Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, Vol. 84, No. 6, February 1970

by John W. Campbell Jr. (Editor), Harry Harrison, Hayden Howard

Mr. Edison's Magic Lamp • essay by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Birthright • novelette by Poul Anderson
Dali, For Instance • shortstory by Jack Wodhams
The Wind from a Star • essay by Margaret L. Silbar
The Fifth Ace • novelette by Rob Chilson [as by Robert Chilson ]
In Our Hands, the Stars (Part 3 of 3) • serial by Harry Harrison
The Biggest Oil Disaster • novelette by Hayden Howard

180 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1970

About the author

John 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

Reviews

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emil Dalmady thinks he’s been hauled over the carpet for a mistake he made on the planet Suleiman, but Nicholas van Rijn, head of Solar Spice and Liquors Company, has a different learning experience in store in “Birthright” by Poul Anderson. Golec has regained consciousness only to find that his mind has been transferred into a human! Reeling from the almost incomprehensible changes, he must come to terms with his new situation or go insane in “Dali, For Instance” by Jack Wodhams. Five large arborodons have been shipped to Hyperica and are caged awaiting transport to a zoo. The arborodons are huge saber-toothed cats like giant panthers and due to some blind anthropomorphism are assumed to be animals. In “The Fifth Ace” by Robert Chilson, the escape of what turns out to be incredibly dangerous and intelligent organisms is just the start of the Archon’s troubles. The final instalment of “In Our Hands, The Stars” by Harry Harrison sees the Daleth Effect secured by the Danes and the competing world powers launch their end games. I have reviewed the novel version in detail elsewhere. Hayden Howard closes the issue with some pro-Oil pro-nukes engineer porn in “The Biggest Oil Disaster”, where environmentalists won’t let a miner use a nuke to stop an oil leak.