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Small Changes
The Mechanic
Uncommon Sense
Raindrop
The Foundling Stars
Dust Rag
Fireproof
Halo
Trojan Fall
Sun Spot
- GenresScience Fiction
Hardcover
Published September 16, 1969
About the author
Hal Clement
188 books117 followersHarry Clement Stubbs better known by the pen name
Hal Clement
, was an American science fiction writer and a leader of the hard science fiction subgenre.
Further details at Wikipedia.
Further details at Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 13, 2022
A story collection. Hal Clement was acknowledged as a master of hard SF. Hard SF does not age that well, but when you take into account that some of the stories are from the 40s you have to be impressed by his skills in extrapolation.
Most of the stories are about astronomic phenomena (Clement studied stronomy).
The longest story "the mechanic" from 1966 is about regenerative medicine and gives a glimse of what we now call "nano technology".
Not all of the stories are as logical and consequential as the critics claim. Especially "Trojan Fall" seems rather illogical to me. Generally he ignores Einstein's relativity in his stories (because the lightspeed - barrier is so pesky, I guess).
Some stories are rather difficult to understand, because he throws you into the middle of the action and refuses to explain what it´s all about. The worst example of this was "The foundling stars" from 1966, where I really was not sure if I got it at the end.
I read the German translation from Erich Pabel Verlag / 1974. 2 stories are missing in this edition ("Dust Rag" and "Raindrop"). This used to be (or maybe still is?) an annoying habit of German publishers.
Most of the stories are about astronomic phenomena (Clement studied stronomy).
The longest story "the mechanic" from 1966 is about regenerative medicine and gives a glimse of what we now call "nano technology".
Not all of the stories are as logical and consequential as the critics claim. Especially "Trojan Fall" seems rather illogical to me. Generally he ignores Einstein's relativity in his stories (because the lightspeed - barrier is so pesky, I guess).
Some stories are rather difficult to understand, because he throws you into the middle of the action and refuses to explain what it´s all about. The worst example of this was "The foundling stars" from 1966, where I really was not sure if I got it at the end.
I read the German translation from Erich Pabel Verlag / 1974. 2 stories are missing in this edition ("Dust Rag" and "Raindrop"). This used to be (or maybe still is?) an annoying habit of German publishers.
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August 22, 2008Small Changes by Hal Clement (1969)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews