Waldo & Magic Inc.

by Robert A. Heinlein, W.F. Phillipps (Cover Artist)

Alternate cover edition, ISBN=0330023527

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Short Stories, Speculative Fiction, Classics

204 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1940

About the author

Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another of my listens whilst building my motorcycle shed.

So anyone who has read my profile or seen some of my reviews will know that I am (and and have been for over 45 years) a keen science fiction reader and avid fan. Fantasy ? Well maybe not so much but I occasionally enjoy it.
Now with that as an intro, this "book" was going to be interesting as it is basically 2 novellas; Waldo, a sf story (from which we get the word "Waldo', as in remote manipulators), and Magic Inc., an out and out fantasy novel based around magic.

Waldo well, hmm. I was really enjoying the story up until towards the end, when Waldo discovers these mysterious powers (not a problem), but then he loses weight develops muscles and becomes both a world class dancer and surgeon. He becomes a jovial character with a good word for everyone, huh ? He was great as a miserable, selfish genius. Why would he become so full of "bon homie" towards his fellow man. And given his "powers" why did he not do more towards either helping his fellow man or making huge amounts of money?? So to me the story ends on the wrong note and doesn't ring true really So max of 3.5 stars ⭐️

Magic Inc; now this was a fantasy story, again that I had never read despite having read so much Heinlein over the years, so I wasn't expecting a huge amount. Boy was I wrong. This might be fantasy and it might focus all the way through on Magic, but it is a fantastic story, well written with really interesting characters, and, AND, AND it is so well constructed from beginning to the end. So an easy 5 stars ⭐️

Overall then its a 4 star (audio) book, with a fantastic narrator in MacLeod Andrews. I read a lot of Heinlein through the 70s and early 80s (after that I personally felt his work became to introverted and weird ) and in my humble opinion these were good examples (ish ) of his "good" period.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm astonished so many people read this and miss the point. Some folks apparently don't see any connection between the two stories and think these novellas are in a single volume by a fluke or "to fill up space." Either they didn't really read it or they are conceptually challenged, unable to make a logical leap between two related ideas without a flow chart.

The point is that technology is a based on the belief that it will work. As long as we believe in it, it functions; if or when we stop believing in it, it won't. It's all magic.

At which point magic becomes the new technology and the difference between one and the other is functionally negligable. The stories' plots are irrelevant. It's the thought that counts.

I read these books about 50 years ago. I haven't read them since, but I remember them clearly. Meanwhile, I can't remember the plot of the book I read last week. This was an original set of concepts when it was first published in the early 1940s and was still original 25 years later when I read it. It's probably still an original today ... more than 70 years after the stories were published.

The best science fiction is and was concept-driven rather than character or plot-driven. This one has stuck with me for a lifetime. Both novellas are based on that one concept to which I continue to adhere: we believe in what works and what works is what we believe in.

Faith is hard-wired into our human ability to understand and reason. We cannot function without it, for good or ill.

[Jokoloyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped reading after I read "Waldo" story.

I didn't expect the story is about magic-based speculative fiction. There are technological-based factors in the story (I read about the waldoes in this story from a few articles years back), but the main factor is energy from Other World.

The main plot is not so easily to see at first. I see this short story is generally about the main protagonist's character growing.

[Althea Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as part of the 1941 Retro-Hugo Voters' Packet.

The good: This story is a definite precursor to today's neo- urban fantasy genre. It's fascinating to see this early iteration of a tale featuring modern society mixed in with wizards-for-hire, witches, witch-finders, and an FBI agent disguised as a demon.

The bad: The story just isn't as clever and amusing as it thinks it is. The fantasy elements are really just 'swaps' for real-world equivalents; the supernatural adds nothing at all to the plot.

Our main character is a small businessman who runs a construction company. Like most businesses in this town, he hires wizards to do bits of magic here and there to help get the job done. As the story opens, he's approached by a guy coming in with a protection racket: "sign up and agree to hire only the wizards that belong to my Association, and we guarantee that quality services will be rendered. (Don't agree, and we'll burn down your warehouse.)" Meanwhile, the wizards are being pressured to join this Association: "pay us your membership dues, or you won't be getting work in this town." The businessman gets a lawyer, goes to court, and also works on his own to foil this nefarious plan.

