale about two ―nomadic‖ time travelers who accidentally meet, fall in love, and endeavor to create a life for themselves free of marital entanglements and an abusive husband. (IF THIS IS WINNETKA) I’m Going to Get You (1974)  See complete GUIDE.

BUTLER, Jack (1944-) US author and professor of creative writing, whose books include The Kid Who Wanted to Be a Spaceman (1984), Jujitsu for Christ (1986), Living in Little Rock with Miss Little Rock (1993-nominated for a Pulitzer Prize), and Dreamer (1998).

Novels Nightshade (1989)  See complete GUIDE.

BUTLER, Octavia E. (1947-2006) US author, whose SF books include Patternmaster (1976), Survivor (1978), Clay’s (1984), Parable of the Sower (1993), Bloodchild and Other Stories (1995), and (2005). Acclaimed short fiction: Bloodchild (1984-winner of the 1984 Nebula and 1985 Hugo awards for best novelette), (1983-winner of the 1984 Hugo award for best short story) and The Evening and the Morning and the Night (1987- nominated for the 1987 Nebula award for best novelette).

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Novels Adulthood Rites (1988)  See complete GUIDE.

Bloodchild and Other Stories (1995) A collection of five stories, including Bloodchild (1984), The Evening, the Morning, and the Night (1987), and Speech Sounds (1988).  ―Always memorable . . . some of the most powerful stories of the 1980s . . . an excellent reminder of the value of single author collections . . . a delightful addition to any bookshelf‖ (F&SF, January 1996). ***

Clay’s Ark (1984)  See complete GUIDE.

Dawn (1987) A young Earthwoman awakens aboard a spaceship operated by snake-headed aliens who test her ability to overcome xenophobia. The first book in the Xenogenesis series.  ―The pleasure is magnified . . . stimulating, rewarding, and delightful . . . we might already recognize ‘Dawn’ as a classic . . . if it did not contain gaps that disrupt our sense of character and event‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, Mid-December 1987). ***  ―The moral complexity is almost overwhelming . . . there is undeniable beauty and joy in the Oankali way . . . irresistible power . . . my only quarrel . . . is that she neglects several stories that I wanted her to pursue‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, February 1990). ***

Imago (1989)  See complete GUIDE.

Kindred (1979)  See complete GUIDE.

Mind of My Mind (1977) A powerful telepath from the ghettos of L.A. challenges a ruthless psychic mind-vampire for control of the planet. The second book in the .  ―Far too powerful . . . to be languishing out of print . . . wonderful . . . inventive . . . something special‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, January 1992). ***1/2  Average rating of five out of five stars on Amazon.com based on 31 reviewers.

Parable of the Sower (1993)  See complete GUIDE.

Parable of the Talents (1998)  See complete GUIDE.

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Patternmaster (1976) The death of an aging Patternmaster, the telepathic ruler of mankind, causes a scramble for power among his potential successors. The last book in the Patternist series (internal chronology).  ―Even in this early novel we can see Butler's keen sense of truth at work . . . inventive‖ (Orson Scott Card, F&SF, January 1992). **1/2  ―Sheer narrative thrust . . . [though] has many things wrong with it, some little and some gigantic‖ (Spider Robinson, Galaxy, April 1977). **1/2

Wild Seed (1980)  See complete GUIDE.

Stories Bloodchild (1984) Taking his symbiotic relationship with the natives living outside the Preserve to its ―natural‖ conclusion, a young Terran male agrees to serve as proxy birth-mother for a Tlic larvae. Eeewww! A classic case of ovipositors run amok. (BLOODCHILD)  Winner of the 1985 Hugo award for best novelette.  Winner of the 1984 Nebula award for best novelette.

BYERS, Edward A. (1939-1989) US (?) author, whose SF novels include The Long Forgetting (1985) and The Babylon Gate (1986).

Novels Long Forgetting, The (1985) A determined archaeologist investigates the source of a mysterious wave of amnesia which long ago swept across the populated worlds of the galaxy, bringing with it a Dark Ages that lasted eight hundred years.  ―The idea is intriguing, and the events that develop it are absorbing enough . . . [but] does not give us what might be the most interesting story . . . a good read, and I expect you will enjoy it . . . well developed and interesting . . . main characters . . . [though others] verge on stereotypes‖ (Tom Easton, Analog, February 1986). ***

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