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Nonstatistical Man
Logic becomes a hindrance and intuition a precision tool. A trip to the moon is a trip into the past and on a distant planet mankind conducts an experiment in prehistoric jungle life.
- GenresScience Fiction
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1964
About the author
Raymond F. Jones
178 books13 followersRaymond Fisher Jones (November 15, 1915, Salt Lake City, Utah - January 24, 1994, Sandy, Salt Lake County, Utah) was an American science fiction author. He is best known for his 1952 novel, This Island Earth, which was adapted into the 1955 film This Island Earth and for the short story "The Children's Room", which was adapted for television as Episode Two of the ABC network show Tales of Tomorrow, first aired on February 29, 1952.
Jones' career was at its peak during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. His stories were published mainly in magazines such as Thrilling Wonder Stories, Astounding Stories, and Galaxy. His short story Noise Level is known as one of his best works. His short story "The Alien Machine", first published in the June, 1949 Thrilling Wonder Stories, was later expanded into the novel This Island Earth, along with two other short stories, "The Shroud of Secrecy", and "The Greater Conflict", known as The Peace Engineers Trilogy, featuring the character Cal Meacham. Jones also wrote the story upon which the episode "The Children's Room" was based for the television program Tales of Tomorrow in 1952.
Jones' career was at its peak during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. His stories were published mainly in magazines such as Thrilling Wonder Stories, Astounding Stories, and Galaxy. His short story Noise Level is known as one of his best works. His short story "The Alien Machine", first published in the June, 1949 Thrilling Wonder Stories, was later expanded into the novel This Island Earth, along with two other short stories, "The Shroud of Secrecy", and "The Greater Conflict", known as The Peace Engineers Trilogy, featuring the character Cal Meacham. Jones also wrote the story upon which the episode "The Children's Room" was based for the television program Tales of Tomorrow in 1952.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 7, 2021
‘El hombre no estadístico’ (The Non-Statistical Man, 1964), del estadounidense Raymond F. Jones, es una interesante antología de relatos, muy agradable en su lectura, y con algunas buenas ideas. Estos son los cuatro relatos incluidos:
El hombre no estadístico (1956). Charles Bascomb es un estadístico que trabaja para una aseguradora. Lleva una vida tranquila y feliz, hasta que observa ciertas coincidencias en las cifras que no pueden darse en tan poco tiempo. Y es que hay personas que contratan un seguro de vida días antes del trágico suceso, como supieran con anticipación lo que iba a suceder. Por supuesto, Charles empezará a investigar estos curiosos hechos. Buena novela corta, quizá algo larga, pero con un buen planteamiento.
La Luna está muerta (1953). Algo sucede en la Luna que impide su colonización. Todas las expediciones han fracasado, muriendo sus integrantes. Ahora se prepara un nuevo viaje, con un geólogo y un experto en campos electromagnéticos. Muy buena historia.
El jardinero (1957). Jimmy Correll es un joven superdotado que huye de la fiesta que le han organizado por su ingreso en la universidad. Piensa que está solo, aunque irá descubriendo lo contrario. Buena historia.
Entreacto (1953). Los músicos y hermanos Doris y John Carwell, se han apuntado al viaje al Planeta 7. John no está muy de acuerdo, pero termina accediendo, sin saber realmente si logrará adaptarse a un nuevo ambiente, donde todos son pioneros. Buen relato.
El hombre no estadístico (1956). Charles Bascomb es un estadístico que trabaja para una aseguradora. Lleva una vida tranquila y feliz, hasta que observa ciertas coincidencias en las cifras que no pueden darse en tan poco tiempo. Y es que hay personas que contratan un seguro de vida días antes del trágico suceso, como supieran con anticipación lo que iba a suceder. Por supuesto, Charles empezará a investigar estos curiosos hechos. Buena novela corta, quizá algo larga, pero con un buen planteamiento.
La Luna está muerta (1953). Algo sucede en la Luna que impide su colonización. Todas las expediciones han fracasado, muriendo sus integrantes. Ahora se prepara un nuevo viaje, con un geólogo y un experto en campos electromagnéticos. Muy buena historia.
El jardinero (1957). Jimmy Correll es un joven superdotado que huye de la fiesta que le han organizado por su ingreso en la universidad. Piensa que está solo, aunque irá descubriendo lo contrario. Buena historia.
Entreacto (1953). Los músicos y hermanos Doris y John Carwell, se han apuntado al viaje al Planeta 7. John no está muy de acuerdo, pero termina accediendo, sin saber realmente si logrará adaptarse a un nuevo ambiente, donde todos son pioneros. Buen relato.
August 10, 2013
I can't remember exactly what got me interested in Raymond F. Jones, but I think it started with a note that a local bookseller had laid in to one of his offerings. It said, "Utah Author." I'm not from Utah, but I live here now, so the seed was planted.
I'm sure that I had run across Jones's name before my trip to the bookstore. I had certainly seen it on the covers of some old sf magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction. And then, there's the fact that Jones wrote "This Island Earth," a novel which was loosely adapted for an interesting and significant feature film by Universal in the 1950's.
For all the above reasons, it seemed necessary to sample some Jones. I recalled that I had picked up "The Non-Statistical Man" in one of my recent eBay raids. I had purchased an assorted lot of old Belmont paperbacks and it was included.
This book is a collection of stories, not a novel. The cover title is borrowed from the title of the first story, which is a bit over 80 pages long. "The Non-Statistical Man" is unusual for a science fiction story of its time (1956).
