This page is now completed. 17 books reviewed by Russell in this segment.
THE GREAT EXPLOSION
Eric Frank Russell (1905 to 1978) was a UK writer who began publishing in SF magazines in the late 1930s. In 1951 he published "Ship of Fools," the first iteration of The Great Explosion. He added to this by incorporating some newer material before publishing the longer novel.
June 1951, featuring an early version of Russell's tale.
Russell's work falls under the heading Libertarian SF, wherein a militaristic society confronts societies with vastly different viewpoints, thus often finding themselves helpless to deal with them. In The Great Explosion (published 1962; 160 pages), a large space expedition is sent to four different planets in an effort to enlarge the Earth's empire. This is being done in case an alien race is plotting to take over. No aliens are ever encountered in the story, and any previously encountered ones have not been hostile. That will not stop the military machine from keeping a tight, disciplined grip on things.
The book reads a bit like Forbidden Planet, though without monsters from the id. A similar all-male crew sets out to enlarge Earth's empire, loaded down with military and ship personnel, as well as a head ambassador who travels with any amount of bureaucrats. They are assigned to visit four planets. Each of these planets, and hundreds of others, was colonized by a different type of Earth society many hundreds of years ago, and most have not been visited since the big departure (otherwise known as The Great Explosion). The introduction to the novel explains how ships are able to travel through interstellar space.
So we get a Star Trek-like adventure story visiting four planets, with none of them achieving the predicted results. This also reminded me a bit of the big shot city slicker who visits the countryside, assured of his superiority over the lowly farmers and other backward inhabitants. Needless to say, Russell has a field day with this kind of subject matter. The first planet they visit contains the remnants of a million ex-cons that were shipped here, and the natives are none too friendly. They also have quick hands, and a few things go missing during an interrogation visit to the ship. The second planet is inhabited by naturists, and though the ship's crew is in need of leave, they must do so wearing only their boots. The sergeant who ventures forth is ordered to wear his stripes, so grease paint is used. Funny stuff! The third planet proves to be uninhabited. A group of settlers led by a man who tried to unite Muslims with Buddhists seems to have wiped one another out.
The fourth planet is where we spend a larger block of time. Though Russell doesn't quite convince me that the system of obligations between people making this planet run smoothly would actually work, it's certainly a fun and humourous visit. The planet's inhabitants live by a motto--"Freedom--I won't." This segment is where the original title (see magazine, above) fits in. A second motto is equally important to civilization here--"myob," or mind your own business.
Russell's writing interests me enough that I have ordered Entities: The Selected Novels of Eric Frank Russell (omni 2001). Five novels are included! If I like them, I will likely order some of his short stories. I think the Avon/Equinox Series did well to republish this volume in 1975. I highly recommend it!
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Feb. 13th/17
The fourth planet is where we spend a larger block of time. Though Russell doesn't quite convince me that the system of obligations between people making this planet run smoothly would actually work, it's certainly a fun and humourous visit. The planet's inhabitants live by a motto--"Freedom--I won't." This segment is where the original title (see magazine, above) fits in. A second motto is equally important to civilization here--"myob," or mind your own business.
Russell's writing interests me enough that I have ordered Entities: The Selected Novels of Eric Frank Russell (omni 2001). Five novels are included! If I like them, I will likely order some of his short stories. I think the Avon/Equinox Series did well to republish this volume in 1975. I highly recommend it!
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Feb. 13th/17
Cover art by Bob Eggleton
This wonderful edition contains 5 full-length novels by Russell, and 3 short stories. A similar hardcover edition exists of the remaining short stories. None of the 5 novels are entitled Entities. Other novels included are Call Him Dead, Next of Kin, Sentinels From Space, and Wasp. All will be reviewed here eventually, including the 3 short stories: Legwork, Mana, and Mechanical Mice. The stories are not published in chronological order, but that is how I am reading them. Thus, the first to be reviewed here is the earliest of the 5 novels, even though it is the final story in this volume.
SINISTER BARRIER
First appearance of Sinister Barrier.
From Unknown, March 1939.
Cover art by H.W. Scott.
This 133 page novel from 1939 was the first story to be published in the new Unknown magazine. Considering that the magazine was an American pulp, and that Russell was British, that is pretty amazing in itself. In 1948 Russell rewrote parts of his original story and republished it. This is the version that appears in Entities.
This is a disturbing story on many levels. It begins like a detective novel, as Bill Graham, our hero, seeks out the cause of many suspicious deaths of notable scientists. Most of these are described in some detail. As the plot deepens, the story now takes on a Lovecraftian flavour, though with more science. Mysterious energy orbs seem to be hovering everywhere and causing the mysterious deaths. The part where Earth's destruction seems imminent, as scientists scramble for a weapon to fight the enemy, is pure science fiction. In the meantime, WW 111 is destroying the planet, as Asia seeks to take over Europe and America. With the alien energy balls helping the Asians defeat the West, allied planes cannot even get off the ground. There is a lot of heavy bombing and destruction as a result.
Like so many 1950s SF movies, the bad guys have all the advantages, and can accomplish virtually anything. The good guys never get a break. Until the very end. When suddenly they come up with a solution and win the day. While that more or less happens in this story (sorry for the spoiler), by now the world has been so ravaged by war that an entire second story would be needed just to cover the mop up and rebuilding, especially after the nuclear part of the war. Russell leaves a pretty significant mess behind.
Like a true pulp novel, there is non-stop action from start to finish. This is an easy read, and the style is polished enough for regular publication. There are two women in the story. One is a secretary (of course), but the other is a Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Harmony Curtis also happens to be gorgeous, and Bill Graham is after her constantly. Do they get married at the end? Ever watched any 1950s SF films?
The cover art of the 1939 pulp magazine is very disturbing. However, there is little racism in the 1948 revised story. The Asians are seen to have been enslaved by those alien globes of energy, and soon come to their senses afterwards. I enjoyed reading this novel, and look forward to more by Russell.
*** stars. Reviewed March 26th/17
DREADFUL SANCTUARY
Lancer 1967 edition; cover artist unknown.
Russell wrote this novel in 1948, and then reworked it in 1951. My edition runs to 174 pages. At its heart it is a murder-mystery story, involving Armstrong, who is a big fella and able to take care of himself, and a private dectective (Hansen). They get involved with a secret worldwide organization responsible for sabotaging rockets that Earth has been attempting to send to Venus. The story is fast-paced and action packed, but it is not breathless or based solely on action. The characters are quite well drawn, even the ones with bit roles, and those who end up dead. Yes, a lot of characters die in this novel, and some of them will surprise you.