I could actually see this story being used in a class to explain racketeering, 'protection' scams, monopolies, and why anti-trust regulations are important. It lays it all out clearly and makes the concepts easy to understand, with a bit of fun fictional overlay to help the dry economic facts slide down smooth. As a teaching tool - I'd say it's potentially pretty good. However, as a story, it's a bit dry, didactic and tedious at times.

[Ivana Books Are Magic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waldo and Magic,Inc are two separate short stories. Albeit not lacking in similarities, these two stories are independent and could be read separately. I believe they were originally published separately. Moreover, they do feature a completely different set of characters, so it is not as one can be read as a sequel to another. However, I do see why they are published together. Besides the common theme of magic, these stories share a common protagonist- an independent self-made man who has to struggle his way to keep his business at its peak. Although, Waldo is rich to start with, he still has to work to stay on top. I'm sensing a bit of an ode to an entrepreneur and an independent business owner in these stories. I actually was not surprised to see it get mixed up with magic. Perhaps to achieve any kind of true independence in this world, one must to either rely on magic or believe in it. ;)

Waldo 3/5
Considering that Waldo has been published in 1942, the story has aged considerably well and for most part didn't feel dated at all. Waldo, its principal character,is a genius misanthrope, a man who suffers from a severe muscular atrophy but it didn't let it stop him from becoming wealthy and powerful. However, it seems that humanity (and one company in particular) needs his help, and Waldo is willing to help- as long as the price is right.

To be frank I enjoyed this story mostly for Heinlein's ideas and his excellent grasp of politics, science, human nature and business. As for character development, I found it a bit lacking. The character of Waldo changed too quickly for my liking. I didn't find the ending that plausible. I suppose the whole ugly duckling ending seemed a bit implausible to me. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed Waldo's initial discovery of magic. The old doctor was a great character as well. One more thing I liked about this novel is that it made me think- how much do we know about how technology affects our health? Sure, testings are done but how many long term ones? It's odd how little has changed since 194o. I can't believe that we still don't have quality long term testing that could evaluate how the various devices we use could affect our health. We have a long way to go.

Magic, Inc 4/5
Originally published in 1940 under an interesting title 'The Devil Makes the Law', this is a splendid little tale of magic and adventure. It's protagonist is Archie, a business owner who won't be intimated by crooks but will find that fighting them might be harder than he ever imagined- because the corruption sometimes go all the way to the top- especially if the underworld has a hand at things. There are several things I liked about this story. First, it is well written and planned. The world in which Archie lives is one where magic is a common thing, but only certain limited uses of it. To solve his problems, Archie will have to dig deeper and join forces with several interesting character, one of them being a kick ass old lady (a witch) and other a black British professor with African roots. I do like how Heinlein always tried to introduce different races in his character cast. The black guy, for instance, is an absolutely positive character, an educated fellow who has also preserved his African roots and can help Archie get out of his predicament. Mind you, that was quite progressive for 194o-ties.

[Manny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waldo, the world's greatest expert on building remote controlled manipulators, wants to know why things are malfunctioning. It seems to be a problem that happens at very small scales. So he takes his smallest manipulator, and uses that to build an even smaller manipulator. Then he uses that to build a smaller manipulator still. Then... well, you get the picture. Pretty soon, he's moving individual atoms around.

I read this story in the early 70s, and here's a question I'm surprised didn't occur to me until I thought about it just now. These days, nanotechnology really exists. We actually can build things at the molecular scale. Was Heinlein basically right about how we got there, ignoring uninteresting details like it taking tens of thousands of people several decades rather than a lone genius one weekend? Or was it done in a fundamentally different way? I'm embarrassed that I don't know the answer.

[César Bustíos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siempre que leo a Heinlein siento que es como si un tío de la familia me estuviera contando una historia de su vida. Me fascina la forma en que Heinlein cuenta sus historias en primera persona, es magnífico.

Es difícil calificar una colección ya que las historias no están relacionadas. Supongo que lo más fácil en este caso es hacer un promedio ya que son solo dos historias.

"Waldo", publicada originalmente en 1942 en la Astounding Magazine bajo el pseudónimo de Anson McDonald. Trata sobre Waldo Farthingwaite-Jones, un excéntrico genio de la mecánica que descubrirá el misterio, desde un punto de vista científico, de la energía radiante desatada en el mundo. Un 3 de 5.

"Magic, Inc.", publicada originalmente en 1940 en la Unknown Fantasy Fiction y bajo el título "The Devil Makes the Law". Me gusto más que "Waldo", tiene más el estilo Heinlein que siempre disfruto. En el mundo la magia es popular y comercialmente expandida, se usa en casi todos los negocios. Archibald Fraser, propietario de un negocio en el rubro de la construcción, y unos peculiares amigos se unirán para acabar con el monopolio que una endemoniada compañía de magia intenta imponer a la fuerza. Magos, brujos, vudú, gnomos y demonios. Un 4 de 5.

[Martin Doychinov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Първата книжка от една от най-добрите деветдесетарски поредици фантастика - започналата през 1993-а "Библиотека Фантастика" на ИК "Камея". Тази книжка джобен формат съдържа две много различни повести от класика Робърт Хайнлайн.
"Уолдо" е по същество разказ за небуквалното порастване на главния персонаж - гений-инвалид, живеещ в орбитална станция. На него му предстои да престане да бъде две неща - социопат и инвалид. Пътьом ще трябва да разреши и проблем, който заплашва цялото човечество. Доста остарял, не особено интересен за четене и като цяло доста далеч от очакваното ниво. Има някои добри моменти, най-вече връзката и диалозите между Уолдо и чичо му - единственият човек, който не му цепи басма. 3,5*
"Корпорация "Магия"" е съвсем нелишено от оригиналност градско фентъзи. Развива се в нашето съвремие, но със съществената разлика, че магията съществува и е впрегната в ежедневието, включително и за масовото производство на битови стоки. Всичко е добре докато не се появява организация, която цели да монополизира магьосническите услуги. Доста доволно и със сигурност по-качествено от предишното, произведение. КАто единствен недостатък ми дойде бързият и неубедителен финал, който е нещо като "дявол от машината". 4,5*
Добро и класическо начало, но произведенията не са на нивото, което бих очаквал от Хайнлайн. Корпорацията е по-добре, но финалът определено ми развали цялостното впечатление.

[Велислав Върбанов · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Книгата съдържа две приятни повести, които обаче не са от най-силните творби на Хайнлайн... „Уолдо“ представлява интересна фантастика за живота на доста чудноват главен герой, а пък „Корпорация Магия“ - прилично градско фентъзи.



„Нищо не беше се променило, а котката едва ли бе мигнала. Романтичното опиянение бе само спомен, но се почувствах по-беден без него.“

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

“… not believe in magic? Perhaps he does not believe in the radio or television.”

You have to remember that this short novel was published in 1940 or nothing that follows will seem nearly so wondrous. The story itself is a pleasant bit of fantasy by the dean of science fiction about the (literal) Under World trying to monopolize the use of magic in California in the then-near-future.

“[Laws] can’t keep crooks from carrying guns and using them; they simply took guns out of the hands of honest people.”

The protagonist is an “everyman” building contractor, who uses occasional magic on his jobs. Magic is assumed to be a normal part of life. Taxis, for example, are essentially flying carpets.

“It would not be the first time that monopolists used goon squads with their left hands to get by coercion what their right hands could not touch.”

Heinlein gives a strikingly readable outline how laws are passed and the use of riders and line-item vetoes, etc. The context is showing how easily power and money can subvert the process.

“We white men in this country are inclined to underestimate the black man--I know I do. We see him out of his cultural context."

What is most striking, given the age, is Heinlein’s favorable representation of blacks and females, but not Jews. Readers may not recall that anti-Semitism was strong in America before World War Two. So were gender and racial discrimination. That Heinlein sheds most prejudices of his day, but perpetuates another is noticeable … and sad.

“[A Jewish character] could smell a profit even farther than I [a Scot] could.”

“Most women in the United States have a short-sighted, peasant individualism resulting from the male-created romantic traditions of the last century.”

Heinlein the iconoclastic and the master story teller is evident on every page of this short novel. Fortunately, the later, incest-fixated Heinlein is not yet evident. A fun read as well as a bit of cultural anthropology.

“We’ve got to have magic to stay in business.”

