12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Technology and Risks, November 21, 2008
War Games (2008) is the sixth SF collection in the Complete Christopher Anvil series, following
The Trouble With Humans. In the previous volume, the stories were related to intraspecies problems throughout the galaxy. This volume contains eighteen stories divided into six categories. The two stories in the War category were previously published as
The Steel, the Mist and the Blazing Sun.
These stories concentrate on human progress on this planet. They concern technological developments that result in changes to human societies. Some involve concomitant cultural changes that accelerate these results.
The Peacekeepers' Problems
- Truce By Boomerang (Astounding, 1957) is a story of a technological development that allows friendly fire to be diverted against their own headquarters.
- A Rose By Any Other Name... (Astounding, 1960) tells of a device that blocks the ability to use certain terms.
- The New Member (Galaxy, 1967) relates the actions of the latest nation to join the United Nations.
Washington's Headaches
- Babel II (Analog, 1967) recounts the attempts of a psychic to foresee the next world crisis.
- The Trojan Bombardment (Galaxy, 1967) discloses the military use of distractants to confound the enemy.
- Problem of Command (Analog, 1963) illustrates a more relevant way to determine fitness for command in the contemporary world.
- Uncalculated Risk (Analog, 1962) indicates the unforeseen result of an agricultural experiment.
Moscow'd Dilemmas
- Torch (Astounding, 1957) explains the surprising results of a nuclear test.
- Devise and Conquer (Galaxy, 1966) presents the astounding social effect of a new formulation of sun block.
- War Games (Analog, 1963) proposes a way of reducing tensions using a computerized game (note the publication date).
- Sorceror's Apprentice (Analog, 1962) depicts a way of inducing individuals to do their best.
Free Enterprise At Work
- The Spy in the Maze (Ellery Queen, 1965) exposes the method used by a heuristician to find a murderer in an underground labyrinth.
- The Murder Trap (Man From U.N.C.L.E., 1967) reveals the method used to provoke murderers into publicly revealing themselves.
- Gadget vs. Trend (Analog, 1962) displays the effects of gadgets upon social tendencies.
- Top Line (Analog, 1982) exhibits the effects of gadgets upon economic tendencies.
War
- Ideological Defeat (Analog, 1972) demonstrates the true importance of ideology.
- The Steel, the Mist, and the Blazing Sun (Ace Books, 1980) expresses the dangers of progress and the risks of hindering it.
Or Peace
- Philosopher's Stone (Analog, 1963) divulges a method of increasing technological progress.
These stories revolve around the problems of technological progress here on Earth, now and in the future. This collection might well have been entitled Human Progress, but that name would not sell many books. Pandora's Planet also would have been appropriate, but that title had already been used.
As many of his fans would agree, the author seems to have been concerned with this theme throughout his career. This volume probably should have been the first in the series since it sets the stage for the rest of the works. But who would have read it besides those fans?
These stories exhibit his ability to write serious stories in a humorous style. Each tale is a hilarious fable of human progress. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Anvil fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of technological progress and risks, economic consequences, and great humor. If anyone has not read previous works in this series, read this one first and then read
Pandora's Legions.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific collection filled with twists, humor, and satirical hyperbole of war, December 5, 2008
This is a terrific collection that includes one novel (see THE STEEL, THE MIST AND THE BLAZING SUN) and Christopher Anvil's early short stories. The shorts were published in the major science fiction magazines of the fifties and sixties like Astounding, Galaxy and Analog; as well as one each in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Magazine. The compilation includes two published in the fifties, thirteen in the sixties; one from the seventies; and two in the eighties (including the novel). Each entry is well written filled with twists, humor, and satirical hyperbole of war as so complex that his key characters consistently set out to do what they believe is ethically right only to find morality issues at every turn; a sort of Bushian spin since "Mission Accomplished". Incredibly even the plug and play world is anticipated by Mr. Anvil in defense of one's home.
THE STEEL, THE MIST AND THE BLAZING SUN. Two hundred years have past since WW III between the USA and the Soviet Union left devastation across the globe with the deployment of the nukes. Elected King Arakal of Wesdem O'Cracys (his adventures start in the included short "Ideological Defeat" - read that first) and his militia annexed the Russian colony in America and forged an alliance with New Kebeck to the north. He goes east across the ocean as west is too radioactive. His target is the Old O'Cracy islands of Old Brunswick and the continent just beyond the small channel starting with Old Kebeck. The Russians look forward to greet him with open warfare. Although feeling outdated with the collapse of the Soviet Union, this is an entreating war novel, which like the included shorts, proclaims war is absurd but is as human as eating and breathing.
Harriet Klausner
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