War Games-Christopher Anvil; edited by Eric Flint

War Games
Christopher Anvil; edited by Eric Flint
Baen, Dec 2 2008, $22.00
ISBN 1416556028

This is a terific collection that includes one novel (see THE STEEL, THE MIST AND THE BLAZING SUN) and Christopher Anvil’s early short stories. The shorts were published in the major science fiction magazines of the fifties and sixties like Astounding, Galaxy and Analog; as well as one each in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Magazine. The compilation includes two published in the fifties, thirteen in the sixties; one from the seventies; and two in the eighties (including the novel). Each entry is well written filled with twists, humor, and satirical hyperbole of war as so complex that his key characters consistently set out to do what they believe is ethically right only to find morality issues at every turn; a sort of Bushian spin since “Mission Accomplished”. Incredibly even the plug and play world is anticipated by Mr. Anvil in defense of one’s home.

THE STEEL, THE MIST AND THE BLAZING SUN. Two hundred years have past since WW III between the USA and the Soviet Union left devastation across the globe with the deployment of the nukes. Elected King Arakal of Wesdem O'Cracys (his adventures start in the included short “Ideological Defeat” – read that first) and his militia annexed the Russian colony in America and forged an alliance with New Kebeck to the north. He goes east across the ocean as west is too radioactive. His target is the Old O'Cracy islands of Old Brunswick and the continent just beyond the small channel starting with Old Kebeck. The Russians look forward to greet him with open warfare. Although feeling outdated with the collapse of the Soviet Union, this is an entreating war novel, which like the included shorts, proclaims war is absurd but is as human as eating and breathing.

Harriet Klausner