#and among the millions of alien planets there is nothing more constant than a brave man loving a beautiful woman

[bumblingbabooshka]

It's impossible to write a TOS x Any other Series crossover [for me] without having to think about whose lens it's going to primarily be from because the vibe of TOS is so distinct and I think quite different from all series that follow it. The way the characters speak and are presented is so theatrical and of course steeped in the past that I find myself considering if this is, say, Janeway meeting Kirk (through a VOY perspective) or if I should write Janeway as she would appear if she stepped through a portal and was in TOS' universe.

[lizabethstucker]

The SFWA Grand Masters, Volume 2

Edited by Frederik Pohl

A selection of short stories and novellas from the second group of five authors named Grand Masters by the Science Fiction Writers of America:  Andre Norton, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Bester, and Ray Bradbury.  The stories are science fiction and fantasy, some a mixture of both.  The styles may be different, but all of these authors captured the imaginations and loyalty of readers throughout their decades of writing.

 Pohl has selected a decent group of stories, five each except for Asimov who only has four.  Each author’s section has a short biography and an overview of their writing career.  Pohl also provides a list of suggested books.  Overall, this is a solid 4 out of 5.

 Mousetrap by Andre Norton

There are strange sand monsters on Mars, ones that are highly desired by museums back on Earth.  Unfortunately, they are too fragile to capture for transport, dead or alive.  Until prospector Sam Levatts is approached by hustler Len Collins.  Part tragedy with a hopeful ending.  This was a sad read and yet very satisfying in the denouement. Incredibly short, yet tightly written. Norton was a favorite of mine in middle school once I actually started reading science fiction.  I much preferred her science fiction stories to those with a more fantasy bent at that time.  Despite being marketed to children, her stories didn't pull any punches in regard to violence, depression, and even suicide.  Some of her works haven't aged well, but then you'll come across something like this and remember just why she was so very popular among all age groups.  4 out of 5.

 Were-Wrath by Andre Norton

Lady Thra of Laniat flees deep into the forest after the last of her liegemen is killed.  She stumbles across a hut, a cat who speaks telepathically, and an unfinished carving on an armoire.  Then the man-creature appears.  Soon Thra will be forced to face a greater evil than any of the were.  One of the things that Norton was best at was how she gave life to outsiders and how strong her female characters were.  Thra, once a lady, now a woman who has been stripped to a fierce survivor.  Farne, abandoned by his birth family, finds love with a mother-figure until she was taken from him.  There's magic and a hint of romance at the very end, an enthralling fantasy.  As I stated earlier, Norton's fantasy wasn't something I cared for when I first began reading her works.  That changed by the time I hit high school, thanks to Tolkien and Fritz Leiber, among others.  Makes me eager to dive back into the author's fantasy works.  4.5 out of 5

 All Cats Are Gray by Andre Norton

Steena was known by many free spacers, a quiet woman who gathered knowledge through listening and a photographic memory.  Her peculiar knowledge had helped many of the men around her, never accepting any reward.  Until she's given Bat, a cat, by a man whose life she saved.  Now she helps another free spacer hoping to get control of an abandoned pleasure spacecraft with a dangerous reputation.  Creepy, cool, and another story with an important cat character.  Steena could resonate with those young girls with a thirst for knowledge, that lived in our own type of gray world, filled with acquaintances and friends rather than lovers.  This is an unusual portrayal and use of an extreme type of colorblindness.  A good read.  3.5 out of 5.

