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Overruled!
ORDER IN THE COURT! A new anthology of science fiction stories that explores what the future of jurisprudence might well be like, with thrilling, hilarious, and downright entertaining results! So much fun, it oughta be illegal! Stories by Robert A. Heinlein, Clifford D. Simak, Sarah A. Hoyt, and more.
Lawyers—pardon me, attorneys—may be portrayed in fiction as the good guys (and gals) or as greedy conniving shysters.
In mundane fiction, the former are represented ably by Earle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason and by Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (we’ll pass over her other novel, Go Set a Watchman, with a less inspiring portrait—consider it obviously set in a parallel world). The less favorable view was expressed by Edgar Rice Burroughs in his SF classic, A Princess of Mars, in which his doubly immortal John Carter observes that the Martians are very fortunate in that, while they may behave with savage cruelty, and are constantly at war, at least they have no lawyers.
Both views of the legal profession have been explored in science fiction and fantasy since John Carter set foot on the Red Planet, as well as looking into possible ways that future punishment for crimes may change, not necessarily for the better. Some of science fiction’s greatest talents are included in this book, including classics by Robert A. Heinlein, Larry Niven, Clifford D. Simak, Robert Silverberg, and more, and newer stories by Sarah A. Hoyt, Alex Shvartsman, and Alvaro Zinos-Amaros, and still other stellar talents bringing down the judge’s gavel with a verdict of excellent entertainment.
Introduction by Hank Davis appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Hank Davis. Published by permission of the author.
“The Sketcher” by Tom Kidd appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Tom Kidd. Published by permission of the author.
“Jerry Was a Man” by Robert A. Heinlein originally appeared in Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1947, under the title “Jerry Is a Man.” © 1947 by Standard Magazines, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the Spectrum Literary Agency for the author’s estate.
“Paradox & Attorneys at Law” by Kevin J. Anderson originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction—Science Fact, September 2005. © 2005 by Kevin J. Anderson. Reprinted by permission of the author.
“The Jigsaw Man” by Larry Niven originally appeared in Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison, Doubleday, 1968. ©1968 by Larry Niven. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, Spectrum Literary Agency.
“Skulking Permit” by Robert Sheckley originally appeared in Galaxy, December 1954. © 1954 by Galaxy Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of Donald Maass Literary Agency for the author’s estate.
“CHECKSUM, Checkmate” by Tony Daniel originally appeared as an e-story on Baen.com. © 2016 by Tony Daniel. Reprinted by permission of the author.
“The Executioner” by Algis Budrys originally appeared in Astounding Science Fiction, January 1956. © 1956 by Street & Smith. Reprinted by permission of Zeno Literary Agency, agent for the author’s estate.
“License to Live” by Sarah A. Hoyt & Laura Montgomery appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Sarah A. Hoyt and Laura Montgomery. Published by permission of the authors.
“The Riot That Wasn’t in Port Neeks” by Susan R. Matthews appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Susan R. Matthews. Published by permission of the author.
“Lawyer Fight” by Larry Correia is expanded from a much shorter version that appeared in The Monster Hunter International Employee’s Handbook and Roleplaying Game and is © 2013 by Larry Correia. This revised version is © 2020 by Larry Correia. Published by permission of the author.
“The People v. Craig Morrison” by Alex Shvartsman and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro originally appeared in Analog, July–August 2018. © 2018 by Alex Shvartsman and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro. Reprinted by permission of the authors.
“How-2” by Clifford D. Simak originally appeared in Galaxy, November 1954. © 1954 by Galaxy Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of David Wixon for the author’s estate.
“Moving Spirit” by Arthur C. Clarke, originally appeared in Tales from the White Hart, Ballantine Books, 1957. © 1957 by Arthur C. Clarke. Reprinted by permission of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, Inc., for the author’s estate.
“Victim of Changes” by Christopher Ruocchio appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Christopher Ruocchio. Published by permission of the author.
“The Cyber and Justice Holmes” by Frank Riley originally appeared in Worlds of Science Fiction, March 1955. The story is in the public domain.
“To See the Invisible Man” by Robert Silverberg originally appeared in Worlds of Tomorrow, April 1963. © 1963 by Digest Productions Corporation. Reprinted by permission of the author.
“License to Steal” by Loui...
Lawyers—pardon me, attorneys—may be portrayed in fiction as the good guys (and gals) or as greedy conniving shysters.
In mundane fiction, the former are represented ably by Earle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason and by Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (we’ll pass over her other novel, Go Set a Watchman, with a less inspiring portrait—consider it obviously set in a parallel world). The less favorable view was expressed by Edgar Rice Burroughs in his SF classic, A Princess of Mars, in which his doubly immortal John Carter observes that the Martians are very fortunate in that, while they may behave with savage cruelty, and are constantly at war, at least they have no lawyers.
