Rating: 
Summary: Great stories, but the cover...!
Review: An excellent book. This the second of four books that Baen Books is publishing that are compilations of the short stories my James Schmitz. While I normally am not a fan of short stories, these are some of the finest that I have read.
Rating:
Summary: More Stories From the Federation of the Hub
Review: An excellent book. This the second of four books that Baen Books is publishing that are compilations of the short stories my James Schmitz. While I normally am not a fan of short stories, these are some of the finest that I have read.
Rating:
Summary: Great stories, but the cover...!
Review: I read my parents' copies of these stories in the seventies and eighties. They have long been among my favorite short stories, and I'm definitely a James Schmitz fan. I'm glad to see that the stories are being republished. In this collection, I was also glad to see the pairing of Schmitz's "Pork Chop Tree" and "Compulsion" into the single story they are, especially because "Pork Chop Tree" is so hard to find. This series has definitely been edited, and the more anachronistic technical elements of Schmitz's stories (microfilm, etc) have been suppressed. Other than that, the stories are as Schmitz wrote them. My one major complaint are the covers, which are a big letdown, especially compared to the covers of the '80s editions. And T'Nt! Give me a break! These books should be packaged to attract new readers to Schmitz's work. The title of this volume strikes me as a cheesy in-joke that will attract people who already know about the stories but which will repel everyone else. These stories are truly classic SF, and they should have classier jackets! Other than that, buy this book!
Rating: 
Summary: a little dated, but still enjoyable
Review: I've always enjoyed this author's book "witches of Karres" so it has been interesting to read some of his other, long out of print works. This book should be read after the first book in this series "Telzey Amberdon" to bring it into perspective. Essentially, this is a series of linked short stories and novelettes. The writing sytle is simple and easy to read. All the main characters are polite, even the the bad guys! They would easily be suited to younger readers. This second book introduces the readers to Trigger Argee, who doesn't have the mental "super powers" that make Telzey such a striking figure, but who is never-the-less very capable. These books have been enjoyable so far, but really bring home how much SF has changed in recent decades. These characters are much less introspective than most modern SF characters, even in short stories, and the emphasis is definitely on action! I also agree about the cover. "TNT" is really on the corny side - ignore it and concentrate on the contents.
Rating:
Summary: a little dated, but still enjoyable
Review: I've always enjoyed this author's book "witches of Karres" so it has been interesting to read some of his other, long out of print works. This book should be read after the first book in this series "Telzey Amberdon" to bring it into perspective. Essentially, this is a series of linked short stories and novelettes. The writing sytle is simple and easy to read. All the main characters are polite, even the the bad guys! They would easily be suited to younger readers. This second book introduces the readers to Trigger Argee, who doesn't have the mental "super powers" that make Telzey such a striking figure, but who is never-the-less very capable. These books have been enjoyable so far, but really bring home how much SF has changed in recent decades. These characters are much less introspective than most modern SF characters, even in short stories, and the emphasis is definitely on action! I also agree about the cover. "TNT" is really on the corny side - ignore it and concentrate on the contents.
Rating:
Summary: a little dated, but still enjoyable
Review: I've always enjoyed this author's book "witches of Karres" so it has been interesting to read some of his other, long out of print works. This book should be read after the first book in this series "Telzey Amberdon" to bring it into perspective. Essentially, this is a series of linked short stories and novelettes. The writing sytle is simple and easy to read. All the main characters are polite, even the the bad guys! They would easily be suited to younger readers. This second book introduces the readers to Trigger Argee, who doesn't have the mental "super powers" that make Telzey such a striking figure, but who is never-the-less very capable. These books have been enjoyable so far, but really bring home how much SF has changed in recent decades. These characters are much less introspective than most modern SF characters, even in short stories, and the emphasis is definitely on action! I also agree about the cover. "TNT" is really on the corny side - ignore it and concentrate on the contents.
