Gordon R. Dickson. Beginnings (1988)

     Gordon R. Dickson. Beginnings (1988) Collection of stories from the 40s on. Many show their age, both in content (the most interesting is the limited understanding of computers, but the industry itself had no inkling of what the PC would lead to) and in style. But Soldier, Ask Not, the Dorsai story that Dickson later expanded into a novel, stands up well: it was a true departure, and Dickson’s skill at placing character in an invented culture makes the story work. The other Dickson theme, the extraordinariness of human beings, sometimes descends into something close to species jingoism, but it does supply the two other stories that will surely last; Danger, Human! and 3 Part Puzzle. In his introduction Dickson stresses that he was writing for a living, and didn’t think of his stories as other than something saleable. Most of the pieces in this collection have all the defects and strengths of such writing: neatly twisted plots, more or less obvious humour, limited characterisation (though Dickson has the knack of sketching a character in a few words) focus on novelty of concept or setting, and brevity. They were written to entertain and in that aim they all succeed. ** to **** (2004)