Sat 2 Sep 2023
SF Diary Review: IF SCIENCE FICTION June 1967.
Posted by Steve under Diary Reviews , Magazines , Science Fiction & Fantasy[5] Comments
IF SCIENCE FICTION – June 1967. Editor: Frederik Pohl. Cover art by Paul Wenzel. Overall rating: ***
ANDRE NORTON “Wizard’s World.” Novelette. Nominated for the Hugo award for Best Novelette of 1967 in 1968. While being hunted down as as Esper on Earth, Craike somehow crosses over to another world, one where the power is accepted and used. His adventures put him on the side of the young witch Takya, and together they defeat the Black Hoods. The wandering plot line and indiscriminate magic does not enthuse. (3)
FRED SABERHAGEN “Berserker’s Fury.” Knowledge of agriculture helps captives take over a ship controlled by berserkers. (3)
HOWARD L. MORRIS “All True Believers.” Novelette. A historical take of a parallel “Briden.” Too bad the reader isn’t let in on the story. A waste. (0)
JACK B. LAWSON “The Castaways.†Prospective colonists from Earth may not really be prepared for difficulties. (3)
KEITH LAUMER “Spaceman!” Serial, part 2 of 3. A review will follow that of the July 1967 issue.
STAN ELLIOTT “Family Loyalty.” First story. Colonists for the stars are not always on the best of terms with relatives left behind. (3)
SAMUEL R. DELANY “Driftglass.” Novelette. An amphiman scarred for life meets a youngster about to attempt the same job. Moving but not involving. [Nominated for a Nebula for Best Short story of 1968.] (4)
September 2nd, 2023 at 9:33 pm
Driftglass is the standout, but Driftglass, Wizard World, and a Saberhagen Berserker make this a fairly important issue as well as a good read.
September 2nd, 2023 at 10:05 pm
Agreed. A good solid issue, with only one clinker (according to me).
September 3rd, 2023 at 6:30 am
“Prospective colonists from Earth may not really be prepared for difficulties….
Colonists for the stars are not always on the best of terms with relatives left behind.”
A lot of SF stories deal with recruiting settlers for other planets and why they go, but I can’t think of one which used the European technique of deporting convicted criminals. Surely there must be some.
September 3rd, 2023 at 10:41 am
It would seem so, Roger, but I’m not well enough read in SF since my teens and 20s to be able to tell you. Someone else, I hope, will be able to say more.
And thanks for staying mum about the typo your comment passed along, both since fixed!
September 4th, 2023 at 4:02 pm
I’ve just added this in brackets to the Delany story:
[Nominated for a Nebula for Best Short story of 1968.]