Classic SF with Andy Johnson
@andyjohnson.xyz
Exploring classic science fiction, with a focus on the 1950s to the 1990s. Weekly articles and podcast at andyjohnson.xyz
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Welcome new followers! I read, talk about, and write about classic #sciencefiction books mainly from the 1950s to the 1990s. Reviews and podcast at andyjohnson.xyz #BookSky 💙📚 🚀 #scifibooks
Scarlet Traces Volume Two (2017) by Ian Edginton and D'Israeli ✅ - further comics sequels to H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (1898). Excellent, stirring, and troubling stuff.
November 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Scarlet Traces Volume Two (2017) by Ian Edginton and D'Israeli ✅ - further comics sequels to H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (1898). Excellent, stirring, and troubling stuff.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
The hiatus is over, and the self-replicating machines are on the loose - this week's article and podcast ep cover John Sladek's anarchic, comic debut SF novel The Reproductive System, AKA Mechasm (1968).
Silicon and steel: The Reproductive System (1968) by John Sladek
Machines run amok in a comic disaster ahead of its time
www.andyjohnson.xyz
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The hiatus is over, and the self-replicating machines are on the loose - this week's article and podcast ep cover John Sladek's anarchic, comic debut SF novel The Reproductive System, AKA Mechasm (1968).
The hiatus is over, and the self-replicating machines are on the loose - this week's article and podcast ep cover John Sladek's anarchic, comic debut SF novel The Reproductive System, AKA Mechasm (1968).
Silicon and steel: The Reproductive System (1968) by John Sladek
Machines run amok in a comic disaster ahead of its time
www.andyjohnson.xyz
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The hiatus is over, and the self-replicating machines are on the loose - this week's article and podcast ep cover John Sladek's anarchic, comic debut SF novel The Reproductive System, AKA Mechasm (1968).
In yet another (but final) change to the announced schedule, this week's article will be on John Sladek's "comic inferno" The Reproductive System (1968), and will be available shortly!
November 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
In yet another (but final) change to the announced schedule, this week's article will be on John Sladek's "comic inferno" The Reproductive System (1968), and will be available shortly!
A Fisherman of the Inland Sea (1994) by Ursula K. Le Guin ✅ - eight '90s stories, the three in the Hainish setting being the main draw, although "The Kerastion" is a good short-short.
November 5, 2025 at 10:35 PM
A Fisherman of the Inland Sea (1994) by Ursula K. Le Guin ✅ - eight '90s stories, the three in the Hainish setting being the main draw, although "The Kerastion" is a good short-short.
[Not SF] True Grit (1968) by Charles Portis ✅ - superb Western novel, twice adapted to film. Makes me want to read more classic Westerns, and to seek out Portis' other novels - of which surprisingly, there are only four.
November 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
[Not SF] True Grit (1968) by Charles Portis ✅ - superb Western novel, twice adapted to film. Makes me want to read more classic Westerns, and to seek out Portis' other novels - of which surprisingly, there are only four.
Equator (1961) by Brian Aldiss ✅ - strange collection of just two stories, the novella Equator and the novelette "Segregation". Both fairly routine late 1950s fare.
November 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Equator (1961) by Brian Aldiss ✅ - strange collection of just two stories, the novella Equator and the novelette "Segregation". Both fairly routine late 1950s fare.
Reminds me of Operation Moolah during the Korean War, in which the US promised $100,000 to the first North Korean pilot to defect and deliver to them a MiG-15 fighter.
A U.S. agent tried to flip Nicolás Maduro’s pilot — offering riches if he secretly flew Venezuela’s leader into U.S. custody.
The failed plan, which reads like a Cold War spy novel, shows how far the U.S. has gone to oust Maduro.
The failed plan, which reads like a Cold War spy novel, shows how far the U.S. has gone to oust Maduro.
US sought to lure Nicolás Maduro’s pilot into betraying the Venezuelan leader
A federal agent had a daring plan: persuade Nicolas Maduro's chief pilot to surreptitiously divert the Venezuelan president’s plane to a place where U.S. authorities could nab the strongman.
bit.ly
October 30, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Reminds me of Operation Moolah during the Korean War, in which the US promised $100,000 to the first North Korean pilot to defect and deliver to them a MiG-15 fighter.
To Conquer Chaos (1964) by John Brunner ✅ - an ostracised soap-maker may hold the key to the mystery of the "barrenland" and the monsters that emerge from it. Solid adventure, with good conceptual breakthroughs.
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 AM
To Conquer Chaos (1964) by John Brunner ✅ - an ostracised soap-maker may hold the key to the mystery of the "barrenland" and the monsters that emerge from it. Solid adventure, with good conceptual breakthroughs.
Some unexpected purchases today, from a lovely second hand bookshop in a former chapel at Hidcote Manor Gardens.
October 26, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Some unexpected purchases today, from a lovely second hand bookshop in a former chapel at Hidcote Manor Gardens.
No article this week - hope to return next week, likely with a piece on To Conquer Chaos (1964) by John Brunner.
