Mother Nature, sensing my need to feed my classic science fiction jones, provided me with perfect reading weather this weekend: ice and snow. After returning from the early morning showing of Shutter Island we shut ourselves in for the weekend as the weather turned quite nasty. I chose to embrace the situation by reading Robert A. Heinlein’s classic, Farmer in the Sky on Saturday, followed up by a Sunday reading of the Cordwainer Smith short story collection, You Will Never Be the Same.
Listen carefully…can you hear that? That, my dear friends, is the sound of a deep sigh of satisfaction birthed from a weekend immersed in great stories. Let me tell you about them…
Farmer in the Sky ~Robert A. Heinlein
–published 1950
–Dell Mayflower
–221 pages
–Winner of Retro Hugo Award for Best Novel 1951
–4.25/5 stars
Farmer in the Sky is one of Heinlein’s juveniles, originally serialized in Boy’s Life, the official magazine of the Boy Scouts. It tells the story of a young man, Bill, who cares for his widowed father on a future Earth, overcrowded with people to the point that food is rationed. When the opportunity arrives to reinvent themselves, frontier-style, on Ganymede, one of Jupiter’s moons, Bill and his father George, and a couple of surprise guests, decide to take the challenge and emigrate. What they find when they arrive are the kind of adventures that mark Heinlein as one of the timeless greats.
I didn’t know exactly what to expect from a story written with this kind of specific audience in mind. I was pleased to discover that, as I read, the story just got better and better and better. Heinlein’s description of what it was like for Bill to stand out on the barren land and see an enormous Jupiter across the sky filled me with a tangible sense of wonder. I couldn’t help but think just how thrilling this had to have been for the children reading it as it was released. The efforts Bill had to make to build a workable farm and his interactions with the various characters on Ganymede brought back fond memories of one of the chapters in the life of Lazarus Long in Time Enough for Love, my first experience with Robert A. Heinlein. Farmer in the Sky is a novel that stands the test of time not because of a lack of dated material, for there is some of that, but because Heinlein did not write down to his audience. Instead he crafted a mature, yet age-appropriate tale that espouses the value of hard work, the importance of connection with family and friends, and the adventures that can be had by taking a chance, while at the same time igniting the imagination with a vision of the future that instills a lasting sense of wonder. This is great fun.
One of the many things I found interesting was that the main character refers to his father by his first name and insists on being called by his own first name rather than “son”. I couldn’t help but wonder what an organization like the Boy Scouts in the 1950’s thought of what might be considered disrespectful to parents. It was not meant to be disrespectful in anyway, and it is actually an effective part of the story being told, and yet I wonder if parents found it troubling back then.
My only complaint with the book was that very close to the end Heinlein felt the need to add an additional fantastical element that, while exciting, came too late in the story to fully take advantage of it. I have no doubt that this worked better in its original serialized format.
Whether one is young, or just young at heart, Farmer in the Sky is must-read vintage Heinlein.
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You Will Never Be the Same ~Cordwainer Smith
–published 1963
–Berkley Publishing Corporation
–176 pages
–3.75/5 stars
My first experience with the works of Cordwainer Smith was January 2009, when I read the outstanding collection, Space Lords, for the Sci Fi Experience. Frankly I was blown away by his work and consider him one of the unsung…or at least undersung…masters of the genre. His work has a lyrical quality that has to be experienced for any mere definition to do it justice. In my recent used bookstore adventures I was thrilled to find this collection for a reasonable 50 cents! At those prices I could not resist. While this collection is not quite as good on the whole as the Space Lords collection, Cordwainer Smith is one of those authors whose lesser efforts stand head and shoulders above many of his peers. Don’t let the rating fool you, I had a great time with these stories.
One of the many interesting things about Smith’s short fiction is that it is set in the universe of the Instrumentality of Man, a future history that he devised. It is a fascinating bit of world-building that is revealed so elegantly in his stories. It is a shame that he passed away so young as I have no doubt he had many more stories set in this universe to tell.
