The First Golden Age of Science Fiction MEGAPACK ®: Winston K. Marks

Golden Age of Science Fiction MEGAPACK

by Winston K. Marks

The "Golden Age of Science Fiction" Megapacks are designed to introduce readers to classic science fiction writers of the 1940s-1960s who might otherwise be forgotten. Winston K. Marks (1915-1979) is one such unjustly forgotten author. Included here are 12 science fiction stories, published between 1953 and 1959, representing some of his best

THE WATER EATER (1953)
UNBEGOTTEN CHILD (1953)
...SO THEY BAKED A CAKE (1954)
BACKLASH (1954)
TABBY (1954)
BREEDER REACTION (1954)
FORSYTE'S RETREAT (1954)
MATE IN TWO MOVES (1954)
THE TEST COLONY (1954)
BROWN JOHN'S BODY (1955)
THE MIND DIGGER (1958)
THE DEADLY DAUGHTERS (1958)

If you enjoy this book, search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see the more than 100 other entries in the series, covering science fiction, modern authors, mysteries, westerns, classics, adventure stories, and much, much more!

Genres: Science Fiction, Anthologies, Fiction, Collections

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Born Winston Kinney Marks, this US writer of sf short stories also wrote as Win Marks and used the pseudonyms Win Kinney and Ken Winney, each for just one story. He began publishing with "Mad Hatter" for Unknown in May 1940, but then, after "Manic Perverse" (October 1941 Astounding), was not heard of again until 1953 when he published The Water Eater (June 1953 Galaxy; 2010 ebook). He was then quite prolific, publishing nearly 60 further stories to 1959, with two final SF Magazine appearances in the late 1960s.

Reviews

[Oleksandr Zholud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story collection by a largely unknown SF author Winston K. Marks, published in the 1950s. It is quite an interesting read on two levels: first, as nice, naïve SF stories and second, as a way to see how views evolve in just about 60 years.
It is astonishing that a ‘progressive’ writer is blind to his own prejustice regarding non-whites, women, gender roles etc. It makes you think, what will astonish readers of modern SF in another half-century.
THE WATER EATER (1953), while cleaning a kitchen, a man crates something unexpected. 4/5
UNBEGOTTEN CHILD (1953), an unusual view on the cause of cancer. 5/5
...SO THEY BAKED A CAKE (1954), Einstein twins from POV of a nihilistic journalist. 2/5
BACKLASH (1954), crashed aliens give perfect home servants to humanity, what are their motives? 4/5
TABBY (1954), alien fly invades the Earth, but that’s just a first step. 5/5
BREEDER REACTION (1954), cosmetics with ‘atomic’ effects. 4/5
FORSYTE'S RETREAT (1954), multidimensional hotel’s manager. 2/5
MATE IN TWO MOVES (1954), what if love is a virus? 4/5
THE TEST COLONY (1954), first contact – a perfect case of prejustices. 5/5
BROWN JOHN'S BODY (1955), talking rats. 3/5
THE MIND DIGGER (1958), a young genius tries to perfect himself. 4/5
THE DEADLY DAUGHTERS (1958), a satire about feminist usurpation of the USA. 4/5

[Eros Fratini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non conoscevo Marks, non credo che esistano suoi racconti editi in Italia recentemente (il catalogo Vegetti mostra 3 racconti le cui ultime edizioni risalgono agli anni '60, + un racconto ripubblicato nel '97).
Devo dire che nonostante i racconti siano sicuramente "vecchi", sia nelle idee che nello stile, non mancano di un certo brio, che mi ha ricordato un po' lo stile di Kuttner.
Si tratta comunque di fantascienza della "golden age", molti degli aspetti della fantascienza pulp sono ancora lì: machismo, razzismo, American way of life e quant'altro...
Da segnalare i due racconti "Forsyte's Retreat" e "The Water Eater".

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the stories were just so-so, but I did enjoy a few of them. It's interesting to see how society viewed things and social norms through the literature of the day.

The stories I liked were: …SO THEY BAKED A CAKE (1954), BACKLASH (1954), FORSYTE'S RETREAT (1954), THE TEST COLONY (1954) & THE DEADLY DAUGHTERS (1958)

[Mark Slocum · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW is this EXCELLENT!!

VERY creative and well though out works of Sci-Fi.

I love that this series resurrects superb writers who have fallen off of the contemporary radar.

DEFINITELY worth the low price of admission.

[John L Shasteen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Been a long time since I read it

These stories are dated. I try to read cheap as often as I can. This means not all the story's are not of equal quality. Nevertheless they are good value.

[Carole O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this collection from the Author William K Marks, had only read one short story of his before it was great to read the collection.

[Johnny Le Bon · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were only maybe two stories that I liked.
Winston Marks is not on my list of favorite authors.

[Vitaliy Hristyuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!

One more author I haven't heard about before - and he was good! And not a bit dated. So I can recommended this book to anyone who is a fan of Golden Age SciFi.

[Michael Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wide selection of short stories. My only real criticism is that some end too abruptly.

[Alan Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of short works. I love these books. When first started coming out a few early releases were free giveaways but these run around 99 cents each. Been reading this off and on since March. Long time science fiction can since the 1950's these have a nostalgic feel. Product of its time the stories range from ok to pretty good.

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time to read anything by Marks. His stories are imaginative and have just the right mix of dialog and description. Many of his stories have a surprise twist at the end.

[Orville St.Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never heard of this guy before

Great stuff! I have been a Si-Fi fan for over 60 years and never ran across Mr. Marks before! What a great talent. Enjoy!