Tue 28 Jan 2025
SF Diary Review: ANALOG SF – October 1967.
Posted by Steve under Diary Reviews , Science Fiction & Fantasy[4] Comments
ANALOG SF – October 1967. Edited by John W. Campbell. Covert art by John Schoenherr. Overall rating: **½
ANNE McCAFFREY “Weyr Search,” [Dragonriders of Pern] Short novel. Reviewed separately here.
TOM PURDOM “Toys.” A good idea, the effects of advanced toys on children, is completely wasted. Two policemen save hostages from kids holding them prisoner. Action, action, unreadable action. (0)
CARROLL M. CAPPS “The Judas Bug.” Novelette. A sense of paranoia pays off, as a member of Phase Two of the Expedition begins to suspect that the leaders of the original party are plotting against him. Is the author C. C. MacApp? (3) [Answer: Yes.]
W. MACFARLANE “Free Vacation.” In a society run by consensus, dissenters are given the choice of rehabilitation or space exploration. The author has little sense of either description or dialogue. (1)
J. T. McINTOSH “Pontius Pirates.” Novelette. Pontius Pirates are cautious, looking both ways trying to be in the clear whatever happens. But IP agent Jack Sheridan’s suspicions of the girl who picks him up in a bar on the planet Molle tell him someone there has something to hide,. Amazing by-play that does not develop into anything serious. (3)
January 29th, 2025 at 6:26 am
1967 marked the continued decline of ANALOG, which was publishing few stories of note. At the time, the magazine’s most popular writer was Mack Reynolds, who appeared in eight of the twelve 1967 issues. Poul Anderson and Harry Harrison made multiple appearances (Anderson under his own name and two pseudonyms) with minor stories in comparison with their other work. James Blish had a forgettable appearance. Murray Leinster’s last Med Service story had appeared the year before; 1967 saw just one appearance from him, and that was an article. Bob Shaw had one undistinguished Slow Glass story. Most of ANALOG’s authors in 1967 were second tier, if that — still, much of the magazine remained readable, albeit minor, with tales from C.C. MacApp as Capps, Christopher Anvil, H. B. Fyfe, Jack Wodhams, Colin Kapp, Lloyd Biggle, Jr., John Phillfent, Verge Foray, Piers Anthony, J. T. McIntosh, and Joe Poyer. Certainly not your father’s ANALOG (or ASTOUNDING).
The biggest name here, of course, is Anne McCaffrey, with the first of her Pern series — one I could never get into (just as I could never appreciate any of her other writing). (I suspect part of her popularity was due to her likable personality, and the fact that she was one of the few writers at the time who appealed to female readers. But then, perhaps I’m doing her wrong.) The Purdom, Capps, Macfarlane, and McIntosh stories are all forgettable.
I think the Steve back then rated this issue too highly.
January 29th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
I rated the McCaffrey story 3 1/2 stars back then, a fact which I don’t think was included in the 2 1/2 stars I gave the overall issue. I certainly agree that the other stories were more or less mediocre. You’re right in suggesting that the magazine back then was more or less running on fumes. As I remember it, GALAXY, IF and F&SF were where the action and excitement were, F&SF to a somewhat lesser extent. I read them all.
McCaffrey’s story was nominated for the Nebula Award in 1968 for Best Novella of 1967, and winner of Hugo Award that year for that category. It was the first of the Pern series, and it made her career for her.
January 30th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
My favorites also were GALAXY, IF and F&SF. ANALOG was consistently disappointing back then and I blame Campbell for the uninteresting stories. Even today I consider F&SF and ASIMOV better than ANALOG.
However, the future does not look good for print magazines. Circulations are at an all time low.
January 31st, 2025 at 3:54 pm
The current magazines are trying to find an audience, but I’m with you, Walker. It is a wonder they have lasted as long as they have.
I’m also part of the problem, I stopped buying them a while ago, once I noticed I’m not in the audience they’re looking for. Not that I should be, I’m obliged to add. Things change.