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dustydigger
Posted 2015-03-30 4:19 AM (#9968 - in reply to #9162)
Subject: Re: The Definitive 1950s Reading Challenge		Quote Reply



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Location: UK		1954 - I have read previously to the challenge 4/11 books of that year.
Isaac Asimov - Caves of Steel. i thoroughly enjoyed this first outing for Daneel Olivaw and Lige Baley. The privations in the aftermath of WWII show in the way the world is on the brink with a population of 8 billion,and the whole of society had to be regimented around feeding the people who have retreated to steel domes and fear the outside world. while the rest of mankind went out to colonise 30 planets. Engaging characters,and a mystery,rather perfunctory in its solving,but for me this book was a much more enjoyable read than the Foundation books.
Richard Matheson - I am Legend. Would you class this short but harrowing little book horror or SF? It would fit both,with its vampires or plagues,but mostly it is a study of lonliness. Poignant and so sad. The various film versions couldnt do it justice,because its not so much about the action,though there is plenty of that,but is about the internal sorrow ,depression and ,yes,boredom of his claustrophobic life. Excellent
Hal Clement - Mission of Gravity. Human scientists are intrigued by the massive planet Mesklin,which has an 18 minute day,rotating so rapidly that its equatorial diameter is more than double its polar diameter.So its gravity is variable,from a mere 3 gees at the equator to 700 gees at the polesIt has a methane/ammonia atmosphere,and an steep axis tilt that produces ferocious weather.The planet is totally inhospitable to humans (a 180 lb man would weigh 540 lbs at the equator,60 tons at the poles) so when an earth probe sent to the south pole fails to take off for its return with precious data about the mysteries of Mesklin gravity,the humans must enlist the help of a Mesklin sea captain,Barlennan,a trader,explorer,adventurer, to make the enormous,difficult and dangerous trek to the pole to bring back the data.....
Challenged by John W Campbell to devise a planet of variable gravity,Hal Clement with some help from a certain Isaac Asimov,painstakingly worked out the physics,chemistry and biology of Mesklin,and then used it to underpin an exciting adventure tale about Barlennan and his redoubtable crew.15 inches long,3 inches high,incredibly tough and strong physically,Barlennan is brave,resourceful,very intelligent,intellectually curious-and ambitious to learn as much as he can about the humans' science.He may look a bit like an earthly caterpillar,but Barlennan is cute.Its fun going on the journey with him,and though there is a great deal of hard science in this book,the plot and characters are enough to make it an enjoyable yarn as much as a scientific dossier about an amazing planet.
It is dated,of course.I was delighted to see a human engineer using a slide rule,using a wall projector to show their filmed material,but all in all a fun read as Clement manages the balance of science and story,something too many writers are unable to achieve.Highly recommended
Robert A Heinlein - Star Beast. Amusing fluff,one of RAHs juveniles,lightweight but enjoyable about a boy and his unusual ET pet.,whom the town wants to get rid of. Said beast turns out to be royalty and his people want him back. One interesting little point is that the world leader is a black African,which in 1954 segregated USA must have been a little startling!
I am unable to obtain most of the other books of this year,but will read Leinster's Forgotten Planet.

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