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The Power of Illusion

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The Power of Illusion (2009) is the eighth SF collection in the Complete Christopher Anvil series, following Rx for Chaos. The initial work in this series is Pandora's Legions.

This collection contains twenty-two stories and an afterword. One story is actually a short novel.

Research East - Tales of Cardan and his associates:

- "A Taste of Poison" (ASF, 1960) tells of the abduction of Cardan by aliens.

- "The Gold of Galileo" (Analog, 1980) is about a machine that aligns neutrons.

- "The Day the Machines Stopped" (1964) relates the consequences of a change in physical laws that more closely binds electrons within atoms. This story was originally published as a short novel.

Solver of Problems - Tales of Verner, the heuristician:

- "The Missile Smasher" (Analog, 1966) concerns the sabotage of missile launches by the enemy.

- "The Problem Solver and the Killer" (EQM. 1966) solves a killing in a snowbound resort.

- "The Hand From the Past" (AFMM, 1972) examines a ransom note.

- "The Problem Solver and the Hostage" (EQM, 1966) concerns a killer holding a young girl as a hostage.

- "The Problem Solver and the Defector" (EQM, 1966) looks for a document in a wrecked car.

- "Key to the Crime" (first pub) looks for a killer in the woods.

- "The Problem Solver and the Burned Letter" (EQM, 1967) reveals the truth in an inheritance issue.

Problems, Snafus, and Fubars - Tales of various situations:

- "Warped Clue" (first pub) considers the accessibility of a house in the woods.

- "The Coward" (Adam, 1966) illustrates the pitfalls of prejudice.

- "A Sense of Disaster" (Fantastic, 1979) points out the importance of pain.

- "Destination Unknown" (SF Adventures, 1958) regards a large reputation in a small habitat.

- "High Road to the East" (Fantastic, 1968) postulates another approach to reaching Cathay.

- "A Tourist Named Death" (IF, 1960) pits an enhanced operative against a hostile planet. This story seems partially based on the imagined situation in "A Taste of Poison".

- "The Knife and the Sheath" (Future Kin, 1974) is a tale about courage and caution.

- "The Anomaly" (first pub) reveals the basis of scientific discovery.

- "In the Light of Further Data" (Analog, 1965) is a cautionary tale about scientific discovery.

- "Apron Chains" (Analog, 1970) regards the consequences of immediate communications.

- "The Power of Illusion" (first pub) examines the power of gratitude and loyalty. This is an Interstellar Patrol story.

Afterword by Eric Flint includes a list of the Anvil tales.

These stories conclude the series. They provide a comprehensive view of a leading author after the middle of the twentieth century. Although this author produced few novels, his short works influenced many others who followed him.

Anvil was the master of misadventure, applying Murphy's Law in many different environments and circumstances. Yet he also was a master of the obvious, revealing less considered truths. His last story -- "Anomaly" -- pointed out the irrational basis of scientific discovery, but "In the Light of Further Data" more explicitly exposed this truth.

BTW, a Cardan is the shaft connecting an engine to the drive train. Since Cardan has a driving personality, this name fits the character. Cardan is also featured in "No Small Enemy" within Rx for Chaos.

Although this is the last volume in the series, other stories are available in novels such as The Steel, the Mist, and the Blazing Sun. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Anvil fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of unfortunate mishaps, human perversity, and determined people.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Baen continues paying homage to the late great Christopher Anvil, known for his witty jocular science fiction tales. The eighth and apparently last Anvil book is divided into three sections. Part I Research East includes three James Cardan tales; two shorts and one novella, The Day the Machines Stopped. Part II Solver of Problems stars Richard Verner in all seven of his short stories. Finally Part III Problems, Snafus and Fubars includes eleven miscellaneous tales with the author's last work The Anomaly first published in this collection.

The Cardan and Verner entries are worth the price of admission as these are two delightful protagonists. Readers will especially enjoy Verner the problem solver. The third section includes well written contributions, but lacks the focus of the other two parts; making this section feeling like a bonus. One common theme that makes this twenty-one story anthology worth reading is the humor even when humanity is on the brink of extinction as Mr. Anvil made the case that The Power of Illusion is keep the reader smiling with sardonic science fiction.

Harriet Klausner

Christopher Anvil is often overlooked but once you read his stories you'll be hooked! My only disappointment was that this was the last of the collections (Thanks so much Eric Flint!!) and that I have run out of "new" stories to make me laugh, ponder and laugh some more. Oh well, guess I'll just go read them all again.

Check out other overlooked authors that Eric Flint has had reprinted - I haven't been sorry yet.