Going
for Infinity
by by Poul Anderson
A book review by Mark L. Olson
Tor, 2002, $25.95, 416 pp
If you ever doubted that Poul Anderson was a most distinguished SF writer, this valedictory collection should prove it to you. It appears to have been assembled by Anderson after he knew that he had probably-fatal cancer. It collects a batch of his best stories along with running autobiographical commentary.
There's not a weak story in the bunch – the weakest is a short sequel to The High Crusade that I was entirely unaware even existed – and the strength of his writing is demonstrated by the fact that not even all his Hugo and Nebula winners made it into the book! (I do wish there'd been a Hoka story, though.)
The high points, to me, were
- "Sam Hall"
- "Journeys End"
- "The Problem of Pain"
- "Epilogue"
- "The Queen of Air and Darkness"
What a remarkable writer! Highly recommended!
See also my other Anderson reviews: The High Crusade, War of the Wing-Men, Satan's World, Starfarers, Agent of the Terran Empire, A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows, Going for Infinity
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