T'nT: Telzey & Trigger

Telzey and Trigger #3+

by James H. Schmitz

Volume 2 of the collected works of James H. Schmitz. The Federation of the Hub: thousands of rough, ornery and tough-minded human worlds with only the subtlest of governments holding them together. It's prime real estate for criminals, unscrupulous corporations, and invaders from beyond Federation space. But in Hub space, a citizen is expected to stand up for herself, blaster in hand; so when Trouble comes Hubward in large doses, there's an armed citizenry waiting for it.

Genres: Science Fiction, Ebooks, Fiction, Short Stories, Space Opera, Fantasy, Young Adult

ebook

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

James Henry Schmitz (October 15, 1911–April 18, 1981) was an American writer born in Hamburg, Germany of American parents. Aside from two years at business school in Chicago, Schmitz lived in Germany until 1938, leaving before World War II broke out in Europe in 1939. During World War II, Schmitz served as an aerial photographer in the Pacific for the United States Army Air Corps. After the war, he and his brother-in-law ran a business which manufactured trailers until they broke up the business in 1949.

Schmitz is best known as a writer of space opera, and for strong female characters (including Telzey Amberdon and Trigger Argee) that didn't fit into the damsel in distress stereotype typical of science fiction during the time he was writing. His first published story was Greenface, published in August 1943 in Unknown. Most of his works are part of the "Hub" series, though his best known novel is the non-Hub The Witches of Karres, concerning juvenile "witches" with genuine psi-powers and their escape from slavery. Karres was nominated for a Hugo Award.

In recent years, his novels and short stories have been republished by Baen Books (which bought the rights to his estate for $6500), edited (sometimes heavily edited) and with notes by Eric Flint. Baen have also published new works based in the Karres universe.

Schmitz died of congestive lung failure in 1981 after a five week stay in the hospital in Los Angeles. He was survived by his wife, Betty Mae Chapman Schmitz.

Reviews

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

ENGLISH: This is the second book in the "whole works" edition of Schmitz Sci-Fi made by Baen books, but I always read it in third place. It seems to me that their order was a mistake. Look at how the stories are classified:

Book I Telzey Amberdon (first 6 stories starring Telzey plus 2 others).
Book II Telzey & Trigger (last 7 stories starring Telzei, 3 of which are also the last 3 starring Trigger).
Book III Trigger & friends (first 3 stories starring Trigger plus 3 others).

Now, I usually (not always) prefer to read stories in chronological order. Especially when that happens to be also the publication order. I understand the editors decision: they put all the Telzey stories together (but then they didn't, as the first book contains 2 stories not starred by Telzey).

In any case, I fully enjoyed this book, as I've read it in the (for me) appropriate order.

ESPAÑOL: Este es el segundo libro de la edición de "obras completas" de la ciencia-ficción de Schmitz hecha por Baen Books, pero siempre lo leo en tercer lugar. Me parece que el orden elegido fue incorrecto. Así es como se clasificaron los relatos:

Libro I Telzey Amberdon (primeros 6 relatos protagonizados por Telzey más otros 2).
Libro II Telzey & Trigger (últimos 7 relatos protagonizados por Telzei, tres de los cuales son los tres últimos 3 protagonizadas por Trigger).
Libro III Trigger & Friends (primeros 3 relatos protagonizados por Trigger más otros 3).

Pues bien, por lo general (no siempre) prefiero leer los relatos en orden cronológico. Especialmente cuando ese es también el orden de publicación. Entiendo la decisión de los editores: juntaron todas las historias de Telzey (aunque en realidad no, pues el primer libro contiene 2 relatos no protagonizados por Telzey).

En cualquier caso, disfruté mucho con este libro, y lo he leído en el orden (para mí) apropiado.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories that centers around Telzey and/or Trigger, both female characters and both have been well crafted. I wish I had read more of his work back in the seventies & eighties. His writing is fun, very much to the point yet you know everything you need to to enjoy the story. And these stories are very enjoyable. The remarkable thing is that these stories are still fresh and interesting today. The female characters are very strong, something you didn't see much back in the seventies, Schmitz was definately ahead of his time. For anyone wanting to learn how to write short stories this is the writer to read and learn from.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reprints of classic James H. Schmitz shorts from the 1950s, edited by Eric Flint. He did a good job, and these are good stories. Worth a look if you come across a copy.

