Review of "Fantastic Magazine October 1954"

Review of

Fantastic Magazine October 1954

Four out of five stars

 I always find it interesting to go forward in time from the perspective of going back in time. In other words, reading science fiction from what many call the golden age of the 1950s. It was a time of strong segregation, paranoia in international relations, fear of nuclear weapons and what to all was a clear movement of pending dramatic scientific changes. All of that was expressed in the science fiction of the time, it was one of the areas where writers could use plot devices that were forbidden in other forms of entertainment.

 That is demonstrated in the story, “The Outlaws,” which is a dystopia based on a very overcrowded planet Earth. Public slogans reflect the severe social pressures against human reproduction, for example, “Thou Shalt Not Beget.” The language sometimes expresses significant sexual innuendo, something that was largely forbidden in literature in the 1950s. It is very well done, it is a story that could be published now and still be entertaining. Which is true of nearly all stories expressing a dystopia.

 “Cosmic Appetite” is a standard space monster story, the crew of a spaceship accidently takes a destructive creature aboard their ship and it is growing very fast. The crew must somehow find a way to destroy the monster before it destroys them. Nothing unique about it.

“The Murder-Con” is interesting in that it is set in the context of a science fiction convention. As the stories about such conventions have always emphasized, there was some heavy partying in this one. What is a little different is that attractive women are attending the convention. The main plot line beyond the context is that a small segment of the population possesses the extra sense of telepathy. There are several levels, expressed as grades, with A being the most powerful. The A level are so powerful that they can destroy lesser minds with a strong thought.

 Even when they are routine, these stories can be interesting. All that is necessary is to remind yourself that it has been over six decades since they were written, so back then they weren’t as unoriginal as they now appear.