Weapon Shops of Isher

Rating:
Summary: Van Vogt's best
Review: A door to what appears to be a gunshop appears magicially in the 1950s. A newspaperman opens the door, enters, and is never seen again. He's still alive, though...just someplace--and sometime--else. This novel was included by Anthony Boucher in his _A Treasury of Great Science Fiction,_ and I agree completely with his decision. It is, quite literally, an "awesome" novel that spans billions of years. It is also a very perceptive political novel--van Vogt understood very well the greatest threat to humanity has always been the State, and the best defense against it is an armed citizenry. That's the purpose of the gunshops. Average citizens--like the newspaperman--can enter and buy a weapon far advanced beyond what the government has. Those in the employ of the government, however, find the door always locked. There is, fortunately, lots more to the novel than just the political. It's also a coming-of-age story about a young man who finds he is a Hero on a Quest. Wonderful novel. I enjoyed it immensely, and you will, too.

Rating:
Summary: Only for Vogtians and lovers of older Sci Fi.
Review: A story wrapped around and interlaced with the delightful short story "The weapons Shops" is what fleshes this book to novel size. It's an adequate read for Vogt fans, but you wouldn't know he was a master from reading this book. The patented Vogtian turn is definitly present but, unfortunately, the delivery that made him famous is not. It's a lame book by Vogt standards. The same can be said for the sequel, "The Weapon Makers", though it is actually more inventive than this one.

Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Sci-Fi Writers Ever.
Review: I have read practically everyone in sci-fi and to me, there are a few standouts, like: Robert Heinlen, Andre Norton, Murray Leinster, and A.E. Van Vogt. This is a great story if you appreciate early sci-fi circa 1951. I would also suggest his book, "War Against The Rull". If you are going to look for this book, "Weapon Shops of Isher", try to get the Ace Double-D version with Murray Leinster's "Gateway To Elsewhere" included. A two books in one issue. Pretty rare and you'll pay for it.

Rating:
Summary: Sci Fi? Sci Hy(steria)!
Review: One for the Social Historians to pore over: otherwise, a rollicking yarn, and a worthy addition to reading material for acolytes of the National Rifle Association.

Rating:
Summary: weapon shop books
Review: This book and its sequel "The Weapon Makers",together make up one of the best old sci fi series. It's astonishingly inventive, especially politically. The tale is smoother and better told than some of van Vogt's work- on the whole, I'd say that only "The War Against the Rull" comapres to it. It's only weakness is that it is a bit old fashioned - this was written before the computer revolution. But it still is creative technologically.

Rating:
Summary: weapon shop books
Review: This book and its sequel "The Weapon Makers",together make up one of the best old sci fi series. It's astonishingly inventive, especially politically. The tale is smoother and better told than some of van Vogt's work- on the whole, I'd say that only "The War Against the Rull" comapres to it. It's only weakness is that it is a bit old fashioned - this was written before the computer revolution. But it still is creative technologically.

Rating:
Summary: weapon shop books
Review: This book and its sequel "The Weapon Makers",together make up one of the best old sci fi series. It's astonishingly inventive, especially politically. The tale is smoother and better told than some of van Vogt's work- on the whole, I'd say that only "The War Against the Rull" comapres to it. It's only weakness is that it is a bit old fashioned - this was written before the computer revolution. But it still is creative technologically.

Rating:
Summary: Gaurds the second amendment
Review: This book contains little if any violence but it serves,to remind one and all. of why the second amendment exists, to allow the populace to defend it'self against the G'ovt.