 Serpent’s Tooth by Andre Norton

Seeker Modic chooses Rentarn to guide him and his group into the Questionable Lands.  Modic is determined to find the city of Lonscraft, long deserted, hoping for treasure despite the danger.  But as he says, the treasure isn't the kind Rentarn might think.  The legends and myths learned by all who live in the Between Villages may be Rentarn's only hope of survival.  That and his genetics.  More a novella than a short story, Norton has an interesting treasure hunting quest that mixes fantasy with a tinge of science fiction, leaning heavily toward horror with the mysterious events in Lonscraft.  Who the blue men in the heart of the palace might have been is never truly answered, the reader only receiving hints.  The intriguing possibilities are never confirmed.  A fascinating story.  4.5 out of 5

 Rescue Party by Arthur C. Clarke

When the crew of the exploration survey ship S9000 is notified of an inhabited planet's sun going super nova, they rush there to save as many of the inhabitants as they can.  As the increasing heat has already begun to decimate the surface of the planet, it is difficult and dangerously time-consuming to search for any possible survivors.  Defeat followed by surprise followed by a hint of more to come makes for a tightly written story.  And it is an interesting viewpoint, even if filled with old-fashioned science fiction tropes, from tentacles to collective minds.  This is the first story written by Clarke, done in 1946.  A decent enough start for a newbie.  3.5 out of 5

I found it amusing and telling that Clarke’s nickname in fandom was “Ego”.  I doubt if it was entirely friendly.  Despite his constant bragging that he solely invented satellite communications, that wasn’t entirely true.  Yes, he wrote about it in a trade paper, but he wasn’t the only one working on the concept, nor was he the only one who published.  I never cared for Clarke, mostly for his extreme arrogance and weirdness portrayed in interviews, both written and filmed.  I don’t know if this affected how I reacted to his work or not, but he was rarely on my reading list.  There were a couple of stories that I enjoyed, but mostly I veered away from him.  

 The Secret by Arthur C. Clarke

Henry Cooper, a science reporter, has been sent to the moon by the United Nations Space Administration in an effort to generate support for the Pluto City base.  He has been there before, so he is aware of how things operate.  But this time there is something off.  He contacts an old friend, currently the Plato City Police Department Inspector General, to ask what is going on.  The answer is nothing he could've expected.  *sigh* This is the type of crap that turned me off of Clarke's stories.  It's a great setup but had no real payoff in my opinion.  Yes, we're told the answer to the mystery, nothing past that.  This story was published in 1963, long before the moon landings.  Clarke's views were very pessimistic of that event.  Vastly disappointed, yet not really surprised.  Hopefully the next few stories are better.  The setup helped squeak this rating to 3 out of 5.

 Reunion by Arthur C. Clarke

Aliens are returning to the Earth that they claim to have colonized millions of years ago.  They became aware that the change in the planet's environment had led to mutations in some of the colonists.  Not a problem, they can help fix anything!  While the ending may be trite, almost expected for a story published in 1971, it doesn't make it any less fun to read.  A remarkably tight story for two pages.  4.5 out of 5.

 The Star by Arthur C. Clarke

A deep space survey vessel is exploring the Phoenix Nebula, a sun that went super nova centuries earlier.  On the planet farthest from the now dead sun was found a vault that contains the records of the people who died in the blast.  One crew member, a Jesuit who is their Chief Astrophysicist, finds his faith stuttering by what he discovers.  This is actually a good question; can religious faith survive deep space travel?  Yes, I knew instantly what the core idea would be, but in 1952 to deal so directly with faith and science in a science fiction story would've been very brave of the publishers to put out there.  It is also a subject much discussed by both non-believers as well as more scientific-minded believers.  In fact, it was a subject discussed at great length by my Episcopal Middle School Bible Study class with Father Alex Boyer, a man who would've been a Jesuit if he had been Roman Catholic.  This story could be a great discussion starter as well as a good read.  3.5 out of 5.

 A Meeting with Medusa by Arthur C. Clarke

Howard Falcon had been seriously injured while piloting a test flight of the Queen Elizabeth IV thanks to a news camera platform that crashed through the dirigible.  Doctors had put him back together, giving him some extras that will come in handy with his next adventure:  a trip to Jupiter, the first gaseous planet to be explored by man.  If this type of story was more Clarke's usual output, I might be able to understand why he was considered one of the Big Three in science fiction.  The sense of adventure is neatly woven into the story, particularly the suppositions made by Clarke about what might be found on and above Jupiter if we continue with ever closer flybys that can delve deeper into the atmosphere.  I will say that the extent of Falcon's "enhancements" took me a bit by surprise, making me wonder just what was left of his physical self.  Best guess would be his brain and nothing else.  Fascinating and disturbing in equal measures.  4.5 out of 5.

