Science Against Man

Interesting but of their time stories exploring some of the human consequences of the negative impact of science and what happens when we have to adapt to those changes

* 7 • Introduction • Anthony Cheetham

* 9 • The Lost Continent • Norman Spinrad
Really excellent story that explores the (very pertinent today) dynamic between a tour guide from an economically backward country and the rich tourists he depends on for his living... In this case the "backward" country is a post-environmental collapse USA, and the tourists a wealthy Africans.

* 57 • In the Beginning [Urban Monad] • Robert Silverberg
Dystopian vision of a religious, overpopulated future where people are desperate to breed more, afraid to leave their little area of their apartment building, controlled psychologically... but they think their world is wonderful... good.

* 77 • The Hunter at His Ease • Brian W. Aldiss
Interesting, show more challenging piece about two military men who are scouting an island for a tactical base... and the native people who are hostile to their intentions. Nice contrast in attitudes between the sympathetic and non-sympathetic individuals - and a good point point about how, maybe, it makes no difference... And really good background details, about how the more wealthy countries justify aggrwssion by trying to say it's all for the long-term good of the enemy...

* 97 • Man's Estate • Paul Ableman
Bleah. Incomprehensible 70's stuff.
In the future, computer-dependent man is weak and pathetic - and doesn't realize it.

* 109 • Harold Wilson at the Cosmic Cocktail Party • Bob Shaw
Light-hearted piece about how to convince personalities preserved in a computer-like tank to cooperate with people out in the "real" world..

* 131 • Statistician's Day • James Blish
In the future, to control the population, we might not just need birth control - we might need "death control."

* 141 • The Invisible Idiot • John Brunner
A medical doctor meets his most unusual patient yet... and gets a free trip to space out of the deal!

* 175 • Small Mouth, Bad Taste • Piers Anthony
Anthony muses on the possible catalyst for the birth of human civilization. Oh, and almost writes a story about an elderly anthropologist and her assistant searching for clues to such...

* 175 • The Ever-Branching Tree • Harry Harrison
Harrison muses on the possible catalyst for the birth of human civilization. And makes a comment about "kids tomorrow..." Sigh... kids... they just don't get it, do they... rolleyes.gif

* 187 • Sea Wolves [Jerry Cornelius] • Michael Moorcock
Jerry Cornelius (an incarnation of the Eternal Champion) wanders about somewhere where computers are takijng over and fighting humans. Funny excepts from computer ads from 1969... much funnier now than when this story was published! Can you believe it?! A computer in a briefcase! No way!

* 205 • The Penultimate Trip • Andrew Travers
A VERY 60s-70s trippy piece about a prisoner caught in an eternal 703rd day of his imprisonment... Actually works quite well.. better than a lot of similar stuff. show less

I've a different image on this mm pb. And Cheetham is the editor of this anthology. I didn't love any of these stories, and I gave up on several of them, and regretted finishing some of the others. Sorry.