galacticjourney (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
galacticjourney) wrote2014-04-11 05:04 pm
galacticjourney) wrote2014-04-11 05:04 pm
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Whatever Counts (June 1959 Galaxy;,First Part; 4-11-1959)
I mentioned last week that Satellite no longer prints full-length novels between its covers anymore. It looks like that role is now going to Galaxy, which, in its new, 196-page format, can accommodate longer works more comfortably. In short order, it looks like Galaxy will specialize in two-part serials, responding to reader requests for same.
I'm a fan of longer stories in my magazines. F&SF scratches my short story itch quite nicely, and there are lots of good science fiction novels coming out, so that intermediate length can only be found in the digests. I find that the novella/short novel length is quite good for adequately developing a concept without overly padding the matter.
Cover by EMSH
That length was certainly used to excellent effect in Fred Pohl's new space exploration/first-contact thriller, Whatever Counts. What a fine story. With the exception of some over-traditional gender roles (in the far future, I'd expect women to be more than secretaries and babysitters), Pohl paints a quite mature and sophisticated vision of tomorrow. Moreover, while the female characters have traditional roles, they also get to be intelligent and vital protagonists. Just skip over the rather exploitative art...
So what's the story actually about? The Explorer II, essentially a generation colony ship, though the journey "only" takes about seven years, is part of humanity's first gasp of interstellar expansion. Unfortunately, during the vessel's journey, our race (as a whole) makes contact with its first alien species, the technologically and biologically more-sophisticated "Gormen." Wherever we encounter the Gormen, we are able to offer but feeble resistance.
The same is true for several of the crew of the Explorer II, who are quickly captured by the Gormen upon touchdown. Their trials at the hands of the Gormen, and the nifty way in which they make escape, are all interesting and well-written. But what really sold me was the attention to detail. The colony ship is plausible, the Gormen truly alien, the characters well-realized, and the style both gritty and artistic. And I really like any story that takes the time to explain where characters are going to take care of their toilet needs...
illustration by WOOD
I'd hate to spoil any more than I already have. Just go read it! (Please note that the author has not given me permission to freely distribute this story. If you can, I'd buy a copy.)
(Confused? Click here for an explanation as to what's really going on)
I'm a fan of longer stories in my magazines. F&SF scratches my short story itch quite nicely, and there are lots of good science fiction novels coming out, so that intermediate length can only be found in the digests. I find that the novella/short novel length is quite good for adequately developing a concept without overly padding the matter.
Cover by EMSH
That length was certainly used to excellent effect in Fred Pohl's new space exploration/first-contact thriller, Whatever Counts. What a fine story. With the exception of some over-traditional gender roles (in the far future, I'd expect women to be more than secretaries and babysitters), Pohl paints a quite mature and sophisticated vision of tomorrow. Moreover, while the female characters have traditional roles, they also get to be intelligent and vital protagonists. Just skip over the rather exploitative art...
So what's the story actually about? The Explorer II, essentially a generation colony ship, though the journey "only" takes about seven years, is part of humanity's first gasp of interstellar expansion. Unfortunately, during the vessel's journey, our race (as a whole) makes contact with its first alien species, the technologically and biologically more-sophisticated "Gormen." Wherever we encounter the Gormen, we are able to offer but feeble resistance.
The same is true for several of the crew of the Explorer II, who are quickly captured by the Gormen upon touchdown. Their trials at the hands of the Gormen, and the nifty way in which they make escape, are all interesting and well-written. But what really sold me was the attention to detail. The colony ship is plausible, the Gormen truly alien, the characters well-realized, and the style both gritty and artistic. And I really like any story that takes the time to explain where characters are going to take care of their toilet needs...
illustration by WOOD
I'd hate to spoil any more than I already have. Just go read it! (Please note that the author has not given me permission to freely distribute this story. If you can, I'd buy a copy.)
(Confused? Click here for an explanation as to what's really going on)
no subject
Just a venture, without having read the story. Perhaps the comparatively wide separation of gender roles is a minority position on Earth, and the colonists are a rather archaic, even despised, group looking for a new home?
We much appreciate your posting, with your wrist trouble!
sorry: the link seems to be working now!
no subject
You have a computer? Is this you?
And I can't even get an electric typewriter!
no subject
I'm so sorry to hear about Fred Pohl. It's certainly unexpected and a great loss *hug*!
re magazine, and thanks very much for letting me read it. Pohl is indeed a good writer, and the bits about light gravity are very good, but I admit I found it a bit hard to swallow that everyone - even the Gormen, let alone the other humans - would think the 'doctor' had betrayed his native race. We aren't even given why.
The most interesting thing about this future is the esoterism of psychiatry, and it seems other medicine, too. The Earth government has gone to all the trouble of an élite colony, and it hasn't even taught them first aid? Psychiatry, especially, instead of co-operative, is something that is done to people. The 'doctor', for all he seems to have the role of a village priest, takes it for granted that he'll program his crewmates, and they seem to take it for granted, too. The pun was a bit too true.
Of the rest, I really admired the musical calendar story, neuterary is a brilliant term. And I loved the Victorian-type fantasy of the undersea people. Having the spacesuit between him and the fantasy was a great idea!
no subject
no subject
I also liked what I read of Galouye's Soft Touch. But, alas, my copy of the magazine had coffee spilt over the ending. (And the beginning of the Mcintosh, but that's no loss.) To add insult to injury, it wasn't my codffee. If it's ever convenient, perhaps you could say how it ends?
I'm sure your reviews will be far more thoughtful and interesting than mine. Please don't forget to give your hands a break when they ask for it.