The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-01-07
Books
by A. de T. Gingras

ence fiction, published by Gnome
Press, New York City, 224 pages.)
The preface explains the tales
in this book by saying they are
the stories the Dogs tell when the
fires burn high and the wind is
from the north.
The time is about 10000 years
from now and the canine species
has taken over the world. Scholars
with such names as Bounce and
Rover have gotten together these
ancient story manuscripts about a
creature called man. The stories
are connected by the thread of the
Webster family which includes the
men, the robots and the dogs. And
while the dogs are sure the dogs
and the robots have always ex-
listed, there are only a few who
believe that man ever existed.
The first story called "City" is
about the time when man is at
the point of dissolving his cities,
as helicopterS make it easy for
him to commute from a fifty acre
estate. And farms have disappear
ed because it is simpler to pro-
duce food by means of hydropon-
les. A couple of vicious officials in
the dying city, and a forward
looking Chamber of Commerce Sec
rotary, are the protagonists. And
an amazing lawnmower which
operates cheerfully and complete
ly along, and when it is finished,
sprinkleS the lawn as well, is
gadget which almost steals the
story.
In the second tale, ''Huddling
Place." robots wait on man, and
the son of the family goes to Mars
as sons now go to Europe for a
year of so of culture. The elderly
hero seldoms goes anywhere, be-
cause everything is in his home:
81. by simply twirling a dial
one could talk face to face with
anyone wished, could go, by sense,
if not in body, anywhere one wish
ed. Gould attend the theater or
hear a concert or browse in
library halfway around the world.
Could transact any business one
might need to transact without
rising from ones chair. :"
He is afflicted with agorophobia.
from the Greek meaning fear of
open spaces and of the market
places. His father, and perhaps his
grandfather before him have been
afflicted with it. What his affliction
with the strange disease does TO
the future of the world is the eli
max of the story.
The third story called 1.-The
Census" begins to be really in
teresting to the dogs of 10000 years
from now. In this section their
species is first taught how to
speak, and experiments are being
made to find a way to teach them
to read.
From that era on, the stories
progress through the dogs taking
over the earth, and mans disap-
pearance.
The ideas in the book are fas-
cinating, and the author bristles
with novelty and imagination. But
they lack the molding force of an
Aldous Huxley or H. G.. Wells. Per-
hapS if Mr.. Simak let his ideas
simmer longer in the deep well of
his creative mine, he might come
up with a real classic in this line.
But perhaps he has a frigidaire to
pay for, or a swimming pool, and
he can't wait that long.
JUNIOR SELECTION
(THE LITTLE FOX by Frances
Frost, pictures by Maryan Dennis,
published by Whittlesey House,
New York City. 112 pages.)
The book begins with Little Black
Fox helping his father dig through
the snow to find spring.
Then he goes to fox kindergarten
and rolls in the grass outside the
burrow where the fox family live.
He experiences dandelion blossoms
and playing bali with pine cones.
He becomes smarty paws and
tangles with the prickly juniper
bushes, and after that makes the
acquaintance of a puppy and a
human boy.
One June night Little Black Fox
accompanies his father when he
goes out to steal a chicken from
the nearby henhouse. The dog
chaSes him and he gets away.
Then while he is sitting in elump
Of buttercups near a BURBERRY !
thieket laughing at trick he has |
played on his brother and sisters. |
the boy Nicky sees him. In trying
to get away from the human boy,
Little Black Fox falls over a wood
chuck hole and breaks his leg.
Nfatts tatae hS1. ha..1n - ..sk.s