Security

by Poul Anderson

Poul Anderson was one of the most popular authors in SF. Born in 1921, he began his career in the Golden Age of SF in the 1950s, and was a regular contributor to Astounding SF magazine (later Analog SF ) edited by John W. Campbell. His work encompassed science fiction and fantasy, including the Polesotechnic League series and the Terran Empire series featuring Dominic Flandry, and the fantasy Kingdoms of Ys series, written with his wife Karen. He received seven Hugo and three Nebula Awards, and a SFWA Grandmaster Award among other honors. He died in 2001. "Security" takes place in a future America, where Control and Efficiency are emphasized, and unquestioned loyalty is required. Nobody wants a repeat of the catastrophic war that happened seventy-five years previously, and sacrifices must be made to insure the ultimate peace. Or so Dr. Allen Lancaster, a Sector Chief on a Project believes, until Security decides his planned vacation will be spent in space on a top secret project. People who learn too much have been jailed or even shot as security risks. Is Dr. Lancaster's new assignment a blessing or a curse? He will find out . . .

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Audiobook, Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Pseudonym A. A. Craig, Michael Karageorge, Winston P. Sanders, P. A. Kingsley.

Poul William Anderson was an American science fiction author who began his career during one of the Golden Ages of the genre and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson also authored several works of fantasy, historical novels, and a prodigious number of short stories. He received numerous awards for his writing, including seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards.

Anderson received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948. He married Karen Kruse in 1953. They had one daughter, Astrid, who is married to science fiction author Greg Bear. Anderson was the sixth President of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, taking office in 1972. He was a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America, a loose-knit group of Heroic Fantasy authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose works were anthologized in Lin Carter's Flashing Swords! anthologies. He was a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Robert A. Heinlein dedicated his 1985 novel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls to Anderson and eight of the other members of the Citizens' Advisory Council on National Space Policy.[2][3]

Poul Anderson died of cancer on July 31, 2001, after a month in the hospital. Several of his novels were published posthumously.


Series:
* Time Patrol
* Psychotechnic League
* Trygve Yamamura
* Harvest of Stars
* King of Ys
* Last Viking
* Hoka
* Future history of the Polesotechnic League
* Flandry

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Security by Poul Anderson is a tersely written, economically delivered novella about a dystopian future where the United States has effectively created a police state of the entire world.

Full of libertarian discussions and themes, this is an interesting vehicle for the author to wax ideological on several subjects. Anderson also demonstrates his ability to write hard science fiction with a touch of humanism.

I am a fan of both Robert A. Heinlein and Philip K. Dick, and Poul Anderson seems to be able to produce a pleasant mix of both writing styles. Actually, this story reminded me very much of Heinlein’s Between Planets, one of my favorite of his juveniles. Heinlein’s novel was published in 1951 and Anderson’s Security was first published in 1953, so there could have been some influence, or just two great minds thinking alike.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obvious, but interesting nonetheless for the political & scientific situation. The state of the US & the mindset is perfect for today, a warning of what easily could be. Well worth listening to & it's free from Librivox here:
https://librivox.org/security-by-poul...

[Norm Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Security, Poul William Anderson, Space Science Fiction February 1953

Well, it is certain that Poul Anderson would be in the Tea Party if he were alive today!

One of my first impressions... and several impressions onward is that the politics being portrayed in this story are so very relevant to today that it is prophetic and almost scary. Not just the wider assumptions but right down to the bearing of arms and rights to speech.

For a short story (or Novella) this is an incredibly complex story with sub-plots, twists, and other expert writer tricks galore. What is too obvious is that Dr. Lancaster is being used. And later is awakened by all the wrong people, which turns out a great plot twist bonus to boot. But not unforeseeable.

Poul Anderson's “Security” is a great story on so many levels that reading it would be pleasant despite prejudices or preconceptions.

It is horrible that I'm rounding a 4.8 stars story down to 4 stars. I really should give it 5.8 for so clearly predicting 2014... or probably every year since 1994.

DON'T! Seriously, don't. Much better without the spoiler...
Allen Lancaster is a patriot who is very careful and thoughtful about doing his duty as an advance physicist. He has special privileges that he enjoys despite a rather mundane job. Then, surprise... a very very top top secret assignment. At every corner he is a bit concerned but finds logic in his top secret project, which he completes on time with great joy and with enjoyment with his co-workers.

For some time after returning to his mundane life it is clear that he has successfully served the government on the top secret project. Then they call him in for “questioning”...

FREE, FREE, FREE
Project Gutenberg: http://m.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22239.m...]
Feedbooks: http://www.feedbooks.com/book/2384.epub
ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cg...

[Phil Giunta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seventy-five years after a devastating war, the United States has become a police state where security, efficiency, and control are paramount. Allen Lancaster, a top scientist, is recruited by the government to develop a top secret weapon. To ensure the highest confidentiality, Lancaster is taken off of Earth to a space lab where he joins a motley team of researchers, including a native Martian. After successfully finishing the project, Lancaster returns to Earth only to find that his absence placed him in the government's crosshairs.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining listening 🎶🔰

Another will written fantasy Sci-Fi space adventure thriller short story by Poul William Anderson about a scientist that is lied to so he will work with rebellious people. I would recommend this novella to readers looking for a quick entertaining read. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa as I do because of eye damage and health issues. 2022 😮⏰

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good but it had a mawkish, mildewed feel to it if that makes sense. I enjoyed it but probably won’t read it again. There are some really good quotes in here, if you feel like looking.
The cobwebs brushed off in the last few chapters.

[Zac Stojcevski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short of the spaceships this book is as scientifically, politically, societally and economically relevant in 2022 as in the 50s. Hence, are we living in the state of dystopia, and if so, who are the good guys?

[Al Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short read that seems very applicable today. When do you know you live in a Police State? And when do you realize that your liberty has been curtailed?

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal freedom is the main theme running through this futuristic book. it was an interesting book to read.

[Rubin Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the future after a devastating war America has become a police state
A scientist in pulled into a spy vs spy deception that there is no determing who is who and which way to go in this Sci -Fi political story

[COGE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting.

[Howard Brazee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short work of a scientist in a dystopian high-security future Earth being sent to work on a project that would be useful for the rebels.

[Gr1972 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5

[Harold M Hendershot]

Good read

The is a well written short story about deceit and trickery. Thinly veiled, yet gripping. A fun and quick to read.

[MH · Rating 2 out of 5]

The twist in this is so obvious that it makes the protagonist look like a complete idiot for not working it out.

[Adhoc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good solid scifi despite Anderson mentioning slide rules and computer tape.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Security is a relatively short novella available at low or no cost as a ebook. It is like seeing one of those early fifties sci if films, the science is dated and the world has changed in ways not expected by the author but you can still enjoy them and you can still enjoy this story by one of the most prolific authors of that period.

[Dorer002 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a novella than a real book. I enjoyed the story, though I thought it was pretty obvious from the get go that he was actually working with rebels. I did think it was a nice twist to have Berg be the one who turned him in.

[Sherry da Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old school sci-fi, entertaining but a bit predictable. A commentary on personal freedom and how important that is.

[Courtney Cox]

predictable