Here are some free samples of other Schmitz Stories. I partic recommend his "Grandpa" (1955) https://www.baen.com/Chapters/0671319...
-- which you will find remarkably fresh, even if it was written before you were born!
More freebies here
https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/...
Enjoy! The price is right . . .

[Elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, classic SF. James H. Schmitz is one of the very few male SF-writers that can write good female protagonists, that are more that just a pretty face. Highly recommended

[Nathanielk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just pure fun SF. No one does this kind of story better.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger and Telzey together at last! Well, not quite. Some of these stories feature both, but most have one or the other. Several of these stories have been published in other books--but I thank Eric Flint for reissuing these again as a new series titled "The Complete Federation of the Hub". This is volume 2. Eric Flint's afterward is a succinct analysis of the differences in the two women's characters and personalities. And Guy Gordon attempts to distill what makes a James Schmitz novel so wonderful.

The stories: "Company Planet" is Telzey all the way where cosmetic surgery enters a whole new arena.
"Resident Witch" is another Telzey story, having her exercise her power in a last ditch effort to save a life.
Telzey and Trigger meet for the first time in "Compulsion" and showcase their two different personalities as they deal with sentient trees. Plus, we meet the Old Galactics again!
Telzey and Trigger work together in "Glory Day" to save their own and their companions' lives.
Telzey stars in "Child of the Gods" as she falls under the mind control of a man who has bitten off more than he can chew.
Telzey fights, not just for her life, but for her individuality, in "Ti's Toys". And it sure would have been wonderful to have a sequel featuring Gaziel.
Trigger is on her own in "The Symbiotes", where she meets three very interesting beings that all look to be human but are so much more. Telzey comes in at the very end so the two can trade a few quips as the finale to this book.

[David H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of Schmitz's stories collects the remaining stories that include Telzey Amberdon, but I have more stories to go in this universe (with Trigger and others). I happened to have read most of the stories in here this past year due to reading my dad's Analogs from the '70s, so I mostly read this for "Resident Witch" and some odds and ends. That said, it's a fun volume, with more of Telzey's adventures (many with Trigger). She's a very competent hero and that's both a bit ridiculous but also just plain fun to read. That said, certain stories can drag a bit on occasion, but I really liked the ones like "Compulsion" which set up an antagonistic situation that ends up quite different in the end.

Eric Flint's afterword was nice (mostly gushing about Trigger), and Guy Gordon provides a nice little essay about what a Schmitz story means.

[Bill Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read . . .

[Jerry]

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[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

THEY'RE DYNAMITE!Telzey Amberdon is one of the most powerful xenotelepaths in the known galaxy. Trigger Argee is a crack shot, with reflexes that make lightning look lethargic, and also a top agent of the galaxy's Federation of the Hub. Separately, they have been making life miserable for human criminals, unfriendly aliens, and nefarious members of all species. But when a danger to the entire Hub civilization brought these two together, the galaxy would never be the same!

[Wilson E. Stevens Sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a number of short stories written by James H. Schmitz in the 1960's that have been edited and republished in a book containing a number of these stories. This is volume 2 of a 4 volume series. The stories are well though out and entertaining to read. His works are not popular today because they are to short by today's standards. I recommend this to any one interested in psi and mind reading, along with a sense of mystery. Overall a very good read for young or old.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of Telzey stories. I particularly liked Corporate Planet. Resident Witch is well crafted but creepy. The addition of Trigger Argee as a key protagonist adds to this volume. This collection demonstrates the strength of Schmitz was in writing long form short stories (Novellas). Well worth my time.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great collection of short stories by Schmitz featuring Telzey and Trigger. Telzey is one of the best xenotelepaths in the galaxy while Trigger is a crack shot Federation agent. Some stories only feature one of the girls but most have both of them. The action is good and the dialogue great.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of stories taking place around the Hub have the talents of both Telzey Amberdon and Trigger Argee. Sometimes separately, sometimes together. I really enjoy the Hub stories and have one more to read, plus another book with Telzey. Perhaps I might try one of the Witches of Karras.

[Cynthia Armistead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but these books are a little dated.

[Keith · Rating 1 out of 5]

as dull as dish water i had more fun picking the dead skin from between my toes

[CatBookMom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free ebook from Baen. Fast read, an interesting series of short stories, good characters.

[Howard]

9

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining. Nice set of short stories. An easy read which moved well.