This collection contains 8 stories (where free online copies exist, I have linked them to the title):
No, No, Not Rogov! (4/5 stars):
Love stories abound in this collection. This one starts off the trend with a tale set in Stalin’s Russia, where an unlikely pair of lovers, under the watchful eye of the state, work on a machine to conduct targeted mind-reading and eavesdropping anywhere in the world. This is the story of what happens when the project succeeds beyond their wildest imaginations.
The Lady Who Sailed The Soul (4/5 stars)
The unfortunately named Helen America rises above her infamous birth to become the first woman to sail the stars. In so doing she embarks on an adventure, and love story, that will be sung throughout the annuls of time. Despite being a heart-warming story, Smith describes a method of interstellar travel that is both fascinating and horrifying. I have never quite read anything like it.
Scanners Live in Vain (4.5/5 stars)
This is Smith’s first published story and one of his most critically acclaimed. The Scanners are men who voluntarily cut themselves off from all sensory input, with the exception of sight, to man specialized suits that allow them to function under the extreme conditions necessary for assisting with interstellar travel. This tale follows one particular scanner, Martel, who gives the reader an eye-opening glimpse into what sort of life this really is. When rumors arrive that a man may have discovered a secret to space travel that would free the scanners, an assassination is planned. Martel must decide between the life of pride that he has known as a scanner and the chance to perhaps recapture what it is like to be truly human. This is an amazing story. The ideas that Smith explores with this story are just incredible. This is the kind of story that proves just how powerful short stories in this genre can be.
The Game of Rat and Dragon (4.25/5 stars)
I read this story last year during a short story filled weekend. What I said then was:
“My brief experience with Cordwainer Smith is that he tells accessible stories with ideas that I have not seen elsewhere in my reading. He does the same with The Game of Rat and Dragon, which tells the tale of an unconventional method of protecting ships during interstellar travel–a method called ‘pin-lighting’. Pin-lighting is a combination of technology and telepathy in which humans work together with “Partners”. Who the Partners are and how this experience works is the essence of this short story and so I won’t spoil the fun!”
The Burning of the Brain (3.5/5 stars)
This is another love story, that of the tragic tale of Go-Captain Magno Taliano and Dolores Oh. This collection is interesting in that it shows some of the chronology of space travel in Cordwainer Smith’s universe and very clearly outlines the dangers in early space travel. While the story is interesting, it lacks some of the well-rounded feel of Smith’s better stories.
Golden the Ship Was–Oh!Oh!Oh! (3.5/5 stars)
This story introduces The Instrumentality to this collection in a tale of how a war was won with a bluff, a ruse, a legend. It is an entertaining story that I couldn’t help wish was ever so slightly longer and more fleshed out. Some interesting characters and ideas are introduced here and I wanted to spend more time with them.
Alpha Ralpha Boulevard (4/5 stars)
This story is set in the far future, during a time called The Rediscovery of Man. It is a time post-utopia, when the Lords of the Instrumentality are “reconstructing old cultures”, allowing mankind to return to an earlier state of chance and free will and the triumphs and tragedies that come along with it. The reader is introduced to a couple, Paul and Virginia, who meet a strange man who promises to take them to the Abba-dingo, a predicting machine that Virginia hopes will reveal to her whether the feelings she feels for Paul are truly her own or if they were implanted by The Instrumentality. The journey to this would-be prophet is imaginative, tension-filled, and is an example of why I look at the work of Cordwainer Smith and say, “Wow!”.
Mark Elf (3.75/5 stars)
I couldn’t help think when I read this story just how much fun it would be to see this story animated by one of the many creative and talented minds whose artistic creations populate the internet landscape. At the height of Hitler’s demise, a nazi-despising German father put his young daughter, Carlotta vom Acht, in some sort of time suspension and shot her off into space. Our story begins as she plummets back to an Earth far different from that she remembers. Sub-humans, a talking bear, an ancient killing machine and an unlikely romance make for one wild ride.
