In the Library Reviews - Stanley G. Weinbaum Reviews



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Reviewed Titles A Martian Odyssey and Other Classic Science Fiction Stories	Stanley W. Weinbaum Reviews Added April 21, 2004 A Martian Odyssey and Other Classic Science Fiction Stories Author: Stanley G. Weinbaum Publisher: Renaissance E Books Available At: www.renebooks.com Publishing Date: Available Now Genre: Science Fiction: Classic Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT Price: $4.99 ISBN: 1-58873-121-9 Reviewer: Joyce Handzo The writing of Stanley G. Weinbaum has been described as a "nova". His work intensified in brilliance, yet ended abruptly. Eighteen months after "A Martian Odyssey" was first published in July 1934, this imaginative author was dead of throat cancer. It is this reviewer's hope that this book will be more that a tribute or a nostalgic look at Weinbaum's work. Rather, may it serve as a benchmark to other science fiction writers and readers. This is classic, hard science fiction; the kind of writing that birthed a whole new genre. The creativity and the scientific principles seen here are even more valid and believable seventy years later. The book is divided into two parts. The first one is called "The Tales of Tweel". Tweel was described as a "freak ostrich", with an eighteen inch beak and the ability to jump seventy-five feet. Upon the initial publication of these stories, Tweel became readers' most favorite character. His adventures with Dick Jarvis, chemist of the crew Ares, will make him a favorite with today's audience as well. A very useful technique employed by the author was allowing Dick Jarvis to recount his own adventures. Told in the first person, with breathless excitement, makes readers feel they are actually sitting among the Ares crew. The second part of the book is a collection of other science fiction stories. They are as diverse as they are different. Not all involve space travel, yet all contain the outworking of a scientific principle. For instance, in "Pygmalion's Spectacles", the issue of reality is explored, with a travel through the senses. "Circle of Zero" looks at the laws of chance and makes the reader wonder if it's possible to remember the future. "The Dictator" is a full of political intrigue with a decidedly different twist. This book gets high praise for the imaginative elements that blend so perfectly with the hard, scientific principles set forth. A trademark of good science fiction is when the reader can feel that all this might actually happen. This author had the talent to breathe life into his inventiveness, so the reader can envision and experience it on the printed page. Isaac Asimov said that Weinbaum's stories are " a major event in science fiction". This reviewer wholeheartedly agrees. Return to top of page. This page was last updated on January 1, 2008 This page and all its contents are Copyright© 2002-2008 In the Library Reviews and the individual reviewers. Except where noted, all graphics are Copyright© Eos Development and are used with permission. All book covers are Copyright© their respective publishers and are used with permission. The In the Library Reviews logo is Copyright© 2002 by In the Library Reviews/Sharyn McGinty. Site maintained by In the Library Reviews.