When Armstrong's personal investigations get too close to the truth, the secret organization kidnaps him and tries to lure him over to their side, after explaining why they want the rockets destroyed. However, a second secret group, much smaller, is trying to fight the bigger organization. You may well ask, Is there more SF to the story? Yes, certainly. Both of these secret organizations have alien backgrounds. We learn, for example, that white people came to Earth a long time ago from Mars. Black people arrived here from Mercury, and brown people from Venus. The only really human race is Asian.
It's all silly in a serious sort of way, and one has to just nod and carry on reading. But it really is a fun book to read, though more reminiscent of a 40s Noir movie than a true SF. Still, I liked it, and though not even close to Russell's best writing, there is enough there to satisfy a fan of early pulp SF. There are some funny parts, too ('He's historical. Don't you mean hysterical? No, I mean historical'... read the novel for the punch line).
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 22nd/17
SENTINELS FROM SPACE
First appearance of Sentinels From Space (first called "Star Watchers").
This is from 1951, with an expansion in 1953.
With each book by Russell that I read my respect for his writing grows. This is the 2nd novel in Entities, and 3rd chronologically (my reading order). This short novel (135 pages) was fun to read for several reasons. It is a nice mixture of mature SF writing and even more fun political intrigue. Earth colonies have appeared on Venus and Mars, and humans are just taking their first steps beyond the solar system. However, Venus and Mars want to be independent from Earth, and have started a secret sabotage war against the home planet.
Due to time spent in space, some humans have mutated and have developed certain ESP abilities due to radiation exposure. There are many different types and levels of powers, though no one has more than one ability. David Raven is assigned by the World Council to put a stop to the hostilities. A suitable person was found by carefully tracing the backgrounds of hundreds of candidates, and David's name kept coming up.
It turns out that David and three associates are far stranger than any human ever seen before, though it takes a while for the government to figure this out. David has extraordinary powers, and seems to use them only for the overall good of the human race. He acts against humans only when necessary, and never without first being asked. When he has to kill, it is done swiftly, with no lingering pain involved.
For once it is the good guys who seem to know everything and are able to do almost anything in any situation. Usually only the bad guys always know what's going on, and not till the final few pages do the good guys gain any advantage over them. Not this time! The worst of the worst go down one by one under the strange powers of David. We eventually realize that David is not really human at all, but one of two alien watchers, or guards, or sentinels, that look after Earth. Two others are on Venus, a further two are on Mars, and so on throughout the galaxy. These benevolent superhero types are protecting us from the onslaught of the Deneb Empire, which is searching all over the galaxy for the one civilization they know is higher than their own. They are out to destroy it. Much of the time these watchers are protecting planets from the Denebs. You won't really find out why until the very end. No spoilers here.
This is a very easy book to read, and is certainly one I would reread in time. It is a very original SF story, one which keeps developing nicely until the final pages. Of course the descriptions of life on Venus are about on the same level of expertise as the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, which means science knew very little about the planet in Russell's day. But I can live with that if the basic story and characters are good, which they are here. An enjoyable read.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed April 20th/17
First appearance of First Person Singular, Oct. 1950.
DEEP SPACE
First published in 1954, my edition is from 1989.
Cover of the 1954 edition
This collection contains 9 early stories, two of them novelettes. My edition runs to 249 pages, a pretty hefty collection for 1954.
First Person Singular is from 1950, and is 45 pages long. It is the first of two novelettes in this story collection.
This is a hum-dinger of a SF story, one of the best I have ever read. Even the trite ending, not necessary for today's more sophisticated readers, can't spoil this great story. A Granor is left behind on a newly discovered planet. He spends six years discovering whether plants from his native planet will flourish or die on the new world. Living there affects him in many ways, and when his comrades return to him and examine him, they notice changes. He makes the grade and is allowed to enter Phase Two, staying a further few more years with a female companion. This is great writing, with fantastic descriptions of surviving on a strange world. Highly recommended reading. First published in Thrilling Wonder Stories.
**** stars.
The Witness is from 1951, and is 24 pages long. It is a somewhat light-hearted look at the fate of an alien who lands on Earth and is detained for illegal entry. Russell, though having fun and poking fun, takes a pretty close look at the media and how it reports "facts." He also examines the intolerance of people toward strangers. McCarthyism was rampant at the time, and it took people like Russell to stand up to hatred in their own small way. This is a really good story, and has a message for Americans today.
**** stars.
The Last Blast is from 1952, and is 50 pages long. It is the second and final novelette in the collection, and is also included in Major Ingredients.
Aliens drop a virus on Earth, causing all living plants to die. The disease spreads, hunger strikes everywhere, and nations destroy one another for the last crumb. 7 men are working on a moon base when all of this happens. They are eventually brought back to Earth by the aliens, and put with the 60,000 remaining humans . Is there any way to stop them and save Earth and its few survivors? I'm not telling. This is another top quality SF story, and it obviously had a huge impact on John Christopher, who, four years later, wrote The Death of Grass (see review on Christopher's blog page). While Christopher does not blame aliens, we get the inside picture of what would happen if plants were unable to grow. I wonder if he ever gave credit to Russell for getting his disaster stories off to such a good start.
*** 1/2 stars.
Homo Saps is from 1941, and is 12 pages long. It is included in the Major Ingredients story collection. Traders on Mars use camel caravans (and one dromedary) to peddle their goods to the silent Martians. This is a very funny story.
*** stars.
The Timid Tiger is from 1947, and is 22 pages long. It is included in the Major Ingredients story collection. This is a story about early contact with aliens, in this case Venusians. Greedy, aggressive, overconfident humans are there to mine rare minerals, and a few others are there to learn about the plants and animals. A botanist learns to speak the sole language of the somewhat mysterious Venusians, and builds a trusting rapport with them. This is an excellent story that could easily have been expanded.
*** 1/2 stars.
A Little Oil is from 1952, and is 22 pages long. It is included in the Major Ingredients story collection, reviewed below. This might be termed a psychological thriller, as a crew of nine sets out for the stars. It is a four year journey to the nearest star and back, and this, the third ship to set out, is the only one to make it, turn around, and head for home. The main thrust of the plot is how can men survive in space for so long without going completely crazy. The answer: a psychologist. Only the one on board ship #3 is not quite everyone's idea of a good psychologist. The same kinds of things are discussed today with plans for sending humans to Mars. It would be a long voyage. How do you keep everyone sane? A very good story.
*** 1/2 stars.
Rainbow's End is from 1951, and is 20 pages long. It was first published under the title Afternoon of a Fahn. What happened to all those fairy folk when they left Earth? Apparently they went pretty far away, and like to keep to themselves. Four overconfident, strong and healthy male astronauts arrive on a distant planet, far beyond their regulated range. They find uranium and hope to take back word to the home planet. The native inhabitants have other plans. Another in a long line of Russell's Libertarian SF, this one again shows the helplessness of human discipline when up against disrespectful shenanigans.
