Thu 19 Nov 2020
Diary Review: ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION November 1966.
Posted by Steve under Diary Reviews , Science Fiction & Fantasy[7] Comments
ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION, November 1966. Overall rating: 2 stars.
MURRAY LEINSTER “Quarantine World.†Short novel [50 pages]. Calhoun of the Med Service. There is no possible reason for the length of this story, except payment by the word. Why can’t a reader to be expected to remember that plot as it has occurred without requiring a summary every two or three pages? Why must characters be shocked at the disclosure of political perfidy once on page 41 and identically again on page 42? (1½)
Comment: Collected in S.O.S. from Three Worlds (Ace, paperback, 1967), The Med Series (Ace, paperback, 1983), Quarantine World (Carroll & Graf, paperback, 1992), Med Ship (Baen, paperback, 2002). Leinster’s “Med Service†series was one of his most popular.
CHRISTOPHER ANVIL “Facts to Fit the Theory.†[Federation of Humanity.] A series of communications between commanders of Terran force trying to save colonists of Cyrene IV from invaders. Psychic powers of colonists make outside assistance unnecessary, but of course that can’t be included in reports to superiors. (2)
Comment: Collected in Interstellar Patrol II: The Federation of Humanity (Baen, hardcover, 2005; paperback, 2007). Baen has published several collections of Anvil’s work, real name Harry Christopher Crosby. A large percentage of the stories he wrote over the years fall into this same overall series.
STEWART ROBB “Letter from a Higher Circle.†Ingenious debunking of American history by a future historian. (4)
Comment: According to ISFDb, Robb’s only other work of speculative fiction was “The Doom of Germany According to the Prophecy of St. Odile,†a chapbook published in 1940.
RANDALL GARRETT “Two Many Magicians.†Serial, part 4 of 4. See separate report, to be posted soon.
November 20th, 2020 at 7:39 am
During the sixties I found Analog to often be mediocre or not that interesting. Campbell simply refused to publish many SF writers and thus Galaxy and F&SF were better fiction magazines during this period. I realize this is a general statement and there are some exceptions but Analog was disappointing in the 1960’s.
November 20th, 2020 at 10:20 am
We shall see, as these reviews come along, but during the sixties I remember liking both IF and WORLDS OF TOMORROW better than ANALOG and even GALAXY. I wasn’t a big fantasy fan, so F&SF wasn’t among my favorites. Of those that have survived or come along since, I now like F&SF best, but I haven’t seen a copy for sale all year.
November 20th, 2020 at 9:13 pm
ANALOG was uneven in this period but any issue with a Lord Darcy serial was a step up.
November 20th, 2020 at 9:42 pm
Yes. While the Darcy serial was a positive, it’s obvious that I thought the Leinster story was rather uninspired.
November 22nd, 2020 at 9:21 am
One of Leinster’s great strengths and greatest faults in many of his SF novels was his tendency to repeat himself. Plot points and past action was often reiterated. On the plus side, it allowed the reader to hold onto the most important parts of the story, adding emphasis and (often) pointing out the impossibility of the protagonist’s situation. He also used this trick to aid in smooth transitions.
November 22nd, 2020 at 5:04 pm
Yes, that certainly makes sense. While Leinster was fan favorite up until his passing, tricks of the trade that worked in the 20s and 30s may not have fared as well in the 50s and 60s.
November 22nd, 2020 at 7:40 pm
[…] GARRETT – Too Many Magicians. Lord Darcy #4 (first novel appearance), Serialized in Analog SF, August-November, 1966. Doubleday, hardcover, 1967. Curtis, paperback, 1969; Ace, paperback, 1979. […]