YOUNG MEN! ALLURING WOMEN FROM THE FUTURE WANT YOU TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY! BE PREPARED FOR A MIRACULOUS APPEARANCE NEAR YOU SOON! DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO ENLIST!

This volume contains two short tales of adventure from 1938. One is set in the far future, and the other is a battle to save the future.

Legion of time

In April 1927, college senior Denny Lanning gets his first chance to save the future. A young woman with a strangely glowing orb appears in his room. He's amazed by her beauty and her sudden appearance. She begs him to save her world and warns him about Sorainya, the woman of war. After graduation, Lanning is on a ship when Sorainya appears, tempting him with half her empire and herself. But he realizes it's a trick and a shark is waiting below. A decade later, Lanning is shot down in a Chinese aircraft and rescued by a time ship. An old friend recruits him to save humanity.

After World's End

Adventurer Barry Horn is mourning his wife's death when an eccentric millionaire scientist offers him a chance to fly a rocket to Venus. He's hesitant until a woman who looks like his dead wife appears in a vision and urges him to go. But things go wrong on the way and the rocket becomes a comet. A million years later, Barry wakes up to find a galaxy filled with humans about to be exterminated by evil robots. He discovers he's the maker of the robots and teams up with Kel Arran to save humanity.

These stories are full of action, mystery, and adventure. They take readers on a journey through time and space at breakneck speed. The good guys are heroic and the bad guys are truly evil. It's a wild ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

This book is truly a compilation of two distinct and unconnected novellas.

The first one, titled The Legion of Space, is truly remarkable and merits a solid 4-star rating, perhaps even an additional half-star. It showcases Williamson's extraordinary creativity and ability to craft a captivating story within the realm of science fiction.

The second novella, After World's End, is not as powerful as the first. It feels more dated, yet it manages to have a strong finish that likely earns it a high 3-star rating, potentially even 4 stars.

Despite the differences in quality between the two novellas, I am glad that I read them. They provided me with a valuable insight into how brightly Williamson's star was shining during the early days of science fiction. His imagination knew no bounds, and it is evident in the vivid worlds and unique concepts he created.

Overall, this book is a testament to Williamson's talent and a must-read for fans of classic science fiction.

A typical example of the "boulevard" fantasy of the beginning of the period that English-speaking literary scholars rather pretentiously called the "golden age" of fantasy. In my opinion, this short story - it doesn't smell like any "novel" here at all - is too full of teenage clichés to be interesting to any adult reader. I'll add a plus for the fact that it seems to be the first work in which the "war of time" is shown, that is, the confrontation takes place both in the present and in the past and future, where the heroes move. Since I read "The Legion of Time" as part of my personal literary project to read all the books from the list of 100 Must-read Science Fiction Novels, I'll note that "The Legion of Time" is one of the candidates for elimination, since in style and mood it is very similar to Burroughs' "Princess of Mars" from the same list.

It's important to analyze and evaluate these works objectively. While some may find certain elements charming or innovative, others may have different perspectives. The "golden age" of fantasy is a rich and diverse period, but not every work within it may stand the test of time or appeal to all readers. By comparing and contrasting different works, we can gain a better understanding of the evolution and characteristics of this genre.

Maybe "The Legion of Time" has its own merits that I haven't fully appreciated, or perhaps it's just not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, it's an interesting addition to the world of science fiction, and its exploration of the concept of time travel is worth considering. As I continue my literary journey through this list, I look forward to discovering more hidden gems and having more thought-provoking discussions about the wonderful world of science fiction.

Pulpy SF from the 'golden age'

This particular piece of science fiction hails from the glorious 'golden age'. It features a certain amount of scientific veneer, which gives it a touch of authenticity. However, the main plot device is the rather magical concept of time travel. The characters find themselves traveling through time in order to avert a looming catastrophe.

A significant portion of the tale is dedicated to the epic battles that take place. The Legion, a heroic group, engages in fierce combat with mutant ogre-like monsters. These battles are of crucial importance as they strive to save a possible future civilization. The descriptions of these battles are vivid and exciting, drawing the reader into a world of action and adventure.

Overall, this pulpy SF story combines elements of science, magic, and adventure to create a thrilling and engaging narrative that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre.

1.5 stars

This work seems to be filled with all of the tired and overused cliches that one might expect from the likes of Burroughs and Smith. However, what is truly lacking here is the essential ability to effectively pace a narrative.

The story plods along in a rather disjointed manner, with no real sense of rhythm or flow. It's as if the author has simply strung together a series of familiar tropes and ideas without any regard for how they fit together or how they might engage the reader.

As a result, the overall experience is rather lackluster and unfulfilling. There is no real sense of tension or excitement, and the reader is left feeling rather bored and uninterested.

While it may be possible to find some redeeming qualities in this work, such as a unique perspective or an interesting character, these are unfortunately overshadowed by the fundamental flaws in the pacing and narrative structure.

In conclusion, this is a work that fails to live up to its potential and falls short in many important respects. It may be of some interest to those who are fans of Burroughs and Smith, but for the most part, it is a rather forgettable and unremarkable piece of writing.

A great early classic of science fiction by the great Jack Williamson. This work stands as a testament to Williamson's remarkable imagination and innovative storytelling. It takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world filled with extraordinary concepts and ideas. Williamson's vivid descriptions bring the fictional universe to life, allowing readers to envision the strange landscapes, advanced technologies, and unique characters. The story unfolds with a captivating plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, filled with twists and turns that keep them guessing until the very end. This classic of science fiction has had a profound impact on the genre, inspiring generations of writers and captivating the imaginations of countless readers. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of science fiction and a true masterpiece of the genre.

Storyline: 2/5

Characters: 1/5

Writing Style: 2/5

World: 2/5

I believe this would be a pleasant read for those who take pleasure in unadorned, thoughtless action or those who can value the historical context (and the state of the genre) in which it was penned. However, I possess neither of these traits. For me, it was a superficial, absurdly paced, and antiquated work of science fiction. It could have been used as a screenplay for a thirty-minute television episode shot in the same style and with the same costumes as the 1987 He-Man movie, Masters of the Universe.

There were certain hints of good science fiction ideas. The exploration of chance, for example, reminded me of Asimov's Hari Seldon. Nevertheless, no aspect of this book was fully developed. It seemed to lack depth and coherence, leaving the reader with a sense of dissatisfaction. The story could have been more engaging if the author had delved deeper into the concepts and characters. Overall, it was a disappointment for me as a science fiction enthusiast.

read 06.24.06

On this particular day of 06.24.06, there was a sense of anticipation in the air.

People were going about their daily activities, but there was an underlying excitement that something special might occur.

The sun shone brightly, as if blessing the day with its warm rays.

Birds chirped merrily in the trees, adding to the pleasant atmosphere.

Some might have been planning a weekend getaway, while others were looking forward to spending time with family and friends.

Perhaps there were important meetings or events scheduled for that day.

No matter what, 06.24.06 was a day that held the promise of new experiences and memories.

As the hours passed, people made the most of the day, seizing every opportunity that came their way.

And at the end of it all, they would look back on 06.24.06 with a smile, remembering the good times and the possibilities that had unfolded.

University student Denny Lanning's ordinary life is suddenly disrupted when a beautiful young woman, Lethonee (or at least a projection of her), appears before him. She pleads with him to somehow preserve the existence of her far-future civilization, Jonbar, rather than that of the wicked tyrannical warrior queen Sorainya. Denny promises to do his best, but his resolve weakens when he encounters Sorainya (also in projection), whose crimson chainmail can't hide her "womanly curves." However, his lust cools when he realizes she's trying to get him eaten by a shark.

Years pass, and Denny, fighting against the Japanese in China, is killed. But he is revived aboard the timeship, the Chronion, built by his old college buddy and genius physicist Wil McLan. McLan has changed; he fell for Sorainya's lures and spent a decade in her torture chambers, and is now a broken old man, yet the spirit within him still burns bright. McLan is gathering a sort of temporal Dirty Dozen to fight against Sorainya and her minions, so that her reality never comes into existence, but Lethonee's does. The men he gathers, all from the early 20th century and all white, display classy dialogue indicating different ethnic origins.

There's lots of exciting action as our heroes battle Sorainya's troops, who are giant gun-wielding ants. Matters are complicated by the fact that McLan's early time experiments increased the probability of Sorainya's world's existence. In between the fighting, it's revealed that the crucial fork in time is when a boy in the Ozarks in 1921, John Barr, picks up either a magnet or a pebble. If he picks up the magnet, it'll spark an interest in science that will affect world events and lead to the emergence of Jonbar. Sorainya's minions, of course, want him to pick up the pebble, so they steal the magnet. Can the Legion get it back in time? You bet they can.

The book has some good writing, like Lanning's reaction to superstition and McLan's explanation of the nature of time. It's not great literature, and the action sequences are a bit of a blur in my memory, but it's a fast and fun read.

The latest volume in my epic journey of reading the Science Fiction Grand Masters is truly captivating. "The Legion of Time" contains two novellas; the titular tale, and "After World's End".

I constantly had the feeling that I had read the story that makes up "The Legion of Time", but upon closer inspection, I realized I hadn't. This story immediately plunges us into the action as Denny Lanning, who shares an apartment with Barry Halloran and two other Harvard seniors, receives a holographic visitor one night. She is a beautiful woman with "mahogany-red" hair. Jack Williamson seems to have had a penchant for redheads.