The Undecided is from 1949, and is 32 pages long. It is included in Major Ingredients. This time we get some pretty competent humans. They have crash landed on a planet and were followed down by aliens who are up to no good. A pretty amusing story, in the usual Russell manner. A likable tale.
*** stars.
Second Genesis is from 1951 and is 12 pages long. An astronaut who has been travelling for three years returns to Earth, but 2,000 years have passed back home. What does he find when he arrives? Not much, though there is a big pair of feet. This one definitely needs a better ending.
**1/2 stars. Review completed Nov. 14th/17
**** stars.
The Last Blast is from 1952, and is 50 pages long. It is the second and final novelette in the collection, and is also included in Major Ingredients.
First appearance of The Last Blast.
Aliens drop a virus on Earth, causing all living plants to die. The disease spreads, hunger strikes everywhere, and nations destroy one another for the last crumb. 7 men are working on a moon base when all of this happens. They are eventually brought back to Earth by the aliens, and put with the 60,000 remaining humans . Is there any way to stop them and save Earth and its few survivors? I'm not telling. This is another top quality SF story, and it obviously had a huge impact on John Christopher, who, four years later, wrote The Death of Grass (see review on Christopher's blog page). While Christopher does not blame aliens, we get the inside picture of what would happen if plants were unable to grow. I wonder if he ever gave credit to Russell for getting his disaster stories off to such a good start.
*** 1/2 stars.
Homo Saps is from 1941, and is 12 pages long. It is included in the Major Ingredients story collection. Traders on Mars use camel caravans (and one dromedary) to peddle their goods to the silent Martians. This is a very funny story.
*** stars.
The Timid Tiger is from 1947, and is 22 pages long. It is included in the Major Ingredients story collection. This is a story about early contact with aliens, in this case Venusians. Greedy, aggressive, overconfident humans are there to mine rare minerals, and a few others are there to learn about the plants and animals. A botanist learns to speak the sole language of the somewhat mysterious Venusians, and builds a trusting rapport with them. This is an excellent story that could easily have been expanded.
*** 1/2 stars.
A Little Oil is from 1952, and is 22 pages long. It is included in the Major Ingredients story collection, reviewed below. This might be termed a psychological thriller, as a crew of nine sets out for the stars. It is a four year journey to the nearest star and back, and this, the third ship to set out, is the only one to make it, turn around, and head for home. The main thrust of the plot is how can men survive in space for so long without going completely crazy. The answer: a psychologist. Only the one on board ship #3 is not quite everyone's idea of a good psychologist. The same kinds of things are discussed today with plans for sending humans to Mars. It would be a long voyage. How do you keep everyone sane? A very good story.
*** 1/2 stars.
Rainbow's End is from 1951, and is 20 pages long. It was first published under the title Afternoon of a Fahn. What happened to all those fairy folk when they left Earth? Apparently they went pretty far away, and like to keep to themselves. Four overconfident, strong and healthy male astronauts arrive on a distant planet, far beyond their regulated range. They find uranium and hope to take back word to the home planet. The native inhabitants have other plans. Another in a long line of Russell's Libertarian SF, this one again shows the helplessness of human discipline when up against disrespectful shenanigans.
The Undecided is from 1949, and is 32 pages long. It is included in Major Ingredients. This time we get some pretty competent humans. They have crash landed on a planet and were followed down by aliens who are up to no good. A pretty amusing story, in the usual Russell manner. A likable tale.
*** stars.
Second Genesis is from 1951 and is 12 pages long. An astronaut who has been travelling for three years returns to Earth, but 2,000 years have passed back home. What does he find when he arrives? Not much, though there is a big pair of feet. This one definitely needs a better ending.
**1/2 stars. Review completed Nov. 14th/17
MEN, MARTIANS, AND MACHINES
From 1955. My beat-up 1965 version lists no cover artist.
The 170 page book consists of four stories, the first one short and the other three being novellas. They are all linked by characters, namely the adventurous crew responsible for various space craft. Russell is a very funny writer, and has me rolling on the floor one minute, and then horrified and aghast the next. He is such a talented writer, and virtually unknown today outside of a few diehard fans. The humour is deadpan and often unexpected (see examples below), while the horror is first rate and shocking.
Jay Score is the title of the first story, the shortest of the four at 19 pages. It establishes the main characters and puts them through their first harrowing adventure together. Jay Score is a new crew member, 6'9", 300 pounds, and quietly powerful, reminding readers of Paul Bunyan. The men, especially the Martian members of the crew, greatly respect him not only as a leader (he is the emergency pilot, not the captain) but as a chess player. Martians are absolutely crazy about chess (a nice nod to Burroughs!). The first story is inter-planetary, while the rest are interstellar. While on their way to Venus, they are catastrophically struck by a meteor, and begin hurtling sunward, out of control. As the heat builds, the crew and captain take refuge in the coolest part of the ship, barely surviving as Jay Score tries a desperate manoeuvre to save their lives. Without giving the best part of the ending away, I will simply say that we will be seeing this crew again.
***1/2 stars.
Mechanistria is the first interstellar voyage of the hapless crew, late of the solar system ship Upskadaska City (referred to by some as the Upsydaisy), and now in charge of The Marathon. It is 55 pages long. Despite the new and unfamiliar technology behind the ship, they land without incident on the planet of a distant star. A scouting party heads for a quick look around, led by Jay Score. Amidst the horror of headless alien corpses seen floating down a river comes one of the funniest moments in SF; A reptilian creature joins them on the riverbank, sitting with them at the end of their line. The encounter is brief but side-splitting. A few other very funny moments precede this one, and then the story becomes deadly serious, as the crew tries to escape and outwit intelligent machines that want to dissect them alive to learn how they function. The Martian crew members come to the rescue, discussing chess as they proceed. This is superb SF writing.
**** stars.
Symbiotica is 51 pages long. The drama continues as our hapless crew sets out on a second interstellar mission. This time the world is green, and the trees, plants and more humanoid denizens are all linked in a mysterious though effective symbiotic relationship. Two men head out into the sunshine and fresh air without permission from the captain, a cautious man if ever there was one. They are soon in great danger, and one of them dies. There is a lot of violence in this story, as part of the crew is captured and taken to a central, gigantic tree to be sacrificed in some unknown way. A great battle ensues. Once again the many-tentacled Martians come in mighty handy. This is a pretty dark story, and the humour is more scattered and more subdued.