[Kat Hooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

Waldo & Magic, Inc is a collection of two seemingly unrelated stories by Robert A. Heinlein (though both involve magic “lose in the world”). I listened to the recent audio version produced by Brilliance Audio. MacLeod Andrews, who I always like, narrates. William H. Patterson Jr provides an introduction to the stories and Tim Powers provides an afterword.

The first story, “Waldo,” was originally published in Astounding Magazine in 1942 under Heinlein’s penname, Anson MacDonald. The titular character is a man who has myasthenia gravis, a disease which leaves him physically very weak. Waldo’s brain, however, is in fine working order. He has been able to compensate somewhat for his unusable body by developing remote manipulators to do his work for him. In fact, he’s known on Earth as a mechanical genius and has become rich because of his inventions. (Interesting tidbit: Today we call these types of remote arms “Waldos” because of this story.)

Because he’s been ill-treated since he was a child, Waldo chooses to live as a recluse in a house he built in orbit. He hates people and doesn’t want to be bothered to help them. In fact, he thinks himself far above (literally and figuratively) the “smooth apes” who live on Earth. But when an engineer and his family doctor come seeking help for a problem that has stumped them, Waldo is reluctantly persuaded and it turns out that he benefits from experience.

“Waldo” is a fine little story about faith in technology and magic. Waldo’s orbital home is interesting, his dog is cute, and his personal development is uplifting.

“Magic, Inc” was originally published in 1940 in Unknown Fantasy Fiction. While in “Waldo” magic was a new force for humans to contend with, in “Magic, Inc” it is part of everyday society. Those who are able to practice some form of magic sell their services to others.

All is going well for Archie Fraser, who owns a building supply company, until a mobster attempts to shake him down. When Archie doesn’t give in, bad things start happening to his business. Meanwhile a man named Ditworth starts unionizing practitioners of magic. His company — Magic, Inc — essentially becomes a block-busting monopoly which manages to pass all sorts of laws and regulations for magic use. Archie and his friends go to the state capitol to lobby against this.

“Magic, Inc” moves fast and is full of weird little elements that sometimes seem random, but the plot gives Heinlein a chance to get in some of his favorite gripes about taxes, lawyers, unions, regulations, legislative sessions, pork, red tape and gun control. He also stresses the importance of knowing what’s going on in politics and who your legislators are.

I wouldn’t call Waldo & Magic, Inc a must-read, but it’s a collection of two pleasant stories that showcase Heinlein’s earlier work. Fans will want to check this out. I recommend the audio version.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the paperback many years ago and enjoyed listening to these two novellas on a long drive last weekend. Tim Powers contributes an illuminating afterward in which he points out that one is a fantasy told as a science fiction story and the other is a science fiction story told as a fantasy. Both are well known and acknowledged classics; Waldo has lent its name universally to remote-handling devices, and Magic, Inc., can arguably be named as a founder of the urban fantasy genre decades before the phrase was coined. They're both distinctly different from the main body of Heinlein's work, both in tone and content. Magic, Inc., suffers a bit because it pauses for a very, very long lesson in politics and economics partway through, and might be construed as being a little non-politically-correct in spots, though Heinlein obviously went out of his way in an attempt to avoid that. Anyway, it's a pair of great stories from the classic age of the field, one from Hohn W. Campbell's Unknown magazine and the other from Campbell's Astounding magazine.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ya sabemos, o por lo menos los suficientemente introducidos en Heinlein, que el maestro de sci fi por excelencia tocaba, trataba y fusionaba deliberadamente ambas ciencias. Ésta no es otra excepción, ya que mediante una dinámica y entretenida historia , que mezcla la fantasía con las Sociales, el autor vuelve a hacer gala de su crítica más ácida hacía ciertas profesiones, poco nobles por naturaleza moral, con los embustes y líos innecesarios que conllevan los trámites y protocolos políticos. Además de hablarnos del sistema de pensamiento inherente de los Monopolios en todo ser vivo, con sus subterfugios y tapaderas, sobre lo que mueve el poder y mercado de valores; “poniendo” sobre la mesa, con especial énfasis, todo el innecesario, ilógico y tedioso sistema legislativo de un País.

