by Gideon Marcus
[Time is running out to get your Worldcon membership! Register here to be able to vote for the Hugos.]
Ho Ho Ho!
Merry Christmas, everyone! Santa Traveler has got a lovely bunch of presents for you.
When I started this little project, it was a lot easier to keep track of all the science fiction that was coming out — I simply didn't try! It was just me and three magazines a month. (Keeping track of space shots was easier, too…there warn't that many!)
But these days, it is the Journey's mission to review as much science fiction and fantasy output as possible so as to give the Hugo Awards a run for their money. Luckily, I've found a dozen other writers to join me on this mission, so coverage hasn't been too much of a problem.
Compiling the Galactic Stars at the end of the year, though… Whew! Talk about making a list and checking it twice!
So, submitted for your approval are what we think are the best science fiction and fantasy 1964 had to offer the fans. If you stick to this list, you will have a vast array of presents with which to while away Christmas morning…and beyond!
The 1964 Galactic Stars
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Best Poetry
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The End of the Wine, by C.S. Lewis
A poignant tale of lost Atlanteans; the last published piece by the recently deceased great.
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Best Vignette (1-9 pages):
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The Deepest Blue in the World, by S. Dorman
The logical and horrifying conclusion when women are valued for motherhood and nothing else.
Touchstone, by Terry Carr
You can carry luck in your pocket, literally.
The Life Hater, by Fred Saberhagen
The sentient robot battleships can be outwitted, but it's not easy!
Honorable Mention:
The Transcendent Tigers, by R. A. Lafferty
Beware of the Dog, by Gahan Wilson
Olsen and the Gull, by Eric St. Clair
A Crown of Rank Fumiter, by Vance Aandahl
Lucifer, by Roger Zelazny
—
F&SF dominated this category, in part because vignettes are their stock in trade.
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Best Short Story (10-19 pages):
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Final Encounter, by Harry Harrison
An amazing, sensitive tale of first contact with a familiar face.
The Boundary Beyond, by Florence Engel Randall
Love triangle meets a dryad. Tragedy ensues.
Descending, by Thomas Disch
Credit overreach leads to a real and metaphysical descent — perhaps Tom Disch's best (and there's many to choose from!)
Honorable Mention:
Minnesota Gothic, by Thomas Disch
Pacifist, by Mack Reynolds
The Time Dweller, by Michael Moorcock
The Lost Leonardo, by J. G. Ballard
The Rule of Names, by Ursula K. LeGuin
The Word of Unbinding, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Cynosure, by Kit Reed
Paingod, by Harlan Ellison
A as in Android, by Frances T. Hall
Chameleon, by Ron Goulart
Beyond the Line, by William F. Temple
I remember, Anita, by Langdon Jones
Midnight in the Mirror World, by Fritz Leiber
Assassin and Son, by Thomas Disch
Your name shall be…darkness, by Norman Spinrad
Rescue Mission, by Harry Harrison
A Red Heart and Blue Roses, by Miriam Allen DeFord
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Forgive me for the avalanche! But with so many stories coming out and so many fellow travelers making recommendations, it was hard to prune the list.
This is a category with highly disproportionate representation by women, considering that only about ten percent of the stories published in the magazines we cover are penned by women. You can bet one or more of these will be in the next volume of Rediscovery!
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Best Novelette (20-45 pages)
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The Eyes Have It, by Randall Garrett
In a magical 20th Century, an hermetic detective investigates a murder.
The Fall of Frenchy Steiner, by Hilary Bailey
Spies and psionics in Nazi-occupied England.
The Delegate from Guapanga, by Wyman Guin
A battle for the throne in a beautifully realized alien setting.
Honorable Mention:
Novelty Act, by Philip K. Dick
The Terminal Beach, by J. G. Ballard
Jungle Substitute, by Brian Aldiss
The Master Key, by Poul Anderson
The Black Gondolier, by Fritz Leiber
—
A lot of tough choices here. And I'm as surprised as you to see Garrett at the top of the list, but there he is!
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Best Novella (46+ pages)
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The Graveyard Heart, by Roger Zelazny
The ultra-rich hibernate through history, occasionally waking to party and cavort. A highly literary piece.
A Man of the Renaissance, by Wyman Guin
A future Leonardo on a landless planet — ingenuity is humanity's greatest resource.
The Dark Light-Years, by Brian Aldiss
Can we handle first contact with a physically repulsive species?
