A Thursday Reading Update and The Science Fiction Novel - H. Beam Piper

Off to a late start with this today as I was trying to finish a book. I'll update that and also let you know the book I've started next. As well, I'll continue with my look at the Sci-Fi novel.

Just Finished

1. My Name is Michael Sibley by John Bingham (1952). This is my 2nd John Bingham mystery.










"My Name Is Michael Sibley is the 2nd mystery I've read by English writer John  Bingham. It's an interesting take on the mystery genre.

Michael Sibley is the protagonist of this story which is told from the perspective of the main suspect in a murder. We follow Sibley as he is interviewed by the police about the murder of his 'friend' / school acquaintance, John Prosser. Normally that the mystery is told from the perspective of the investigators so this adds a different twist.

As the story progresses, Sibley reviews his life, his 'friendship' during school with Prosser, a mate who teased him and made Sibley miserable. We continue with Sibley's life, his first job as a newspaperman in a small town, where he grows in confidence and meets his first girl friend. As time progresses, Prosser makes contact with him once again, something that Sibley can't turn down, no matter his negative feelings towards Prosser.

Throughout this review of Sibley's life and contacts with Prosser, he continues to be investigated by the police and Sibley reacts in seemingly odd ways to this investigation, lying to the police, encouraging his new girlfriend to provide a fake alibi for him, getting rid of a set of brass knuckles he had purchased as a young student but feels might somehow implicate him in the murder, etc.

The story can be slow at times but the perspective and development of the character(s) and plot are intriguing and well-crafted. It makes you wonder as you progress into the story whether Sibley is actually guilty of the crime and how much information the police might have. All in all it's definitely a fascinating concept and a well - developed, interesting mystery, not perfect, but still worth reading. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Carol by Patricia Highsmith (1952). The story was originally published under the name The Price of Salt. I've read a few of Highsmith's stories and for the most part have enjoyed them very much.






"Patricia Highsmith's story of romantic obsession may be one of the most important, but still largely unrecognized, novels of the twentieth century. First published in 1952 and touted as "the novel of a love that society forbids," the book soon became a cult classic.

Based on a true story plucked from Highsmith's own life, Carol tells the riveting drama of Therese Belivet, a stage designer trapped in a department-store day job, whose routine is forever shattered by a gorgeous epiphany—the appearance of Carol Aird, a customer who comes in to buy her daughter a Christmas toy. Therese begins to gravitate toward the alluring suburban housewife, who is trapped in a marriage as stultifying as Therese's job. They fall in love and set out across the United States, ensnared by society's confines and the imminent disapproval of others, yet propelled by their infatuation. Carol is a brilliantly written story that may surprise Highsmith fans and will delight those discovering her work."

The Science Fiction Novel - Henry Beam Piper

H. Beam Piper

H. Beam Piper was an American author of Science Fiction novels and short stories. He was born in 1904 and died in Pennsylvania in 1964. He is best known for his Terro-Human Future History series of books. There is some confusion about his place of birth, his first name (Horace or Henry) and the date of his death. His tombstone lists his name as Henry but he told people it was Horace, encouraging the assumption that he wrote only using his initial because he disliked his first name.

He was largely self-educated, obtaining his knowledge of Science and History without going to university. He started work at the age of 18 working at the Pennsylvania rail yards as a laborer and night watchman.

His first short story, Time and Time Again was published in Astounding Science Fiction in 1947. He published mostly short stories until he made a productive but short lived foray into novels in 1961. In 1964, with his career supposedly on the skids, Piper committed suicide. Some biographers attribute his action to financial difficulties, others to family issues. A friend said that he committed suicide to spite an ex-wife he hated, his suicide voided an insurance policy, thereby preventing her from collecting.

The main themes of his stories were space opera and cultural conflict or misunderstanding, the main theme of the three stories I have read. The Terro-Human Future History is Piper's account of the next 6,000 years of Human history. Most of the stories take place in the next millennium and include the three Fuzzy novels. These are the books that I read back in 1984, when I initially bought the books. I've had them ever since because I hope someday to reread the series to see if it is as good as I remember it. The three Fuzzy books are highlighted below.

1. Little Fuzzy (originally published 1962).


















"Friends of Little Fuzzy Vs. the Chartered Zarathustra Company

The chartered Zarathustra Company had it all their way. Their charter was for a Class-III uninhabited planet, which Zarathustra was, and it meant they owned the planet, lock, stock and barrel. They exploited it, developed it, and reaped the huge profits from it without interference from the Colonial Government.

Then Jack Holloway, a sunstone prospector, appeared on the scene with his family of Fuzzies and the passionate conviction that they were not cute animals but little people.

The Company was aghast at this threat to their power and profits. If Holloway could prove the Fuzzies were people, Zarathustra would automatically become a Class-IV inhabited planet, the Company's charter would become void and the Colonial Government of the Federation would take over.

The Company did not hesitate to resort to coercion, murder – even genocide – to prevent the Fuzzies from being declared the ninth extrasolar sapient race."

2. Fuzzy Sapiens (originally published in 1964).

"Are Fuzzies People?

Pendarvis' Decision had finally declared the Fuzzies to be intelligent beings, and that meant some drastic changes for the Earthmen who had colonized their planet, changes that a lot of people weren't going to accept easily. But why worry? said others.

The Fuzzies seemed lovable, fun-loving creatures, only two feet high, and covered with soft, golden fur. Give them plenty of extee-three and they'd do anything you asked.

What ruling race of invaders could ask for a more ideal native population?"

c. Fuzzies and Other People (originally published in 1984)



"The friendship between human Jack Holloway and the small, golden-furred creatures of the planet Zarathustra has a profound impact on both Holloway and the Fuzzies."





For some reason, I've never tried any other of Piper's books. I'll have to do so. The complete list of his works can be found at this link. 

The weekend is soon upon us. Enjoy your Friday and the impending weekend. Take care!