Partimos argumentalmente con el dueño de una tienda (Archie) que proporciona al cliente, mediante magia en ciertos artículos de uso diario , y por lo tanto, recambio frecuente, utensilios que duran más de lo corrientes. Un tipo entra en su establecimiento ‘informándole’ que puede proporcionarle protección contra el mal de ojo y magia negra existente en el mundo Medio (un lugar sin reglas lógicas ni establecidas, causalidades o física), ya que le perjudicaría en su negocio en un futuro. Él, evidentemente, los echa y es ahí cuando se le viene el desastre encima, ya que su negocio resulta accidentado del día a la mañana, y es entonces, cuando nuestro protagonista visita a su amigo Jenson (que trafica con ropa de mayor calidad en el mercado..imaginaos, la calidad es tan mediocre que está buscadísima la que otorgue una duración media o superior. ¿no os parece visionar dónde nos dirigimos, xd?). A partir de ahí ambos visitarán a un variopinto ramillete de profesionales mediadores: Abogados, Brujos étnicos, magos blancos...hasta dar con el meollo del asunto: Mágia Sociedad incorporada.

Y Es que Heinlein, con ésta magnífica sátira y crítica social, nos introduce en un mundo dominado y controlado por la Magia, en el que los practicantes locales de Taumaturgia son imprescindibles para el día a día en todos los aspectos, y de eso se apoderan y sirven unos cuantos, principalmente, los abogados que tramitan, dan de alta o admiten cómo válidos o no a los Taumaturgos y su asignación a un negociante en concreto, y por descontado, sirven de mediadores, testigos oficiales - legales de desastres y reembolsos pertinentes o no al asunto. Vaya, lo que vienen siendo auténticos Buitres, ya que están metidos en todos los chanchullos de los daños colaterales mágicos. Cómo bien explica una frase en un pasaje de la obra: ‘Me parecía que era un tipo no dispuesto a concederle ni cinco dedos de la mano derecha’; una gran descripción acerca de la astucia, el sibilismo y carácter Taimado de los que se dedican a los vericuetos legales; según Heinlein. Y he ahí, que es cuando algunos pretenden echar la ‘garra’ al sistema mágico incorporado en la comunidad y manipularlo en su beneficio ,de tal modo,que el pueblo quede a su merced. Lo que viene siendo el principio del Capitalismo y Monopolio consecuentemente.
El autor nos hace una acertada e intemporal radiografía de las Víboras del sistema Político y Social, que se aprovechan de un buen principio para conseguir su codiciosos objetivos y estrujar al personal. Por lo tanto, y por añadidura, la novela nos habla de todo el desarrollo y posterior deterioro de la cadena y mercado laboral, con su demanda y oferta, con la devaluación, fallida de recursos y personal, y por lo tanto, opresión y aceptación ( o no..) de una nueva ejecución tirana global.
Otra cosa bien distinta es la manera de contarlo, ya que a lo largo de toda la narrativa, que si bien guarda las bases de toda obra del Decano de Sci fi :personajes fuertes, bien definidos y sin pelos en la lengua, situaciones y conversaciones a la par dinámicas y naturales que dan pie a la ejecución y desarrollo de la historia e idea principal que quiere tratar en ése particular, en tono mordaz y casual, se entremezcla todo un tratado de lo anteriormente comentado, dosis de Fantasía, algo de romance (muy poco y en clave temporal; cosa que le fascinaba al autor) y unas cuantas situaciones abstractas, que dotan al conjunto de la obra de peculiar, bastante surrealista a ratos y jovial. Pero no nos engañemos, el fondo y eje central es puramente crítico- social; con énfasis en el aspecto legal, legislativo y comercial.

Así pues ‘Magia Sociedad incorporada’, es una obra ágil en su lectura, pero densa en su calado, que parte en dos y trata los temas favoritos del autor, cómo la ciencia social mezclada Tecnología, y Fantasía en éste caso específico, y que será del gusto de los asiduos al escritor y de los lectores que busquen un libro que oculta toda una radiografía de las malas artes, a las cuales y por la avaricia del poder, puede acaba sucumbiendo todo ser viviente, llevando a la desgracia y arrastrando a los demás.
Muy parecido a ‘Ciudadano de la Galaxia’, que mediante una especie de fábula o historia particular, toca un tema muy complejo de fondo y lo disecciona perfectamente.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mediocre Heinlein. 2 short novels. Waldo starts out as a proper technological fix the problem story then gets very weird, jumps the shark. Not satisfying as a story. Magic Inc. is readable but not outstanding; the depiction of the mechanics of the political process is however just as fresh and relevant as when it was written over 60 years ago. Nice ways to kill time if you have nothing better to do, but yeah, skip Waldo completely I reckon.

