Poul Anderson

Poul Anderson at his best reads like poetry and wonderfully romantic space fiction (and at his worst fails to make any lasting impression, though maintaining high professional standards throughout). Some of his stories can be forgettable (though still exciting for their imagery), but for the sheer volume of exalted "space romance" masterpieces he should be entered into the "Space Adventure Hall of Fame" on par with Edmond Hamilton and E. E. 'Doc' Smith, as he almost single-handedly "carried the torch" of Space Opera through the 1960s and 1970s. His fiction is very often great fun, shines with impressive visuals and lyrical language, and speaks of glorious, endless exploration (his fondness for free roaming in space probably came from his Nordic Viking roots). My favorite Poul Anderson story is "Gypsy", later expanded into "Star Ways", though I prefer the shorter version. Pen-names: Winston P. Sanders, A.A.Craig -------------------------------------------- "Admiralty" (Gunnar Heim) © F&SF, Jun 1965 The Star Fox, 1965 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "The Adventure Of The Misplaced Hound" (with Gordon R. Dickson) (Hoka series) © Universe Science Fiction, Dec 1953 Earthman's Burden, 1957 "After Doomsday" (nv) (also as "The Day After Doomsday") © Galaxy, Dec 1961 novel: 1962, Ballantine Books --/ fourth place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award --/ emotion award "Agent Of The Terran Empire" (coll) (Dominic Flandry) © Ace Books, 1965 --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "Alight In The Void" (coll) © 1991, Tor Books --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award "The Ambassadors of Flesh" (also as "Warriors from Nowhere") (Dominic Flandry) © Planet Stories, Sum 1954 Agent Of The Terran Empre, 1965 --/ cool sf story "Among Thieves" (Ambassador Unduma series) © Astounding, Jun 1957 Strangers From Earth, 1961 "The Ancient Gods" (nv) (also as "World Without Stars") © Analog, Jun 1966 book : Ace Books, 1967 The Worlds Of Poul Anderson, 1974 --novel : 1966 Nebula --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "And Yet So Far" (also as "Condemned to Death") (Rustum Migration series) © Fantastic Universe, Oct 1959 Orbit Unlimited, 1961 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Arsenal Port" (Gunnar Heim) © F&SF, Apr 1965 The Star Fox, 1965 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "The Avatar" (nv) (exp. from "Joelle") © IASFM, Fall 1977 book: 1978, Berkley / Putnam --novella : 1978 Locus /9 --novel : 1979 Locus Poll --/ fourth place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ awesome scale "Backwardness" © F&SF, Mar 1958 Kinship With The Stars, 1991 "Ballade Of An Artificial Satellite" © F&SF, Nov 1958 Homebrew, 1976 Alight In The Void, 1991 --/ cool sf poem --/ wonder award "Barnacle Bull" (as by Winston P. Sanders) © Astounding, Sep 1960 "Beyond The Beyond" (coll) (Polesotechnic League) © 1969, Doubleday / Signet --/ fourth place sf collection --/ wonder award "Bicycle Build For Brew" (nv) (also as "Makeshift Rocket") © Astounding, Nov 1958 Kinship With The Stars, 1991 book : Ace Double, 1959 --/ cool sf novel --/ wonder award --/ humour award "The Big Rain" (Psychotechnic League) © Astounding, Oct 1954 Psychotechnic League, 1981 --/ fourth place sf novella --/ wonder award "Birthright" (also as "Esau") (Nicholas Van Rijn) © Analog, Feb 1970 The Earth Book of Stormgate, 1978 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "The Bitter Bread" © Analog, Dec 1975 Explorations, 1981 --/ cool sf story "The Boat Of A Million Years" (nv) © 1989, Tor Books --novel : 1990 Hugo --novel : 1989 Nebula --novel : 1990 Locus Poll --novel : 1990 Prometheus --/ fourth place sf novel --/ wonder award --/ awesome scale ---------------------------------------------- "Brain Wave" (nv) (exp. from "The Escape") © Space Science Fiction, Nov 1953 novel: Ballantine Books, 1954 --/ second place sf novel --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ style award --/ emotion award --/ awesome scale Hands-down the most enjoyable Poul Anderson and one of the most classic extrapolations of "the mind" in science fiction - it is also the most unusual apocalypse for the human race: gradual increase in IQ world-wide, total "genius" epidemic. What the people would do when they realize