Honorable Mention:
Adept's Gambit, by Fritz Leiber (reprint)
Once a Cop, by Rick Raphael
Day of the Great Shout, by Philip J. Farmer
The Fatal Eggs, by Mikhail Bulgakov (reprint…sort of)
Soldier Ask Not, by Gordon Dickson
The Kragen, by Jack Vance
—
We have a lot more choices this year for the category. It's probably because we are reviewing more magazines, which is where novellas tend to come out. They are a really nice length — long enough to develop a theme, but not so long as to compel overstaying a welcome (if it's not necessary).
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Best Novel/Serial
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The Boy Who Bought Old Earth/The Store of Heart's Desire, by Cordwainer Smith
The ultimate Instrumentality story, weaving all of the threads spun heretofore. It is strung across two magazines.
The Other Human Race, by H. Beam Piper
Sequel and superior to Little Fuzzy. Sadly, we lost Mr. Piper last month, so this is his last book.
Message from the Eocene, by Margaret St. Clair
Billions of years ago, before life evolved on our planet, the alien Tharg must deliver a cosmic gudebook. He dies in the process, leaving his soul to enlist the aid of humans in 1974…
Honorable Mention:
Equinox, by J. G. Ballard
The Starsloggers, by Harry Harrison
I want the stars, by Tom Purdom
Davy, by Edgar Pangborn
Simulacron-3, by Daniel Galouye
Transit, by Edmund Cooper
Marooned, by Martin Caidin
Starswarm, by Brian Aldiss
The Whole Man, by John Brunner
The Penultimate Truth, by Philip K. Dick
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Another hard set of choices! Davy only didn't make the list because we've seen the stories that make up the novel in prior F&SF issues. The Starsloggers was a very close fourth.
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Science Fact
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The Conventional Approach, by Robert Bloch
An excellent history of science fiction conventions! No con organizer should start an endeavor without reading it.
Clouds, Bubbles and Sparks, by Edward C. Walterscheid
The best one-article summary I've yet found of how we detect cosmic rays and charged particles.
Anyone Else for Space?, by Willy Ley
The Space Race isn't just the province of the U.S. and U.S.S.R. anymore.
Honorable Mention:
The Early Days of the Metric System, by Willy Ley
Plowshare Today, by Edward C. Walterscheid
Philip Jose Farmer: Sex and Science Fiction, by Sam Moskowitz
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A nice spread this year. I am particularly happy to see Willy Ley back on this list, and also seeing Analog represented again. Missing are Amazing's Ben Bova, who is improving, but is not yet a star, and Dr. Asimov of F&SF, who is still good, but whose work seems to be a little phoned in these days.
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Best Magazine
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New Worlds (3.20 stars; five Galactic Star entries)
Galaxy (3.10 stars; nine Galactic Star entries)
Worlds of Tomorrow (2.93 stars; four Galactic Star entries)
IF (2.90 stars; four Galactic Star entries)
Fantastic (2.81 stars; but twelve Galactic Star entries)
Analog (2.76 stars; six Galactic Star entries)
Fantasy and Science Fiction (2.64 stars; but seventeen Galactic Star entries)
Amazing (2.38 stars; two Galactic Star entries)
and Gamma, with only one issue (3 stars)
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Pohl's triplets continue to be very strong showers, but New Worlds across the Pond took the prize. Fantastic and F&SF are worth reading for their standouts even if their average ranks are unimpressive.
Shame about Gamma. It was so promising.
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Best author(s)
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Tom Disch
This Cele Lalli discovery, just 24 years old, garnered three Galactic Stars this year.
He narrowly beats out Harry Harrison (and Harrison might have been on top, but he came out with clunkers as well as masterpieces this year).
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Best Artist
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One of Analog's regulars, I just love his clean, pen and ink style as well as his muted color, realistic covers.
Honorable Mention:
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Best Dramatic Presentation
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The most riveting and horrifying film about nuclear war ever made.
The best giant monster movie ever made…and it stars a woman (monster)!
The Dalek Invasion of the Earth, an episode of Doctor Who
Daleks in front of Buckingham Palace. Nuff said.
Honorable Mention:
Demon with a Glass Hand, an episode of The Outer Limits
Marco Polo, an episode of Doctor Who
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, an episode of The Twilight Zone
and
Beauty Contest, an episode of My Living Doll
Why list a comedy I dismissed (from the previews) as frivolous, sexist, and dumb?
Because this show, about a fellow who comes into the custody of a woman android, is genuinely funny — all thanks to Julie Newmar. The bit where she plays piano a la Victor Borge is one of the great scenes of TV history.
