This first appeared in Roger Zelazny's The Williamson Effect, a tribute anthology to Jack Williamson. James Frenkel thought it one of Pohl's best. The writers collaborated on ten novels between 1954-1991.
Summary:
Jack Williamson, in this alternate universe, becomes not a writer, but a military man in the Army Air Corp From there, he pulls off a few miracles that did not occur in our world.
Discussion:
The first miracle is a political event that every writer of a certain age talks about--"Where were you when...?"--and the second miracle is one that every SF writer of a certain age talks about.
The amazing thing is how, on the one hand, it pulls off the expected. On the other, it is a touching tribute to one of the major SF writers of the 20th century, often stating how they'd have done it differently. How could one story occupy two diametric positions?
To see how Pohl handles another story tribute (E.E. "Doc" Smith), click to see "The High Test"
or check out his Edgar Rice Burroughs tribute (and critique) in "Sad Solarian Screenwriter Sam."
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