the ultimate futility of most of our conventional tasks, goals and aspirations? Not to mention the downfall spiral, when they begin to lose the hightened intelligence and return to previous "dumbed-down" state. Sort of like "Flowers for Algernon", but on the global scale. Plus has the signature poetic prose of vintage Anderson. review: 04-Jul-06 (read in 1985) ---------------------------------------------- "Brake" (Psychotechnic League) © Astounding, Aug 1957 Beyond the Beyond, 1969 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "Brave To Be A King" (Time Patrol) © F&SF, Aug 1959 Guardians Of Time, 1960 --/ cool time sf story "The Burning Bridge" (Rustum Migration) © Astounding, Jan 1960 Orbit Unlimited, 1961 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "Butch" © New Worlds, Jul 1955 --/ cool sf story "The Byworlder" (nv) © Fantastic, Jun 1971 book: Signet, 1972 --novel : 1972 Nebula --novel : 1972 Locus /12 --/ cool sf novel "Call Me Joe" © Astounding, Apr 1957 The Dark Between the Stars, 1981 --/ third place space sf novella --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ adventure award --/ style award "Captive Of The Centaurians" © Planet Stories, Mar 1952 Asimov's SF Adventure, 1978 The Gods Laughed, 1982 --/ cool sf story --/ adventure award "Chain of Logic" (also as "Logic") (Twilight World series) © Astounding, Jul 1947 Twilight World, 1961 "The Chapter Ends" (Psychotechnic League) © Dynamic Science Fiction, 1954 Starship, 1982 --/ third place sf story --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ style award --/ emotion award --/ awesome scale --/ rare find "Children Of Fortune" (Twilight World series) © Twilight World, 1961 --/ cool sf novella --/ wonder award "A Chronology Of Technic Civilization" (Polesotechnic League) © 1979, Earth Book Of StormGate "A Circus Of Hells" (nv) (Dominic Flandry) (incl. "The White King's War") © Galaxy, Oct 1969 book: NAL, 1970 --/ cool sf novel "Cold Victory" (Psychotechnic League) © Venture Science Fiction, May 1957 Seven Conquests, 1969 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Cold Victory" (coll) (Psychotechnic League series) © 1982, Tor Books --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award "Commander Flandry" (nv) (also as "The Rebel Worlds") (Dominic Flandry) (Terran Empire) © New American Library, 1969 also in UK in 1978, Orbit --/ cool space sf novel --/ wonder award "Conan The Rebel" (nv) (Conan series) © 1988, Sphere / Ace Books --/ cool f novel "Condemned To Death" (also as "And Yet So Far") (Rustum Migration series) © Fantastic Universe, Oct 1959 Orbit Unlimited, 1961 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "Conflict" (coll) © Tor Books, 1983 --/ cool sf collection "Conquests" (coll) (also as "Seven Conquests") © 1969, Doubleday Books --/ fourth place sf collection --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "Contact Point" (with Theodore R. Cogswell) © 1954, IF --/ cool sf story --/ idea award --/ rare find "The Corridors Of Time" (nv) (Time Patrol) © Amazing, May 1965 book: Ace Books, 1965 --/ third place time sf novel --/ adventure award --/ wonder award --/ style award "Cradle Song" (poem) © 1988, Space Folk --/ wonder award "The Critique Of Impure Reason" © IF, Nov 1962 Time and Stars,1964 --/ cool sf story --/ humour award "The Dark Between The Stars" (coll) © 1981, Berkley / Putnam --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award "The Day After Doomsday" (nv) (also as "After Doomsday") © Galaxy, Dec 1961 novel: 1962, Ballantine Books --/ fourth place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award --/ awesome scale "Day Of Burning" (also as "Supernova") (David Falkayn series) © Analog, Jan 1967 Beyond the Beyond, 1969 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "The Day Of Their Return" (nv) (Dominic Flandry) (Terran Empire) © Doubleday Books, 1973 --/ cool sf novel "Deathwomb" (Berserker series) © Analog, Nov 1983 Berserker Base, ed. F. Saberhagen, 1984 Space Folk, 1988 --/ fourth place sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ awesome scale "Delenda Est" (Time Patrol) © F&SF, Dec 1955 Guardians Of Time, 1960 --/ cool time sf story "The Demon Of Scattery" (nv) (with Mildred Downey Broxon) © 1980, Chapbook Publ. -- illustrated book : 1980 Locus /14 --/ cool f novella --/ wonder award "Details" © IF, Oct 1956 Seven Conquests, 1969 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ style award "The Dipteroid Phenomenon" (also as "The Sharing of Flesh") © Galaxy, Dec 1968 The Night Face & Other Stories, 1979 The Dark Between The Stars, 1982 --/ cool sf story "The Discovery Of The Past" (nf) © 1984, Past Times --/ wonder award "The Disintegrating Sky" © Fantastic Universe, Aug 1953 Strangers From Earth, 1961 --/ cool apocalyptic sf story --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ rare find "Don Jones" (with Gordon R. Dickson) (Hoka series) © Earthman's Burden, 1957 "Door to Anywhere" © Galaxy, Dec 1966 --/ fourth place sf novella --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ rare find "Duel on Syrtis" (Psychotechnic League) © Planet Stories, Mar 1951 Strangers from Earth, 1961 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "The Earth Book Of Stormgate" (coll) (Polesotechnic League) © Berkley / Putnam, 1978 --collection : 1979 Locus Poll --/ cool sf collection "Earthman, Beware!" © Super Science Stories, Jun 1951 Strangers From Earth, 1961 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Earthman's Burden" (coll) (with Gordon R. Dickson) (Hoka series) © 1957, Doubleday / Camelot "Earthman, Go Home!" (nv) (also as "A Plague Of Masters") (Dominic Flandry) (Terran Empire) © Fantastic, Dec 1960 Flandry of Terra, 1965 book: Ace Books, 1961 --/ cool sf novel "Elementary Mistake" (as Winston P. Sanders) © Analog, Feb 1967 Space Folk, 1988 --/ cool space sf story "The Enemy Stars" (nv) (also as "We Have Fed Our Seas") (David Ryerson) © Astounding, Aug 1958 novel: Berkley, 1960 --novel : 1959 Hugo --/ fourth place space sf novel --/ style award --/ wonder award --/ emotion award "Enough Rope" (Wing Alak series) © Astounding, Jul 1953 Kinship With The Stars, 1991 ---------------------------------------------- Poul Anderson "Ensign Flandry" (nv) (Dominic Flandry series) © Amazing, Oct 1966 book: Berkley, 1966 --/ fourth place space sf novel --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ awesome scale This is one of the better Flandry novels, setting the stage not only for the series but for the endless imitations and the whole sub-genre of "naive space cadets coming of age among gritty interstellar war". Most of diplomacy and "cloak-and-dagger" plot is well thought-through and will be appreciated by those who like their Cold War-style politics suitably sophisticated and cold. For me the biggest "bang" came when Anderson unleashed the climactic space battles: told from the point of view of being inside the embattled ship, it has loads of Industrial Light & Magic special effects. Enjoyable book, one of the better efforts among "diplomatic space warfare" novels, so popular in the 60s and 70s. It's also a part of the Polesotechnic League future history; the next story in continuity of the cycle is "A Circus of Hells". Check out another enthusiastic review of this book at SF Reviews. review: 02-Sep-07 (read in 2003) (original unknown) ---------------------------------------------- "Epilogue" © Analog, Mar 1962 Time and Stars, 1964 --/ third place sf novella --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ emotion award --/ awesome scale "Esau" (also as "Birthright") (Nicholas Van Rijn) © Analog, Feb 1970 The Earth Book of Stormgate, 1978 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award ---------------------------------------------- "The Escape" (exp. into "Brainwave") © Space Science Fiction, Nov 1953 novel: Ballantine Books, 1954 --/ second place sf novel --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ style award --/ emotion award --/ awesome scale I've only read the novel, not this original story; if I get my hands on this pulp... but it is quite rare. I am curious how such a great novel evolved out of this story, what has been added, and what started it. review: 04-Jul-06 (read in 1999) ---------------------------------------------- "Escape From Orbit" © Amazing, Oct 1962 Time and Stars, 1964 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "Escape The Morning" © Boy's Life, Nov 1966 Space Folk, 1988 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award "Explorations" (coll) © 1981, Tor Books --/ third place sf collection --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "Eutopia" © Dangerous