*** stars.
Mesmerica, at 45 pages, is the crew's third and final alien world adventure. It is a chilling tale of encountering aliens that can make the crew see and hear things that aren't really as they seem, like a master mesmer. Once again Russell mixes broad humour nicely with sheer horror and terror. Jay Score and the Martians are utilized again, having certain advantages over humans in seeing what is real and what isn't. Russell pulls off a tour-de-force of storytelling here, and the very ending is also brilliant and very, very funny. The whole book is highly recommended.
**** stars. Reviews completed May 30th/17
**** stars.
Symbiotica is 51 pages long. The drama continues as our hapless crew sets out on a second interstellar mission. This time the world is green, and the trees, plants and more humanoid denizens are all linked in a mysterious though effective symbiotic relationship. Two men head out into the sunshine and fresh air without permission from the captain, a cautious man if ever there was one. They are soon in great danger, and one of them dies. There is a lot of violence in this story, as part of the crew is captured and taken to a central, gigantic tree to be sacrificed in some unknown way. A great battle ensues. Once again the many-tentacled Martians come in mighty handy. This is a pretty dark story, and the humour is more scattered and more subdued.
*** stars.
Mesmerica, at 45 pages, is the crew's third and final alien world adventure. It is a chilling tale of encountering aliens that can make the crew see and hear things that aren't really as they seem, like a master mesmer. Once again Russell mixes broad humour nicely with sheer horror and terror. Jay Score and the Martians are utilized again, having certain advantages over humans in seeing what is real and what isn't. Russell pulls off a tour-de-force of storytelling here, and the very ending is also brilliant and very, very funny. The whole book is highly recommended.
**** stars. Reviews completed May 30th/17
CALL HIM DEAD/THREE TO CONQUER
First appearance of Russell's novel.
In book form, under a new title.
My version of this fun and excellently written story is from Entities, where it takes up just over 120 pages. Russell is such a good storyteller, and we are drawn in and hooked by the first page. Harper is a telepath, the only known one on Earth. He doesn't try to pry into minds, but sometimes he gets loud sendings. He is driving along and sees someone in trouble, a few hundred yards away. Stopping to investigate leads him into a deep and harrowing adventure, pitting Harper, local police, the FBI, and the US military and national guard against an alien invasion.
Written in 1955, it fits in nicely with some of the best 1950s SF paranoia films. In fact, this would have made a really good SF film, and could still be done well and meaningfully today. The hero, Harper, is for some reason a physical brute of a man (see top illustration), but good through every bone in his enormous body. He has helped the police before, and his character is similar to a private detective, though he isn't one. He designs and manufactures micro tools used in dissecting microscopic bacteria.
Russell really has the ability to make a story creepy and brutal at the turn of a dime, and uses this skill very effectively. Sometimes we are amidst a murder mystery story, with some good-natured jibbing and fun going on in the background, when suddenly something happens, something very unpleasant and unnatural. This is my fifth novel by Russell, and I have loved them all. They don't pretend to be anything other than really good stories, only they seem to offer much more in the end. I really like how Harper stands up to generals and other big shots, not taking any guff from them, especially when he is trying his best to cooperate with them. There is some humour in this story, though it is mostly kept in check. Highly recommended.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed July 4th/17
Mapman Mike WASP
Cover art by Ric Brinkley
The original version was published in 1957 by Avalon books (above), but was a shortened version. My edition is the 1958 full edition, not in print for many years, and comes from the Entities omnibus (see above). It is the first novel in Entities, and is 120 pages long. The very thin SF plot pits one man (the wasp) against a whole planet, as he is planted, disguised, and instructed in how to sow dissent among the enemy in an attempt to confuse and soften them before Earth strikes a final blow. I call the SF plot thin, not the plot. This is essentially a tale of WW2, or of The Cold War, or any war. This one happens to be in outer space, though that hardly seems to matter. It is a story of a very active, destructive agent dropped amidst the enemy, and tells how he brought them to their knees.
It is a thriller from start to finish, and the writing is very good. Mowbry is the hero in disguise, and he gets into more sticky situations than is healthy for any one man. Speaking of man, once again we have a complete story by Russell in which not a single female makes a noteworthy appearance. Mowbry begins by sticking slogans to windows and walls, eventually upping the ante to killing and bombing. The fairly accurate description of a total police state is quite unnerving, and we are soon rooting for the Earthman.
He eventually gains a couple of native accomplices, but most of the really dangerous work he carries out himself. Russell can write about tense situations as well as anyone, though he also manages to insert humour into situations quite often. Russell also manages to keep everything believable and possible, and the book is difficult to put down once started. Even non-SF fans should be impressed by this story. Once again Russell has written a consistently good yarn, worth recommending to others. He is a writer I likely would have never come across except for the Avon/Equinox series, and I am glad that I have explored his work in more depth.
***1/2 stars. Reviewed Aug. 10th/17
THE SPACE WILLIES
Cover art by Kelly Freas
This short novel from 1958 is an expanded version of a story he wrote in 1956 called Plus X. The entire Ace Double is also a reprint of the original version, #D315. There is also a longer version called Next Of Kin (see below).
Original Ace Double printing. Covers by Emsh.
The main story is 131 pages long. The flip side contains some of the author's short stories, and will be reviewed as the next Russell book, in about 5-6 weeks time.
By coincidence this is the second story in a row I have read about escaping from an impossible prison situation. I just finished reading Escape From Loki, by P. J. Farmer. In that story, a young Doc Savage meets his five friends and lifetime accomplices in a German WW1 POW camp. They manage to escape Germany's most secure prison. In Russell's story, a lone scout crash lands behind enemy lines deep in the galaxy. Not only does he have no way to get back to Earth, but he finds himself on a harsh prison planet. Locked into solitary, he schemes and schemes until he finally comes up with a plan. This is not a plan that you or I would come up with, or even P. J. Farmer. Only Russell's creative mind could have come up with this one.
As we saw recently in WASP (above), Russell was interested in techniques that would make the enemy weaker through indirect psychological actions. John Leeming, our intrepid hero, does just that, inventing an invisible person as well as a coiled doohickey (see cover art) in order to communicate with him. This invisible other half of his persona will seek vengeance on anyone harming him. The enemy aliens fall for it, and his luck soon begins to change.
Not for a moment believing that any of this would ever work, it is still a very amusing tale. In fact at times I was almost rolling on the floor, and certainly laughing out loud. It is a very easy novel to read. Like most of Russell's stories it is hard to put down once begun. And once again there are no female characters to be seen. Russell's disdain for officers and commanders knows no bounds, though his hero also gets his share of kicks to the rear end. Recommended for its sheer creativity, as well as its humour.
