aliens

Update: Recent Science Fiction Acquisitions N. VIII

/ Joachim Boaz / 2 Comments

My month of infrequent posts is over — I’ve returned to Austin after a month long sojourn across Colorado, New Mexico, France and Italy….  So, what do I do in my jet lagged state?  Head to the Half Price Books.  Not the best haul this time but a few potentially interesting reads.

1. Witch World (1963), Andre Norton

I’ve yet to read any of Andre Norton’s immense number of novels.  Not knowing exactly where to start I picked up what is generally considered among her best works — Witch World (1963).  It was nominated for the 1964 Hugo award for Best novel and often places in best Fantasy/Sci-fi lists.  And the cover is Continue reading →

Book Review: Star Ways (variant title: The Peregrine), Poul Anderson (1956)

/ Joachim Boaz / 11 Comments

2.75/5 (Average)

Poul Anderson’s third novel contains a few glimmers of his later slick storytelling but lacks developed ideas and convincing characters.  This is not entirely Anderson’s fault, as he points out in the introduction to a later edition, because the original manuscript was heavily edited without his knowledge in order to achieve a specific page Continue reading →

Updates: Recent Science Fiction Acquisitions N. VII

/ Joachim Boaz / 7 Comments

Austin’s Half Price Books will be my downfall.  I’ve broken my promise not to buy any more science fiction books this summer…

1. The Big Jump (1955), Leigh Brackett (MY REVIEW)

I’ve yet to read a work by the famous female sci-fi writer and screenwriter (The Big Sleep, The Empire Strikes Back, Rio Bravo, El Dorado) Leigh Brackett.  I look forward to this “pulp” work with great Continue reading →

Adventures in Science Fiction Cover Art: Gino D’Achille and small greenish men stealing large reddish women

/ Joachim Boaz / 8 Comments

While browsing through the spectacular collection of DAW sci-fi/fantasy covers between the 60s-80s on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database  I came across Ian Wallace’s The Lucifer Comet (1980).  I know nothing about the work itself (or the author) but something about the shoddy cover immediately rung a bell.  I had seen a similar small greenish man (but without wings) hoisting an unprotesting much heavier scantily clad reddish Continue reading →

Updates: Recent Science Fiction Acquisitions N. VI

/ Joachim Boaz / 4 Comments

I’ve held to my promise not to buy any more books this summer considering I have at least 40 unread sci-fi books looming over my shoulder.   However, other people are welcome to procure books FOR me! And they have — all of the following were gifts! Thank you!

1. The Last Starship from Earth (1968), John Boyd (MY REVIEW)

I’ve read multiple reviews which claim that John Boyd’s The Last Starship from Earth is a lost classic.  However, opinion are far from unanimous (for example, the sci-fi author Joanna Russ wrote a scathing review blaming the publishers for subjecting her and fellow readers to Continue reading →

Book Review: Master of Life and Death, Robert Silverberg (1957)

/ Joachim Boaz / 12 Comments

0.25/5 (Terrible)

First, a few words to describe the tattered novel (I hurled it on the ground at one point) in front of me.

Politically dangerous: Master of Life and Death (1957) presents dictatorship (well, so-called “benevolent” dictatorship), propaganda, extreme distrust of the common person, fratricide, surveillance, torture, government control of the press, political assassination, euthanasia of children, among other equally dubious activities as occasionally necessary for the good of humanity.

I understand that Silverberg himself does not endorse these positions BUT he in NO WAY presents the actions of his main character as anything other than exemplarily and a necessary result of the tough position he finds himself Continue reading →

SF TV Episode Reviews: Space: 1999, episode 3, ‘Black Sun’ (1975)

/ Joachim Boaz / 22 Comments

4/10 (Bad)

One might ask: how do you eviscerate a promising concept/episode?  I would answer simply, resolve it with a Cosmic Intelligence.  It’s easy!  Characters accidentally placed on the other side of the galaxy by the script, just swish them back to square one with Mr. (Mrs?) Cosmic Intelligence.

Did your characters accidentally get scripted into an uncompromising position (let’s say, heading straight for a Black (hole) Sun)?  If the answer is yes, Continue reading →

Book Review: The Star Dwellers, James Blish (1961)

/ Joachim Boaz / 11 Comments

3/5 (Average)

James Blish’s The Star Dwellers (1961) is a quality sci-fi novel (for younger readers) easily comparable to some of Heinlein’s juveniles.  The plot is straightforward/predictable yet still engaging.  Of course, Jack, our seventeen year old hero, saves the day!  Unlike the best “alien encounter” sci-fi novels which convey a certain sense of convincing “reality,” The Star Dwellers demands Continue reading →

Update: Recent Science Fiction Acquisitions N. V

/ Joachim Boaz / 14 Comments

I promised not to buy any more books over the summer unless I ran out — alas, Memorial Day Sale at one of the best Half Price Books in the country (Austin) is a “bad” combination.  I had to reduce my gigantic pile by half before I dared approach the buy counter….

I’m proud of this haul!

1. Hawksbill Station (1968), Robert Silverberg (MY REVIEW)

I’ve wanted to procure Hawksbill Station for quite a while — the premise is fantastic, five dangerous prisoners are held at Hawksbill Station located in the Cambrian era… One bizarre use of time travel!  I hope Silverberg is at his best à la The World Inside and Downward to the Earth.

2. Master of Life and Death, Robert Continue reading →