Bill Brown was born in 1910 in Oregon, USA.He worked as a journalist, a park ranger, and a techar of creative writing. As a young man in the 1930s, he made a voyage in a thirty-two foot schooner through the South Seas, and during World War II descended a Himalayan river by rubber boat. Two of his books, Uncharted Voyage and Roaring River, are based on these adventures. The short story I suggest today is "The Star Ducks", which was published in 1950 in the magazine Fantasy and Science Fiction. He was a brilliant science-fiction story teller, should you enjoy reading some other science-fiction stories by him, please read: "The Trunk and the Trumpet", "Medicine Dancer", and "Spunk Water". He died in 1961. Unfortunately He has not received the recognition he deserves yet, since he is not a well-known author nowadays. This mention is intended to be a humble tribute to his brilliant imagination. "THE STAR DUCKS" There is no reason to suppose that Earth is the only planet in the universe capable of supporting life in some form or other. Until we can communicate with other galaxies, however, we can only speculate and imagine. Science fiction offers us a rich range of alien life-forms, from the sublime to the ridiculous, and at the same time often shows humankind from a new, and sometimes unflattering, angle. The merest hint of a visitation from outer space and reporter Ward Rafferty would rush to the scene, keen to be the first wish a sensational scoop for his newspaper. The Alsops, on the other hand, are untroubled by the thought of wonders from space. They pursue their humdrum lives so fast Rafferty could scarcely see them. He dully went over in his mind the information he had: 'Mr and Mrs Man-Who-Bends-Iron. Smith! Man-WhoBends-Iron on an anvil. But before he was halfway there the gleaming plastic contraption slid out of the barn and there was a slight hiss. no story.' It slowly dawned on Rafferty what that meant. They returned to their home in the system of Alpha Centauri with two crates of hatching eggs.. doing a bit of friendly trade with a ny visitors that happen to drop by. on toward the barn through the mud. Rafferty sat down in the mud.. "non-existent"..as farmers.. The thing disappeared into the low hanging clouds. with the knowledge that the greatest story in the world had gone off into the sky. empty feeling in his middle.' " Nota Bene: It is really hard to find studies on the author and his writing. they're part bug!' Rafferty rushed out the door. unfortunately. a hollow. milking the cows. No pictures. raising chickens. got up and darted here and there about the room as quick as fireflies. All there was left for Rafferty to see was a steaming place in the mud and a little circle of burnt earth. Of course that was Smith. Extract from the story: "Suddenly the people from space turned their antennae toward each other for a second and apparently coming to a mutual agreement. The bibliography on this author is really scarce or. 'Mr and Mirs Smith visited at the Alfred Alsop place Sunday. Should anyone . screaming at the creatures to stop.. All Rafferty could think was: 'My God.. no evidence. They scattered out the door and off toward the barn. Without such context. the reviewer must know two things: Knowing the work under review: This demands not only attempting to understand the author's purpose and how the component parts of the work contribute to that purpose. and by quoting striking passages from the text. Reviewing essentials o o o Description of the book. other works etc. Keep in mind the need for a single impression which must be clear to the reader. but also knowledge of the author: his/her nationality. please.know about some study or biography on Bill Brown. While you read: Read the book with care. The review outline . Sufficient description should be given so that the reader will have some understanding of the author's thoughts. let me know. by stating the perceived aims and purposes of the author. BOOK REVIEWS How to write a book review There are two approaches to book reviewing: Descriptive reviews give the essential information about a book. Note your impressions as you read. Allow time to assimilate what you read so that the book can be seen in perspective. time period. This account is not a summary. in terms of accepted literary and historical standards. It can be woven into the critical remarks. I would be glad to post it here. This is done with description and exposition. Highlight quotable passages. and supports this evaluation with evidence from the text. The following pointers are meant to be suggestions for writing a critical review. Appraise the book. Basic requirements To write a critical review. Discuss the author. Critical reviews describe and evaluate the book. Requirements of the genre: This means understanding the art form and how it functions. A review must be a considered judgment that includes: a statement of the reviewer's understanding of the author's purpose how well the reviewer feels the author's purpose has been achieved evidence to support the reviewer's judgement of the author' achievement. the reviewer has no historical or literary standard upon which to base an evaluation. Biographical information should be relevant to the subject of the review and enhance the reader's understanding of the work under discussion. Follow your outline