*** stars. Reviewed Dec. 19th/17
SIX WORLDS YONDER
The flip side of my edition of The Space Willies (see above).
Cover art by Kelly Freas.
The six stories add up to 125 pages. The book was originally published in 1958. This is a reprint, with a different cover on this side of the Ace Double (see above for original cover).
The Waitabits is from 1955, and is 49 pages long. It is very reminiscent of his very funny stories in The Great Explosion (see top of this page). A large space ship manned by hundreds of crew is sent to a recently discovered backwater planet to find out why the lone scout sent back his message. All he said about the planet Eterna, an Earth-like world, is "Unconquerable." That gets the bureaucrats in a frenzy, so our hero is sent to investigate. What he finds is a society moving at a very slow pace, and Russell has way too much fun with his subjects. When humans, moving at "normal" speed try to interact with aliens who move extremely slowly, not all can go well. I loved this story, and the ending. Russell has a rare gift that allows him to leave you rolling on the floor laughing one minute, and then horror-struck the next. Good fun!
**** stars.
Tieline is from 1955, and is 8 pages long. A lone human is manning a relay station on a distant planet. He lives there alone, with nothing to stimulate him. Various attempts are made to keep these people (over 400 of them spread out over the galaxy) sane, though some go crazy before their ten year stint is completed. I'd be happy with a keyboard, lots of printed music, some good CDs, and a classic movie collection. What would it take to keep you sane?
*** stars.
Top Secret is from 1956, and is 18 pages long. It is another very funny story, this time about the problems of communicating between planets. Ever played the "telephone" game? Relate a paragraph of information to a 2nd person, and have them pass it on to a third person. And so on for a dozen or more times. Add in some thick accents like Scottish, Indian, southern USA, etc., and watch the fun begin.
*** stars.
Nothing New is from 1956 and is 12 pages long. What would archeologists find if they dug down deep enough on Earth? Deeper than Egypt, the Middle East, and the Indus Valley. Would they find some great pre-flood civilization? Earthmen travel to a planet in search of inhabitants who are immortal. In fact they are very long lived, with the elder being over 14,000 years old. And he has vague memories of meeting the first Earthmen who came to his planet when he was very young.
*** stars.
Into Your Tent I'll Creep is a 10 page tongue-in-cheek story from 1957 about how dogs rule Earth. Aliens arrive and begin their friendship with Earthlings. Only, one member of the alien crew is telepathic, and can understand dogs. What he hears alarms him, but no one will listen. This might be a good story to read to kids about 10 or 11 to begin getting their interest up in SF. The humour is subtle and black, something unusual for Russell.
**1/2 stars.
Diabologic is 23 pages long and is from 1955. A lone scout from Earth who explores distant worlds is the person who makes first contact for us with aliens. The scouts have a range of verbal skills to use as their weapon, to prove superiority. If a civilization is high enough they will figure out his system quickly. If not, then the scout might be in for an extended visit. At least until one of the aliens catches on. A very good story, and fun to read.
***1/2 stars. Reviews completed January 19th/18
Page proofread April 5th, 2019
*** stars.
Top Secret is from 1956, and is 18 pages long. It is another very funny story, this time about the problems of communicating between planets. Ever played the "telephone" game? Relate a paragraph of information to a 2nd person, and have them pass it on to a third person. And so on for a dozen or more times. Add in some thick accents like Scottish, Indian, southern USA, etc., and watch the fun begin.
*** stars.
Nothing New is from 1956 and is 12 pages long. What would archeologists find if they dug down deep enough on Earth? Deeper than Egypt, the Middle East, and the Indus Valley. Would they find some great pre-flood civilization? Earthmen travel to a planet in search of inhabitants who are immortal. In fact they are very long lived, with the elder being over 14,000 years old. And he has vague memories of meeting the first Earthmen who came to his planet when he was very young.
*** stars.
Into Your Tent I'll Creep is a 10 page tongue-in-cheek story from 1957 about how dogs rule Earth. Aliens arrive and begin their friendship with Earthlings. Only, one member of the alien crew is telepathic, and can understand dogs. What he hears alarms him, but no one will listen. This might be a good story to read to kids about 10 or 11 to begin getting their interest up in SF. The humour is subtle and black, something unusual for Russell.
**1/2 stars.
Diabologic is 23 pages long and is from 1955. A lone scout from Earth who explores distant worlds is the person who makes first contact for us with aliens. The scouts have a range of verbal skills to use as their weapon, to prove superiority. If a civilization is high enough they will figure out his system quickly. If not, then the scout might be in for an extended visit. At least until one of the aliens catches on. A very good story, and fun to read.
***1/2 stars. Reviews completed January 19th/18
NEXT OF KIN
1959 edition. I read the copy within Entities (see above).
First came Plus X, a novella. Then came an expanded version of the story, called Next Of Kin. then came a shortened version of the story, called The Space Willies. I have all three versions, but have yet to read the novella. For a review of The Space Willies, see the Ace Double, above. Essentially the same review as above. Completed March 5th/18.
Entities is a 691 page hardcover edition containing five of Russell's novels, released in 2001. They have all been reviewed now (see up near the top for cover image). However, at the back of the book is a novella and two short stories. A companion volume consisting only of short stories is called Major Ingredients.
Legwork is from 1956, and is 36 pages long. An alien with evil intent towards humans lands in an isolated area and assimilates himself into society to learn more about it. Some good detective work enables his eventual entrapment, and Earth is saved from a nasty invasion. This is a pretty good story, perfect for a short feature film.
*** stars. Reviewed March 5th/18.
Mana is from 1937, and is only 4 pages long. The last long-lived human on Earth wants to leave something behind for a future civilization. A slight but curious story.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed March 5th/18.
Mechanical Mice is from 1941, and is 18 pages long. It is a horror story about a man dabbling in the future, and trying to build technology that he glimpsed there. Things quickly get out of hand, as self-replicating miniature androids do their best to go forth and multiply. Warning: a lot of cats are brutally murdered in this violent tale.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed March 5th/18.
FAR STARS
Cover design uncredited.
From 1961 comes this handsome little hardcover library volume containing 6 stories by Russell (note the misspelling of his name on the cover). It is 191 pages long. Three of the stories have appeared elsewhere on this page, so I am only reviewing the three previously unread ones.
The Waitabits: See Six World's Yonder, above.
P. S. is from 1953, and is 14 pages long. It is a very touching human/alien story about an ageing physician who realizes that all of his friends are leaving him one by one. His wife died six years earlier, and he has very few friends remaining alive. Russell pulls off a real tour-de-force in this quiet story, and leaves us in amazement at his imagination and ability to write down such an idea. Highly recommended.
