Review: Science Fiction Short Story: "Revolution" by Mack Reynolds

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Paul Koslov is the Chief’s hatchet man, the T. E. Lawrence of the Cold War. The reader quickly becomes acquainted with his espionage activities in all quarters of the world. After some discussion of the state of affairs in Nicaragua, the chief assigns him a new job: help the Russian underground overthrow the Soviets. The Chief gives him carte blanche. While there are some echoes of James Bond—particularly in the science-fictiony gadgets Koslov is given before his departure to the Soviet Union—the story lacks anything that goes boom. Author Mack Reynolds is laying out an intellectual discussion for the reader on alternative socio-economic systems and alternative views of history. This becomes didactic at points. Paul Koslov, though raised in the West, was born in Russia and speaks flawless Russian. The reader later learns he lost family both in the Revolution of 1917 and in the purges of Stalin. The new revolution is not a game to him, nor are the people he comes to know in the underground mere pawns. With this intellectual component, this is not the average Cold War adventure spy story. Some may find it tiresome, of course. Yet the emotional aspect is unmistakable and the ending is surprising and devastating, although in more in psychology than in body count. It’s a good story, but not a pleasant read. Reynolds, like his father, was member of the Socialist Labor Party. Alternate socio-economic systems feature in many of his writings. His resigned his membership in 1958 after getting in hot water with the party for contributing to book on retirement planning. Leaning too far toward the capitalist for their tastes, apparently. Additionally, he wrote the first novel based on the original Star Trek televisions series, Mission to Horatius. This story is available through Project Gutenberg: ______ Title: “Revolution” Author: Mack Reynolds (1917-1983) First published: Astounding/Analog Science Fact & Fiction May 1960 Source: ISFDB *An earlier version of this review appeared on another site. It has been removed from that site, updated and expanded for its inclusion in myLot*