Federation

Rating:
Summary: Why *do* these books go out of print?
Review: Consists of "Omnilingual", "Naudsonce", "Oomphel in the Sky", "Graveyard of Dreams", and "When in the Course --"

"Omnilingual" -- as archeologists excavate the ruins of Martian civilization, how can they hope to decipher its written records without a Rosetta stone? (This story, by the way, fits into the Paratime historical framework in regard to the Martians).

"Naudsonce" - how can you make successful contact with the people of an alien planet, when neither side can manage to grapple with the other's language?

"Oomphel in the Sky" - the Terrans have tried to get along with the Kwannons; but are inadvertently knocking the foundations out from under their religion...

"Graveyard of Dreams" is an alternate version of _Cosmic Computer_ (a.k.a._Junkyard Planet), providing more information about the System States Alliance and its part in the downfall of the Federation.

"When in the Course -" provides our only glimpse of Freya, mentioned only in passing in other stories (Paula Quinton in Uller Uprising is of Freyan ancestry). See also Piper's novel _Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen_ for a longer, very similar version of this story.

Rating:
Summary: Why *do* these books go out of print?
Review: Consists of "Omnilingual", "Naudsonce", "Oomphel in the Sky", "Graveyard of Dreams", and "When in the Course --"

"Omnilingual" -- as archeologists excavate the ruins of Martian civilization, how can they hope to decipher its written records without a Rosetta stone? (This story, by the way, fits into the Paratime historical framework in regard to the Martians).

"Naudsonce" - how can you make successful contact with the people of an alien planet, when neither side can manage to grapple with the other's language?

"Oomphel in the Sky" - the Terrans have tried to get along with the Kwannons; but are inadvertently knocking the foundations out from under their religion...

"Graveyard of Dreams" is an alternate version of _Cosmic Computer_ (a.k.a._Junkyard Planet), providing more information about the System States Alliance and its part in the downfall of the Federation.

"When in the Course -" provides our only glimpse of Freya, mentioned only in passing in other stories (Paula Quinton in Uller Uprising is of Freyan ancestry). See also Piper's novel _Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen_ for a longer, very similar version of this story.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent wish it was back in print
Review: Federation is a great group of short stories. The first Piper book I read, and was the start of a great chunck of reading. Wish all his works where back in print. He can be a little bit dull in character development, at times. But the future histories he created ranks up with RAH.

I recomend bothering your local used SF bookstore (if you have one) to get all his works. And if that doesn't work, take a hint from Piper and overthrow the tyrant.

I think Piper would laugh a bit at the author would liek to review this book, if he could. He is dead. But then again, he did hint at channeling lsot souls.

Rich

Rating:
Summary: A great book, a must-have!
Review: H. Beam Piper (1904-64) was one of the premier science-fiction authors of the 1960s, and should rightly be considered one of the all-time greats in that field. This book is a collection of his Terro-Human Future History short stories, all set during the time of the Terran Federation. First off, the book begins with a smashing introduction by John F. Carr, which discusses Piper the man and Piper the author. I found this introduction to be every bit as interesting as the stories themselves!

The following stories are included in this book:

Omnilingual (54 pages) - This is the story of the first team of Terran scientists set out to examine the desiccated remains of the long-dead Martian civilization. Dr. Martha Dane is struggling to decipher the Martian language, but there is no "Rosetta Stone" which translates Martian into a known language...or is there?

I have always found this to be one of the most fascinating science-fiction stories I have ever read. It has mystery and science, adding up to a fascinating story!

Naudsonce (56 pages) - In this story a Terran exploration company discovers a planet with sentient life. Well, people have dealt with this before. But, in this case, physiology might just be destiny.

This is another one of my all-time favorite science-fiction stories! In this story, Mr. Piper presents a people with a certain physical difference that makes them different from humans in fascinating ways.

Oomphel In The Sky (58 pages) - This story examines the effect a man can have in influencing the future of a whole world. With the government unable to stop the natives of Kwannon from attempting to bring on the end of the world, Miles Gilbert needs to understand their psychology, and give them a future worth working towards.

This is a great story that includes the first appearance of Foxx Travis, the "Napoleon" of the System States War (See the novel, The Cosmic Computer).

Graveyard of Dreams (27 pages) - The people of Poictesme have invested all of their hopes in finding Merlin, the mythical computer that had almost single-handedly defeated the rebels during the System States War. Life will be so grand once Merlin is found, so why work on things now. And so it is up to Conn Maxwell to find the computer the computer that doesn't exist...but perhaps he can use Merlin without even finding it!

This is a great story, and will come as a surprise to those who have read the novel, The Cosmic Computer. It is something of an alternate universe, the same and yet different.

When In The Course (84 pages) - When a Terran exploration company discovers an inhabited planet, they are shocked at how totally human the native look. The natives are under the thumb of an oppressive pseudo-religion that controls the secret of gunpowder. Well, the Terrans need an alliance with a local government, and there is a monopoly that need to be broken!

Once again we see another alternate reality. This is the world of Kalvan of Otherwhen, but in this story it is not an alternate Earth, but the planet Freya, "where the women are more beautiful than those of earth." Any fan of Piper will love to see how the master turned this story from his Paratime milieu to his Terro-Human Future History one!

This is a great book; in fact it is probably my favorite H. Beam Piper book every published! I don't think I go to far to say that this book is a must-have for any science-fiction fan!