In the Galaxy
Voices from the Sky. By Arthur C. Clarke. (Gollancz, 25s.) THE best science-fiction is always that which we doubt is really fiction at all, rather a reality which we believe may come about something like the author predicts—those labyrinthian and un- nameable horrors of Kafka, say; or the cold geometric puzzles of the Argentinian writer Borges. Faber's reissue of Brian Aldiss's 1959 collection, The Canopy of Time, holds up very well The author never descends into gadgetry or into the tedium of bare parable. He populates his universe with characters, not types, thus giving credibility to the murderous boy, the masterless (and- pathetic) robots, and to the rest of his brilliant collection of individuals. Finding them- selves confronted with situations of their own -
making; they are unable to understand the con. sequences of 'their Past actions. 'We are' led to view ourselves through a compassionate, but tolerantly mocking lens. The Canopy of Time contains some of the best sheer, horror talei to have been written since Victorian times; but it is finally the quality of compassion that gives the author's vision its stamp. This collection is more than entertaining: it disturbs. It is science- fiction at its best.
Best SF Six is a group of more traditional stories. Most of the old hands are represented here, but no more than competently. Stock themes and gadgetry abound—most of the traps, in fact, that Mr Aldiss has avoided. Still, there are entertaining moments. I. G. Ballard's wry little study of housing problems in an over- populated future, with overtones of man's innate perversity, might be required reading for recently graduated social-psychologists.
Mr Clarke 'has, over the past few years, written essays on the theme of space exploration for a wide variety of magazines. Some of these have been collected in Voices front the Sky. The author consistently and entertainingly argues with the experts, some of whom must now con- sider seriously what Mr Clarke suggests. It must be no small satisfaction to him that so many of his earlier predictions have become fact. Incidentally, the book provides a gold-mine of raw material for the fiction writer. - LYMAN ANDREWS
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