Story: Ghost Seas
Author: Steven Utley
First Publication: Lone Star Universe, 1976
Cover: Joseph Troffimoff
On January 12, 2013 the world lost another writer. Steven Utley was once called the most under-rated sf writer in the world by Gardner Dozois. The collection "Ghost Seas" is an excellent one to read whether you are familiar with him or not. In honor of his passing, I plan on reviewing the stories from this collection over the next few weeks.
Synopsis: A man and his new wife go to the Texas desert to visit his wealthy old uncle. What is unusual about that? Nothing. Then the uncle starts talking about the waves from the ocean coming up to his back porch at night time...
Title: Dragonflight
Author: Anne McCaffrey
First Publication: 1968
Cover Artist: Michael Whelan
Series: The Dragonriders of Pern
"Dragonflight" has been sitting on my to be read shelf since the first time I spotted the Michael Whelan cover back in 1979. I loved the cover but never got around to reading the book until Carl (of Stainless Steel Droppings) picked it for a group read. I missed getting my comments posted the first week so here are both week one and week two.
Title: Slave Ship from Sergan
Author: Gregory Kern (E. C. Tubb)
First Publication: 1973
Cover Artist: Jack Gaughan
Series: Cap Kennedy #2
Synopsis (from the back cover):
HUMAN VS INHUMAN To the reptilian mind - especially the intelligent type of planets like Sergan and Obrac - the lives of others were as nothing to the need for status. To the feline mind - especially to the clever advisor of the master of Sergan - the agonies of others were not only of no consequence, they could even be a source of joy. So when these two types of inhuman intelligences got together to defy the Terran orders against interplanetary kidnapping, space hijacking, and human slavery, it was definitely a case for a top-notch secret agent. Because Earth could not afford a showdown with more than one alien species at a time. The secret agent was Cap Kennedy, Free Acting Terran Envoy, and his pursuit of the SLAVE SHIP FROM SERGAN turned out to be one of his most dangerous single-handed adventures.
Title: The Door Through Space
Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley
First Publication: 1959 (Germany)
Cover Artist(from the 1961 Ace Double): Unknown
Synopsis:
Race Cargill is a Terran Intelligence Agent who has been working a desk job since he was disfigured by another agent who went native. He is planning on leaving the planet for good when his sister approaches him with a plea for help. Her husband, the agent who went native, has threatened her and taken their daughter. Race stays to hunt down his former friend and the chess game begins.
Title: Annihilation Vol. 1
Writers: Keith Giffin (Drax & Prologue), Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Nova)
Artists: Mitch Breitweiser (Drax)Scott Kolins (Prologue), Kev Walker (Nova).
First Publication: Marvel 2006
Synopsis (from Amazon):
The Annihilation Wave has come! Annihilus, lord of the Negative Zone, has declared war! Hordes of loyal soldiers swarm from the center of the universe, and only a handful of heroes can resist destruction! As the Xandarian Nova Corps meet its doom, only Richard Rider - the man called Nova - survives. Now the sole custodian of the Worldmind, the Zandarian's database of knowledge and experience, can he rediscover himself in time to lead the war effort against the Annihilation Wave? Drax the Destroyer returns from exile on Earth to mentor Nova - but wait until you see his dangerous new persona! Guest-starring Quasar, Ronan the Accuser, the Super-Skrull and Thanos! Collecting Drax the Destroyer #1-4, Annihilation Prologue and Annihilation: Nova #1-4.
Story: The Skull
Author: Philip K. Dick
First Publication: Worlds of IF, Sept. 1952
Cover(not illustrating this story): Ralph Joiner
Synopsis:
Conger agreed to kill a stranger he had never seen. But he would make no mistakes because he had the stranger's skull under his arm.
Title: The Third Power
Author: Walter Ernsting
First Publication: 1961 (Germany)
Cover Artist: Johnny Bruck
Series: Perry Rhodan #2
Cycle: The Third Power #2
Synopsis:
After returning from the moon with the aliens he discovered, Perry Rhodan returns to Earth and sets up his base in the Gobi desert. Rhodan plans on using the alien technology to unite the world but of course the various countries do not agree with him...