or adjust it to further your argument. to determine the central point your review will make. By organizing your discussion topics into groups.A review outline gives you an over-all grasp of the organization of the review. and to fill in gaps or omissions. Do not introduce new information or ideas in the conclusion. and properly footnoted.g. First draft o o o o o Opening paragraphs set the tone of the paper. The aim should be to push your central point. If necessary. Concluding paragraphs sums up or restates your thesis or it may make a final judgement regarding the book. Read your paper through again looking for unity. Write down all the major headings of the outline and fill in the subdivisions. The body of the review logically develops your thesis. Reviewing considerations Fiction Rule number one: do not give away the story! Character From what sources are the characters drawn? What is the author's attitude toward his characters? Are the characters flat or three dimensional? . before starting your revision. theme. character. at least a day. or indented. structure. Correct grammatical mistakes and punctuation as you find them. aspects of the book will emerge: e. Revising the draft Allow time to elapse. Examine the notes you have made and eliminate those with no relationship to your central thesis. to eliminate inessentials or irrelevancies. All parts should support your thesis or central point. Put quoted material in quotation marks. Verify quotations for accuracy and check the format and content of references. do not hesitate to make major revisions in your draft. Possible introductions usually make a statement about the: Thesis Authorial purpose Topicality of the work or its significance Comparison of the work to others by the same author or within the same genre Author. etc.. organization and logical development. g. is accident employed as a complicating and/or resolving force? What are the elements of mystery and suspense? What other devices of plot complication and resolution are employed? Is there a sub-plot and how is it related to the main plot? Is the plot primary or secondary to some of the other essential elements of the story (character. humour. social.g. and how? What scenic effects are used and how important and effective are they? Does the setting influence or impinge on the characters and/or plot? Biography Does the book give a "full-length" picture of the subject? What phases of the subject's life receive greatest treatment and is this treatment justified? What is the point of view of the author? How is the subject matter organized: chronologically. allegory)? How effective is dialogue? Setting What is the setting and does it play a significant role in the work? Is a sense of atmosphere evoked.. escapist. psychological.g. parody. retrospectively. clarity)? What are the "emotional qualities" of the writing (e. setting.. entertaining. style.. rhythm)? What stylistic devices are employed (e. etc. etc.g.)? Style What are the "intellectual qualities" of the writing (e. conclusion) handled? What is the relationship of plot to character delineation? To what extent. in purpose or intent? Plot How are the various elements of plot (eg. etc. simplicity. wit. or new and original? Is the theme didactic. climax. suspense. introduction.? . harmony. satire)? What are the "aesthetic qualities" of the writing (e.. symbolism. motifs. Does character development occur? Is character delineation direct or indirect? Theme What is/are the major theme(s)? How are they revealed and developed? Is the theme traditional and familiar. and how. such as ABI Inform and Historical Abstracts include citations to book reviews. popular. etc. are they used intelligently? Is the book a revision? How does it compare with earlier editions? Are maps. . and if so. and to what effect? What is the central concern of the poem and is it effectively expressed? Finding book reviews Many indexes. scholarly. or is there an effort at interpretive writing? What is the point of view or thesis of the author? Is the treatment superficial or profound? For what group is the book intended (textbook.)? What poetical devices have been used (rhyme. illustrations. etc. etc. originality. individuality? What kind of poetry is under review (epic. charts. Is the treatment superficial or does the author show extensive study into the subject's life? What source materials were used in the preparation of the biography? Is the work documented? Does the author attempt to get at the subject's hidden motives? What important new facts about the subject's life are revealed in the book? What is the relationship of the subject's career to contemporary history? How does the biography compare with others about the same person? How does it compare with other works by the same author? History With what particular period does the book deal? How thorough is the treatment? What were the sources used? Is the account given in broad outline or in detail? Is the style that of reportorial writing. Reviews can also be found at book-related online sites. rhythm. figures of speech. used and how are these to be evaluated? Reviewing poetry Is this a work of power. lyrical.)? What part does biographical writing play in the book? Is social history or political history emphasized? Are dates used extensively. etc.). elegaic.Com. such as Amazon. imagery.