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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Pulp Classic,
By
This review is from: Gunner Cade & Takeoff (Paperback)
Cyril Judd was the pen-name used by SF husband and wife writing team C. M. Kornbluth an Judith Merrill for this collaboration.In the far-flung future, soldiers, called "gunners" live as members of monastic-like orders. They fight only other gunners, who serve other lords, and all serve the Emperor. Unknown to them, the general public follows their exploits with sports-fan-like fascination -- how many kills does this gunner have, etc. Cade is an ordinary gunner, proud to serve. By a tremendous combination of coincidence and conspiracy, he is captured by the underground, who try to program him for their own purposes. He escapes, only to find himself a wanted man, branded a traitor, with all gunners ordered to kill him. But along the way he meets this girl, see, and in his quest to find her, he finds himself involved in a DIFFERENT underground conspiracy, and the girl turns out to be the Emperor's neice, naturally, and before you know it we're on a rocketship to Mars to the secret rebel base and... GUNNER CADE is great pulp SF. It has the sense of wonder, the rip-roaring plot, the "Oh, wow" moments, along with numerous pungent observations on government, religion, sex, etc. Written in 1952, it fulfills it's mission of entertainment magnificently. Kornbluth and Merrill were such talented writers; it's a shame they couldn't have written at a time when publisher would allow a SF writer 300 pages to fully flesh out a story (as opposed to today, when even marginal writers get 400 pages fo "Volume One of the Chronicles of Boredome Octology).
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two futures,
By
This review is from: Gunner Cade & Takeoff (Paperback)
Gunner Cade & Takeoff (1983) is an omnibus edition, containing Gunner Cade and Takeoff. These tales were originally published during the great swell of SF novels a few years after the Second World War.In Gunner Cade (1952), the Gunner wakes on Battle Morn and performs the rituals of his Order. The Gunner in the next bunk is sloppy in his wakening rites and barely seals his gun before the water showers down. Harrow will be returning to Mars after this battle. When they encounter Moscovy forces in northern France, Harrow suggests that a gunner shoot at them from an aircar. Cade knows that such methods are wicked and he chastens Harrow. Yet he allows Harrow to draw enemy fire to make up for his words. After his armsmen take a house, Cade checks the cellar. He finds an old woman and a body under the house. The woman offers him cider and he falls asleep from the sedative in it. When Cade awakes, he finds himself in Baltimore. He is a captive of a group that plots against the Emperor. A young woman in commoner apparel tells him that he is endangered. Cade knocks her unconscious and tries to escape. He is recaptured by the followers of the Cairo Mystery. He is drugged and hypnotised with orders to kill the Power Master. Then he is left in a commoner dive to recover from the drug. The girl finds him again and tries to talk him into following her. But Cade refuses to listen and heads toward the nearest Chapter House of the Order. He orders a policeman to take him to the House and is arrested for impersonating a Gunner. In Takeoff (1952), Holland invites MacIlheny to Washington for a discussion about nuclear rocket fuel. Holland says that the current position of the AEC will not allow him to start a project to produce such fuel. MacIlheny points out the futility of the current US rocket research. They separate with frustration in each man. Novak finds NEPA to have underequipped and scarce laboratories and lots of bowing to superiors. Then he gets transferred to the Neutron Path Prediction Division. He finds the mathematics incomprehensible and the theory even more so. He bombards the Argonne Laboratory director with requests for transfer back to ceramic engineering. Then the director posts a denial of his request on the section bulletin board. Novak fells the director with one blow to the chin and resigns his position. Novak purchases an advertisement in the Ceramic Industries journal and makes rounds of the local employment agencies. He has only negative or foolish responses for ten days. Then he gets a response that offers a job in research and development for high altitude aircraft. He responds with a telegram and a money order is wired back for a round-trip flight to Los Angeles. When he gets to LA, he stores his bag in a locket and catches a cab to the indicated address. He almost does not go into the office after seeing the name on the door. ASFSF needs a ceramic engineer to build refractory nozzles for their prototype spaceship. He is carefully told that the craft -- named Prototype -- is only a model for future vessels. Novak is impressed by Clifton, despite his mannerisms. After signing the contract, Novak is put to work designing a ceramic lab. He draws up a list of equipment and sketches out a floor plan. He is surprised when the design is accepted. Mike works closely with Clifton. During their tour of the site, he meets Amy testing flight chairs. Then she is picked up by a chauffeur in a limo. Mike likes the casual nature of the ASFSF members and their dedication to spaceflight. He introduces himself at the monthly meeting and the society members seem to like him. Then he finds Clifton dead in the restroom. These tales were better that average stories for the period. Now they are dated in language and concept. But they are worth reading anyway. Cunner Cade has a message much like The Weapon Shops of Isher, which was published the previous year. This tale is more about governmental power than personal liberty. It does depict the powerlessness of the commoners without guns, but it doesn't provide arms to the general populace. Takeoff is much like Rocket Ship Galileo, which was published five years before. In both tales, the fuel was supplied by the government and the ship is built by amateurs. Yet it is more about governmental faults than about amateur competence. Kornbluth seemed to lack true originality, but wrote well. He wrote another story with Judith Merril in addition to Gunner Cade, but it was a minor work. His most famous works were coauthored with Frederik Pohl, including The Space Merchants. Merril wrote some very good stories, including Shadow on the Hearth, an apocalyptic tale. But she is best known for her annual anthologies in The Year's Greatest SF & Fantasy series. Recommended for Kornbluth & Merril fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of alternate histories, political intrigue, and a touch of romance. Read and enjoy! -Arthur W. Jordin
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a little known masterpiece by c.m. kornbluth,
By ronzal@bellatlantic.net (pennsylvania, usa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gunner Cade & Takeoff (Paperback)
The book is written under c.m. kornbluth's pen name. It concerns a fugitive "soldier" on the run from the empire. He has given his life to the empire and now he finds that he is a fugitive. With the help of an underground organization he finds more than what he bargains for thus entering a new phase in his life. A very easy read, fun, and a prime example of an excellent writer who died young.
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