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Post by Calenture on Dec 5, 2007 21:50:25 GMT
Cover by Bruce Pennington NEL edition 1969; first S & J edition 1968. Dedicated to Haining's father "Who taught me the value of heritage". The Fourth Dimensional Demonstrator - Murray Leinster The Weapon too Dreadful to Use - Isaac Asimov Abreaction - Theodore Sturgeon The Piper - Ray Bradbury Columbus Was a Dope - Robert Heinlein Castaway - Arthur C Clarke The Hour of Battle - Robert Sheckley Equator - Brian Aldiss Not sure if I've posted these scans before. As well as his introduction, Haining includes lengthy comments at each story's beginning. He credits Murray Leinster with inventing "a method of making films without sets in which actors perform against projected backgrounds." Belmont Tower 1974. And yes, this is the same cover used for the 1961 Consul edition of Richard Marsh's The Beetle. |
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ghannah01
Crab On The Rampage
It's dark in here. Anyone have a match?
Posts: 28
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Post by ghannah01 on Jan 8, 2008 14:04:56 GMT
I wrote this review ages ago for another group but it seems the right place for a re-posting. Glen
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[glow=red,2,300]Pulp Fiction Book Review:
[/glow]
"The Future Makers" edited by Peter Haining.
A Collection from 1968, reprinting early tales from authors who became
giants in the science fiction genre. Haining has dusted off old copies
of Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling
Stories and others and found rare gems by eight authors including
Asimov, Aldiss, Bradbury, Heinlein and Clarke. A superb collection of
tales from 1935 to 1958, a golden period in popular science fiction.
"The Fourth Dimensional Demonstrator" by Murray Leinster.
Hilarious story of a machine that creates doubles and multiples
(including people). Chaos ensues when it gets out of control. Fun
stuff and a great way to open the anthology, proving that SF doesn't
always have to be sombre, serious and stuffy. (5/5)
"The Weapon Too Dreadful to Use" by Isaac Asimov
Prophetic Doomsday tale about the Earth's war with Venus. The type of
story that was common place in the 1950s but Asimov tackled these
themes in 1939. (4/5)
"Abreaction" by Theodore Sturgeon
A Bulldozer driver finds himself in a situation where he doubts his
reality. The reader too is placed in a position of working out what is
real and what is fantasy. Sophisticated writing and entry in this
anthology that I most wanted to read again. (5/5)
"The Piper" by Ray Bradbury
The Jovians have conquered Mars, but one Martian has discovered a
musical pipe that may change the status quo. Solid Sci-fi (4/5)
"Columbus was a Dope" by Robert Heinlein
In a bar, men debate the value of space exploration. Loses a point
only because time and real life events have surpassed it, blunting its
initial impact. (3/5)
"Castaway" by Arthur C. Clarke.
A life-form enters the atmosphere. A totally inadequate summary for a
story defying easy description. Clarke at his most mesmerising and
mind-bending. (4/5)
"The Hour of Battle" by Robert Sheckley
Astronauts prepare for an invasion by aliens who can read minds.
Somewhat predictable tale but still a good read (4/5)
"Equator" by Brian Aldiss
This science fiction mystery is really an old fashioned adventure pulp
dressed up in Alpha Centurion clothing. A murder on the Moon begins
this fast paced story which sees its hero in Sumatra in search of the
murderer. Impossible and breathtaking escapes are the order of the day
as he encounters shady Government officials and members of an alien
race with an evil plan for the future of Earth. "Equator's" novelette
length allows it to develop several strands and deliver some
unexpected twists. (4/5)
Regretably this anthology is out of print but worth a look-for in the
old used book store
Anyone else read this collection/ these authors?
Opinions? Comments?
Glen
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Post by justin on Jan 8, 2008 17:02:31 GMT
Recently interviewed Philp Harbottle and he mentioned meeting Peter Haining in the early 1970s to discuss reprint rights to the work of John Russell Fearn, which unfortunately never came to fruition. What a coincidence that upon publication of The Future Makers shortly afterwards, Philip noticed that nothing but stories from the rare pulpshe had lent Peter as part of the proposal appeared in the anthology... a wily old dog that Peter Haining...
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Post by Calenture on Jan 8, 2008 21:18:00 GMT
"Abreaction" by Theodore Sturgeon A Bulldozer driver finds himself in a situation where he doubts his reality. The reader too is placed in a position of working out what is real and what is fantasy. Sophisticated writing and entry in this anthology that I most wanted to read again. (5/5) I wondered briefly if this was the Sturgeon story that was made into a TV movie in the Seventies - about a bulldozer that is taken over by an alien intelligence. It seems to be another Sturgeon "bulldozer story", but it's left me wondering about the title of the one that was filmed. |
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Post by dem on Jan 8, 2008 21:27:22 GMT
Killdozer. Not seen it myself. I think Haining may even have used the story in one of his later collections?
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Post by sean on Jan 9, 2008 0:25:28 GMT
Watch out Dem, you might get some SF on you! Killdozer is pretty funny. Good old youtube has a clip of the machine itself breaking some stuff... www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzqhAmP-gq4Some great authors in that collection, but I don't think any of the stories show them at their best. |
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Post by killercrab on Jan 9, 2008 8:53:12 GMT
Killdozer. Not seen it myself. I think Haining may even have used the story in one of his later collections? >>
It's bonkers in a good way. Apparently Marvel comics did an adaption too of Sturgeon's tale. The film though low on budget is a thoroughly competant piece of work - tightly edited with all round strong performances - big Clint Walker is tops as the recovering alcoholic who really probably need a swig to tackle the alien killer dozer! The highlight is when the killdozer with red eyes(lights) blazing locks horns with a crane driven by one of the macho men.
Recommeded oh yes!
KC
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Post by dem on Jan 9, 2008 10:21:18 GMT
Watch out Dem, you might get some SF on you! Well, the completist in me would certainly pick up a copy if I saw one lying around but I've been reluctant to include The Future Makers in the Haining Horror & Supernatural biblio because, it seems to me at least, this is SF (with maybe a dash of fantasy) and not the kind of material that would be under consideration for your 'SF/ Horror' anthology thread? |
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Post by sean on Jan 9, 2008 11:27:07 GMT
Definitely, the stories in 'The Future Makers' (well, I've only read 6 of them in other anthologies / collections) are more kind of 'golden age', straight SF than anything else. Which is a shame really 'cos almost all the authors included were responsible for some pretty amazing crossover type stuff.
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Post by Calenture on Jan 9, 2008 15:22:42 GMT
Well, the completist in me would certainly pick up a copy if I saw one lying around but I've been reluctant to include The Future Makers in the Haining Horror & Supernatural biblio because, it seems to me at least, this is SF (with maybe a dash of fantasy) and not the kind of material that would be under consideration for your 'SF/ Horror' anthology thread? Good grief! That must be the most snobbish remark I've read outside of a Daily Express reader's letter!  |
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Post by dem on Jan 9, 2008 15:41:12 GMT
Good grief! That must be the most snobbish remark I've read outside of a Daily Express reader's letter! Could be, but it doesn't change it. I wouldn't include, say, The Black magic Omnibus on a Haining SF biblio, either. If other people want to that's fine. I just list/ categorise stuff to help me get my head around everything. |
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