[Madelyn W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waldo: 2.5 stars

In terms of plot, I thought Waldo was really interesting, and quite similar to The Lathe of Heaven by Ursala K Le Quin. Also, I often enjoy the technical jargon, which this book had a lot of, so that was a pro rather than a con for me.

However, it has some issues with how it portrays disabled people. It was written in the 1940s, granted, but the story constantly degrades and insults the main character, who is disabled. Also, the characters also declare how much they hated him when his disability affected him, but as soon as it stopped, suddenly everyone is great friends with him and all his previous character flaws have disappeared. This story also plays far too heavily into the savant character trope (think the Sherlock show, if that helps) in which the character is beyond genius and yet completely inept to a ridiculous level in every other field. Beyond that, the pacing was very confusing, as the book had no chapters at all, so it felt as if all the events occurred within a matter of weeks, although it was supposed to happen over several months.

In summary I liked the plot, even if it was pretty predictable, but the characters and the way they act have major issues.


Magic, Inc: 4 stars

Magic Inc was a really fun blend of magic use and the business world (though it was written in the 1940s, so businesses were a bit different then what we might automatically think of today). The storyline was interesting as well, and was far less predictable than Waldo. This story was also surprisingly critical to corporations to a degree I did not expect, as well as some social commentary on how corporations inevitably tie into politics, general criticism on the US law-making system, and it specifically made a point to have a character realize his own racism and come to terms with it, focusing on the fact that African culture and history exists and should be respected.

However, as it was written in the 40s, the author did play into some racist stereotypes when creating the magic and history of his only black character. Similarly, there is a mild amount of sexism as well, although it seems as if the author was trying to make a point against sexism.

Overall, I really liked this book, as the blend of magic and everyday professional life was very entertaining and the plot was enjoyable as well, even if there were (quite) a few issues with representation. (Also the main character had an extreme case of 'just some guy' syndrome.)

[Debbie Notkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I've started to do when friends die is watch a movie or read a book that they loved. A dear friend died in March, a man who lived effectively his whole life with spinal muscular atrophy, a disease reasonably akin to muscular dystrophy. A science-fiction fan from childhood, it's no surprise that the book of his heart was Waldo, perhaps the most successful science fiction story about severe disability ever written.

Of course, as a lifelong science fiction fan myself, I had read these more than once or twice when I was young, but I don't think I had picked them up in 30 years or more. In this time, I found Waldo to be a somewhat interesting curiosity, but it is poorly written (even for its time) and at least half if not 2/3 of it is a treatise rather than a story. Heinlein got very caught up in writing about magic as if it were science, and he can go on for pages and pages without ever referring to his characters or his plot line. Politically, it's also dated, because although the protagonist is very severely disabled, well, let's just say that they could cast an able-bodied character in the movie and let you determine the spoilers from there.

Magic, Inc., on the other hand, which I remembered as pretty minor, may not be anything special but it is more interesting. It pairs well with Waldo because both are about integrating somewhat different concepts of magic into the existing culture of the 1940s/1950s US. In the interest of foiling the magic user cabal attempting to control all magic use for its own profit, our "regular guy" hero gets caught up in the American legislative system. Heinlein describes that system, how it works and how it doesn't, in clear and reasonably entertaining detail--and it is surprisingly close to how things work now, 70 years later. Heinlein wrote a nonfiction book called Take Back Your Government and, to my surprise, this story felt like the template for that idea. The characters are a little better drawn than in Waldo and there's a better story-to-theory balance.

In the end, if you haven't read these already, they probably won't give you much, but they are historically interesting--and I feel like I paid a little tribute to my friend's life.

[Flavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waldo e Anonima stregoni sono due racconti concepiti separatamente dall'autore e poi uniti dall'editore in virtù del comune tema di fondo. Lo stile è a tratti un po' acerbo ma la narrazione scorre piacevole, è ricca di spunti immaginifici e pur trattandosi dei primi lavori di Heinlein vi compaiono già quei temi politici, sociali e filosofici che saranno il cardine di tutta la sua produzione. Sorprende scoprire già una certa maestria nell'intessere questi temi insieme al fantastico e alla fantascienza, in modo talmente organico da far risultare verosimile l'intera vicenda narrata. Stessa maestria che si ravvisa nella caratterizzazione dei personaggi (su tutti Waldo): un personaggio ben descritto non galleggia solitario nel testo ma, anzi, finisce per "caratterizzare" la storia che gli è intessuta intorno. Tema comune ad ambo i racconti è la magia. In "Waldo" la magia come scoperta, come rivoluzione "scientifica" capace di salvare un mondo al collasso, con le sue leggi fluide ma precise ancora tutte da scoprire e codificare. In "Anonima stregoni" la magia come arte integrata nel sistema, al pari di una qualunque abilità artigianale o ingegneristica, e la lotta per difenderne l'autonomia dalle diaboliche grinfie del monopolio e della burocrazia.

Divertente lettura, leggera ma intrigante, consigliata a chi apprezza una fantascienza più "a briglia sciolta" e meno legata allo "scientificamente plausibile".

[Shane Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading the preface I hadn’t known these were two separate short stories. It was funny to read Doubleday approached Heinlein to publish these two together and he asked what the hell, those two go together like mustard and watermelon. 😂

Waldo was a really cool read. Did Heinlein envision remote-controlled surgical manipulators in the 40s? The da Vinci Surgical System was approved by the FDA in 2000. Crazy if so. Magic, Inc. was a little fun, but I’m not a fan of fantasy so my enjoyment was limited. Still, I think it’s worth reading these novellas written in 1940 and 1942. It’s a different flavor of Heinlein for sure.

[Chan Fry · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this collection of two long novellas, Heinlein deals with magic in two different ways. In Waldo (1942), he tries to have his characters discover magic through the scientific method, with scientific explanations. In Magic, Inc. (1940), he goes full-bore magic and includes every type of magical reference he can think of. Both are enjoyable in their own way. The second, especially, includes characters I don’t see often in pulp SFF from that time period, like an elderly woman, a Black man, and a Jewish man. There are even paragraphs of fairly enlightened explanations for their positions in society.

(I have published a longer review on my website.)

[Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between the Other and Half Worlds

A good reread in a retro way, the concepts behind these two clever Heinlein novellas have held up nicely over time. In the first, Walter Farthingaite-Jones, aka Waldo, is the victim of a childhood disease that leaves him overly weak, yet he compensates in inventiveness, creating at age 10 a remote control robotic arm. The patent gives him the financial means to relocate to a personal fortress of solitude in zero-g low earth orbit where his lack of strength is not a liability.

The conundrum of the story is the world’s dependency on radiant (wirelessly transmitted) power which is used world wide to supply electricity for everything from flying cars to the home, copper transmission lines having been abandoned and mined. The key device, the de Kalb receptors, have exhibited a random pattern of failure. The North American Power Authority (NAPA) deems this a Waldo class problem, with the wrinkle that NAPA indirectly cheated Jones out of a different patent, making it problematic to deal with him. Waldo however is prodded into taking on the task, and the solution is somewhat magical in nature, requiring the supposition of a secondary universe, also referred to as the “Other World”.

Magic Inc takes place in an alternate modern world where magic is routinely used as an essential element of business production. The protagonist, Archie Fraser runs a legitimate construction business, and is approached by a somewhat demonic shakedown operation to only use magicians from a certain guild. Deeming this a restraint of trade, Archie refuses, and the game is on. Archie contacts a friend of his, Joe Jedson, a savvy garment manufacturer who also is dependent on magic. As events progress, with nice touches of humour and a tour (and of course commentary) on the legislative process as the Association attempts create a legal monopoly through oversight and approval on the provision of magic as service, a violation of the RICO act (1970) had it been in place when the story was written in 1940. The trail for a just resolution leads to Hell (the Half World) itself.

Logic, and spatial geometry figure prominently in Hell and in Waldo’s space station home, and even the fantastical aspects of both are subject to reason and logic. The a prototypical boldness that defines the Heinlein hero – though condescending in part to everyone else, that boldness transcends any antipathy - as long as you are good at what you do, no other judgement can carry. Both story telling and characterization are good, and Heinlein’s libertarian spirit, while always present, is never overwhelming.

