Beanstalk

by John Rackham (Pseudonym), John T. Phillifent

THE TAKING OF HILAX FOUR

Behind every folktale there is a true story and behind every legend a lost fact of history, distorted by word of mouth of people who did not understand what was really happening. In the case of the infiltration of the highly strategic space station upon which the battle between the Salviar Federation and the Hilax Combine pivoted, the account of Earth's role in the affair has become greatly distorted. Because that was eight hundred years ago and the men of Olde England never even knew the world was round, let alone that it was a planet.

Earth still doesn't know which side we were on and because we are out on a far limb of Galactic Sector Seven they haven't contacted us yet. But our very position in the Milky Way just that once made our little planet strategic and when Salviar's scout Jasar-am-Bax had to enlist the aid of a clever young yeoman to launch his kamikaze attack the result became legend.

Genres: Science Fiction

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

A pseudonym used by John T. Phillifent.

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a teenager I adored this science fictional take on the Jack and the Beanstalk tale, so much that years later--despite the risqué and truly embarrassing cover--I found a used copy online and ordered it, and avidly read it when it arrived. I still am shaking my head over how this shattered my fond memories and stomped them into the ground.

Jack is a feudal English serf who meets up with some humanoid aliens, including (of course) giants, who are particularly unpleasant aliens. That girl on the skanky cover is a songbird courtesan with a heart of gold (insert some serious eye-rolling here) who Jack has to save from the evil giant.

Besides dealing in stereotypes, the writing is really clunky. But this book has its fun moments (otherwise I wouldn't have loved it so much as a teen). Having the beanstalk actually be a space elevator was kind of a cool idea.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

DAW Collectors #78

Cover Artist: Kelly Freas

Name: Phillifent, John Thomas, Birthplace: Durham, County Durham, England, UK, (10 November 1916 - 15 December 1976

Alternate Names: John Phillifent, John Rackham.

Behind every folktale there is a true story and behind every legend a lost fact,distorted by word of mouth.in the case of the infiltration of highly strategic space station upon which the battle between the 'salviar federation' and the 'hilax' combine pivoted, the account of earth's role in the affair has been greatly distorted. because it was 800 hundred years ago and the men of old England didn't even the world was round. earth still doesn't know which side we were on and because we are out on a far limb of the galaxy they haven't contacted us yet. but our very position in the milky way just this once made our little planet strategic.

[Mikael · Rating 3 out of 5]

From what I understand this is an alternate take on the Jack and the Beanstalk fable, which I haven't read, but while I think I have a general outline of the tale it's not actually needed as this story be read completely on its own.

This tale starts slowly. and then continues very slowly, and trudges on equally slowly, and while I don't normally give up on books I was planning to give it only two stars. But in the end I changed my mind, because I just can't help being weak for classic romantic endings where the accidental hero gets his dream girl, or princess. And here there's even two at the same time.
So I just had to like it.

[Valerie]

This book introduced me to the idea of space elevators, but that's about all there is to say for it. The subject is better covered in Clarke's The Fountains of Paradise.