Complete Science Adventure of Mack Reynolds

An American science fiction writer. His work is noteworthy for its focus on socioeconomic speculation, usually expressed in thought-provoking explorations of Utopian societies from a radical, sometime satiric, perspective. He was a considerably popular author from the 1950s to the 1970s, especially with readers of science fiction and fantasy magazines.


Contents

Ultima Thule

Happy Ending

I'm a Stranger Here Myself

Border, Breed Nor Birth

Black Man's Burden

Mercenary

Gun for Hire

Dogfight—1973

Status Quo

Unborn Tomorrow

Adaptation

The Common Man

Farmer

Freedom

Medal of Honor

Summit

Combat

Off Course

Potential Enemy

Spaceman on a Spree

Revolution

Frigid Fracas

Subversive

Expediter

Adaptation-

When a man has a great deal of knowledge, it becomes extremely easy for him to confuse "knowledge" with "wisdom" ... and forget that the antonym of "wisdom" is not "ignorance" but "folly."

I'm a Stranger Here Myself-

One can't be too cautious about thepeople one meets in Tangier. They're allweirdies of one kind or another.Me? Oh,I'm A StrangerHere Myself

Happy Ending-

A world had collapsed around this man—a world that would never shout his praises again. The burned-out cities were still and dead, the twisted bodies and twisted souls giving him their last salute in death. And now he was alone, alone surrounded by memories, alone and waiting ...

The Common Man-

It would, of course, take a trio of Ivory Tower scientists to conceive of tracking down that statistical entity, the Common Man, and testing out an idea on him. And only the Ivory Tower type would predict that egregiously wrongly!

Gun for Hire-

A gun is an interesting weapon; it can be hired, of course, and naturally doesn't care who hires it. Something much the same can be said of the gunman, too....

Combat-

An Alien landing on Earth might be readily misled, victimized by a one-sided viewpoint. And then again ... it might be the Earthmen who were misled....

Mercenary-

Every status-quo-caste society in history has left open two roads to rise above your caste: The Priest and The Warrior. But in a society of TV and tranquilizers--the Warrior acquires a strange new meaning....

Medal of Honor-

According to tradition, the man who held the Galactic Medal of Honor could do no wrong. In a strange way, Captain Don Mathers was to learn that this was true.

Dogfight - 1973-

Flying at 1600 m.p.h. you act with split-second timing after you sight the enemy. And you're allowed only one mistake--your last!

Unborn Tomorrow-

Unfortunately, there was only one thing he could bring back from the wonderful future... and though he didn't want to... nevertheless he did...

Border, Breed Nor Birth-

Kipling said those things didn't count when two strong men stood face to face. But ... do they count when two strong ideologies stand face to face...?

Black Man's Burden-

The turmoil in Africa is only beginning—and it must grow worse before it's better. Not until the people of Africa know they are Africans—not warring tribesmen—will there be peace....

Freedom-

Freedom is a very dangerous thing indeed. It is so catching—like a plague—even the doctors get it.

Revolution-

Before you wish for something--or send agents to get it for you--make very, very sure you really want it. You might get it, you know....

Subversive-

''Subversive'' is, in essence, a negative term--it means simply ''against the existent system.'' It doesn't mean subversives all agree...

Expediter-

His assignment was to get things done; he definitely did so.Not quite the things intended, perhaps, but definitely done.

Off Course-

Shure and begorra, it was a great day for the Earth! The first envoy from another world was about to speak--that is, if he could forget that horse for a minute....

Frigid Fracas-

In any status-hungry culture, the level a man is assigned depends on what people think he is—not on what he is. And that, of course, means that only the deliberately phony has real status!

Summit-

Almost anything, if it goes on long enough, can be reduced to, first a Routine, and then, to a Tradition. And at the point it is, obviously, Necessary.