Mon 4 May 2026
ANALOG SF – January 1968, Editor: John W. Campbell. Cover art credited to NASA. Overall rating: ***½.
R. C. FITZPATRICK & LEIGH RICHMOND. “There Is a Tide.” Novelette. The continuing story of Sr, Stephen Jansen and his experiments with brain transplants, This time threats come from outside, with underlying hints about the pressures for immortality that may follow. (3)
BRUCE DANIELS “…And Cauldron Bubble.” Artifacts, in the form of letters and memos, of bureaucracy. A point, but why read it here? (1)
STERLING E. LANIER “Snch Stuff As Dreams,” Novelette. An entrance exam for the Survey and Contact division depends, obviously enough, on a man’s capability for fighting his own innermost fears. Obviously. (3)
ANNE McCAFFREY “Dragonrider. Serial, part 2 of 2. A separate review will follow.
May 5th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
This seems like a flimsy issue of the magazine, what with only two novelettes, a short story, and a long (50 page) serial installment. And other than Anne McCaffrey, whom I really can’t identify as a an ANALOG writer, hardly an hoors list of authors.
And yet, three and a half stars, better than average. I’d have to say that I got my money’s worth with this one.
May 6th, 2026 at 10:33 am
It was around 1968 or 1969 that I started to allow my SF magazine subscriptions to lapse. I was still buying SF paperbacks, but my attention was slowly turning towards mysteries and thrillers.
May 6th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Our lives followed very much the same track, George. 1969 was a pivoted year for me. I started reading more books, and like you, fewer magazines. (I still bought them, though, and therein lies a problem. They have little value and I need to make room.) 1969 was also the year Judy and I moved from Michigan to Connecticut to start my first real job.
And, yes, 1969 was the year my daughter was born.
May 7th, 2026 at 1:41 am
While I read my first adult sf, fantasy, horror, crime and western fiction in 1969, nosing around in my parents’ books, having learned to read with Suess and such the previous year. Also THE BETSY by Harold Robbins, though even at that age I Wasn’t convinced.