[Valerie]

For a long time remote handling devices were called 'waldoes' after the central character in the first part. I was most interested in the fact that Waldo, handicapped by myaesthenia gravis, moved to an outer space habitat on the proceeds of the waldos. This marked the first time I'd ever HEARD of myaesthenia gravis.

The second part (Magic Inc) is basically unrelated. I figure the page count turned up short, so they just plugged in another short story of about the right length, with a little cutting and polishing to fit. It's along the line of "The gentleman says it's pixies." The most unlikely part is that the folk wizard manages to stay isolated--there just aren't that many hermitages anymore.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Como seria um mundo onde a magia domina todos os sectores da sociedade? Bem...não muito diferente,a corrupção e ambição na política seria exactamente igual e a máfia continuaria a ter sotaque siciliano.
Gosto sinceramente da escrita de Robert A. Heinlein, a forma como nos apresenta a realidade alternativa das suas histórias é sem dúvida um exemplo a seguir, ele mostra-nos em vez de nos dizer e até á última página há coisas novas para descobrir. A intriga política foi mais complexa do que esperava, tendo-se tornado até um pouco confusa.
No geral gostei do livro, teve um final inesperado, e houve um equilíbrio bom de ler entre a fantasia e o mundo real. Fez-me até lembrar o Ministério da Magia do mundo de Harry Potter e de como seria numa versão mais negra.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This pair of stories by Heinlein is interesting for the common exploration of the theme of magic, and for the somewhat gentler style of Waldo.
Magic. Inc. is really a rant on predatory business practices, and the challenge of pursuing remedies through the legislative process. It is somewhat incidentally set in a world in which magic is a tool and trade like many others, but that has little to do with his political rant.
Waldo is more interesting, and explores a host of themes from how a physical disability focuses mental development, to the misanthropy of those who were excluded in youth, to the adage that any sufficiently advanced technology may appear to some as magic. Sadly, the ending demonstrates just how bigoted and narrow Heinlein's vision ultimately was.

[Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heinlein and fantasy! That's different! Waldo was an interesting tale of a man who overcame his physical disability by inventing remotely control devices (named after himself, Waldo) to aid him into becoming a much stronger man.

Magic, Inc was his libertarian advocacy against government sanctioned monopoly. In this case, magic in which everyone could have performed before regulation kicked in. Our protagonists formed an odd trio to resolve the problem with magic once for all.

I really enjoyed both stories, it showed Heinlein could write fantasy stories too.

[William Ritch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great thing about reading a book you read more than 25 years ago is that it is almost like reading a brand new book. I had vague, happy, memories of what went on in these stories - but I remember that Waldo was this genius who had very weak muscles and I remember about the "vanishing food" at restaurants in "Magic, Inc."

There is much richness in these stories and I can see now how even in these stories Heinlein influenced my philosophy, politics, and economics.

[Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally got around to reading this classic novella from the master of SciFi, Robert Heinlein. Not sure why I've never read it before now, but I'm glad I finally got around to it. A very enjoyable novella length near-future story that with a number of twists and turns in it that I found to be a very enjoyable read. As always, Heinlein makes you think when you read his stories, and this one is no exception. Definitely on my recommended list.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waldo was very interesting: I had some mixed feelings about the whole "energy from nowhere"thing and keeping things going by imagination.... I was hoping he'd explore its source a little more, it's an uncomfortable concept to be honest, but I suppose leaving it vague and unexplored was the point.

Magic, Inc was an interesting take on magic in the modern world with issues such as certifications, licenses, businesses, laws, and monopolies on the use of magic.

[Richp · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are two short novels. Waldo is SF based on fantasy, Magic is contemporary fantasy. Waldo is weak in the tradition of Golden Era quality, but deserves praise for the waldo concept. Magic is better written, except preachy Heinlein makes an appearance in the last part. Both were enjoyable reading for one who did not expect much.

[Ruby Hollyberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the fascinating things about these two novellas (and perhaps why they are always bound together) is that Waldo is about the discipline of Magick, whereas Magic, Inc. is about the practice of politics.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a company starts having it aircraft crashing at a fantastic rate, Waldo who is forced to live in zero gravity is contacted to identify the problem and develop a solution. He discovers that not only will the solution solve the company's problem but his own as well.