Visions, 1967 The Dark Between the Stars, 1981 --/ cool sf story "Eve Times Four" © Fantastic, Apr 1960 Time and Stars, 1964 --/ cool f story "A Fair Exchange" (Rustum Migration) © Continuum # 3, ed. R. Elwood, 1974 New America, 1982 "The Fatal Fullfillment" (Afterlife Of Bailey series) © F&SF, Mar 1970 Five Fates, ed. Keith Laumer, 1970 The Best of Poul Anderson,1976 also in series - Harlan Ellison "The Region Between" Gordon Dickson "Maverick" --short story : 1971 Locus --short story : 1971 Nebula "Fire Time" (nv) © 1974, Berkley Books --novel : 1975 Hugo --novel : 1975 Locus Poll "Flandry" (coll) (incl. "A Circus Of Hells" and "The Rebel Worlds") (Dominic Flandry) © 1993, Baen Books "Flandry Of Terra" (coll) (Dominic Flandry) © 1965, Ace / Putnam --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "Flilght To Forever" © Super Science Stories, Nov 1950 Past Times, 1984 --/ third place sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ idea award --/ awesome scale --/ style award --/ rare find "For The Duration" © Venture Science Fiction, Sep 1957 Strangers From Earth, 1961 --/ cool apocalyptic story --/ rare find "Fortune Hunter" © Infinity # 4, 1972 The Dark Between The Stars, 1981 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ emotion award "The Game of Glory" (Dominic Flandry) © Venture Science Fiction, Mar 1958 Flandry of Terra, 1965 --/ cool sf novella "Garden In The Void" © Galaxy, May 1952 --/ third place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ style award --/ emotion award --/ rare find "The Gate of the Flying Knives" (Thieves' World) © Thieves' World # 1, 1979 --/ cool f novella "Genius" © Astounding, Dec 1948 --/ cool sf story "Ghetto" (Maurai & Kith) © F&SF, Jan 1953 Maurai And Kith, 1982 --/ third place sf story --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ romance award --/ emotion award "Gibraltar Falls" (Manse Everard series) (Time Patrol series) © F&SF, Oct 1975 The Guardians of Time, 1981 --/ fourth place time sf story --/ wonder award "Goat Song" © F&SF, Feb 1972 Homeward and Beyond, 1975 --novelette : 1973 Hugo W --novelette : 1973 Nebula W --short fiction : 1973 Locus /3 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ style award "The Gods Laughed" (coll) © 1982, Tor Books --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award "The Green Thumb" (Wilson Pete series) © Science Fiction Quarterly, Feb 1953 --/ cool sf story --/ rare find "Guardians Of Time" (coll) (Time Patrol) © 1960, Ballantine Books --/ fourth place time sf colection --/ wonder award --/ adventure award "Gypsy" (Psychotechnic League) © Astounding, Jan 1950 Strangers From Earth, 1961 --/ second place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ style award --/ emotion award --/ romance award --/ rare find "A Handful of Stars" (also as "Hunters of the Sky Cave") (exp. into "We Claim These Stars!") (Dominic Flandry) © Amazing, Jun 1959 book: Ace Books, 1959 Agent Of The Terran Empire, 1965 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "The Helping Hand" © Astounding, May 1950 --novelette : 2001 Retro Hugo --/ cool sf story "Heroes Are Made" (also as "The Sheriff Of Canyon Gulch") (with Gordon R. Dickson) (Hokas series) © Other Worlds, May 1951 Earthman's Burden, 1957 "Hiding Place" (Nicholas Van Rijn) © Analog, Mar 1961 Trader to the Stars,1964 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "The High Crusade" (nv) © Astounding, Jul 1960 book: 1968, MacFadden-Bartell --novel : 1961 Hugo --/ third place time sf novel --/ wonder award --/ idea award --/ style award "The High Ones" © Infinity Science Fiction, Jun 1958 The Horn Of Time, 1968 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "High Treason" © Impulse, Mar 1966 Conflict, 1983 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "Holmgang" (also as "Out Of The Iron Womb") (Psychotechnic League) © Planet Stories, Sum 1955 Cold Victory, 1982 --/ fourth place sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find "Homeward And Beyond" (coll) © 1975, Doubleday books --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award "Homo Aquaticus" (also as "The Horn of Time the Hunter") (Maurai & Kith) © Amazing, Sep 1963 The Horn of Time, 1968 --/ cool sf story "Honorable Enemies" (Dominic Flandry) © Future, May 1951 Agent Of The Terran Empire, 1962 --/ cool space sf story "The Horn of Time the Hunter" (also as "Homo Aquaticus") (Maurai & Kith) © Amazing, Sep 1963 The Horn of Time, 1968 --/ cool sf story "The Horn Of Time" (coll) © 1968, Signet Books --/ cool sf collection "Horse Trader" © Galaxy, Mar 1953 Space Folk, 1988 --/ cool sf novella "How To Be Ethnic In One Easy Lesson" (Polesotechnic League) © Future Quest, ed. R. Elwood, 1974 The Earth Book Of StormGate, 1979 --/ cool sf story "Hunter's Moon" (Medea Series) © Analog, Nov 1978 Medea, Harlan Ellison, 1985 Space Folk, 1989 --novelette : 1979 Hugo W --novelette : 1979 Locus /2 --novelette : 1979 AnLab /4 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ style award "Hunters of the Sky Cave" (nv) (also as "We Claim These Stars!") (exp. from "A Handful of Stars") (Dominic Flandry) © Amazing, Jun 1959 Agent Of The Terran Empire, 1965 book: Ace Books, 1959 --/ cool space sf story --/ wonder award "The Immortal Game" © F&SF, Feb 1954 --/ cool sf story "In Hoka Signo Vinces" (with Gordon R. Dickson) (Hoka series) © Other Worlds, Jun 1953 Earthman's Burden, 1957 "Industrial Revolution" (as by Winston P. Sanders) (also as "The Rogue") (Flying Mountains series) © Analog, Sep 1963 Tales Of The Flying Mountains, 1970 --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award "Inside Straight" © F&SF, Aug 1955 Seven Conquests, 1969 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Joelle" (exp. into "The Avatar") © IASFM, Fall 1977 The Avatar, 1978 --novella : 1978 Locus /9 --novel : 1979 Locus Poll --/ fourth place sf story --/ wonder award --/ style award --/ emotion award --/ rare find "Roma Mater" (nv) (with Karen Anderson) (The King of Ys 1) © 1986, Baen Books --novel : 1987 Locus Poll "Kings Who Die" © IF, Mar 1962 Seven Conquests, 1969 --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ emotion award "Kinship With The Stars" (coll) © 1991, Tor Books --/ cool sf collection --/ wonder award "Knight Flandry" (nv) (also as "A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows") (Dominic Flandry) (Terran Empire) © IF, Sep 1974 book: NAL, 1975 --novel : 1975 Locus Poll "A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows" (nv) (also as "Knight Flandry") (Dominic Flandry) (Terran Empire) © IF, Sep 1974 book: NAL, 1975 --novel : 1975 Locus Poll "Kyrie" © The Farthest Reaches, ed. J. Elder, 1968 The Best Of Poul Anderson, 1976 --short story : 1968 Nebula --/ fourth place space sf story --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ emotion award "The Lady Of The Winds" (Cappen Varra / Thieve's World) © F&SF, Oct 2001 --novelette : 2002 Locus /4 "The Last Monster" (also as "Terminal Quest") © Super Science Stories, Aug 1951 Alight In The Void, 1991 --/ cool sf story --/ wonder award "Let The Spaceman Beware!" (nv) (also as "The Night Face") (Fall Of The Terran Empire) (exp. from "A Twelth-month And A Day") © Fantastic Universe, Jan 1960 book: Ace Books, 1963 revised: Ace Books, 1978 "License" © F&SF, Apr 1957 Seven Conquests, 1969 --/ cool sf story "The Light" © Galaxy, Mar 1957 Past Times, 1984 --/ cool sf story --/ style award "A Little Knowledge" (Polesotechnic League) © Analog, Aug 1971 The Earth Book of Stormgate, 1978 --/ cool sf story "The Little Monster" © Way Out, ed. R. Elwood, 1974 Past Times, 1984 "The Live Coward" (Wing Alak series) © Astounding, Jun 1956 Un-Man and Other Novellas, 1962 "Lodestar" (exp. into "Mirkheim") (Nicholas Van Rijn) (David Falcayn) © Astounding Anthology, ed. H. Harrison, 1973 The Earth Book Of StormGate, 1979 book: 1980, Berkley --/ cool sf story "Logic" (also as "Chain of Logic") (Twilight World series) © Astounding, Jul 1947 Twilight World, 1961 "The Long Remembering" © F&SF, Nov 1957 Homeward and Beyond, 1975 --/ cool time sf story --/ advenure award "Long Way Home" (nv) (also as "No World Of Their Own") © Astounding, Nov 1955 novel : 1955, Ace Books revised : 1975, Ace Books "The Longest Voyage" © Analog, Dec 1960 The Many Worlds of Poul Anderson, 1970 --short fiction : 1961 Hugo W --/ fourth place time sf story --/ adventure award "Lord Of A Thousand Suns" © Planet Stories, Sep 1951 --/ fourth place sf novella --/ wonder award --/ adventure award --/ rare find STORIES WITH TITLES from M to S -> STORIES WITH TITLES from T to Z -> ------------------------------

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