Plus, Ms. Newmar is an incredible person, all 'round. I hope we see more of her screen outings in the near future!
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Best Fanzine
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Starspinkle gave up the ghost last month, though it has a lookalike sequel, Ratatosk. They were/are both nice little gossip biweeklies.
Of course, we are partial to Galactic Journey, and we you hope are, too! We have been honored to accept your nomination for Hugo Finalist twice in a row (though we strangely did not appear on the 1963 and 1964 ballots). We hope you'll choose us again!
And that's that for 1964! It was a rich year full of worthy titles. Ho Ho Ho! Go ye and enjoy them all!
Merry Christmas! It has indeed been a good one for my reading. Also enjoying look at these and seeing what I have missed.
This year I decided to keep my own ratings to see how they matched up. I should note I didn't read every publication reviewed on here and there were some I read that were not covered on this site.
Vignette:
1. How The Old World Died by Harry Harrison (Galaxy)
2. Blast Off by Kyril Bonfiglioli (Science Fantasy)
3. Dark Conception by Louis J. A. Adams (F&SF)
4. Dummy Run by Colin Hume (Science Fantasy)
5. On the House by R. C. Fitzpatrick (F&SF)
Honourable mention: Yachid and Yechida by Isaac Bashevis Singer
So in this case no crossover at all but I know I have different tastes to other. The Harrison was hated on here but was my favourite work of his this year. I do hope Kyril Bonfiglioli is willing to write more, it was a great start in Science Fantasy.
Short Story:
1. The Drowned Giant by J. G. Ballard (Terminal Beach)
2. A Thesis On Social Forms and Social Controls in the USA by Thomas M. Disch (Fantastic)
3. The Rule of Names by Ursula K. Le Guin (Fantastic)
4. I Remember, Anita … by Langdon Jones (New Worlds)
5. Descending by Thomas M. Disch (Fantastic)
Honourable mentions: Furnace of the Blue Flame by Robert Rohrer; Room with a Skew by John T. Phillifent ;The Dowry of Angyar by Ursula K. Le Guin; The Carson Effect by Richard Wilson; The Gioconda of the Twilight Noon by J. G. Ballard; The Lost Leonardo by J. G. Ballard; The Mermaid and the Archer by Barry P. Miller
It was indeed a very strong short story year but with more agreement this time, with Descending on both our short lists and 2 more of mine in the honourable mentions. Also Drowned Giant and The Gioconda are from Ballard's new collection which was not covered here. I expect though a lot of the new material in it will be reprinted in other magazines soon, so likely covered next year.
Novelette:
1. Waterspider by Philip K. Dick (If)
2. Jungle Substitute by Brian W. Aldiss (Galaxy)
3. The Terminal Beach by J. G. Ballard (New Worlds)
4. The Contraption by Kenneth Bulmer (Science Fantasy)
5. Illuminated Man by J. G. Ballard (F&SF)
Honourable mentions: Mindmate by Daniel F. Galouye; Natural History of Kley by Jerome Bixby; Oh, to Be a Blobel! by Philip K. Dick; The Children of Night by Frederik Pohl; The ; The Little Black Box by Philip K. Dick; Tin Lizzie by Randall Garrett; To Avenge Man by Lester Del Rey
Jungle Substitute and Terminal Beach on my top list are on the honourable mentions, plus I had another Ballard f. I know my preference for Waterspider is controversial but I always really enjoy a good metafictional story.
Novella:
1. The Dark Light-Years by Brian W. Aldiss (Worlds of Tomorrow)
2. A Man of the Renaissance by Wyman Guin (Galaxy)
3. The Lords of Quarmall by Fritz Leiber (Fantastic)
4. Doomed Lord's Passing by Michael Moorcock (Science Fantasy)
5. Day of the Great Shout by Philip Jose Farmer (Worlds of Tomorrow)
Honourable mentions: ; Killer! by Robert Ray; Sad Giant's Shield by Michael Moorcock; The Deep Fix by Michael Moorcock; The Starsloggers by Harry Harrison; The Unteleported Man by Philip K. Dick; What the Dead Men Say by Philip K. Dick
We were pretty close this time with three the same. The other two was a different Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser and from before GJ was covering Science Fantasy.
