Forgive me for jumping the gun last time. For some reason I didn't realize you were going to discuss the rest of the issue later.
Anyway, I had mixed feelings about all three of the next short stories.
I really enjoyed the start of "Charity Case," and would have been perfectly happy if the story had continued to be the ravings of a madman who seems to have externalized his conscience as demons. The SF element seemed forced in.
I enjoyed the cynicism and the basic idea of "The Snowmen" (whose title has a double meaning I just now got) but I thought the secondary SF idea (the "visitor") was out of place.
"Sabbatical" was cleverly written -- maybe a bit too much so; the author seems to be very fond of his jokes and puns -- but, as with many "two folks talking in a bar" stories, it's all idea. (The author's predictions for the 1990's are interesting. I think he stole the "menace" of the Conservationists -- "connies" -- from "Gravy Planet"/"The Space Merchants.")
Overall, I give each story three stars. Decent entertainment, if not memorable.
I don't know if war board games will ever deal with the future, but one based on the battle of Gettysburg is already out from Avalon Hill, so they won't be just abstract battles between Red and Blue.
Three by Three
Anyway, I had mixed feelings about all three of the next short stories.
I really enjoyed the start of "Charity Case," and would have been perfectly happy if the story had continued to be the ravings of a madman who seems to have externalized his conscience as demons. The SF element seemed forced in.
I enjoyed the cynicism and the basic idea of "The Snowmen" (whose title has a double meaning I just now got) but I thought the secondary SF idea (the "visitor") was out of place.
"Sabbatical" was cleverly written -- maybe a bit too much so; the author seems to be very fond of his jokes and puns -- but, as with many "two folks talking in a bar" stories, it's all idea. (The author's predictions for the 1990's are interesting. I think he stole the "menace" of the Conservationists -- "connies" -- from "Gravy Planet"/"The Space Merchants.")
Overall, I give each story three stars. Decent entertainment, if not memorable.
I don't know if war board games will ever deal with the future, but one based on the battle of Gettysburg is already out from Avalon Hill, so they won't be just abstract battles between Red and Blue.