This volume contains five novels (Wasp, Sinister Barrier, Sentinels from Space, Next of Kin, and Call Him Dead) plus some short fiction (including “Legwork,” “Mechanical Mice,” and “Mana”). Introduction by Jack L. Chalker. Dustjacket art by Bob Eggleton.
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NESFA marches on in its campaign to spring sf pioneer Russell's work from out-of-print limbo. This follow-up to Major Ingredients (2000) includes five novels: the military sf classic Wasp; Next of Kin, about a misfit in a space war; Sentinels from Space and another variation on the theme of alien invasion, Call Him Dead, that is akin to John W. Campbell's great story "Who Goes There?" and Jack Finney's The Body Snatchers in that it makes riveting reading out of raw, dripping paranoia; and Russell's take on Charles Fort and his annals of macabre "natural" phenomena, Sinister Barrier. Three short stories left over from Major Ingredients fill out this fat book. Sometimes Russell's stuff is rather dated, and sometimes his satire hits hard enough to crack both target and the reader's patience, but the novels' length staves off the longueurs of repetition that plagued the all-short-stories previous volume. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too Often Forgotten.,
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This review is from: Entities: The Selected Novels of Eric Frank Russell (Hardcover)
This is a great collection. It includes five novels and 3 short stories from the all too often forgotten Eric Frank Russell (January 6, 1905 - February 28, 1978). This collection was published in 2001, and along with "Major Ingredients", published a year earlier, a lot of his short fiction and most of his best novels are once again available. In addition to Russell's work, this also contains introductions for each of the novels by Jack L. Chalker, as well as an introduction for the whole book by the editor Rick Katze. The following is a list of the novels:
"Wasp" is probably Russell's best known novel. Published originally in 1957, it is the story of James Mowry who is asked to be an agent behind enemy lines in Earth's war with the Sirian Combine. He is asked to be like the wasp in the car that distracts the driver and causes an accident. When this novel was first published, it was edited to fit the predetermined length of Avalon Books. The version in this collection is the unedited version of the novel. This novel was nominated for the 1998 Prometheus Hall of Fame award. "Sentinels from Space" was first published under the title "The Star Watchers" in "Startling Stories", November 1951. In this novel, aliens who are watching Earth but who are posing as humans, become involved in preventing a war between different factions. "Call Him Dead" was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" from August - October of 1955. It was later published under the title "Three to Conquer". In this story Wade Harper is, as far as he knows, the only telepath in existence. When he learns that aliens are taking over the minds of humans he needs to find a way to stop the invasion. "Next Of Kin" was written three times. It was first submitted to "Astounding Science Fiction" and rejected as a novel. It was then trimmed down to a novelette and titled "Plus X", which was published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in June of 1956. Next it was expanded but not to its original length and published as "The Space Willies", along with several short stories in 1958. Finally it was published in its full length and original title in 1959. In this novel, a scout pilot is the first to use a new engine design that will allow him to travel much faster and farther then ever before, in an attempt to scout the enemy's solar systems. When he becomes captured, he learns that there are many similarities between Earth and their enemies, which he uses to his full advantage. "Sinister Barrier" was the first novel published in "Unknown" in March of 1939. However, Russell insisted on updating this novel before he would allow it to be published again in the United States. It is the updated version that is included in this collection. In this story, Bill Graham is investigating the suspicious deaths of many of Earth's best scientists. This novel was listed as the 18th best book on the 1952 Astounding/Analog All-Time Poll. The three short stories are: "Legwork", which was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in April of 1956; "Mana", which was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in December of 1937; and "Mechanical Mice", which was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in January of 1941 as by Maurice G. Hugi. This was the only story for which Russell used that name, other stories by Maurice G. Hugi are by the author of that name.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine book,
This review is from: Entities: The Selected Novels of Eric Frank Russell (Hardcover)
Russell was a gem when I was young; his humor and flippant attitude always was good for some laughs. None of that has changed, and the much-wider collection of this tome allows new fun as well. I's well worth the cost of it, as searching down originals would easily cost four or five times as much, if it could be found at all.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very enjoyable,
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This review is from: Entities: The Selected Novels of Eric Frank Russell (Hardcover)
I read The Wasp many years ago when I was a teenager and have been trying to get another copy without success. When I saw this version I jumped at the chance and thoroughly enjoyed the other stories as well. While they are perhaps a little dated, given when they were written, they are still well worth reading and provide a fun experience.
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