My friend Jerry once described Smith’s writing as ‘psychedelic’, and for many of his stories this could be an apt description. Cordwainer Smith marries outrageously imagined ideas to what are now considered standard science fiction tropes to create works of art. I absolutely love reading his stories because each one is a complete surprise.
Someday soon I hope to snag a copy of his complete short stories, The Rediscovery of Man.
One day I will run out of Cordwainer Smith stories, and that, my friends, will be a very sad day indeed.
I really love the early Heinlein but have never gotten around to reading Farmer in the Sky. I’ll have to remedy that and soon based on your review. I’ve not read any Cordwainer Smith as yet but he’s been on my list a long time now.
Old Golden Age SF is just good fun to read – pure adventure tales. I’m reading E.E. ‘Doc’ Smith’s Skylark Series right now and it’s a hoot. The men are men and the women are willing. It reads like an episode of X Minus 1 sounds – great!
Dave: E.E. Doc Smith is an author that I want to check out. From what little I’ve read about the Skylark Series, they sound really fun. Will you be doing a review?
If you decide to check out Smith, I cannot recommend the Space Lords collection enough. Although grabbing a copy of NESFA’s complete Smith short story colleciton, The Rediscovery of Man, is probably the way to go.
I read Farmer in the Sky out loud to my kids ( ages 9 and 12 at the time ) last year and we all loved it. It had just the right mix of adventure and humor for adults and kids a like while also delivering good messages on hard work, family and scouting. It’s one of my favorite Heinlein juveniles that I’ve read so far. I enjoyed it as much as I have Red Planet, Have Space Suit – Will Travel, and The Rolling Stones.
I recently re-read Tunnel In the Sky. Also one of Heinlein’s juvenile series. It follows a group of teenagers who are stranded while on an away adventure. It sure sparked my imagination as a kid. I have always thought that it would make a great base for a sci-fi TV show. Time to track down Farmer in the Sky.
I think you need to find a way to “frame” each of these awesomely cool old sci-fi books and create a massive wall display. Even though I find myself thinking that I’m not sure that I’ll ever have time to read all these cool books you’ve been reviewing the last couple months, I find myself wanting to go to the used book stores in search of them just so I can have all the incredible covers!
Well, Carl, you know how I feel about the Heinlein juveniles. I wish modern science fiction writers wrote such uplifting and inspiring science fiction books for kids today.
I read Coordwainer Smith every now and then. He’s an odd one. I really like when I can find his stories on audio, their weirdness seems to come out better.
And boy do I wish I could sit and read like you do! I’ve just got to find more reading time.
Jim H: I do too. While I do feel these books are good enough for kids to read and enjoy today (as evidenced by Jeff’s experience with his kids) I know that for a majority of kids to catch on a story probably has to have a more contemporary feel.
Smith is an odd one, no doubt about it, but I really feel like his stuff works and I don’t always feel that way about works that try to do something similar. I imagine his stuff would be really good on audio with the right reader.
Debi: I have had fun these last few months tracking down some of the older covers for my reading copies of these books. Mary got me Farmer in the Sky and two other Heinlein books from ebay for Valentine’s Day.
Ian: Tunnel is one I am trying to find in an old cover that I like. My hope is to one day work my way through all of Heinlein’s books, most especially the juveniles.
Jeff: I thought you had read it to them and that you all enjoyed it. Jerry mentioned that the other day as well. I have a copy of The Rolling Stones which is one of the three books Mary got for me for Val’s Day.
It’s a rare and unusual thing to say, but I like the cover of he current Baen trade edition better than the one you show here. Your has nothing to do with the book, but that wasn’t unusual then (or now). The big problem with the Baen cover is a lot of it is obscured by text. I like the other cover a lot.
I have the NESFA Cordwainer Smith collection, but have not cracked it. I also have their publication of Norstrilia, his only novel, also unread. So many books…
Very nice reviews and summaries of the stories. You do a good job describing without spoilers.
Richard: I hope your presence here means that you are feeling better. I like the Baen cover for Farmer and for Puppet Masters, which is saying something since I am generally frustrated with Baen’s cover choices. I like Paul Lehr’s art though and though this Farmer’s is not my favorite, I did find it fun. The cover for Smith’s is great, isn’t it?
