What do you think?
Rate this book
Four for the Future
Four major science fiction writers stretch their creative muscles on the theme of 'Sacrifice' and 'Redemption' and produce one of the most fascinating, startling and readable SF anthologies ever published.
Brian Aldiss studies the implications of an extended lifespan - a blessing or a curse? In Poul Anderson's High Treason a space fleet commander commits treason to avoid war with another race and his Dipteroid studies the moral dilemma posed by a race for whom cannibalism is a biological necessity. James Blish asks the question: what happens when an irresponsible dropout gains control of the ultimate weapon? Harry Harrison rounds off the anthology with an SF variation on the castaway theme and a disturbing vision of the future where organ transplants are part of everyday life.
Brian Aldiss studies the implications of an extended lifespan - a blessing or a curse? In Poul Anderson's High Treason a space fleet commander commits treason to avoid war with another race and his Dipteroid studies the moral dilemma posed by a race for whom cannibalism is a biological necessity. James Blish asks the question: what happens when an irresponsible dropout gains control of the ultimate weapon? Harry Harrison rounds off the anthology with an SF variation on the castaway theme and a disturbing vision of the future where organ transplants are part of everyday life.
167 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
14 people want to read
About the author
Harry Harrison
1,295 books1,045 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 17, 2020
Four authors, two tales each. A somewhat mixed bag.
Brian Aldiss: 3/5 Two interconnected tales, about immortality and what that brings.
Loved The circulation of the blood..., could not stomach ...and the Stagnation of the Heard. I'd say that the second one actually has a much more important message, as the first one is a bit on the slow and winding side. However, it does feel like it was not really edited, and we're reading a rough draft, more of a concept than a story.
Poul Anderson 5/5
I've first read The Dipteroid Phenomenon and is still one of my favorite stories. No heroes, no villains, just a culture clash and a situation that sadly got out of hand.
High Treason has a similar theme, how one person's betrayal of his own society might have deeper meaning. The line about Dachau rings especially true.
James Blish 4/5
Blish is always a fun read, and his two tales are no exception. A Hero's Life is set in the far future (and also deals with the topic of treason), while Skysign could happen tomorrow. They were nice stories, but I would not have minded reading any of them in a longer format - the characterization was generally good, but it felt somehow too short.
Harry Harrison 4/5
The Gods Themselves Throw Incense (along with Skysign) might be the most dated story in the bunch as it leans heavily on the Damsel in distress trope (technically inverting it, but still). Both in that and in the setup, it somewhat mirrors the classic of The Cold Equations.
Finally, The Ghoul Squad. The twist ending was nice, the writing was good, the main character was developed. But, I have no idea what was the point of the story. It feels like a nicely made weird vignette.
Brian Aldiss: 3/5 Two interconnected tales, about immortality and what that brings.
Loved The circulation of the blood..., could not stomach ...and the Stagnation of the Heard. I'd say that the second one actually has a much more important message, as the first one is a bit on the slow and winding side. However, it does feel like it was not really edited, and we're reading a rough draft, more of a concept than a story.
Poul Anderson 5/5
I've first read The Dipteroid Phenomenon and is still one of my favorite stories. No heroes, no villains, just a culture clash and a situation that sadly got out of hand.
High Treason has a similar theme, how one person's betrayal of his own society might have deeper meaning. The line about Dachau rings especially true.
James Blish 4/5
Blish is always a fun read, and his two tales are no exception. A Hero's Life is set in the far future (and also deals with the topic of treason), while Skysign could happen tomorrow. They were nice stories, but I would not have minded reading any of them in a longer format - the characterization was generally good, but it felt somehow too short.
Harry Harrison 4/5
The Gods Themselves Throw Incense (along with Skysign) might be the most dated story in the bunch as it leans heavily on the Damsel in distress trope (technically inverting it, but still). Both in that and in the setup, it somewhat mirrors the classic of The Cold Equations.