**** stars. Reviewed June 20th/18
Allamagoosa is from 1955 and is 16 pages long. It is a very funny story about a ship's inspection, and one missing artifact that has to be accounted for. Classic Russell.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed June 20th/18
Legwork: See Six Worlds Yonder, above.
Diabologic: See Six Worlds Yonder, above.
The Timeless Ones is from 1952, and is 23 pages long. It's strange that this thinly veiled racist story appears in the same volume as P. S. A man believes he has uncovered a plot to take over the known galaxy by a race that appears non-threatening and quite subservient to humans. At least the one man who discovers this plot is turned away and not taken seriously. But I think Russell wants us to align ourselves with the discoverer, and not the officials who turn him away. I found the story unpleasant.
* star. Reviewed June 20th/18
DARK TIDES
Cover art uncredited. It illustrates the first story.
There are 12 stories contained in 128 pages. They fit into the Weird Tales type of story. There is a brief Foreward by the author.
The Sin of Hyacinth Peuch is from 1952, and is 26 pages long. It is a funny, oddball story involving a village simpleton, a meteor crash site, and a small village in Brittany. Classic stuff, and full of wit.
*** 1/2 stars. reviewed July 28th/18
With A Blunt Instrument is from 1941, and is 16 pages long. An insurance investigator is suspicious when a number of recent deaths do not fit the predicted curve used to adjust premiums. He meets some of the people who have received settlements, and is quickly embroiled in a life or death struggle. Using magic once used to kill people, he is now able to get the unlawfully received premiums returned to the company.
*** stars. Reviewed July 28th/18
A Matter Of Instinct is from 1962, and is 11 pages long. A doctor is menaced by an alien life form that wants him to help in taking over live human bodies to provide hosts for himself and one other. The doctor cannot fight back because the alien can read his thoughts and thus predict his every plan of escape. The title gives a clue to how the alien is finally thwarted, and the ending is quite clever.
*** stars. Reviewed July 28th/18
I'm A Stranger Here Myself is from 1952, and is 10 pages long. A 15 year old boy is sent to a shrink by his mom. He has been questioning them about his birth, and if they are really his parents. Why the doctor would have a gun in his desk is a bit of a mystery. Is this standard for psychiatrists? An odd tale.
** stars. Reviewed July 28th/18
This One's On Me is from 1953, and is 6 pages long. A man visits a shop that purports to sell mutants. The dwarf running the shop does his best to help the potential customer. The customer is also a reporter, and calls the proprietor a fake and a charlatan. In other words, he becomes rude, something the dwarf doesn't think much of. Some funny writing. This would make a great little sketch for a short film.
*** stars. Reviwed July 28th/18
I Hear You Calling is from 1954, and is 4 pages long. A bored businessman goes to a small town bar, and finds it empty except for him and the bartender. A series of murders in town has everyone living in fear and off the streets after dark. They are taking place after reports of a space ship being seen in the area. The man is searching for some female companionship, and gets a bit more than he asked for.
** stars. Reviewed July 28th/18
Wisel is from 1942, and is 5 pages long. Wisel gets on a commuter train during a rainstorm and livens up the environment. Wisel is a tourist. From far away. My question is this: why was he here instead of at the Grand Canyon?
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 29th/18
The Ponderer is from 1948, and is 8 pages long. A Mexican peasant and his donkey work the land beneath a large mountain shaped like a man. They have a close encounter, one they are not likely to forget, and abandon the land as quickly as they can. Fun stuff!
*** stars. Reviewed July 29th/18
Sole Solution is from 1956, and is 2 pages long. A very weird story, Russell's attempt to explain what it was like before the Big Bang, sort of.
** stars. Reviewed July 29th/18
Rhythm Of The Rats is from 1950, and is 13 pages long. A plane crash survivor walks into a village, one without pets or children. The adults are very dour, and insist on keeping him inside all night before they take him to safety. A creepy story, with some nice tie ins to mythology, and even more than one twist at the end.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 29th/18
Me And My Shadow is from 1940, and is 15 pages long. A wimpy man learns, with assistance, to stand up for himself in a big, mean world.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed July 29th/18
Bitter End is from 1953, and is 12 pages long. An astronaut returns from Mars without his shipmate, and goes on the run from where he landed. This is a great little story, as we follow him across America, taking short term work before moving on. But someday the piper must be paid.
*** stars. Reviewed July 29th/18
THE RABBLE ROUSERS: TIMES OF UNTHINKING FURY
Cover art by George Suyeoka
From 1963 comes this collection of non-fiction short essays on human folly, brought to us by Russell and the many Forteans who collect news stories and clippings of events sometimes beyond belief. Since first encountering Russell I have become much more interested in the Forteans, and especially their monthly magazine Fortean Times. This 157 page book opens with three quotes, including a short one by Charles Chaplin that pretty much describes what the book is about: "Man as an individual is a genius. But men in the mass form the Headless Monster, a great brutish idiot that goes where prodded." The introduction by Russell expands on this quote. My only complaint is that Russell did not do a sequel. This is a book for modern readers. Believe me, please.
The Wise Child's Guide To Bloody Murder is a 16 page summary and commentary on the infamous Sacco and Vanzetti trial of the 1920s, which proved to be a travesty of American justice. And guess what? Anti-immigrant bias played a large role in their conviction, as well as the denial of a new trial when new evidence came up that would have cleared them of any wrong-doing. It hurts to read of such cases from long ago, but it hurts much more to see that in some ways we have not learned very much in the interim.
**** stars. Reviewed Sept. 29th/18
The Day The Martians Landed is a 10-page essay on the Orson Welles radio broadcast of Oct. 30th, 1938, where he and his Mercury Players dramatised H.G. Wells' "War Of The Worlds." Meant to be a schlocky, somewhat scary Halloween story for the airwaves, millions of people actually thought it was happening, despite commercial breaks, and mayhem occurred in the streets and highways as mass panic set in. So funny and so tragic, and so damned stupid it actually hurts when I laugh. One of the strangest events to ever occur. Not to be missed by SF fans.
**** stars. Reviewed Sept. 29th/18
The Great Baltinglass Hullabaloo is 17 pages long, and details the somewhat humourous episode that took place in Ireland in 1950. A small town post office, that had been run by the same family for a very long time, was suddenly given over to a different family, spurring a major incident that eventually contributed to bringing down the government and forcing an election. Russell has a unique way of telling true stories that almost make us believe we are reading fiction. Though a minor incident in world wide terms, it did garner international attention at the time. Oddly, there is no Wiki version of this incident. Luckily, we have Russell's version to keep us informed.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Sept. 29th/18
Your Love Belongs To Me is 10 pages long, and describes the fan mania that surrounded the life (and death) of Rudolph Valentino. Russell wrote the essay in 1963, and compares the fan frenzy to the just emerging rock star movement, namely the Beatles. People were saying how crazy kids were "today", and he nicely proves that kids and pop culture have always been more than slightly insane. I was not aware of the depth of fandom for Valentino, who was a silent film actor popular in the 1920s. Well worth the read.
**** stars. reviewed Sept. 30th/18
Les Enfants De La Patrie is a 38 page account of the affair of Alfred Dreyfus, a French artillery officer who was (wrongly) charged with treason for selling secrets to Germany in the 1890s. The affair brought out the worst in French government, military justice, the French public, the Roman Catholic Church, and the French ideal of liberty. This is one of the lowest points in not just France's illustrious past, but any civilized western country. The trial and aftermath spawned one of the worst outbreaks of violence and hatred against all Jews. This is Russell's major essay of the pack, and he spares barely one or two French citizens from his barbed pen and indignation. I read it before falling asleep, which was a grave mistake, as it raised my blood pressure so high that it took a long time to calm down afterwards. A stunning account of a most shameful affair.
****+ stars. Reviewed Sept. 30th/18
And We'll All Go Riding On A Rainbow is a 16 page review of the Great Florida Real Estate Scandal of the 1920s, often referred to nowadays as "Swampland In Florida." This is another ridiculous event of which I knew next to nothing, and Russell does his usual excellent job of expanding my knowledge of it, and hopefully increasing my overall wariness.
*** stars. Reviewed Sept. 30th/18.
Shut Your Trap When You talk To Me is a 19 page explanation of the Joseph McCarthy era of the 1950s, though the essay begins with A. Mitchell Palmer, his predecessor from the 1920s. The latter probably did the most harm to Sacco and Venzetti at the time. The McCarthy era, like much of this book, is something that would be rejected as too outlandish even in a work of fiction. Even SF, on a planet far from Earth. Why wouldn't somebody stop this madness, do something? This couldn't really happen, could it? History continues to say otherwise. Required reading for all. Another essay to really raise one's blood pressure.
**** stars. reviewed October 1st/18
And When I Discovered My Condition is the 24 page concluding essay in this volume. It details the lies that were spread among the people from the governments and the military during WW 1 and WW 2. If you wonder why people took so long to believe that the holocaust really happened, even as evidence mounted, this short diatribe will go a long way to explaining why. President Trump thinks we have fake news today--he should do some reading about what came before.
**** stars. Reviewed Oct. 1st/18
SOMEWHERE A VOICE
Cover art by Kelly Freas
Published in 1965, these 7 stories take up 174 pages. In addition to the cover art, Freas did small sketches at the beginning of each story. Only one story, Tieline, is repeated from a previous publication.
Somewhere A Voice is from 1952, and is 52 pages long. A large spaceship is hit by space debris, killing most of the hundreds on board. A small shuttle craft manages to escape the devastation with 9 people and a small dog aboard. It crashes on a jungle planet, and only the crew leader knows anything about it, which isn't much. He does know there is a rescue station at 40 Degrees latitude, and so the survivors head out for the long walk. One by one they succumb to the terrors of a nearly silent but very deadly planet. Though I liked the story a lot, the ending is just too pessimistic and ironic. I'm not certain what the point of the story was, either. Mallet, the lead character, is a racist and quite sour character at the beginning, but gradually manages to change his views as the journey progresses. So what? SPOILER ALERT. Stop reading here.
Everyone dies except Feeny the dog. It makes me wonder how this story would have ever been told, and why it was told in the first place. Having Mallet survive would not have been a big stretch of the imagination.
*** stars. Reviewed April 21st/18
U Turn is from 1950, and is 14 pages long. With humans able to terminate their lives whenever they wish, a man makes the great decision and submits himself for the ultimate big sleep. However, when he awakens he finds things a bit more to his liking.
*** stars. Reviewed April 21st/18
Seat Of Oblivion is from 1941, and is 24 pages long. A thief and murderer steals a device that allows him to switch bodies whenever he wishes. He continues his life of crime, leaving mysterious dead bodies behind as he goes. There is justice awaiting him, however.
**1/2 stars. Reviewed April 21st/18
Tieline is from 1955, and is 9 pages long. See review in Six Worlds Yonder, above.
Displaced Person is from 1948, and is 4 pages long. I guessed the ending well before reaching it. A strange man and a more normal man have a conversation on a bench. Don't be too shocked by the ending. Somewhat darkly humourous, but otherwise not of much interest.
** stars. Reviewed April 21st/18
Dear Devil is from 1950, and is 41 pages long. It is along the lines of a gentle tale, as a Martian space ship lands on Earth to find it devastated and devoid of intelligent life. After a brief survey the ship departs. However, a minor poet who was on the ship decides to remain. This octopus-like creature soon contacts a few human survivors, and the project to save Humankind is underway. An uplifting story for once, but of course the plan as outlined would never work. There will still be madmen who will rouse people to hatred, no matter how the theory of peace and love is played out. Still, it's always nice to dream.
*** stars. Reviewed May 4th/18
I Am Nothing is from 1952, and is 24 pages long. A war mongering bully is put in his place by a seven year old girl. A nice story, though once again a bit of a dream. However, if we have no such dreams, what do we have?
*** stars. Reviewed May 5th/18
THE MINDWARPERS
Cover art uncredited.
Less of a SF novel and more of a cold war adventure story, this one is from 1965, and is 158 pages long. It begins much like a Fortean investigation, filled with mysterious changes of character and an unsettling and disorienting feeling. We know (being experienced readers) that something is about to go haywire, but we cannot pinpoint any cause or effect. Russell includes some dark humour at the beginning when he discusses the three layers of security that employees and visitors must pass through to gain access to the experimental government lab where Bransome works as a specialized scientist. However, this turns into a very serious and paranoid story about a man who has been altered by the enemy. While they cannot break in to the facility, they can access the minds of people who work there. Chilling, to say the least.
Bransome finds himself having coffee at his usual train station cafe when he overhears two truckers talking about some bones that have recently turned up near the small town of Burleston. This triggers a suppressed memory in Bransome, and he realizes that many years ago he killed a woman and buried her. Now, he believes, her bones have turned up and he is convinced he will soon be facing the electric chair.
