The Best of Hal Clement (1979) – Hal Clement Free Audiobook

Written by Hal Clement
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Format: MP3
Bitrate: 48 Kbps
Unabridged

The Best of Hal Clement (1979) is a collection of SF stories by the author. It contains an introduction, ten tales, and an afterword.

– Introduction: Hal Clement: Rationalist by Lester del Rey summarizes the influence of this author on the SF genre. Del Ray points out the puzzle aspect of so many of his shorter works. Yet science always advances by solving puzzles.

– “Impediment” (Astounding, 1942) is about aliens who can sense radiation emitted from synaptic junctions.

– “Technical Error” (Astounding, 1943) explains how a crew destroyed two ships.

– “Uncommon Sense” (Astounding, 1943) follows a student of alien cultures while he tries to regain control of his ship.

– “Assumption Unjustified” (Astounding, 1946) involves two aliens landing of Earth with only a dated manual to describe the inhabitants.

– “Answer” (Astounding, 1947) presents a basic problems with understanding the human mind.

– “Dust Rag” (Astounding, 1956) describes the problems in Plato Crater.

– “Bulge” (WoIf, 1968) exposes a criminal gang to the tides.

– “Mistaken for Granted” (WoIf, 1974) relates a basic difference between Luna and Earth.

– “A Question of Guilt” (Year’s Best Horror, 1976) concerns the efforts of man whose children have hemophilia.

– “Stuck with It” (Stellar, 1976) entangles an explorer in a social conflict.

– Afterword by the author gives some background on these stories. He claims to be conservative and contrary.

These tales are hard science fiction. As mentioned in the introduction and afterword, only faster-than-light travel is allowed in his stories just for the convenience of reasonable travel times.