Finally, The Ghoul Squad. The twist ending was nice, the writing was good, the main character was developed. But, I have no idea what was the point of the story. It feels like a nicely made weird vignette.
September 27, 2024
The Circulation of the Blood... by Brian W. Aldiss (1966) ⭐
I don't know if Aldiss was deliberately writing a condescending protagonist in an abusive relationship, but he succeeded. The story was thin, consisting mostly of pontificating and a cringeworthy adultery plot which entirely failed to prop up the philosophical rationale of the story.
...And the Stagnation of the Heart by Brian W. Aldiss (1968) ⭐
Same characters with added nonsense.
High Treason by Poul Anderson (1966) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A solider's monologue as he awaits execution over his unwillingness to undertake a war crime, not because of its horror but because of its consequences. Over just fourteen pages Anderson convincingly world builds a galactic conflict and politics, writes some beautiful prose, and hits us with a meaty moral quandary.
The Dipteroid Phenomenon by Poul Anderson (1969) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
While scientists are surveying a fallen planet that was once part of a galactic empire, one of them is murdered by a native. A clash of cultural norms is set against a need for revenge and culminates in a beautifully written dénouement.
A Hero's Life by James Blish (1966) ⭐
I read this one twice and still found it hard to follow. Blish does rewrite this story in a later collection stating that he wrote this version in a rush, so maybe it's not just me.
Skysign by James Blish (1968) ⭐
Another dislikable main character, but this time intentionally so from Blish. Dated street talk, period derogatory slang, along with misogyny being central to the story make this one unenjoyable. As a character development point it's implied the protagonist mass-raped unconscious women without any consequential follow-up in the plot.
The God's Themselves Throw Incense by Harry Harrison (1966) ⭐⭐
Three survivors in an escape pod have enough air for two... Whilst this is a story we've seen before, Harrison executes it competently as the thin veneer of civilised behaviour breaks down.
The Ghoul Squad by Harry Harrison (1968) ⭐⭐
A story about opt-in organ donation. Neatly done, but not really much in the way of SF here.
I don't know if Aldiss was deliberately writing a condescending protagonist in an abusive relationship, but he succeeded. The story was thin, consisting mostly of pontificating and a cringeworthy adultery plot which entirely failed to prop up the philosophical rationale of the story.
...And the Stagnation of the Heart by Brian W. Aldiss (1968) ⭐
Same characters with added nonsense.
High Treason by Poul Anderson (1966) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A solider's monologue as he awaits execution over his unwillingness to undertake a war crime, not because of its horror but because of its consequences. Over just fourteen pages Anderson convincingly world builds a galactic conflict and politics, writes some beautiful prose, and hits us with a meaty moral quandary.
The Dipteroid Phenomenon by Poul Anderson (1969) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
While scientists are surveying a fallen planet that was once part of a galactic empire, one of them is murdered by a native. A clash of cultural norms is set against a need for revenge and culminates in a beautifully written dénouement.
A Hero's Life by James Blish (1966) ⭐
I read this one twice and still found it hard to follow. Blish does rewrite this story in a later collection stating that he wrote this version in a rush, so maybe it's not just me.
Skysign by James Blish (1968) ⭐
Another dislikable main character, but this time intentionally so from Blish. Dated street talk, period derogatory slang, along with misogyny being central to the story make this one unenjoyable. As a character development point it's implied the protagonist mass-raped unconscious women without any consequential follow-up in the plot.
The God's Themselves Throw Incense by Harry Harrison (1966) ⭐⭐
Three survivors in an escape pod have enough air for two... Whilst this is a story we've seen before, Harrison executes it competently as the thin veneer of civilised behaviour breaks down.
The Ghoul Squad by Harry Harrison (1968) ⭐⭐
A story about opt-in organ donation. Neatly done, but not really much in the way of SF here.
October 12, 2012
Classic topics for SciFi lovers. Would it really be good to live for hundreds of years? If I could do it and keep my health, I'd sure like to find out.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews