Galactic Journey

by Gideon Marcus Untapped potential In less than one week, the seventh Apollo mission will be bound for the Moon. It is a bittersweet thing that this will, at once, be the first and one of the last flights of Apollo that will achieve the full potential of the spacecraft. Apollo 15, crewed by Dave … Continue reading [July 22, 1971] Born to Exile (August 1971 Fantasy and Science Fiction) → The post [July 22, 1971] Born to Exile (August 1971 <i>Fantasy and Science Fiction</i>) appeared first on…

by Gideon Marcus The Hits Keep Coming Larry Niven is one of science fiction's new superstars. First published just seven years ago, he's a contemporary of other Young Turks like Chip Delany and Ursula LeGuin. Unlike them, his work shows few of the flourishes of the New Wave, yet it stands quite apart from the … Continue reading [July 20, 1971] All the Myriad Ways, by Larry Niven → The post [July 20, 1971] All the Myriad Ways, by Larry Niven appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by John Boston John W. Campbell, editor of Analog, died a few days ago, while watching professional wrestling on TV—a quintessentially American death, except that it was Mexican wrestling. I never met the man, but he strongly affected my life, and the life of every maniacal SF reader. John W. Campbell (unattributed) Campbell’s place in … Continue reading [July 18, 1971] The Tragedy of John W. Campbell (1910-1971) → The post [July 18, 1971] The Tragedy of John W. Campbell (1910-1971) appeared…

Our second Galactoscope for July features two back-to-back hits by J.T. McIntosh. This fellow has been writing superlative stuff since the early '50s (maybe before, but I discovered him in 1951 with "Hallucination Orbit"). And now his latest two novels are both five star winners. Oh, and there's also something by T.J. Bass… by Janice … Continue reading [July 17, 1971] McIntosh, McIntosh, and Bass, inc. (July Galactoscope #2) → The post [July 17, 1971] McIntosh, McIntosh, and Bass, inc. (July…

Galactoscope #1 for July features four titles of varying quality—just the kind of stuff that makes for a good column! by Jason Sacks The Midnight Dancers, by Gerard F. Conway Gerry Conway is an emerging writer in the comics field. He’s scripted stories for Marvel, National and Warren. Conway cut his teeth first with National’s … Continue reading [July 16, 1971] Dancing Into Oblivion (July Galactoscope) → The post [July 16, 1971] Dancing Into Oblivion (July Galactoscope) appeared first on…

by Jessica Dickinson Goodman An American View On July 10th, the New York Times reported that their paperback edition printing of the Pentagon Papers was going into a second printing, meaning over half a million copies will be in circulation soon, from West Germany (15,000 orders), Washington D.C. area bookshops (12,000 orders), and the Pentagon's … Continue reading [July 14, 1971] The Pentagon Papers: views from both sides (of the Pond) → The post [July 14, 1971] The Pentagon Papers: views from…

by Fiona Moore Here in the UK it seems to be Boat Month, as we have managed to accidentally sink the submarine HMS Artemis, thanks to crew failing to batten the hatches during refueling (all managed to escape, thankfully), and a few days later to rediscover the remains of the first royal yacht, the HMY … Continue reading [July 12, 1971] A Not-So-New Paradigm: Fantastic, August 1971 → The post [July 12, 1971] A Not-So-New Paradigm: Fantastic, August 1971 appeared first on Galactic Journey.

By Mx Kris Vyas-Myall Things have been going from bad to worse in Northern Ireland over the last few months, and the recent news makes me suspect we are past the point of no return. After the violence last summer, I had had some hope there could be a return to some kind of engagement … Continue reading [July 10, 1971] Past The Point of No Return? [Out of the Unknown: Season Four] → The post [July 10, 1971] Past The Point of No Return? [<i>Out of the Unknown</i>: Season Four] appeared first on…

by Cora Buhlert Thugs or Urban Guerillas? It has been a little more than a year, since a group of mostly young idiots broke the failed artist, would-be revolutionary and convicted arsonist Andreas Baader out of prison and went on the run. Since then, this group – dubbed the Baader Meinhof Gang by the media … Continue reading [July 8, 1971] I read this stuff so you don't have to: The Concept Urban Guerilla by Ulrike Meinhof and Conan the Buccaneer by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter → The post…

by Jason Sacks I’m a huge fan of the music of Bob Dylan. He’s the greatest poet of our age, a man whose work transcends popular music. This is an especially great time to be a fan of Dylan’s music because of the steady release of bootleg albums which contain rare and unheard music by … Continue reading [July 6, 1971] Destiny is Reality (Destiny's Doll/Reality Doll by Clifford Simak) → The post [July 6, 1971] Destiny is Reality (Destiny's Doll/Reality Doll by Clifford Simak) appeared first on…

