A Thief in Time
by Robert Sheckley, Galaxy Science Fiction (July, 1954); UK No. 21 (December, 1954), pp. 4-27.
A light-hearted romp but the time travel paradox isn’t explored so much as indulged in, ad hoc, until (it feels) Sheckley rollicked his word count up to novelette length and the editor had enough pages filled to put a stop to it.
The Science Fiction Book: An Illustrated History
by Franz Rottensteiner (Thames and Hudson, 1975)
Through a focus on its authors, Rottensteiner traces the development of science fiction from its early precursors through to 1975, giving due attention to European writers. The illustrations are generally reproductions of cover- and internal artwork—adding curiosity value 50 years on.
Blood and Circuses
by Kerry Greenwood (McPhee Gribble, 1994)
audiobook read by Stephanie Daniel (ABC Audio, 2011)
Phryne’s vulnerability is a new development, and one that was perhaps needed for the series to retain credibility. The roaming omniscient narrative, however, is symptomatic of a mystery that doesn’t quite work (being rather too hemmed in by Greenwood’s extensive circus research).
Doctor Who: The Power of Three
by Chris Chibnall; dir. Douglas Mackinnon (BBC, 2012)
An important episode in Amy and Rory’s storyline. Gentle humour, endearing character moments, but the ‘stuff of nightmares’ Shakri are brushed aside with laughable ease. Chibnall might have done better to spend less time on Rory’s dad and more on the resolution.
Space 1999: Breakaway
by E. C. Tubb (Orbit, 1975)
A novelisation of episodes 1, 13, 19 and 10 (production code rather than broadcast order) of the 1975 British SF series. Tubb’s prose is slapdash, and the stitching together of crises affords a lurching, improbable quality to science that already obliterated credulity.
The Mystery That Never Was
by Enid Blyton; ill. Gilbert Dunlop (William Collins, 1961)
Often listed in appendage to the Barney Mysteries (perhaps due to Dunlop’s illustrations), in terms of characters and plot this simple one-off is much more like a Secret Seven adventure. The young protagonists invent a mystery… only to find it coming true!
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
by Laurie R. King (St Martin’s Press, 1994; reprinted Allison & Busby, 2010)
Mary Russell proves both a worthy viewpoint protagonist and a match for her mentor, albeit her intellect is kept largely unflaunted. King presents a respectful and convincing characterising of Holmes in his older years (likewise depictions of Mycroft, Watson and Mrs Hudson).
Mechanismo
by Harry Harrison (Reed, 1978)
A bizarre attempt to apply the notion of ‘fix-up novel’ to the visual medium. Harrison presents a lavish hodgepodge of SF illustrations, artwork and schematics, stitched together with sections of (surprisingly derisive) genre-focussed literary criticism and stultifying excerpts from invented far-future history.
The Dam Busters
dir. Michael Anderson (1955)
Compelling war film that tells its story in a straightforward fashion, allowing the drama to speak for itself (with poignant character moments pre- and post-mission, and occasional low-key, tension-relieving one-liners). The acting is unobtrusive rather than outstanding, the special effects rightly lauded.
TV Comic Annual 1968
(TV Publications, 1967)
An abysmally written Adam Adamant short story, plus 90 pages of lame comics. Two simplistic, murkily illustrated four-page Doctor Who strips feature an overly tall Second Doctor defeating (with mammoths) Trods and (with rocks) Daleks, having first pre-invented the Goodies’ flying trandem!
