Mack Reynolds wrote a series of stories for Analog in 1964 featuring a college history professor, Dennis Land, who enters gladiatorial competitions (think Hunger Games). These near future stories feature a world-wide ban on wars, but with hand-to-hand combat as the alternative to settle international (and social) disputes. This version of Sweet Dreams, Sweet Princes from 1986, explore the East vs. West Cold War without nuclear weapons. Part of the story involves a quirky scientist whose discoveries could disrupt the Status Quo. And, for Mack Reynolds fans, one of Reynolds’ favorite characters, Joe Mauser, makes some cameo appearances.
As with most of Mack Reynolds work, socio-economic themes are explored. But, most SF readers will find the detailed gladiatorial conflicts the most compelling parts of Sweet Dreams, Sweet Princes. GRADE: B
I can only assume that I didn’t care for Reynolds’ work since during the 50s and early 60s when I was reading the sf magazines he seemed to be everywhere and yet I have no specific memory of any story or novel.
Michael, Mack Reynolds specialized in SF stories with an economic twist. At one time, the readers of GALAXY voted Reynolds their favorite writer. I’ve read a dozen of Mack Reynolds’ books, but I have at least a dozen to go!
I like Mack Reynolds, but don’t remember this one. I may have read the stories in Analog however.
Rick, if you were reading ANALOG in 1964, you would have seen the Kelly Freas cover of SWEET DREAMS, SWEET PRINCES. But, it was called something else.
Yeah, Reynolds was everywhere in the 60’s, to the point that I considered he might have had something to hold over Campbell’s head. But the stories were readable, followed a certain pattern, and I enjoyed them far better than the handful of sexed-up novels he did for Monarch around that time. Hard to pick a favorite Reynolds story, but his first novel, THE CASE OF THE LITTLE GREEN MEN, holds a place in my heart. I still have to read his juvenile MISSION TO HORATIUS, which was the very first STAR TREK novel.
Jerry, I think I have a copy of MISSION TO HORATIUS around here somewhere.
An unusual title for sf. Now why doesn’t that surprise me? I have read very few stories in Analog and don’t recall either of these writers.
Prashant, Mack Reynolds was a popular SF writer in the 1960s and 1970s. He was a fixture in most of the SF magazines at that time. Most of his work appeared in paperback versions, but now most of that material is out-of-print.
I don’t remember these, though I’ve bought more than 40 books by Reynolds.
Fun fact:
I have a complete collection of Analog from 1961 to 1999 – but in the 60s there was a British edition which I bought so I don’t know if I got all the stories which appeared in the US edition because those editions were different sometimes …
Wolf, I had a complete run of GALAXY. Now it resides at the Special Collections Library at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Thanks for another review, George. I guess you aren’t surprised that I have never read this author.
Patti, a large part of my pleasure reading is Science Fiction and Fantasy. But, hopefully, you’ll recognize some of the short story writers I review in the coming weeks.