VENTURE SCIENCE FICTION – August 1969. Editor: Edward L. Ferman. Cover art: Bert Tanner. Overall rating: ****

JULIUS FAST “The League of Grey-Eyed Women.” Novel. Published separately later by Lippincott (hardcover, 1970) and Pyramid (paperback, 1971).

   This is science fiction, with a subject of top interest in research today – namely the study of the formation of life, chromosomes, RNA, DNA and so on. Searching for a cure for his cancer, Jack Freeman seeks out a doctor at McGill University, but it is the latter’s female assistant who injects him with an experimental formula.

   The assistant has her own goals in mind, however, namely to change Jack into the only male capable of helping an organized group of telepathic women carry out what should prove to be a new human race, but one with alienation between individuals eliminated. Very well plotted, the tale includes Jack’s experiences as a wolf, then as a shark. It reminded me of Jack Williamson’s Darker Than You Think.

       Rating: ****½

EDWARD WELLEN “With Ah! Bright Wings.” An uninspired story explaining Earth’s pollution problem. (2)

DEAN R. KOONTZ “Demon in the Land.” Germ warfare has backfired in China, and it is up to the US to save them. New wave (I think) stuff that does not succeed. (3)

LARRY EISENBERG “Project Amnion.” Womb training. Story has no point to make. (1)

ROBERT F. YOUNG “Pithecanthropus Astralis.” Cave man and the stars. Is this a warning to us about priorities? (3)