by Fiona Moore I can report two exciting developments this month. Number one, I've received my first official decimal currency! Here's my 2p worth Yes, two "new pence", newly minted. While I do think the old coins were prettier, the new ones are reassuringly solid, and Britain does have to, belatedly, come into the twentieth … Continue reading [July 4, 1971] New Worlds, Old Words: New Worlds Quarterly #1 → The post [July 4, 1971] New Worlds, Old Words: New Worlds Quarterly #1 appeared first on…

by Kaye Dee A Triumph and a Tragedy It’s just a few hours until publication, and I’m finishing this article at the last minute, so I can bring you the most up to date information on the tragic loss of the Soyuz-11 crew. These are the first deaths to actually occur in space, and their … Continue reading [July 2, 1971] The Silent Touchdown (Loss of the Soyuz-11/Salyut-1 Crew) → The post [July 2, 1971] The Silent Touchdown (Loss of the Soyuz-11/Salyut-1 Crew) appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by Gideon Marcus Fairest of the Fair If you've noticed a build-up on traffic on the normally fast-flowing interstate 5 heading downtown, it's not an overturned semi or a smog-induced pile-up. It's because the Fair is in town. Technically, it's the 81st Southern California Exposition. Formally, it's the San Diego County Fair. But if you … Continue reading [June 30, 1971] Zero Sum (July 1971 Analog) → The post [June 30, 1971] Zero Sum (July 1971 <i>Analog</i>) appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by Tam Phan (Secret Asian Man) Brother John is a difficult film to classify. It arrives dressed as a small town mystery, carries the weight of a drama, and occasionally hints at something much larger and stranger. Released last month and starring Sidney Poitier, the film follows a man named John Kane who returns to … Continue reading [June 28, 1971] Cinemascope: The Quiet Power of Brother John (Brother John) and the Madness of Beatrix Potter (The Tales of Beatrix Potter → The post [June 28,…

by Winona Menezes Science fiction tends to favor heroes of the male persuasion—but writers would do well to note that women are already at the cutting edge of aeronautics, and there is no reason to believe this trend will do anything but accelerate in the future. On June 11th, British Aviatrix Sheila Scott departed from … Continue reading [June 26, 1971] Brave new worlds: Sheila Scott and the Clarion Workshop Anthology → The post [June 26, 1971] Brave new worlds: Sheila Scott and the Clarion…

by Gwyn Conaway According to designers, it's time for the miniskirt to take a hike. These eleventh graders didn't get the memo. There are few things that bring me more joy than announcing the death of a trend, but this time, I’m titillated by the unexpected. The miniskirt has been dying for several years now. … Continue reading [June 24, 1971] The Hemline Wars: Strident Foes or Unlikely Allies? → The post [June 24, 1971] The Hemline Wars: Strident Foes or Unlikely Allies? appeared first on…

By Jessica Holmes The day of reckoning is upon us: the end of the serial, and the end of the 1971 Doctor Who season. It’s been a solid season, perhaps not quite reaching the heights of some of last year’s serials, but enjoyable nonetheless. As we recap and review the final chapters of The Daemons, … Continue reading June 22, 1971] Mayday, Mayday! (Doctor Who: The Daemons [Parts 4-5]) → The post June 22, 1971] Mayday, Mayday! (<i>Doctor Who</i>: The Daemons [Parts 4-5]) appeared first on…

by Gideon Marcus Wonderland Sometimes, I feel like I've died and ended up in some strange shangrila. The news is filled with images of millions of Bengals pouring into eastern India, fleeing from the unrest in East Pakistan. They die by the hundreds, afflicted with a cholera epidemic, starvation, no housing. So what is the … Continue reading [June 20, 1971] For a Foggy Night (July 1971 Fantasy and Science Fiction) → The post [June 20, 1971] For a Foggy Night (July 1971 <i>Fantasy and Science…

Some surprises in this next quartet of Science Fiction books to be reviewed this June. Let Kris and Winona be your guide! By Mx Kris Vyas-Myall Abyss: Two Novellas by Kate Wilhelm Cover illustration by Emanuel Schongut Author photo by Alex Gotfryd Kate Wilhelm remains one of those most fascinating of writers, producing great work … Continue reading [June 18, 1971] Staring into the Abyss: June Galactoscope #2 → The post [June 18, 1971] Staring into the Abyss: June Galactoscope #2 appeared first…

For our first Galactoscope of Science Fiction this month, we've got four books that run the gamut from tedious to delightful! Read on, so you know what to get and to avoid… by Jason Sacks The Bite of Monsters, by Dennis O’Neil If you’ve paid any attention to comics over the past five years, you’ve … Continue reading [June 16, 1971] Hell House: June Galactoscope #1 → The post [June 16, 1971] Hell House: June Galactoscope #1 appeared first on Galactic Journey.