Rating:
Summary: Dynamite Heroines Take On Galaxy
Review: Telzey Amberdon is the scion of an ultra-rich, politically connected family on the central world of Orado. She lives an outwardly normal life as a privileged college student, studying and taking exams, or accompanying a friend to a luxurious body remodeling resort planet. She is also one of the galaxy's most powerful and versatile psi talents (especially regarding alien beings), essentially a loner but cooperating informally with the shadowy yet powerful Psychology Service. Telzey was featured in the first volume of this Baen reissue series. Trigger Argee comes from much humbler, possibly hardscrabble, origins, and though a latent psi, as we find out in this volume, relies on quick thinking, resourcefulness, a champion level ability with her beloved Denton pistol, and a wide range of personal connections (she seems to know and work with just about every major character of Schmitz's galactic Hub universe). We'll find out more about Trigger in the third volume. James H. Schmitz wrote a series of stories about each of these engagingly competent heroines in the 1960's and early 1970's, and brought them together in two tales included in this second volume ("Compulsion" and "Glory Day"). A third tale, "The Symbiotes," is primarily Trigger's, though Telzey does appear briefly; sadly, this was the last significant work by Schmitz, and we'll never find out the results of Trigger's decision at the very end to develop her psi powers. The rest of the seven stories (short novels, really, at over 50 pages each) are devoted to Telzey. Baen is to be devoutly thanked for their project bringing much of Schmitz's work (the stories set in a human dominated "Hub") back into print. Devotees have for too long been forced to lurk in used book stores, waiting for the rare tattered paperback. Schmitz writes with vigor and verve, and absolute clarity. The characters are well realized, including the truly alien aliens who are among the best ever. Though there are plenty of twists and turns (one can never be too sure who the good guys and bad guys are), the reader never feels cheated.
Rating:
Summary: Dynamite Heroines Take On Galaxy
Review: Telzey Amberdon is the scion of an ultra-rich, politically connected family on the central world of Orado. She lives an outwardly normal life as a privileged college student, studying and taking exams, or accompanying a friend to a luxurious body remodeling resort planet. She is also one of the galaxy's most powerful and versatile psi talents (especially regarding alien beings), essentially a loner but cooperating informally with the shadowy yet powerful Psychology Service. Telzey was featured in the first volume of this Baen reissue series. Trigger Argee comes from much humbler, possibly hardscrabble, origins, and though a latent psi, as we find out in this volume, relies on quick thinking, resourcefulness, a champion level ability with her beloved Denton pistol, and a wide range of personal connections (she seems to know and work with just about every major character of Schmitz's galactic Hub universe). We'll find out more about Trigger in the third volume. James H. Schmitz wrote a series of stories about each of these engagingly competent heroines in the 1960's and early 1970's, and brought them together in two tales included in this second volume ("Compulsion" and "Glory Day"). A third tale, "The Symbiotes," is primarily Trigger's, though Telzey does appear briefly; sadly, this was the last significant work by Schmitz, and we'll never find out the results of Trigger's decision at the very end to develop her psi powers. The rest of the seven stories (short novels, really, at over 50 pages each) are devoted to Telzey. Baen is to be devoutly thanked for their project bringing much of Schmitz's work (the stories set in a human dominated "Hub") back into print. Devotees have for too long been forced to lurk in used book stores, waiting for the rare tattered paperback. Schmitz writes with vigor and verve, and absolute clarity. The characters are well realized, including the truly alien aliens who are among the best ever. Though there are plenty of twists and turns (one can never be too sure who the good guys and bad guys are), the reader never feels cheated.
Rating:
Summary: More Classic SF Tales from James H. Schmitz
Review: The second volume of The Tales of The Hub lives up to the promise of the first volume. In these stories Trigger Argee, Schmitz's second female heroine, is introduced as the friend of Telzey Amberdon. Together, the two women find danger and adventure among the worlds of the Hub. I look forward to the remaining two volumes in this set.
Rating:
Summary: Back to the Future
Review: This is the second volume of four presenting James Schmitz's Federation of the Hub. The first, "Telzey Amberdon," introduced one of his most popular characters, a powerful teen-aged psi. The second volume introduces a more mature character, Trigger Argee (and incidently reprints a series of Telzey stories that have never before seen book publication). Trigger is a married woman (although you will have to wait to volume 3 to meet her husband), and unlike Telzey, is not powerful--just competent. In "Compulsion", the pair make contact with a xenophobic alien species, and in "The Symbiotes", Trigger puts paid to a pair of nasty aliens, and incidently attracts the attention of a nemesis, a third alien. These stories are written in a 50s-60s style--almost like the "Jetsons" cartoon--that incidently makes them suitable for older children and younger teens. Enjoy!
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