Bolo: The Annals of the Dinochrome Brigade ~Keith Laumer
–first paperback collected publication, 1976
–Berkley Publishing Corporation
–216 pages
–cover illustration by Vincent di Fate
–7/10 Good fun!
My quest to explore the history of science fiction took a sharp turn off its plotted course recently when a cover illustrated by Tom Kidd caught my eye. It was for a Baen book publication, Best of the Bolos, edited by Keith Laumer. With a little digging I discovered that Keith Laumer created a series of future history stories featuring the Bolos–large super-tanks that were initially manned craft but later became self-aware due to the addition of artificial intelligence. Over the course of many centuries the Bolos became more and more advanced and were lauded again and again as the saviors of mankind. On a recent visit to the newly-installed stacks of used books at my local comic shop I came across this collection, Bolo: The Annals of the Dinochrome Brigade. As my interest in these stories was already piqued, I decided to bring it home to begin at the beginning.
The 6 short stories contained within this collection call to mind the stories that fueled my excitement for science fiction several decades ago. I started it last night, reluctantly put it aside to go to bed, and began my day by finishing the last two stories. This was fun.
I am about to make an assertion that perhaps only book lovers will forgive me for: a good story can be as heady and electric as a first kiss, as intoxicating as the finest wine (or a really good margarita), as breathtaking as the most beautiful sunset. A good story can induce a state of euphoria that flows through you like an electrical current. A good story can make you want to be something that you are not.
Jeff Vandermeer tells a good story.
Nowhere is that more apparent than in his first collection of short stories, The Third Bear.
Most of my reading weekend, taking place while watching NFL playoff football, was taken up finishing Jeff Vandermeer’s short story collection, The Third Bear, which I will review separately. I did manage to squeeze in a few more short stories, however, that I am happy to share with you here.
I have recently completed my first review assignment for a relatively new website, The Portal. I read and reviewed the most recent issue of Apex Magazine, edited by award-winning author Catherynne M. Valente. I would love it if you had the time to pop over there to read my review and leave a comment there too, if the mood strikes.
Imagine you were selected as one of Earth’s elect, chosen to travel light years beyond our galaxy aboard a sleeper ship during which time you are engaged in something called the Dreamtime, where you learn, grow, and form relationships meant to help you in your role of rebuilding humanity on a new world. Now imagine that you have finally arrived. You “wake up”, excited and anxious and ready for your new adventure. You see your chosen partner in real life for the first time and your adrenaline starts flowing. You will soon discover when you are to depart for your new life. All is right with the world.
Now imagine that you truly wake up–it is freezing cold, you are pulled, naked and befuddled, from a watery cocoon by what appears to be a young girl who tells you that you must run. RUN NOW or DIE!