There are so many books. I have paperback versions of his novel Underpeople and his novel The Planet Buyers that I have yet to read. What I really need to do at this point is get Rediscovery of Man and read the stories in their chronological order based on when in the universe the story is set. That would be fun.
Carl V: Yeah I think I’ll write up a Skylark review when I’m done. This is one you should check out. I’ll say one thing, Doc Smith never heard of the Prime Directive!
Jeff S: Reading Farmer out loud to the kids sounds like great fun. I read The Hobbit to my little girl and she loved it. I wonder if she would like Farmer? She’s a Girl Scout so that might connect with her.
Dave: Doc Smith sounds like my kind of guy! 🙂
Really, you can skip the Skylark series and go straight to the Lensmen books, they are better written (though they’re still olde thyme space opera) and have some binding over-plot to them.
Oh, and TODAY I’m feeling better. I just ploughed through for a bit yesterday ’cause I had another must to do on the computer.
Richard: Excellent, glad you are feeling better. Sounds to me that I need to read the Skylark series AND the Lensmen series!!! 🙂 I love ‘olde thyme’ space opera.
Oh, over on my blog I rewrote my header for your Sci Fi Experience image, extending it to March 6th. Your next challenge, as I recall, doesn’t begin until after that, and it gives me a few extra days. Then I go on vacation for a few days…no computer, no blogs, just a pile of books at the Hotel Del Coronado, on the beach, in San Diego.
I am all for extending it. I certainly plan to extend it myself. Your vacation sounds great, I’m already happy for you and it hasn’t arrived yet.
That, my dear friends, is the sound of a deep sigh of satisfaction birthed from a weekend immersed in great stories.
😀 And isn’t it one of the best sounds
I think so, Fence! 🙂
If only Carl hadn’t “birthed” some other sounds this past weekend as well. 🙂
Hey now, you’re not supposed to be telling people that I call you when I’m sitting on the throne!
Uh, let’s change the subject. Please. Carl, a new post subject???
What is your favorite reading chair? Picture, please. What is your ideal dream of a reading chair? Why? This assumes, of course, that a chair is the preferred place to read as opposed to lying in bed, or stretched out on the floor, or on a chaise lounge poolside, or whatever (do not included that place mentioned in the previous post!).
Example: I like a chair with arms, deep and comfy, leather, an ottoman is nice but not required. Add a nice bright floor lamp for night reading and a side table and I’m set. This type of thing:
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/manhattan-leather-club-chair/?pkey=cleather-occasional-chairs
From thrones to chairs…
I know somewhere in this 5 year pile of blog posts I have a better picture than this one, but my favorite reading chair and most frequent spot to read is similar to what you describe:
Big, comfy leather chair that holds two comfortably, or one even more comfortably if you want to get all snuggled in with a warm blanket (pictured) and good book. I’ve had many a memorable reading experience in this chair. In fact just moments ago I was thinking about a couple of years back when I read the original three Foundation novels in that chair. Its getting about time to read them again.
Sorry Richard. 🙂
I also have a big comfy chair in my living room with arms and an ottoman that is my favorite place to read. Nice views of two windows into the back and front yards that I enjoy looking out when it’s raining or snowing and they provide a nice cross breeze in the summer time.
Jeff: Oh, good call with the breeze. That is something else I really like about reading in that chair. There is a window directly behind it and I love having the attic fan on with the window open (in season, of course) and feeling the breeze blow across the back of my neck/head while I tuck into a good book, or film/tv show for that matter.
Pretty nice. I do like the view out the window aspect of what Jeff says, I get that in the master bedroom which has a big old oak-and-leather rocking chair with views to the back patio.
One of the other places in the house that I like to read in is back in the computer room. It has windows on three sides and is a great place to get stuck into a book either when it is snowing or again when the weather is just right that having windows open on all three sides creates a great breeze.
I really love those covers!