Raymond Z. Gallun

Pen-names: Dow Elstar; E.V. Raymond; Arthur Allport; William Callahan ------------------------------ "Asteroid of Fear" © Planet Stories, Mar 1951 Space Pioneers, 1954 -a --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find ---------------------------------------------- "Blue Haze on Pluto" © Astounding, Jun 1935 --/ third place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ emotion award --/ rare find Very simple and very effective adventure tale; the definitive "planetary crash" experience with noble characters doing noble deeds without being too sugary or heroic about it. Great descriptive passages of starscapes, landscapes, blue sentient mistballs and aggressive sentient ice crystals. Spectacular, pure, gorgeous story, proving that a classic simple plot sometimes is the most effective. (it also helps to be the first on the scene, as this story was written in 1935, before such heroic storylines were shamelessly over-used.) review: 25-Dec-07 (read in 2007) ---------------------------------------------- "Coffins to Mars" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Jun 1950 --/ cool sf novella --/ wonder award --/ rare find Competent Mars-colonisation story, with a great title for a pulp suspense story. However, it could've been more intense. My attention flagged in some places. Great heroism and survival in Mars conditions. review: 04-Jul-06 (read in 2002) ---------------------------------------------- "Comet's Burial" © Science Fiction Stories, Jan 1953 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award: riding the comet --/ awesome scale --/ style award --/ rare find "The Crystal Ray" © Air Wonder Stories, Nov 1929 --/ rare find "Davey Jones' Ambassador" © Astounding Stories, Dec 1935 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award "Derelict" © Astounding Stories, Oct 1935 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find "The Eternal Wall" © Amazing, Nov 1942 Amazing Stories, Apr 1956 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award --/ rare find ---------------------------------------------- "Forbidden Moon" (also as "Invaders of the Forbidden Moon") © Planet Stories, Autumn 1941 A First Glimpse & Other Stories, 2001 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ rare find Starts with a bang, ends with a whimper... This novelette could have been a truly great space adventure, if it did not descend into comic-like one-dimensional world-domination plot in the end. It starts so promising, however, that I am tempeted to include it in my list of best space pulp adventures. The Forbidden Moon of the title beckons with super-science mysteries of the lost alien race - plus the love interest and intrigue between main heroes is set up quite nicely (including visions of the underground lab of veritable steampunk quality). But once the action gets to the mysterious satellite, it all gets very predictable and incredibly similar to P. F. Costello's "People of the Pyramid" (I am sure, it's the other way around). Still, a good read from the Golden Age of "Planet Stories" pulp. ---------------------------------------------- "Guardian Angel" © 1940, Super Science Stories --/ cool sf story --/ rare find "Legacy From Mars" © Science Fiction Adventures, May 1953 --/ cool sf story --/ rare find "The Lotus-Engine" © Super Science Stories, Mar 1940 --/ third place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ idea award --/ rare find ---------------------------------------------- "N'Goc" © Astounding Stories, May 1935 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award --/ rare find This is a quite uninvolving planetary tale of a strange civilization, and a quest of a particular being toward... greater heights of... I did not really care much for this character, but the story environment is professionally told and weird, as usual. Hey, check out the illustration (click to enlarge).. ---------------------------------------------- "Old Faithful" © Astounding Stories, Dec 1934 --short fiction : 1971 Astounding/Analog All-Time Poll /25 (tie) --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award ---------------------------------------------- Raymond Z.Gallun "Operation Pumice" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Apr 1949 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ emotion award --/ style award --/ rare find Great lyrical, stylishly written piece about "fulfillment of dreams (reality) vs. actual enjoyment of these dreams (enthusiasm)" - a sort of the time mismatch, which happens constantly in our lives. Also includes (relevant for 1949, especially) Cold War sentiments on viability of scientific progress if it's going to lead to further alienation of nations and possible nuclear cataclysm. This pessimism is countered by the youthful optimism and "sound and fair" thinking of younger generation - and their shining "sense of wonder" ("Tomorrowland" sort of excitement over the future). Plus great space flight prose and (barely mentioned) idea about concave surface of the Dark Side of the Moon harboring a pocket of atmosphere and a lush life. ---------------------------------------------- "Passport to Jupiter" (nv) © Startling Stories, January 1951 --/ cool sf novel --/ wonder award --/ rare find "Return of a Legend" © Planet Stories, Mar 1952 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ rare find "Saturn' Ringmaster" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Dec 1936 --/ third place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ adventure award --/ awesome scale --/ rare find "Secret of the Comet" © Thrilling Wonder Stories, Jan 1941 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find "Seeds of the Dusk" © Astounding Stories, Jun 1938 --short fiction : 1971 Astounding/Analog All-Time Poll /25 (tie) --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find "Space Oasis" © Planet Stories, Fall 1942 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find "Stamped Caution!" © Galaxy, Aug 1953 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Stepson of Space" © Astonishing Stories, Oct 1940 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award --/ rare find "Telepathic Piracy" © Astounding Stories, Mar 1935 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Terror Out Of The Past" © Amazing Stories, Mar 1943 --/ third place sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ idea award --/ rare find "Trail Blazer" © Fantastic Story Magazine, Fll 1951 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find "The World Wrecker" © Astounding Stories, Jun 1934 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award --/ rare find -------------------------------

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