The Year's Best Science Fiction 11

I mentioned earlier the prevalence of war-theme stories: war-and-diplomacy-and-sovereignty stories, that is, as distinct from calamity stories. There were four at least besides the several included here that are worth special mention: Jesse Bier’s “Father and Son” from a book full of remarkable stories, A Hole in the Lead Apron (Harcourt Brace & World); Joseph Green’s “The Decision Makers” (Galaxy); Mack Reynolds’ “Time of War” (If); and William Sambrot’s “Substance of Martyrs” (Rogue).

Meanwhile, back in the laboratory, the world of science has not forgotten about war problems either. One of the news items emanating from the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Berkeley last year concerned investigations into “a strange drug” which might prevent the lethal effects of shock.

What made me notice the piece particularly was the headline: PRE-COMBAT INJECTIONS MAY BAR FATAL SHOCK. Sort of mode me wonder whether it was the boys in the back room at the newspaper, or at the lab, who forgot that civilians die of shock too.

What makes me mention it now is Roald Dahl’s story. This one is a calamity story, and if you happen to have any adrenochrome semicarbazone around, I suggest you lake a pre-reading injection.