Aphelion

Hard SF action-adventure! Great stuff!

I've got to admit, it's gotta be tough to make the much-cliched Mad Scientist seem real and believable. Great characterization here.

Very crisp and efficient all around.

Seriously, Mr. Strout should be peddling this stuff to Analog magazine. It really is that good.

Okay, Bill, maybe not "hard" SF -- but have you LOOKED at Analog lately?

I remember the Campbell years . . .

They're getting pretty soft. And not everything they print is this good. Just my opinion.

Ah, I knew I remembered this one!

I was in the same Planet Magazine with "Karen's Last Game." That was a lot of years ago... I feel old.