Russell has written a convincing account of a man on the lam, who sincerely believes that he has killed someone and will soon be caught and punished. However, Bransome begins to puzzle through his predicament. After all, he is a scientist and possessed of a logical mind. He pushes his boundaries to the point where he begins to suspect that he actually might be innocent of any crime, though he retains vivid memories of the horrible and violent event.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it re-enforces my belief that Russell is a top notch writer of thrillers that extend beyond the normal plot lines. His association with the Fortean Society can be better understood if some of his fiction is read and enjoyed. His adventure is unique and spell-binding, and the way he deals with events is believable, even if one disagrees with his approach. If nothing, he is logical to a fault. Highly recommended.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed Nov. 3rd/18
MAJOR INGREDIENTS
Cover art by Bob Eggleton.
Published in 2000, this is the second NESFA Press massive hardcover edition dedicated to Russell. This one contains 30 stories, along with an editor's intro, a regular intro by Jack Chalker, and an afterword by Mike Resnick. Of the 30 stories, I have previously read 16 of them (see reviews, above).
Alamagoosa: see review under Far Stars, above.
And Then There Were None: See review under The Great Explosion, above. It is the 4th story in the Avon/Equinox compilation.
The Army Comes to Venus is from 1959, and is 26 pages long. I am not certain how this story got chosen for the volume. It tells how a young woman, a member of the Salvation Army, goes to the wild mining encampment on Venus and begins to tame the brutes that live there. There are some very good characters in this story, but in my opinion they are wasted. Would it really have been the wild west all over again on Venus? Had the authorities learnt nothing from history?
*1/2 stars. Reviewed January 2nd/19
Basic Right is from 1958, and is 22 pages long. This is yet another poor choice of story for a volume all about the best of Russell. This one has so many holes in its assumptions as to be laughable. Apparently every single human being is capable of completely masking their emotions as ruthless aliens land on Earth and seek to conquer us. For six years no one shows any emotions regarding the takeover. Really? Really? A truly terrible story.
* star. Reviewed January 2nd/19
Dear Devil: see review under Somewhere A Voice, above.
Diabologic: see review under Six Worlds Yonder, above.
Fast Falls The Eventide is from 1952, and is 15 pages long. This is a quiet tale of humans in the far future. Early on they realized that the sun was dimming, and that someday our planet would be uninhabitable. Rather than emigrate en mass, and thus become a burden on other societies, they become wise and thus were sought after by younger civilizations. Now spread across the galaxy as teachers and advisors, there is no chance of humans becoming extinct. We follow one of these humans, Melisande, as she graduates from her college and sets out on her solo adventure.
** 1/2 stars. Reviewed January 3rd/19
Hobbyist is from 1947, and is 23 pages long. This is a great story, and one of the best explanations for a universal god or creator. It is also a chilling adventure story, as a human space explorer and his parrot (!) become lost and land on a strange planet as their fuel runs out. Don't miss this one!
**** stars. reviewed January 3rd/19
Homo Sap: see Deep Space, above.
Jay Score: see Men, Martians, and Machines, above.
Last Blast: see Deep Space, above.
Late Night Final is from 1948, and is 27 pages long. This is yet another in a long line of stories by Russell that relates how a militaristic invasion force is subdued and conquered by a seemingly defenceless civilian population. The civilization is more often than not an idealistic and communist one. This tale sees a hard-hearted and harder-headed commander lose everything he stands for, until he is finally able to see the light at the end of his nose. A good story, though the humour of the stories in The Great Explosion (see above) is missing.
*** stars. Reviewed January 3rd/19
A Little Oil: see Deep Space, above.
Meeting At Kangshan is from 1965, and is 12 pages long. In the olden days of space exploration, the space scouts did a dangerous job and all that (why didn't they use aerial scanners, robots, and ground teams?). One such old timer has finally been put out to pasture, and this story tells of his final space voyage, and a crew member he meets on the journey. The ending is very abrupt, but the story is pretty good.
*** stars. Reviewed January 6th/19
Metamorphosite is from 1946, and is 44 pages long. Yet another novelette about a huge militaristic empire being brought down by essentially one man (with some help). This story goes a bit beyond the usual Russell tale. There is humour, drama, and some surprises in store. All in all, quite good. The ending surprised me, but I liked it.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed January 6th/19
Minor Ingredient is from 1956, and is 13 pages long. A young man enters a prestigious space pilot school, and returns for a visit 30 years later. I am neither here nor there with this story; I am not really sure what Russell was trying to do. However, it does prove that he is British; no other person could have written this. "May the prime cause of everything be beneficial to you."
** stars. Reviewed January 6th/19
Now Inhale is from 1959, and is 19 pages long. I found this to be a strange title. An Earthman is captured and held prisoner by hostile aliens. He is sentenced to death, but by custom is allowed to choose a game to play before he is executed by strangulation. He knows help is on the way, but it could take 10 months or even longer to reach him. He chooses a game from home, one that will last nearly forever. Will he be able to stand the boredom and repetition of this game until help arrives? Some good Russell humour is involved.
*** stars. Reviewed January 7th/19
Nuisance Value is from 1957, and is 54 pages long. This novelette tells the story of 7 humans infiltrating an enemy alien prison. Their job is to stir up a revolt among the inmates, and time their insurgence with Earth's attack on the enemy planet. Russell writes with his usual confidence and humour, and it's fun getting to watch the job unfold and progress. There are lots of good aliens, too, but they need to be convinced that being captured by the enemy is not the end of their pride and existence. This would make a very good SF film.
*** 1/2 stars. Reviewed January 8th/19
Panic Button is from 1959, and is 16 pages long. Another amusing short story telling how humans are staying ahead of the competition by grabbing new planets faster than they can.
*** stars. Reviewed January 8th/19
Plus X: see The Space Willies, above, and Next of Kin.
Study In Still Life is from 1959, and is 20 pages long. This is a very funny story about bureaucracy and paperwork. It follows the order of a particular item, following its path from start to finish, and then some. Russell is at his best in stories such as these, where great fun is made of how beaurocratic events get done.
**** stars. Reviewed January 8th/19
Tieline: See Six Worlds Yonder, above.
The Timid Tiger: See Deep Space, above.
Top Secret: See Six Worlds Yonder.
The Ultimate Invader is from 1953, and is 49 pages long. Stop me if this one sounds familiar: a lone Earthman lands on a warring and hostile planet. He tries to get them to stop aggressions in space, so that trade between worlds can continue unhampered. The hostiles have no intention of doing so, even after discovering this man may be a legend of vengeance from the past. So the humans have to take the next step to stop the war, and they do. Russell is fascinated by the single, confident man (always a male) radiating some unfathomable confidence, and catching his more powerful opponents off guard. He always does it quite well, too.
*** stars. Reviewed January 9th/19
The Undecided: See Deep Space, Above.
The U-Turn: See Somewhere A Voice, above.
The Waitabits: See Six Worlds Yonder, above.