The story doesn't involve futuristic machinery or technology. The setting is (if I remember correctly) an ordinary, Midwestern town. The main character is an actuary for an insurance company. The premise is that an ostensible quack shows up in town, with a program for developing human intuition. As people acquire keener insights through the program, they are able to foresee various disasters and beat the odds by timing their insurance transactions.
If this sounds rather mundane, well, yes it is! But Jones writes so well that he sustains the reader's interest. His style has a nice flow, and he provides enough detail to be convincing, but not so much that it burdens the reader. His characters are believable, even though sometimes a bit stereotypical.
Jones plays here on a common belief that women are more "intuitive" than men, by painting a sharp contrast between the main character and his wife. But the main development of the story is the main character's increasing openness to change. I won't give away the plot, so read it if this sparks your interest.
Jones was a second-tier science fiction writer as far as accolades go, but based upon what I just read, he was a capable writer who deserves to be remembered better. I'm definitely planning to read some more of his work.
Here's a link to an excellent website that explores his life and work:
Raymond F. Jones
And here's a link to a bibliographic description of the magazine where "The Non-Statistical Man" first appeared:
The Original Science Fiction
I'm sure that I had run across Jones's name before my trip to the bookstore. I had certainly seen it on the covers of some old sf magazines such as Astounding Science Fiction. And then, there's the fact that Jones wrote "This Island Earth," a novel which was loosely adapted for an interesting and significant feature film by Universal in the 1950's.
For all the above reasons, it seemed necessary to sample some Jones. I recalled that I had picked up "The Non-Statistical Man" in one of my recent eBay raids. I had purchased an assorted lot of old Belmont paperbacks and it was included.
This book is a collection of stories, not a novel. The cover title is borrowed from the title of the first story, which is a bit over 80 pages long. "The Non-Statistical Man" is unusual for a science fiction story of its time (1956).
The story doesn't involve futuristic machinery or technology. The setting is (if I remember correctly) an ordinary, Midwestern town. The main character is an actuary for an insurance company. The premise is that an ostensible quack shows up in town, with a program for developing human intuition. As people acquire keener insights through the program, they are able to foresee various disasters and beat the odds by timing their insurance transactions.
If this sounds rather mundane, well, yes it is! But Jones writes so well that he sustains the reader's interest. His style has a nice flow, and he provides enough detail to be convincing, but not so much that it burdens the reader. His characters are believable, even though sometimes a bit stereotypical.
Jones plays here on a common belief that women are more "intuitive" than men, by painting a sharp contrast between the main character and his wife. But the main development of the story is the main character's increasing openness to change. I won't give away the plot, so read it if this sparks your interest.
Jones was a second-tier science fiction writer as far as accolades go, but based upon what I just read, he was a capable writer who deserves to be remembered better. I'm definitely planning to read some more of his work.
Here's a link to an excellent website that explores his life and work:
Raymond F. Jones
And here's a link to a bibliographic description of the magazine where "The Non-Statistical Man" first appeared:
The Original Science Fiction
August 27, 2020
Jones definitely had some interesting ideas, but... well, the presentation lacks quite a bit.
The first story is a bizarre rejection of statistics and logic-- interesting, but questionable.
The second is probably the best story in here- the premise being that for some reason, no-one has been able to survive a trip to the moon. It's well worth the read.
The third is a standard 'strange child' story. Not bad, but not brilliant.
The third is about experimental colonies on another planet, and some of the problems with their setup. This one would have been a lot better if it hadn't included the calm statement that 'women can't be great artists.' Okay, Jones, even in 1964, you should have known better. Spoiler, but this attitude is just calmly accepted, and never refuted in the story.
Overall, it's an okay read, but not one I'd seek out.
The first story is a bizarre rejection of statistics and logic-- interesting, but questionable.
The second is probably the best story in here- the premise being that for some reason, no-one has been able to survive a trip to the moon. It's well worth the read.
The third is a standard 'strange child' story. Not bad, but not brilliant.
The third is about experimental colonies on another planet, and some of the problems with their setup. This one would have been a lot better if it hadn't included the calm statement that 'women can't be great artists.' Okay, Jones, even in 1964, you should have known better. Spoiler, but this attitude is just calmly accepted, and never refuted in the story.
Overall, it's an okay read, but not one I'd seek out.
February 1, 2022
3.5. The title story in this collection has an insurance statistician investigating why so many people are taking out policies right before disaster strikes. It turns out a scientist has figured out how to enhance human intuition, which has unexpected consequences. It's a clever concept, though mixed in with some generic 1950s social criticism.
"The Gardener" has a brilliant mutant child dealing with his feelings of isolation. It's surprisingly warm and hopeful in an ending where the geniuses and the average shclobs can learn to get along.
"Intermission Time" has a lot to say about art and creativity, but I don't think I agree with most of it.
Entertaining but not up to Jones' other short-story collection.
"The Gardener" has a brilliant mutant child dealing with his feelings of isolation. It's surprisingly warm and hopeful in an ending where the geniuses and the average shclobs can learn to get along.
"Intermission Time" has a lot to say about art and creativity, but I don't think I agree with most of it.
Entertaining but not up to Jones' other short-story collection.
March 14, 2020
While four stars is a little high, three is definitely too low. This book contains three other stories besides the title story. I did not realize that when I bought the book. All four stories are decent reads.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews