Entities the Selected Novels of Erik Frank Russell: The Selected Novels of Eric Frank Russell

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended both for newcomers and prior fans
Review: Selected Novels Of Eric Frank Russell: Entities provides the complete novels of Wasp, Sinister Barrier, Call Him Dead, Next Of Kin and Sentinels Of Space plus three bonus short stories. Russell specializes in plots which blend humor with psychological insights. From a battle which will decide the destiny of the human race to a telepath's struggles with microscopic life, these novels offer twists and perspectives not seen in modern science fiction. Highly recommended both for newcomers and prior fans of Russell's hard to find works.

Rating:
Summary: Too Often Forgotten.
Review: This is a great collection. It includes five novels and 3 short stories from the all too often forgotten Eric Frank Russell (January 6, 1905 - February 28, 1978). This collection was published in 2001, and along with "Major Ingredients", published a year earlier, almost all of his short fiction and most of his best novels are once again available. In addition to Russell's work, this also contains introductions for each of the novels by Jack L. Chalker, as well as an introduction for the whole book by the editor Rick Katze. The following is a list of the novels:

"Wasp" is probably Russell's best known novel. Published originally in 1957, it is the story of James Mowry who is asked to be an agent behind enemy lines in Earth's war with the Sirian Combine. He is asked to be like the wasp in the car that distracts the driver and causes an accident. When this novel was first published, it was edited to fit the predetermined length of Avalon Books. The version in this collection is the unedited version of the novel. This novel was nominated for the 1998 Prometheus Hall of Fame award.

"Sentinels from Space" was first published under the title "The Star Watchers" in "Startling Stories", November 1951. In this novel, aliens who are watching Earth but who are posing as humans, become involved in preventing a war between different factions.

"Call Him Dead" was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" from August - October of 1955. It was later published under the title "Three to Conquer". In this story Wade Harper is, as far as he knows, the only telepath in existence. When he learns that aliens are taking over the minds of humans he needs to find a way to stop the invasion.

"Next Of Kin" was written three times. It was first submitted to "Astounding Science Fiction" and rejected as a novel. It was then trimmed down to a novelette and titled "Plus X", which was published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in June of 1956. Next it was expanded but not to its original length and published as "The Space Willies", along with several short stories in 1958. Finally it was published in its full length and original title in 1959. In this novel, a scout pilot is the first to use a new engine design that will allow him to travel much faster and farther then ever before, in an attempt to scout the enemy's solar systems. When he becomes captured, he learns that there are many similarities between Earth and their enemies, which he uses to his full advantage.

"Sinister Barrier" was the first novel published in "Unknown" in March of 1939. However, Russell insisted on updating this novel before he would allow it to be published again in the United States. It is the updated version that is included in this collection. In this story, Bill Graham is investigating the suspicious deaths of many of Earth's best scientists. This novel was listed as the 18th best book on the 1952 Astounding/Analog All-Time Poll.

The three short stories are: "Legwork", which was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in April of 1956; "Mana", which was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in December of 1937; and "Mechanical Mice", which was first published in "Astounding Science Fiction" in January of 1941 as by Maurice G. Hugi. This was the only story for which Russell used that names, other stories by Maurice G. Hugi are by the author of that name.