By Mx Kris Vyas-Myall Visiting Britain today you would be forgiven for thinking the end times were upon us. In 1957, Harold MacMillan declared we have never had it so good. In 1966, TIME magazine declared London the Swinging City. In 1971, no one seems to have a positive word to say about the country. … Continue reading [June 14, 1971] Critical Path [New Writings in S-F 19] → The post [June 14, 1971] Critical Path [<i>New Writings in S-F 19</i>] appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by John Boston The July 1971 Amazing, like the previous issue, is fronted by a bright and initially puzzling cover, this one by Dan Adkins, which resolves on closer scrutiny to a stylized human (or robot?) form with a big hole in its forehead and wires plugged into its scalp, with a planet and a … Continue reading [June 12, 1971] A Hole in the Head? (July 1971 Amazing) → The post [June 12, 1971] A Hole in the Head? (July 1971 <i>Amazing</i>) appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by George Pritchard Cover by Alicia Austin, who also did the interior illustrations. In the introduction to Universe 1, Carr mentions that the Universe team had no “slop pile”, and so did not distinguish between professional and amateur writing. Mr. Carr says, with no small pride, that he had to read over 100 entered stories … Continue reading [June 10, 1971] The Scrap Bag (Universe 1) → The post [June 10, 1971] The Scrap Bag (<i>Universe 1</i>) appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by Gideon Marcus Hugos there I just got this month's issue of Yandro, and right at the top are this year's Hugo finalists: I'll compare and contrast these choices at greater length when we do Worldcon coverage in September, but a few things jump out. First off, Tau Zero and Ringworld are on our Stars … Continue reading [June 8, 1971] All But the Words (July 1971 Galaxy) → The post [June 8, 1971] All But the Words (July 1971 <i>Galaxy</i>) appeared first on Galactic Journey.

By Jessica Holmes First things first: it’s pronounced: DAY-mons. Second things second, we’re entering into the final story of this year’s Doctor Who run, but the good news is that it’s a good’un. Something terrible is lurking beneath the quaint rural village of Devil’s End, and a certain renegade Time Lord is about to wake … Continue reading [June 6th, 1971] Something Wicked This Way Comes (Doctor Who: The Daemons) → The post [June 6th, 1971] Something Wicked This Way Comes (<i>Doctor Who</i>:…

by Amber Dubin Lucky episode number seven of Night Gallery feels more like a short film than some of the others. It’s a little lop-sided in its delivery, containing one segment over 40 minutes long while the second is less than 10, but both feature incredible acting and meaningful plots. It does make sense that … Continue reading [June 4, 1971] Night Gallery: "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar" and "The Last Laurel" → The post [June 4, 1971] <em>Night Gallery</em>: "They're Tearing Down Tim…

by David Levinson Hating the other As I reported back in April, the leaders of West Pakistan have made it clear that they are unwilling to accept a democratically elected parliament which places government in the hands of Bengali people from East Pakistan. At the time I handed in my article, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the … Continue reading [June 2, 1971] Others (July-August 1971 IF) → The post [June 2, 1971] Others (July-August 1971 <i>IF</i>) appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by Kaye Dee A recent picture of Mars, taken with the new 88-inch telescope on Mount Mauna-kea, Hawaii Through a Window, Quickly This year Mars is making its closest approach to the Earth since 1956, reducing the travel time to reach the Red Planet. Now that the launch window for Mars transit has opened, both … Continue reading [May 31, 1971] Red Planet, Here We Come! (US and Soviet Mars Missions) and the June 1971 Analog → The post [May 31, 1971] Red Planet, Here We Come! (US and Soviet Mars…

by George Pritchard Almost two years after her introduction to the planet of Pern, home of dragons that can traverse space and time in a blink (oh, and their riders are there, too), Anne McCaffrey has returned with a sequel to Dragonflight: Dragonquest. Dragon, man, and fire-lizard! (Cover by Gino D'Achille) It feels disingenuous of … Continue reading [May 28, 1971] Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey → The post [May 28, 1971] <i>Dragonquest</i> by Anne McCaffrey appeared first on Galactic Journey.

by Gideon Marcus I've just flown back from Tokyo, and boy are my arms tired! In all seriousness, every time we go back to Japan, we discover some kind of gem. Whether it's the latest giant monster movie or an interesting cartoon, there's always something unique going on in the land across the Pacific. This … Continue reading [May 26, 1971] Science Fiction of the Rising Sun (Manga and Animation in Japan) → The post [May 26, 1971] Science Fiction of the Rising Sun (Manga and Animation in Japan)…