 The Last Question by Isaac Asimov

As mankind's computers expand in knowledge and abilities, there is one question that is asked over the ages that doesn't receive an answer other than "insufficient data".  But as the millenniums pass and the Galaxy fills with life, immortal life, the question becomes ever more urgent.  How can you reverse or stop entropy?  The ending!!  I should've seen it coming, but surprisingly I didn't.  I really enjoyed the glimpses into how man and computers evolved over the trillions of years, yet both still struggled with the basic question of survival of that which provided power and life no matter how both learned and adapted.  Asimov, in this publication date of 1956, postulates solar power and mankind's increasing reliance on super computers, not to mention increasing overpopulation driving exploration even more than curiosity.  4.5 out of 5.

 Ah, Asimov.  So much incredible talent and so much wide-ranging interests he had. Surprisingly I’ve only read a few of his works, particularly the Foundation series and his I, Robot series, as well as some of his short stories.  I was more likely to read his non-fiction works, from science to the bible, or the short story collections he edited.  I would devour his introductions even more than the stories themselves. I’ve found the introductory biography on this author to be more enjoyable as Pohl had a lifetime friendship with Asimov, giving it that personal touch.

 It’s Such a Beautiful Day by Isaac Asimov

The day that the Hanshaw Door failed to operate was the day that 12-year-old Richard Hanshaw Jr. began to avoid using it to go to school and back home again.  Nothing his mother tried could deter him other than on rare unexplained occasions. Yet Dick didn't seem to mind using the Door to visit New York or Canton, China.  His mother reluctantly agrees with his teacher to take him to a psychiatrist for probing.  Asimov has provided a most prophetic story about how technology can cause people to withdraw from experiencing the outdoors.  The reasons and type of technology might be different, but the results wind up the same.  Video games, the internet, television, and other media all do the same. Thought-provoking.  4.5 out of 5.

 Strikebreaker by Isaac Asimov

Sociologist Steven Lamorak visits the first asteroid world in order to gather facts about Elseverse's society.  While there he learns it exists under a strict caste system. Igor Ragusnik's family has overseen waste reclamation for generations.  Unfortunately, this makes the family outcasts, unable to meet with nor interact with the rest of the community.  Igor has decided to go on strike until his family is accepted, although the leaders of Elseverse are determined to not give in.  The consequences for the community are dire if something isn't done.  Intriguing as well as an echo of other Earth-based castes such as the Untouchables in India.  A very disappointing solution by Lamorak.  And, frankly, I think his estimate as to how long changes would occur was out of line.  And, as a sociologist, Lamorak should know better.  3.5 out of 5.

 The Martian Way by Isaac Asimov

Earth is getting testy about the amount of water used by the Martian colony, especially that used for propulsion by the scavengers who catch shells discarded by rockets launched from Earth for their metal content.  After a year of politicians pontificating, a ration is set up, one that will essentially stop all scavenging.  Certain of the scavengers understand that this could be just the beginning of Earth’s hold on the colonies tightening.  The newest of the scavengers, Ted Long, encourages them to look elsewhere for their water, cut ties with Earth.  Long’s idea?  A newer source of water, the rings of Saturn.  The idea of using water for propulsion purposes in low or no gravity situations really isn’t that far-fetched, but as shown here it would require having a virtually endless supply available.  Asimov has another valid point.  For any colony to be truly valid, they must be self-sustaining.  3.5 out of 5.

 Disappearing Act by Alfred Bester

General Carpenter is leading the War for the American Dream, directing good citizens to become sharply honed tools.  His motto is “a job for everyone and everyone on the job”. After all, how else can they defend the American Dream of Beauty and Poetry and the Better Things in Life? Then a perplexing mystery appears in Ward T of the U.S. Army Hospital that requires an expertise not readily available in Carpenter’s America.  This was beyond a hoot!  And all too possible, at least in regard to a country so involved in a long-term war that they focus their attention on specific talents needed, not the softer interests.  I have little actual knowledge of Bester’s works.  I’ve always known the name, but somehow missed reading anything from him. This story tells me just what I’ve been missing, so I’m looking forward to the remainder of his section in this collection.  5 out of 5.

 Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester

James Vandaleur and his android are on the run after the android kidnaps and kills a child, something previously thought impossible. I don't know how to describe this. It is a confusing narrative with multiple fluid viewpoints.  Fluid as in it can be hard to understand who is narrating, whether there is two or three present during certain scenes.  Once farther into the story it gets easier to understand what Bester is up to.  But despite the initial confusion, this was an intriguing psychological story.  As Mr. Spock would say, fascinating.  4 out of 5. There's a short commentary following the story itself in which Bester discusses his writing process in general and regarding this particular story.  A nice glimpse into how the sausage is made.

  The Four-Hour Fugue by Alfred Bester

Pollution and a lack of great quantities of fresh water for bathing and cleaning has led to an increased use of perfume in the urban jungle slum of the Corridor.  When Dr. Blaise Skiaki's latest product development slows almost to a stop, the company he works for begins an investigation as to the reasons behind it. Mystery and romance over-layered with almost supernatural aspects.  More fantasy than science fiction in my opinion.  I also found the ending a bit rushed, but still adequate.  What I didn't like much and almost turned me off were the racist overtones, especially for a story published in 1974.  For example, the use of the term "gook" and the statement "slitty eyes that would need careful watching". Perhaps Bester was merely implying that the two characters involved with racist, but it was still bothersome to me. 3.5 out of 5.

  Hobson’s Choice by Alfred Bester

Addyer is a statistician by day, dreaming fantasist by night, wanting to live in another time period.  When he finds that, despite the ongoing war and the effects of the atom bombs, the population appears to be increasing, he pinpoints the epicenter to be in Finney County, Kansas.  Directed to go there, what Addyer finds is not even close to what he expected.  An interesting look at those who long to live in another time, with some reality checks regarding the differences that might be encountered.  As the immigration man says, every time is the Golden Age to someone other than the one that they live in.  3.5 out of 5.

  The City by Ray Bradbury

The City has waited for twenty thousand years for this moment.  A rocket filled with explorers from Earth has arrived.  The City awakens, at long last able to fulfill its programming. Creepy.  Very creepy tale of long forgotten actions that resonate with the hapless Earth men.  Short and sharp story.  3.5 out of 5.

  The Million-Year Picnic by Ray Bradbury

Timothy was no fool, even as young as he was.  He knew this sudden vacation was more than a fishing trip.  His mom and dad seem nervous.  To keep his younger brothers calm, Timothy plays along, waiting for his dad to explain. This short story turned out to be the first installment into what became THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES.  What this story did was setup the reason why the Mars community ever started, why the original colonists fled Earth.  THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES is one of my favorites and the first Bradbury book that I ever read.  This has me itching to read it again.  Sounds like a trip to the library is in my immediate future.  4 out of 5.  

  All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury

Venus only stops raining for two hours every seven years. The children don't remember it from the last time the sun came out as they were too young. Margot is the exception. A frail young girl whose appearance appears to be washed out with the constant rain, she desperately wants, needs to see the sun again. Children are brutally cruel, something Bradbury has shown in horrible prose. The ending was so horrible, yet so simple. Quite possibly one of the saddest stories I've read in quite a while, even if realistic. It made it hard to rate. 3.5 out of 5.

  There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury

A smart home continues its daily routine, from cleaning to cooking to announcing important dates, for days and days.  Doing its programmed tasks to empty rooms.  Talk about gut-wrenchingly sad.  That view outside the house can rip your heart out. And the dog.  4 out of 5.

  The Affluence of Despair by Ray Bradbury

The lure, the addiction of publicity, of seeing ourselves on television.  Not for our accomplishments and successes, only for the bad and the tragic.  A little over two pages and published in 1998, this is anything but fiction.  Take a good look at yourself, world.  4 out of 5.