|
|
Post by bluetomb on Jun 3, 2022 15:43:13 GMT
Disappearing Act - A wry fable about war, education and the American Dream. General Carpenter sets out to unravel the mystery of Ward T, from which soldiers routinely disappear and reappear. The answer is rather inspired, the satirical point of the conclusion an enduringly worthwhile jab.
Adam and No Eve - Krane, last man alive, with a busted leg and an unfriendly dog for a companion, crawls desperately through the ashen waste that is all that is left of Earth, recalling the events that led him here, desperately seeking the sea. The climactic turn around here is rather wondrous, but the high grade misery of the preceding pages makes a strong impression and is not wasted.
Star Light, Star Bright - Under various names, Marion Perkin Warbeck is surveying Buchanans. This brings him to the attention of a couple of crooks who assume he is running what is known as a Buchanan scam, but really his intentions are honest. They go in together, which does not go well. The story indeed notes Warbeck as doomed early on. I wouldn't be surprised to see this in an adventurous horror anthology actually, although rooted in sci-fi / fantasy the pay off is chillingly bleak and disproportionate. Also may count as Bester making another comment on education, as Warbeck is a teacher
The Roller Coaster - Short, sharp (literally so, it begins with a woman being sliced) sci-fi infused noir about some strange and ill intentioned visitors. Fascinating meta-genre possibilities (I was obliquely reminded of Martin Amis's London Fields) are not really developed but it's a fine dark tale all the same.
Oddy and Id - Odysseus Gaul is a very lucky individual. The story also refers to him as a monster early on so we know something isn't going to go right. Sure enough, a teacher discovers him and makes plans... Definitely Bester commenting on education, with another piercingly bleak pay off.
The Starcomber - Eccentric arch collector Solon Aquilla determines to acquire a piece by maestro Jeffrey Halsyon. Halsyon is rather out of sorts though, so Aquilla must take measures to sort him out. Free wheeling but wise, realistic underpinnings but ultimate optimism, much more what I expected from a Bester collection than the preceding four. Others gave shifting realities more mayhem (like Burroughs) or pertinent paranoia (Dick) but Bester's sheer craft here is a pleasure. Is he showing us the proper way to learn things?
Travel Diary - Vacuous tourists in a changing Universe. Spot on satire (I was reminded of true life accounts) with a deliciously light touch.
Fondly Fahrenheit - Coward James Vandaleur on the run with his murderous robot. Dark humour (singing and dancing!) and ultimate exciting action wrapped around an intriguing core. Bester deftly delivers a range of characters and milieus, and rolls it all up in satisfying, if not unpredictable fashion.
Hobson's Choice - Addyer, statistician in a world devastated by nuclear war, investigates mysterious figures. Fine darkly comic world building and insight (the take on actualities of operating in the past is inspired) lead this pleasurably into a predictable but bleakly pleasing climax.
The Die Hard - The last unaltered man in a world of perfection. Whole tale swings on its climactic paragraphs, which have a very skilled evocative understatement.
Of Time and Third Avenue - Bringing it all back around with a sweet, wry time travel tale.
All in all this is a great collection, briskly written and full of engaging details, wit and wisdom, and a lot of darkness. Not the same genius as The Demolished Man or Tiger Tiger, but still striking, and well worth a go for any sci-fi fans.
|
|
