Poul Anderson is a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. He won seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards in addition to being awarded Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America. He was a giant in the science fiction field, publishing dozens of novels. His shorter works appeared in magazines such as ‘Astounding, Galaxy,’ ‘The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction,’ and ‘Planet Stories.’ Collected in this Super Pack are fourteen stories that helped Poul Anderson chisel his name across the face of science fiction. Over five hundred pages of thrilling stories that will not disappoint. Included in the collection ‘Industrial Revolution,’ ‘Innocent at Large,’ ‘Sargasso of Lost Starships,’ ‘Duel on Syrtis,’ ‘The Sensitive Man,’ ‘Lord of a Thousand Suns,’ ‘Out of the Iron Womb!,’ ‘Star Ship,’ ‘Witch of the Demon Seas,’ ‘Sentiment, Inc.,’ ‘Security,’ ‘Inside Earth,’ ‘The Valor of Cappen Varra,’ and ‘The Chapter Ends.’
ENGLISH: The edition I have read contains the 14 stories in this edition, plus 8 additional ones. I am commenting here those I have liked best. Star Ship: A mixture of sci-fi and barbarian fighting, both of which are Anderson's favored genres. In an expanding Galatic Empire, a group of humans gets marooned in a planet populated by aliens at the barbarian culture level. Three generations later, they try to reach their abandoned star ship before the barbarians get control of it, helped by a traitor. Duel on Syrtis: In a Solar System overflowing with life, sometimes intelligent, in every planet, heartless people wishes to hunt the intelligent Martians. Within a reduced space, protected by a radiactive fence, a wicked earthman tries to hunt a practically unarmed Martian, who can get the only help of a friendly ecology. Inside Earth: An benevolent extraterrestrial interstellar empire has absorbed the Earth. Many Earth people want to rebel. The protagonist must spy them and prevent their success. Problems of this story: Most extraterrestrials are almost identical to us; and those who have created the empire are too good. This is an original story, especially because in almost all of Anderson's works the terrestrials are almost irresistible for the aliens. The sensitive man: A story of superhuman abilities obtained through education and training. I had read it before. Security: A story of a dictatorial U.S. government and the rebels that want to get democracy back. The first part of the plot is transparent. The ending is surprising, as it shows that there are bastards in both sides. The chapter ends: The last Earth people must leave the planet for a new way of life in other solar systems. Except one old man, who is set on remaining on the Earth, as its only dweller, forever. Industrial revolution: A transcription of the Boston Tea Party to a future where the "colonies" of Earth in the Asteroid Belt want to gain their independence.
And among the additional stories: Tiger by the Tail: I had read this story in the collection Agent of the Terran Empire, which contains four stories starring Dominic Flandry. World of the Mad: This story is different and original. A planet colonized by the Terran Empire has different physical, biological and psychological laws than the remainder of the universe. Most people get mad there, but a few adapt. And one of them must leave the planet he loves because his wife cannot adapt. For me, the story is somewhat marred by the Pantheism exhibited by Anderson. Swordsman of lost Terra: In a future Earth, after a cosmic catastrophe, man has gone back to barbarism. Anderson feels happy describing Conan-like adventures. Snowball: The discovery of the perfect insulator (Anderson's favorite future invention, also used in Security) triggers an avalanche of social and military changes that change the world.
ESPAÑOL: La edición que he leído contiene las 14 historias cortas de esta edición, además de otras 8. Aquí comento las que me han gustado más. La Nave Estelar: una mezcla de ciencia ficción y lucha al estilo bárbaro, dos de los géneros favoritos de Anderson. En un Imperio Galáctico en expansión, un grupo de humanos queda abandonado en un planeta poblado por extraterrestres con una cultura de nivel bárbaro. Tres generaciones después, intentan llegar a su nave estelar abandonada antes de que los bárbaros consigan apoderarse de ella, ayudados por un traidor. Duelo en Syrtis: En un Sistema Solar con todos sus planetas rebosantes de vida, que a veces es inteligente, hombres sin corazón desean cazar a los marcianos inteligentes. En un espacio reducido, protegido por una valla radiactiva, un malvado terrícola intenta dar caza a un marciano prácticamente desarmado, que sólo puede contar con la ayuda de una ecología amistosa. Dentro de la Tierra: Un imperio interestelar extraterrestre benévolo ha absorbido a la Tierra. Muchos terrestres quiere rebelarse. El protagonista debe espiarlos y evitar que lo consigan. Este cuento presenta algunos problemas: La mayoría de los extraterrestres son casi idénticos a nosotros; y los que han creado el imperio son demasiado buenos. Es muy original, sobre todo porque en casi todas las obras de Anderson los terrestres son casi irresistibles por parte de los extraterrestres. El hombre sensitivo: Un cuento que trata de habilidades sobrehumanas obtenidas a través de la educación y el entrenamiento. Ya lo había leído. Seguridad: En este cuento, hay un gobierno dictatorial en los Estados Unidos, y unos rebeldes que quieren recuperar la democracia. La primera parte de la trama es transparente. El final es sorprendente, ya que demuestra que hay gente vil en ambas partes. Fin del capítulo: Los últimos habitantes de la Tierra deben abandonar el planeta para buscar un nuevo modo de vida en otros sistemas solares. Excepto un anciano, que se empeña en permanecer en la Tierra, como único habitante y para siempre. Revolución industrial: Transcripción del Motín del Té de Boston a un futuro en el que las "colonias" de la Tierra en el Cinturón de Asteroides quieren obtener su independencia.
Y entre los cuentos adicionales: Un Tigre por la Cola: Leí este cuento en la colección Agente del Imperio Terráqueo, que contiene cuatro historias cuyo protagonista es Dominic Flandry. El Mundo de los Locos: Este cuento es diferente y original. Un planeta colonizado por el Imperio Terráqueo está sometido a leyes físicas, biológicas y psicológicas diferentes a las del resto del universo. La mayoría de sus habitantes se vuelven locos, pero unos pocos se adaptan. Uno de ellos debe marcharte del planeta que tanto ama, porque su esposa no puede adaptarse. Para mí, el panteísmo que exhibe Anderson me estropea este cuento. Espadachín de la Tierra perdida: En una Tierra futura, tras una catástrofe cósmica, el hombre ha vuelto a la barbarie. Anderson se siente feliz describiendo aventuras al estilo de Conan el Bárbaro. Bola de nieve: el descubrimiento del aislante perfecto (el invento futuro favorito de Anderson, pues también lo utilizó en Seguridad) desencadena una avalancha de cambios sociales y militares que transforman el mundo.
There's a lot to like, but as with any collection there were some I didn't. There’s a political theme to several, two where aliens take over the earth, one to civilize us ready to join the galaxy, another where just want to move us out of the way. Many stories have dated elements, with pipe-smoking heroes, and decorative heroines, but despite this, the stories hold up.