Both views of the legal profession have been explored in science fiction and fantasy since John Carter set foot on the Red Planet, as well as looking into possible ways that future punishment for crimes may change, not necessarily for the better. Some of science fiction’s greatest talents are included in this book, including classics by Robert A. Heinlein, Larry Niven, Clifford D. Simak, Robert Silverberg, and more, and newer stories by Sarah A. Hoyt, Alex Shvartsman, and Alvaro Zinos-Amaros, and still other stellar talents bringing down the judge’s gavel with a verdict of excellent entertainment.
Introduction by Hank Davis appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Hank Davis. Published by permission of the author.
“The Sketcher” by Tom Kidd appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Tom Kidd. Published by permission of the author.
“Jerry Was a Man” by Robert A. Heinlein originally appeared in Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1947, under the title “Jerry Is a Man.” © 1947 by Standard Magazines, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the Spectrum Literary Agency for the author’s estate.
“Paradox & Attorneys at Law” by Kevin J. Anderson originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction—Science Fact, September 2005. © 2005 by Kevin J. Anderson. Reprinted by permission of the author.
“The Jigsaw Man” by Larry Niven originally appeared in Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison, Doubleday, 1968. ©1968 by Larry Niven. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, Spectrum Literary Agency.
“Skulking Permit” by Robert Sheckley originally appeared in Galaxy, December 1954. © 1954 by Galaxy Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of Donald Maass Literary Agency for the author’s estate.
“CHECKSUM, Checkmate” by Tony Daniel originally appeared as an e-story on Baen.com. © 2016 by Tony Daniel. Reprinted by permission of the author.
“The Executioner” by Algis Budrys originally appeared in Astounding Science Fiction, January 1956. © 1956 by Street & Smith. Reprinted by permission of Zeno Literary Agency, agent for the author’s estate.
“License to Live” by Sarah A. Hoyt & Laura Montgomery appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Sarah A. Hoyt and Laura Montgomery. Published by permission of the authors.
“The Riot That Wasn’t in Port Neeks” by Susan R. Matthews appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Susan R. Matthews. Published by permission of the author.
“Lawyer Fight” by Larry Correia is expanded from a much shorter version that appeared in The Monster Hunter International Employee’s Handbook and Roleplaying Game and is © 2013 by Larry Correia. This revised version is © 2020 by Larry Correia. Published by permission of the author.
“The People v. Craig Morrison” by Alex Shvartsman and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro originally appeared in Analog, July–August 2018. © 2018 by Alex Shvartsman and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro. Reprinted by permission of the authors.
“How-2” by Clifford D. Simak originally appeared in Galaxy, November 1954. © 1954 by Galaxy Publishing Corporation. Reprinted by permission of David Wixon for the author’s estate.
“Moving Spirit” by Arthur C. Clarke, originally appeared in Tales from the White Hart, Ballantine Books, 1957. © 1957 by Arthur C. Clarke. Reprinted by permission of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency, Inc., for the author’s estate.
“Victim of Changes” by Christopher Ruocchio appears here for the first time. © 2020 by Christopher Ruocchio. Published by permission of the author.
“The Cyber and Justice Holmes” by Frank Riley originally appeared in Worlds of Science Fiction, March 1955. The story is in the public domain.
“To See the Invisible Man” by Robert Silverberg originally appeared in Worlds of Tomorrow, April 1963. © 1963 by Digest Productions Corporation. Reprinted by permission of the author.
“License to Steal” by Loui...
437 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 29, 2020
A extra large serving of fun. My favorites were The Sketcher (Kidd), The Executioner (Budrys), License to Live (Hoyt and Montgomery), and Lawyer Fight (Correia).
May 29, 2020
Nice history lesson.
Nice history lesson in SF, it's now a valued part of my SF collection. Bit of an advert for Baen authors but that's just another enjoyable facet of this anthology, I get to follow new sources and find some great novels. Buy this book, you won't regret it 😁👍
Nice history lesson in SF, it's now a valued part of my SF collection. Bit of an advert for Baen authors but that's just another enjoyable facet of this anthology, I get to follow new sources and find some great novels. Buy this book, you won't regret it 😁👍
May 5, 2022
I'd give this a higher rating but it's pretty uneven. Some of the stories of lawyers are really just conservative attacks on law and government (not invalid attacks mind you) but they are less interesting than the tricky bits of legal and sci fi intersecting of the best bits.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews