Which books/covers/authors in the post intrigue you? Which have you read? Disliked? Enjoyed?
1. Away From the Here and Now, Clare Winger Harris (1947)
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Uncredited–JM initials but no known name–cover for the 1st edition
From the inside flap: “In this age of atomic bombs and radar to the moon, Mrs. Harris’ stories may prove closer to the “here and now” than the title would indicate. Mrs. Harris Proudly claims the distinction of being the first woman science-fiction writer in the country. Each of her stories is based upon a sound scientific fact, carried so plausibly to the nth degree that at no time does it overstain credulity. The stories possess the qualities of dealing with ideas of big importance to the human race, of presenting those ideas in a plausible form, and of appealing to emotions that exist deep within the heart of every human being whether he be scientific or not.
Here is sugar-coated science.”
Contents: “A Runaway World” (1926), “The Fate of Poseidonia” (1927), “A Certain Soldier” (1927), “The Diabolical Drug” (1929), “The Miracle of the Lily” (1928), “A Baby on Neptune” (1929), “The Artificial man” (1929), “The Menace of Mars” (1928), “The Evolutionary Monstrosity” (1929), “The Fifth Dimension” (1928), “The Ape Cycle” (1930)
Initial Thoughts: I’m now the proud owner of what I’m almost sure is the first published collection of short stories by a female science fiction author who wrote for genre magazines. Clare Winger Harris’ Away From Here and Now (1947) contains stories published in the 1920s and early 30s. She was awarded the Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award earlier this year. The collection contains all but one of her SF stories–“The Vibrometer” (1933) is left out.
2. Man Plus, Frederik Pohl (1976)
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Uncredited cover for the 1977 edition
From the back cover: “Take a man. Replace his eyes with faceted red globes, his nose with flaring, leathery nostrils, his skin with poreless, hairless plastic. Add bat ears, which are photo receptors, and huge black wings, which are solar energizers…
MAN PLUS
A novel of unbearable suspense… a desperate political gamble to save earth from destroying itself… the struggle of a man who is more than a man to become the first Martian…”
Initial Thoughts: Nominated for the 1977 Hugo Award. Won the 1977 Nebula. I’m shocked that I didn’t already have a copy! Certainly a bizarre cover…
3. Soul of the Robot, Barrington J. Bayley (1974)
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Bob Layzell’s cover for the 1977 UK edition
From the back cover (of the Doubleday 1st edition that I was unable to scan due to the poor quality of the dust jacket and the library book protective cover): “A new excitement germinated in Jasperodus’ mind: the excitement known to the world as AMBITION: “I have been through fire and am purged of despair and self-doubt. Am I less of a man than Horsu Greb? Than King Zhorm? Than Padua, even? Am I capable of less than they? Demonstrably, no! And I shall prove my worth. I shall prove it by gaining power over them… they shall all defer to Jasperodus the robot!”
A robot with self
Initial Thoughts: Back in the early days of the site, Bayley featured prominently. The Garments of Caean (1976) remains my favorite of his novels — so far. I covered Bayley’s “Exit from City 5” (1971) in my generation ship short story review series back in January. I recently read a review by Andy Johnson (who occasionally leaves comments on the site) of The Soul of the Robot (1974), which prompted me to acquire a copy.
4. The Cold Cash War, Robert Asprin (1977)
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Wayne Barlow’s cover for the 1978 edition
From the back cover: “THE CORPORATE WARS WERE ON!
THEY WERE SOPHISTICATED GAMES PLAYED WITH ALL THE SUBTLETY AND SKILL TECHNOLOGY COULD DEVISE.
Until saving costs became more important than life itself.
At the corporate negotiations table, beautiful Judy Simmons announced the change in rules. Beneath her tough exterior she was shaken–shaken enough to confide in Fred Willard, her most dangerous rival. They would come to share the horror of what lay ahead.
But even they had never heard of Steve Tidwell. He had been picked from the world’s best fighting men and given an offer he couldn’t refuse.
What began as an exercise in tactics leapt out of control, as a mercenary army trained for the ultimate confrontation between the corporations and the rest of the world.”
Initial Thoughts: I haven’t read anything by Asprin. This one looks fun. I’m a fan of Barlowe’s cover.
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