Novel:
1. Equinox by J. G. Ballard (New Worlds)
2. The Penultimate Truth by Philip K. Dick (Belmont)
3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (Knopf)
4. The Towers of Toron by Samuel R. Delany (Ace)
5. Only Lovers Left Alive by Dave Wallis (Blond)
Also ran: The Dark Light Years by Brian W. Aldiss; Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
Honourable Mentions:
Message From The Eocene by Margaret St. Clair; Greybeard by Brian W. Aldiss; Dune World by Frank Herbert; Simulacron-3 by Daniel Gualoye; The Time Twisters by J. Hunter Holly
This is is a bit different. I am not a fan of the Instrumentality series and I am yet to read Little Fuzzy so these are not ones I have read yet. I did enjoy Message From The Eocene but it didn't quite rate as highly.
Whilst Equinox and Penultimate Truth were on your honourable mentions. The Delany only got 3.5 stars whilst I really liked it and the other two I do not believe were covered.
(To explain the Also Ran, these would be my top two books of the year but Dark Light Years is only about 50% longer for novel publication and the translation of Dreamtigers is a series of interconnect vignettes. As such not as directly comparable.)
Science Fact:
C. S. Lewis Discusses Science Fiction with Kingsley Amis (SF Horizons)
A Great start to the new non-fiction magazine and a wonderful tribute to the late author.
Magazine:
1. Science Fantasy
2. Galaxy
3. Worlds of Tomorrow
4. New Worlds
5. Fantastic
6. Amazing
7. F&SF
8. If
9. Analog
The Pohl edited and British magazines are also mostly on the top. The main difference I personally rate If much lower and have a slightly higher opinion of Amazing. I don't really read Analog that much but what I did read continued to make it my least favourite magazine.
Author:
1. J. G. Ballard
2. Ursula K. Le Guin
3. Brian W. Aldiss
4. Harry Harrison
5. Thomas M. Disch
Honourable Mention: Fritz Leiber, Philip K. Dick, Robert Rohrer
I had Disch and Harrison on my list as well but Aldiss and Ballard zipped past them for me (possibly due to my British bias?). Le Guin continues to impress since slowly emerging over the last few years. Hopefully she will get to write a longer piece soon?
Artist:
1. John Schoenherr
2. Richard Powers
3. Paul E. Wenzel
Hard to dispute Schoenherr. Whilst I may not rate the writing in Analog highly, the covers are always amazing.
Drama:
1. Doctor Who
2. First Men in the Moon
3. Dr. Strangelove
4. The Outer Limits (Season 1)
5. Mary Poppins
I am afraid Mothra vs. Godzilla and Fail-Safe are yet to make it over to these shores, but the Doctor Who is indeed my favourite with Dalek Invasion of Earth indeed being the best story. Strangelove and First Men In The Moon I rated higher but we seem to be on general agreement on (always hard to compare exactly with how long it takes for some films and shows to come over).
The Outer Limits has just started airing on ATV Midlands but what I have seen has very much impressed me. I was originally debating either Stingray or Terry Nation's Caves of Steel for my 5th place but then I saw Mary Poppins as a Christmas treat recently and I was utterly delighted.
Then I know you don't rate them but ranked my own Comic Book reading:
1. Justice League of America (National)
2. Fantastic Four (Marvel)
3. Legion of Superheroes (Adventure Comics, National)
4. Supergirl (Action Comics, National)
5. Rip Hunter…Time Master (National)
We don't really get many Marvel comics imported but I picked up some Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man, I was very impressed with the former but slightly less so with the latter. I will definitely try to see if I can find some different titles when I go over in January.
Otherwise i am still finding National title are way ahead of others I have read in the field , whether American or British. Possibly Doctor Who's influence but really enjoying that titles that involve crossing time or dimensions this year.
Hope you all have a great festive period and that 1965 turns out to be even better!
Wow! You outdid yourself. Thank you for this list. Maybe we should put in a comics category — I plan to be reading more of them next year. This year, I just kept tabs on FF, Spiderman, and the X-Men (Spiderman is my favorite).
Jason, of course, is the National fan.
Would be interesting to see a comics one. It kind of feels like if you were to do this, someone should read some of the stuff coming out from Archie, Gold Key and Charlton, but it is also mostly pretty bad right now so I wouldn't want to force anyone to read The Fly, Doctor Solar or Blue Beetle. So maybe best just stick to National and Marvel :)
Hope to read them all someday in the future!
Good list… one big disagreement.
Failsafe , well Kubrick gave up on doing WWIII as a straight drama…. but Sidney Lumet showed it could be done.
I was impressed.
However, Dr. Strangelove was totally unique, a crazy black comedy that took a haymaker to 'mutually assured destruction'…. never seen a film like this… the height of cinematic creativity…. this film will live in film history as a masterpiece.
Dr. Strangelove was not the best film of the year it is one of the best films in a decade.