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The Space Beyond
From the Golden Age of Science Fiction:
John W. Campbell, Jr. presents three mind-jarring space operas:
Contents:
* Introduction - Big, Big, Big by Isaac Asimov
* Marooned: Four giant ships made of the wonder element synthium crash the asteroid belt and brave the cold of Jupiter's moons in man's last reckless dash to adventure.
* All: The Chinese have brutally conquered the Earth and out of their ruthless tyranny evolves the last great religious ar...and the first God of Nuclear Divinity.
* The Space Beyond: When you wake up 75 billion miles from Earth in a crippled ship hurtling toward a blistering Mega-Sun, with a crew of insane gangsters and a Texan, what you don't need to run into is a galactic war. Or was that their only chance for survival?
* Afterword by George Zebrowski
John W. Campbell, Jr. presents three mind-jarring space operas:
Contents:
* Introduction - Big, Big, Big by Isaac Asimov
* Marooned: Four giant ships made of the wonder element synthium crash the asteroid belt and brave the cold of Jupiter's moons in man's last reckless dash to adventure.
* All: The Chinese have brutally conquered the Earth and out of their ruthless tyranny evolves the last great religious ar...and the first God of Nuclear Divinity.
* The Space Beyond: When you wake up 75 billion miles from Earth in a crippled ship hurtling toward a blistering Mega-Sun, with a crew of insane gangsters and a Texan, what you don't need to run into is a galactic war. Or was that their only chance for survival?
* Afterword by George Zebrowski
- GenresScience FictionFiction
287 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1976
3 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
John W. Campbell Jr.
779 books283 followersJohn Wood Campbell, Jr. was an influential figure in American science fiction. As editor of Astounding Science Fiction (later called Analog Science Fiction and Fact), from late 1937 until his death, he is generally credited with shaping the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction.
Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in science fiction ever, and for the first ten years of his editorship he dominated the field completely."
As a writer, Campbell published super-science space opera under his own name and moody, less pulpish stories as Don A. Stuart. He stopped writing fiction after he became editor of Astounding.
Known Pseudonyms/Alternate Names:
Don A. Stuart
Karl van Campen
John Campbell
J. W. C., Jr.
John W. Campbell
John Wood Campbell
Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in science fiction ever, and for the first ten years of his editorship he dominated the field completely."
As a writer, Campbell published super-science space opera under his own name and moody, less pulpish stories as Don A. Stuart. He stopped writing fiction after he became editor of Astounding.
Known Pseudonyms/Alternate Names:
Don A. Stuart
Karl van Campen
John Campbell
J. W. C., Jr.
John W. Campbell
John Wood Campbell
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 22, 2024
Three rediscovered sci fi stories by one of the early stars of the genre, each has something going for it, but none are very satisfying. The genre has changed in the last hundred years, with real discoveries, &tc. These stories seem drawn from the odd fantasy well that George Lucas went to for his (awful) Star Wars prequels.
First off to Jupiter, where heroic types play McGuyver in snow, fire, and floating water globs. I imagine the author’s best known work “Who Goes There” (The Thing) uses similar personaggi.
Next is a strange, xenophobic tale of a postwar America defeated by an Asian menace, but with magic on its side. It moves a little quicker, but is still something of a dud.
Finally, the last and longest tale gives us alien planets, races, and technology. I believe it was the first part into what would have been a series, as it ends abruptly.
Much respect, but was a chore to get through.
First off to Jupiter, where heroic types play McGuyver in snow, fire, and floating water globs. I imagine the author’s best known work “Who Goes There” (The Thing) uses similar personaggi.
Next is a strange, xenophobic tale of a postwar America defeated by an Asian menace, but with magic on its side. It moves a little quicker, but is still something of a dud.
Finally, the last and longest tale gives us alien planets, races, and technology. I believe it was the first part into what would have been a series, as it ends abruptly.
Much respect, but was a chore to get through.
March 12, 2022
Rough. I’m well versed in golden age sci-fi but these three Campbell stories took everything I had to get through. The preface and afterword were actually the most enjoyable parts, pointing out the innovations and stylistic choices I just couldn’t appreciate while in the thick of it.
July 8, 2014
Ok, first of all you have to understand that although this book was published in 1976 (post-humously) the stories were written in the '30's!
If you haven't read sci-fi from this time period, I consider this prime, vintage sci-fi, then you don't have a real feel for the period and what other writers were doing.
This is the guy who guided not just the BIG 3 sci-fi writers of the "Golden" era, but countless others as well.
I gave it 5 stars because you have to consider the time element of the book and you can not compare it against anything remotely modern.
If you haven't read sci-fi from this time period, I consider this prime, vintage sci-fi, then you don't have a real feel for the period and what other writers were doing.
This is the guy who guided not just the BIG 3 sci-fi writers of the "Golden" era, but countless others as well.
I gave it 5 stars because you have to consider the time element of the book and you can not compare it against anything remotely modern.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews