This collection of four shorter works by Heinlein were originally published in various pulp magazines from 1941 to 1949. I have been a fan of Heinlein ever since reading some of his juvenile fiction when I was in middle school back in the 1960s. I also read a lot of his other fiction in the 70s including STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND and STARSHIP TROOPERS, both of which I consider some of sci-fi's best.
The four stories in this collection are loosely related as speculation on what makes one a human:
"Gulf" (Astounding Science Fiction, OctoberâNovember 1949).
This story is about a superspy who travels from the moon to the earth carrying some plans for a super weapon that can turn planets into novas! The spy meets up with a man who is a superbeing who may be the next step in evolution. Along the way, they must stop a madwoman from exploding the earth.
"Elsewhen", (written in 1939 and first published in 1941 in Astounding Science Fiction of September 1941 as "Elsewhere" by Caleb Saunders)
This story is a time-travel tidbit that suggests that the human mind is not bound to our here-and-now but can go voyaging into alternative timetracks of possibility.
"Lost Legacy" (written in 1939 but first published in 1941 in Super Science Stories, November 1941 as "Lost Legion" by Lyle Monroe)
This novella is about two men and a woman who discover that the brain is not using all of its potential. They eventually find that they can read minds, levitate, and actually fly using this unused brain power.
"Jerry Was a Man" (written in 1946 and published in 1947 in Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1947 as "Jerry Is a Man")
This story is about genetically altered beings including apes that are used as workers in a factory that makes these alterations to provide exotic pets for clients. This leads to a court making a legal ruling on the human rights of these genetically engineered intelligent creatures. Should they be considered "men"?
The themes of these short works were later used by Heinlein is several of his novels including STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND and FRIDAY. I thought these stories were interesting for the most part although they were definitely dated. I need to read more of Heinlein especially his novels that I have been putting off.
The four stories in this collection are loosely related as speculation on what makes one a human:
"Gulf" (Astounding Science Fiction, OctoberâNovember 1949).
This story is about a superspy who travels from the moon to the earth carrying some plans for a super weapon that can turn planets into novas! The spy meets up with a man who is a superbeing who may be the next step in evolution. Along the way, they must stop a madwoman from exploding the earth.
"Elsewhen", (written in 1939 and first published in 1941 in Astounding Science Fiction of September 1941 as "Elsewhere" by Caleb Saunders)
This story is a time-travel tidbit that suggests that the human mind is not bound to our here-and-now but can go voyaging into alternative timetracks of possibility.
"Lost Legacy" (written in 1939 but first published in 1941 in Super Science Stories, November 1941 as "Lost Legion" by Lyle Monroe)
This novella is about two men and a woman who discover that the brain is not using all of its potential. They eventually find that they can read minds, levitate, and actually fly using this unused brain power.
"Jerry Was a Man" (written in 1946 and published in 1947 in Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1947 as "Jerry Is a Man")
This story is about genetically altered beings including apes that are used as workers in a factory that makes these alterations to provide exotic pets for clients. This leads to a court making a legal ruling on the human rights of these genetically engineered intelligent creatures. Should they be considered "men"?
The themes of these short works were later used by Heinlein is several of his novels including STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND and FRIDAY. I thought these stories were interesting for the most part although they were definitely dated. I need to read more of Heinlein especially his novels that I have been putting off.