Her name is Lethonee, and she hails from the city of Jonbar. However, she isn't really there in the physical sense. "It is only in your mind that we meet, through this," she says, glancing down at a large jewel in her hands. Lethonee attempts to enlist Lanning to join her cause and help her defend her land against another realm called Gyronchi, whose leader is Sorainya, "the woman of war".

Naturally, Sorainya eventually appears to Denny in a similar manner, also seeking to enlist him. The problem is that he would have to die to actually go to either of them.

From this point on, the tale becomes more complex. Not necessarily in a negative way, as it is highly entertaining. But it deals with concepts such as probability and possibility, which I have limited knowledge of. You see, neither of those realms actually exists yet, but it is the probability of their existence that has allowed their representatives to visit Lanning. And every time something happens in one of the realms, those probabilities change.

At one point, Lanning and his crew have to go back in time to a specific point and place where a young boy is about to pick up a pebble from a field. They must take an item back, a large magnetic stone of sorts, and put it back where it belongs (the people of Gyronchi stole it to erase all probability of Jonbar), so that the little boy will pick up the magnet instead of the pebble.

If you're confused, don't worry. If you're not, I'm impressed.

The story is written with Williamson's typical wild imagination. And having been written (or copyrighted, at least) in 1952, it is far ahead of its time.

The second story, "After World's End", is, in my opinion, the superior of the two. In this tale, a man is found dead in a bungalow that had been vacant for a week as its owner had gone on a lake trip. The man was holding a diamond-like block, a letter (apparently a last will and testament), and a manuscript. The following story was contained in the manuscript. All of this is in a "Foreword".

Barry Horn is enlisted to man a private rocket ship and travel to Venus. Unfortunately, he misses an opportunity to correct his course and completely misses Venus. He ends up heading for the Sun but doesn't plunge into it. Instead, he maintains a strange orbit where the ship has essentially become a comet.

As he is "lost in space," so to speak, he develops a remarkable sense of intuition that allows him to perceive events as they are happening on Earth. Time passes, and eventually, a million years go by. Miraculously, he is rescued only to find that there are only a handful of humans left, and he must defend them against a terrible robot that has taken over the universe.

Once we reach that point in the story, it is non-stop action until the end.

Once again, the leading lady in the story is a redhead, which amuses me.

But this tale was, in my view, better written than the first one. Not any more believable, mind you, as reality takes a back seat in Williamson's tales. But the second story held my interest much better than the first one.

However, the ending of both tales was, I would say, very satisfying.

Some spoilery thoughts here:

The Legion of Time by Jack Williamson is a captivating science fiction novel. It takes readers on a thrilling journey through time and space. The story follows a group of individuals who are part of the Legion, a secret organization dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the time continuum.

As the plot unfolds, we are introduced to a complex web of characters with their own motives and agendas. The author does a great job of creating a sense of mystery and anticipation, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

One of the things that stood out to me was the author's use of time travel. Williamson presents a unique and believable concept of how time can be manipulated and the consequences that come with it.

Overall, The Legion of Time is a must-read for science fiction fans. It offers a thrilling adventure, interesting characters, and a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of time.

For more detailed thoughts and analysis, check out the review at http://ciaracatscifi.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-legion-of-time-by-jack-williamson.html.

This book was truly a big 'what the hell?' moment for me. I will now attempt to review this in a more meaningful way, while keeping in mind that I stopped around a third of the way through. Strangely enough, even with that, I still feel like I could fill a couple of theses with what I did read.

So, as the cover implies, there is a machine that travels through time and a group of soldiers from different countries and eras are thrown together in it. However, they are not the focus, at least not for the first third. The main focus is the lead character, named Dennis, which is a perfectly fine name. But then he's called Denny, which sounds a bit weird to my ears.

As soon as he starts reading a book by his friend with a rather innocuous title like 'Reality and Things' that discusses time travel, suddenly, a beautiful woman appears from a city he's never heard of. She begs for his help, and he's like, 'Well, you're hot so it sounds good.' She then gives him advice that saves his life for the first time. She also warns him against another woman who runs a different city and is evil.

Soon after that, Denny is visited by a vision of the woman he was warned about. She's clearly evil, but he's still like, 'eh, maybe?' Then later, he's grabbed by the time traveling ship, and his friend who's the captain reveals that she's kept him as a POW for a decade, torturing him the entire time. And yet, Denny is STILL torn about which woman he should choose to side with. I really can't tell if this is horrible sexism of its time or a clever play on how blind men can be when women are attractive.

Anyway, I was like, I think I've gotten all I can out of this, and I decided to stop reading it.