Thu 4 Jan 2024
SF Diary Review: ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION, July 1967.
Posted by Steve under Diary Reviews , Magazines , Science Fiction & Fantasy[8] Comments
ANALOG SF. June 1967. Editor: John W. Campbell. Cover art: John Schoenherr. Overall rating: **
HARRY HARRISON “The Men from P.I.G.†Novelette. Porcine Interstellar Guard, that is. Nothing more than the title suggests: rather poor Analog-type adventures on a colonial planet. (2)
CHRISTOPHER ANVIL “Compound Interest.†About 12 pages summarizing “Experts in the Field†(Analog, May 1967; reviewed here) plus [four more with] a new ending. (1)
JOHN T. PHILLIFENT “Aim for the Heel.†Novelette. Not SF. The “Man from CODE†this time, able to avenge the deaths of thousands by acting strictly within the law. (3)
E. G. VON WALD “Something Important.†The aliens’ message for help is ignored because of previously garbled transmissions. (2)
MACK REYNOLDS “Computer War.†Serial, part 2 of 2. See review to follow shortly.
LAWRENCE A. PERKINS “Bite.†An unpopular doctor is infected with rabies. (2)
January 5th, 2024 at 10:51 am
I actually read this issue back in 1967 in a Study Hall (I would graduate from High School a few weeks later). I’m a big fan of Mack Reynolds–an underrated SF writer. Love the John Schoenberr cover artwork!
January 5th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
I’m a bit older than you, so I was in grad school when I read this one. I have fond memories too of that time of my life.
As for Mack Reynolds, he was very popular back then, but not only is he underrated now, but he’s probably all but forgotten. I haven’t read anything by him in a long time.
January 5th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Steve, I plan to review some Mack Reynolds work in 2024. I’ve read a lot of his SF novels and stories, but I still have a stack of Mack Reynolds books waiting to be read.
January 5th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
I’m not making any promises, but if/when I get a chance, I’ll try reading something by Reynolds sometime soon, too. If I do, you’ll read about it here.
January 5th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Judginng from your review I didn’t miss anything when I didn’t read that issue back in 1967.
January 5th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
I have to agree. This issue has some authors whose names I still remember, but as I was retyping my comments yesterday to be converted to a blog post, I kept thinking to myself that these sound like really mediocre stories.
No, I don’t think you missed anything.
January 5th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
I found it amusing that the only story that I gave a (3) to I didn’t even consider SF.
January 6th, 2024 at 12:17 am
Most likely I would have bought this for Harrison and Anvil, though whether it would have been worth it sounds questionable.