by Gideon Marcus If you've been following the papers this week, you can't have missed the biggest news: the tour of Madame Nhu, the sister-in-law of South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm, was pushed from the front page when a military coup toppled the Asian country's government and assassinated its head on November 2. Rioting … Continue reading [November 9, 1963] Change and Constancy (December 1963 Galaxy)
by Victoria Silverwolf “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – — Emily Dickinson There are reasons to be hopeful this month. The United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom signed the Treaty … Continue reading [August 25, 1963] Hope Springs Eternal (September 1963 Fantastic)
by Victoria Silverwolf It's déjà vu all over again. — attributed to Yogi Berra A couple of months ago the first issue of Worlds of Tomorrow offered half of an enjoyable, if juvenile, novel by Arthur C. Clarke, half a dozen poor-to-fair stories as filler, and one excellent work of literature. The second issue is … Continue reading [April 15, 1963] Second Time Around (June 1963 Worlds of Tomorrow)
by Gideon Marcus I've said before that IF Worlds of Science Fiction is sort of a poor sister to Galaxy Science Fiction. Since 1959, they've been owned and run by the same team; IF pays its writers less; the quality used to be markedly lower on average (with occasional stand-outs). We seem to be entering … Continue reading [June 10, 1962] A star shall rise (July 1962 IF Science Fiction)
How should I rate a story which is objectively well done, but which I just don't like? We taught our daughter manners at a very early age. When she encountered a food she didn't enjoy, she was to say, "This is not to my taste," rather than something more forceful and potentially bruising of feelings. … Continue reading [January 12, 1961] A matter of taste (February 1961 Galaxy, Part 2)
If there's anything this month's IF, Science Fiction proves, it's that you get what you pay for. Last year, Galaxy editor, H. L. Gold, cut story rates in half to 2 cents a word. Shortly thereafter, he took over the helm of the promising but unsuccessful digest, IF. Its quality has been in steady decline … Continue reading [April 21, 1960] Roads not taken (May 1960 IF)
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