October 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
No article this week - hope to return next week, likely with a piece on To Conquer Chaos (1964) by John Brunner.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Spooky sci-fi art by Colin Hay, Bruce Pennington, Peter Jones, and Rudolf Sieber-Lonati.
October 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Spooky sci-fi art by Colin Hay, Bruce Pennington, Peter Jones, and Rudolf Sieber-Lonati.
My first Zelazny, and every one I've read since has disappointed me. Post-apocalyptic pulp fury with some New Wave touches, and a ruthless antihero called Hell Tanner. A great time.
October 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
My first Zelazny, and every one I've read since has disappointed me. Post-apocalyptic pulp fury with some New Wave touches, and a ruthless antihero called Hell Tanner. A great time.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Ursula K Le Guin sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/le_gui... was born on this day, so here are some of her book covers (Artist: Bart van Erkel, Peter Gudynas, Wojtek Siudmak and Peter Goodfellow):
October 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Ursula K Le Guin sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/le_gui... was born on this day, so here are some of her book covers (Artist: Bart van Erkel, Peter Gudynas, Wojtek Siudmak and Peter Goodfellow):
The Zap Gun (1967) by Philip K. Dick ✅ - in a fake Cold War, a designer of fake superweapons panics when very real aliens invade. As much of a mess as it is reputed to be, but mildly amusing at times.
October 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
The Zap Gun (1967) by Philip K. Dick ✅ - in a fake Cold War, a designer of fake superweapons panics when very real aliens invade. As much of a mess as it is reputed to be, but mildly amusing at times.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Four editions of Silverberg's The Masks of Time (1968), with cover art by Paul Alexander, Bruce Pennington, Chris Achilleos, and Bob Haberfield. Achilleos' art for the 1972 Tandem edition uses the title for early UK editions, Vornan-19 (the name of the visitor from 2999).
October 18, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Four editions of Silverberg's The Masks of Time (1968), with cover art by Paul Alexander, Bruce Pennington, Chris Achilleos, and Bob Haberfield. Achilleos' art for the 1972 Tandem edition uses the title for early UK editions, Vornan-19 (the name of the visitor from 2999).
"It relies on its enormous data-bank. What did you expect, a brand-new sonnet? It can only retail* what it's been fed. It can only select, not invent."
Maren Faine describes the talking machine "Ol' Orville" in The Zap Gun (1967) by Philip K. Dick
Maren Faine describes the talking machine "Ol' Orville" in The Zap Gun (1967) by Philip K. Dick
October 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
"It relies on its enormous data-bank. What did you expect, a brand-new sonnet? It can only retail* what it's been fed. It can only select, not invent."
Maren Faine describes the talking machine "Ol' Orville" in The Zap Gun (1967) by Philip K. Dick
Maren Faine describes the talking machine "Ol' Orville" in The Zap Gun (1967) by Philip K. Dick
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Four entries in the Tit-Bits Science Fiction Library (1953 - 1955), all with brilliantly gaudy cover art by Ron Turner (1922 - 1998).
October 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Four entries in the Tit-Bits Science Fiction Library (1953 - 1955), all with brilliantly gaudy cover art by Ron Turner (1922 - 1998).
Four entries in the Tit-Bits Science Fiction Library (1953 - 1955), all with brilliantly gaudy cover art by Ron Turner (1922 - 1998).
October 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Four entries in the Tit-Bits Science Fiction Library (1953 - 1955), all with brilliantly gaudy cover art by Ron Turner (1922 - 1998).
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Art by British artist and master of ‘epic’ John Harris
October 17, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Art by British artist and master of ‘epic’ John Harris
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
"He was demigod or irresponsible madman - and equally deadly either way." This week's article covers The Masks of Time (1968) by Robert Silverberg - in which an enigmatic man from the year 2999 brings chaos with him.
Collision with the future: The Masks of Time (1968) by Robert Silverberg
Is the man from the future a fake, a messiah, or a threat?
www.andyjohnson.xyz
October 17, 2025 at 5:56 PM
"He was demigod or irresponsible madman - and equally deadly either way." This week's article covers The Masks of Time (1968) by Robert Silverberg - in which an enigmatic man from the year 2999 brings chaos with him.
"He was demigod or irresponsible madman - and equally deadly either way." This week's article covers The Masks of Time (1968) by Robert Silverberg - in which an enigmatic man from the year 2999 brings chaos with him.
Collision with the future: The Masks of Time (1968) by Robert Silverberg
Is the man from the future a fake, a messiah, or a threat?
www.andyjohnson.xyz
October 17, 2025 at 5:56 PM
"He was demigod or irresponsible madman - and equally deadly either way." This week's article covers The Masks of Time (1968) by Robert Silverberg - in which an enigmatic man from the year 2999 brings chaos with him.
3. I see the products of so-called "AI" around me every day and, possessing actual intelligence, recognise it as useless, toxic garbage that is poisoning everything.
There are basically only two positions in the debate about AI.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
October 17, 2025 at 7:43 AM
3. I see the products of so-called "AI" around me every day and, possessing actual intelligence, recognise it as useless, toxic garbage that is poisoning everything.