The Wall Around the World

Theodore R. Cogswell's _The Wall Around the World_ (1962) is a collection of ten fantasy and science fiction stories by a writer who deserves much more attention than he has received in the past. In joint introductions, Frederik Pohl and Anthony Boucher testify that Cogswell is a good writer. And in a way, this collection bears them out-- there's not a badly written story in the lot. But there _are_ stories that are routine or gimmick pieces dealing with vampires ("The Masters"), werewolves ("Wolfie"), alien invaders ("Emergency Rations"), and military insanity ("Test Area"). There are four stories that are much more substantial: "The Burning," a grim portrait of a post-holocaust matriarchal society, with a nasty snapper at the end; "Thimgs," an ingenious new variation on the magic shop story; "Prisoner of Love," a deal with the devil tale told from the point of view of the devil; and "Invasion Report," an account of some boys who play space patrol all too well. The two remaining stories are classics. The first is the title story from _Beyond_, about a young boy in a land where magic works who is _determined_ to go over the wall that encloses his world. The second is "The Spector General" from _Astounding_, about an isolated military base with a peculiar social system, a crumbling galactic republic, and myths that men need in order to survive. Recommended. The last two stories alone are worth the price of the book. Most readers should find others that will entertain them.