Robert Hoskins (1) (1933–1993)

Continuing my recent trend of reading classic speculative fiction anthologies, Infinity Two brings us stories from Poul Anderson, Arthur C. Clarke, James E. Gunn, J.F. Bone, William F. Nolan, and more. For this reader, the gems of the collection include...

Adam and Eve prepare to restart the human race under strict guidance from God, until Adam starts looking behind the scenes in Michael Fayette's "The Monster in the Clearing."

J.F. Bone takes us across the galaxy to a world where humans go show more into business with a species of cannibalistic, but highly civilized crustaceans. While labor relations seem to be precarious at first, a pheromonal discovery leads to a new and profitable venture in "The Scents of IT."

Surrounded by technology's modern conveniences, Sara begins to recall her grandmother's luddite attitude toward machines, just before every appliance in Sara's house seems to conspire against her in "The Technological Revolution" by James E. Gunn.

In "The Other Way Around" by Howard L. Myers, a cantankerous Merlin reluctantly takes on a pupil, Raedulf, on his way to Stonehenge. As Raedulf soon learns, Merlin might just be a man out of time...

After surviving a near-fatal accident, a middle-aged man is restored to physical health by a radical series of procedures, one that leaves him in mental and emotional turmoil in "Legion" by Russell Bates.

"GORF! GORF! GORF!" is the name of the operation when a bullfrog swallows a crateful of experimental growth pellets, eats a Corvette (complete with driver), and traverses 50 miles at a leap! William F. Nolan leads us on a whimsical hunt that includes the military, government bureaucrats, and pellet inventor's own lovely daughter.

Robert Silverberg leaves us "In Entropy's Jaws" as we follow wealthy telepath and businessman John Skein on a quest back and forth through time to find the panacea to the psychological breakdown that cost him his career as Communicator. Skein knows his answer lies on a planet with purple sand, blue leaves, orange seas... and a withered skullfaced man with all the answers. Will Skein find the correct world before his fugue episodes destroy him? show less

In the future you must earn citizenship through gladiator games. Case is the best, but is cheated and framed and kicked out. Now he has to find out why!

A silly old-school sci fi book that's more cheesy action than any real scifi. But, it is fast paced and the action stays interesting.

I'm more interested in the following two books that look like Hoskins has evolved as a writer and will further and perhaps better flesh out the character and world.

UPDATE: The next book, has nothing to do with show more this book. I can't really even see that it is 'in the same world' as this book. The writing is not much better and the story is another throwaway adventure masquerading as scifi. There is a third book in the series, but I don't know that I'll even bother. I've now read 3 Hoskins books and rated them all 2s. show less

A very odd book. The first half is a very interesting take on the evolution of a human species. The second half is a mediocre modern day sci fi creature story. I had to skim back through to remember that much, so it's hard to recommend it.

I believe my 2 star rating is from an interesting 3 stars for the first half and then a boring less than 2 stars for the second half.

This is supposedly the second book in a series, except that this book has nothing to do with the first book. I can't really even see that it is 'in the same world' as this book.

The writing in this book is not much better and the story is another throwaway adventure masquerading as scifi.

Hoskins does introduce an interesting 'stargate' system that is suprisingly like the one you've heard of, even that it is very old and has been rediscovered by earth some time in the past. BUT, the idea is show more only the backdrop. The story itself is boring, shallow and over too quickly and easily.

There is a third book in the series, but I don't know that I'll even bother. I've now read 3 Hoskins books and rated them all 2s. show less