The Wheels Of If And Other Science-Fiction

by L. Sprague de Camp

Contents:

· Foreword · fw
· The Wheels of If [Allister Park] · na Unknown Fantasy Fiction, October 1940
· The Best-Laid Scheme · ss Astounding Science-Fiction, February 1941
· The Warrior Race · ss Astounding Science-Fiction, October 1940
· Hyperpelosity · ss Astounding Science-Fiction, April 1938
· The Merman · ss Astounding Science-Fiction, December 1938
· The Contraband Cow · ss Astounding Science-Fiction, July 1942
· The Gnarly Man · nv Unknown, June 1939


The Wheels of If turned--and Allister Park spun from our own New York through a dizzying succession of alternate worlds to New Belfast...biggest city in the Bretwaldate of Vinland, the country that might have been if some historical crises had turned out the other way... .

Park's frantic efforts to get back to his own if-world turn Vinland upside down--and create a marvelously inventive and entertaining classic of SF.

In addition to this famous novel, this collection includes "The Gnarly Man," "Hyperpelosity," and four other stories in the inimitable De Camp manner.

SBN 425-01893-075

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Ebooks, 20th Century

191 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction literature. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, both novels and works of non-fiction, including biographies of other fantasy authors. He was a major figure in science fiction in the 1930s and 1940s.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wheels of If and Other Science-Fiction was published by Shasta Publishers, a small press in Chicago that specialized in science fiction and fantasy, in 1949 with a terrific wrap-around cover by Hannes Bok. In addition to the titular novella, it includes five short stories and a novelette, all of which originally were published in John W. Campbell's Astounding SF or Unknown Worlds fantasy magazines. I had recently re-read the novella (along with a kind of disappointing sequel to it by Harry Turtledove) in a Tor Double edition and decided to re-read the rest of the book. My favorites were The Gnarly Man (about an immortal Neanderthal who has to evade modern scientific investigation), The Merman, and Hyperpelosity (about a plague of hairiness.) De Camp was a very funny writer, who tempered his dry wit with good description and some serious observation. The other stories are good, too, though I suspect The Contraband Cow in particular might be found offensive in the current time. It's a golden age collection!

[Jersy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun that I finished the collection in a day. It's a mix of unusual, often not so serious concepts I hadn't read before and tropes I love (incl. time travel).

[Shalev Nessaiver · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

L. Sprague de Camp is an excellent historian and has an easy, comfortable style that makes his stories a pleasure to read.
One of the old sci-fi masters, with characters possessing that unassuming competence that is refreshing in light of the modern troubled hero.

The Wheels of If (first story) is one of the seminal works in the alternate history sub-genre.

I particularly liked the foreward:

PEOPLE sometimes accuse me of writing satire. This, if not exactly a vile canard, is at least an inaccurate statement, because in the strict sense satire Ls ridiculing established conditions, conventions, or institutions by exaggeration or burlesque in the hope of changing them. In other words, it has social significance, which is just the thing I studiously avoid in my stories. These yarns are meant purely to amuse and entertain, and neither to instruct, nor to incite, nor to improve. If you get instructed, incited, or improved as a result of reading them, don't blame me, for such was not my intention. Don't think for instance, that The Contraband Cow contains my opinions on the subject of world government; I have such opinions, but I don't necessarily incorporate them into my stories.

These tales all appeared cither in Astounding Science-Fiction or in Unknown during the years 1938-1942. They can all be called fantasies in the broad sense; that is, " 'tain't so" stories. In a strict sense they are science-fiction stories: that is, stories based upon scientific or pseudoscientific assumptions, as opposed to fantasies in the strict sense: stories based upon mythological or supernatural assumptions.

However, let's not get ourselves involved in the dusty science of taxonomy at this point. Let's rather read the stories, and I hope you like them

[robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

They don't write em like this anymore.

Terry Pratchett coined the phrase, 'the wrong trouser leg of time' for a character who'd found himself at the right place but the wrong time (at least, that's how I remember it). de Camp's hero, on the contrary, finds himself in the right time but the wrong place, but like Twain's Connecticut Yankee, he's mentally and physically equipped to take advantage of the situation.

It's well written, and a fun read. Also satisfying in the David v Goliath vein.

[James Rickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of some of his best stories, without a dud in the mix.

[Ben Shakey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun collection of short stories.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories published in the period 1938-42. While suffering a little bit from the problems of pulp fiction of the period, these are better than most. Missing is open racism, and there are characters of other races and religions, not just WASPs in space. While there aren't a lot of women characters, they aren't sexy lampshades and have their own agendas. I'd also class these stories as "urban or planet" science fiction, they all take place on a planet's surface and are unique backdrops for a standard pulp story. de Camp loved satire and possessed a wry sense of humor, it makes for a delightful read.

The Wheels of If : This one is a fairly straightforward pulp story set in an another timeline. Allister Park finds himself on an alternate Earth and because he possesses a superior knowledge of politics, is able to save the day by manipulating the locals. You could call this the clever Earthman trope, it's a common one for Golden Age pulp. These are fun to read, but on further analysis are highly improbable.

The Best-Laid Scheme - Travelling in time can change the past.

The Warrior Race - After many generations of terraforming Mars, the now Spartan-like colonists return and conquer Earth. Those clever Earthmen then corrupt the Warrior Race and take the world back from the fallen Warrior Race.

Hyperpelosity - A genetic change occurs making all people hairy all over, which destroys the fashion industry.

The Merman - Oops, an experiment goes haywire.

The Contraband Cow - Meat eating is banned because it offends Hindus and an Indian army occupies America. Our hero figures out a clever way to repeal the ban and through a misunderstanding makes the Sikh policeman who arrested him an American hero as well.

The Gnarly Man -A 50,000 year old Neanderthal is pursued an anthropologist, a historian and several medical doctors for his body and knowledge.

A decent read, superior to most writing of the period, (a low bar?).

[William Bibliomane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A largely successful collection of stories, with the title novella standing out as a worthwhile read.

Full review here: https://bibliomaneblog.wordpress.com/...

[Dane · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the classics of science fiction, dated by today's standards, but a good read if you're in the right mood.