oleksandr's review
4.0
This is a short story collection by a largely unknown SF author Winston K. Marks, published in the 1950s. It is quite an interesting read on two levels: first, as nice, naïve SF stories and second, as a way to see how views evolve in just about 60 years.
It is astonishing that a ‘progressive’ writer is blind to his own prejustice regarding non-whites, women, gender roles etc. It makes you think, what will astonish readers of modern SF in another half-century.
THE WATER EATER (1953), while cleaning a kitchen, a man crates something unexpected. 4/5
UNBEGOTTEN CHILD (1953), an unusual view on the cause of cancer. 5/5
...SO THEY BAKED A CAKE (1954), Einstein twins from POV of a nihilistic journalist. 2/5
BACKLASH (1954), crashed aliens give perfect home servants to humanity, what are their motives? 4/5
TABBY (1954), alien fly invades the Earth, but that’s just a first step. 5/5
BREEDER REACTION (1954), cosmetics with ‘atomic’ effects. 4/5
FORSYTE'S RETREAT (1954), multidimensional hotel’s manager. 2/5
MATE IN TWO MOVES (1954), what if love is a virus? 4/5
THE TEST COLONY (1954), first contact – a perfect case of prejustices. 5/5
BROWN JOHN'S BODY (1955), talking rats. 3/5
THE MIND DIGGER (1958), a young genius tries to perfect himself. 4/5
THE DEADLY DAUGHTERS (1958), a satire about feminist usurpation of the USA. 4/5
It is astonishing that a ‘progressive’ writer is blind to his own prejustice regarding non-whites, women, gender roles etc. It makes you think, what will astonish readers of modern SF in another half-century.
THE WATER EATER (1953), while cleaning a kitchen, a man crates something unexpected. 4/5
UNBEGOTTEN CHILD (1953), an unusual view on the cause of cancer. 5/5
...SO THEY BAKED A CAKE (1954), Einstein twins from POV of a nihilistic journalist. 2/5
BACKLASH (1954), crashed aliens give perfect home servants to humanity, what are their motives? 4/5
TABBY (1954), alien fly invades the Earth, but that’s just a first step. 5/5
BREEDER REACTION (1954), cosmetics with ‘atomic’ effects. 4/5
FORSYTE'S RETREAT (1954), multidimensional hotel’s manager. 2/5
MATE IN TWO MOVES (1954), what if love is a virus? 4/5
THE TEST COLONY (1954), first contact – a perfect case of prejustices. 5/5
BROWN JOHN'S BODY (1955), talking rats. 3/5
THE MIND DIGGER (1958), a young genius tries to perfect himself. 4/5
THE DEADLY DAUGHTERS (1958), a satire about feminist usurpation of the USA. 4/5
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