Short Fiction by Mack Reynolds (ready to read books .TXT) π

Description
Dallas McCord βMackβ Reynolds was an American science fiction writer who authored almost two hundred short stories and novellas, was a staple in all the major science fiction and fantasy magazines and published dozens of science fiction novels. He began his writing career in the late 1940s. His fiction focused on exploring and challenging both the socioeconomic themes of the day and the implications of the Cold War that raged throughout his career. A thoughtful writer of speculative fiction, many of Mack Reynoldsβ predictions have come to pass, including the credit-card economy, remote warfare and a worldwide computer network. His thoughts about the outcomes of both the Soviet and western political and economic systems are still highly relevant.
This collection gathers stories that were published in Analog, Astounding Science Fiction, Amazing Stories and others. Ordered by date of first publication, they range from spy adventures to the ultimate expression of corporate warfare and from a very short 1000-word story to full-blown novellas.
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- Author: Mack Reynolds
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A new wave of agents, F.B.I. men and prisoners washed into the room and Steve Hackett and Larry were for a moment pushed back into a corner by themselves.
Steve looked at him strangely and said, βThereβs one thing Iβd like to know: Did you really have to shoot him, Woolford?β
Larry brushed it off. βWhatβs the difference? He was as weird as they come, wasnβt he?β
Mercenary IJoseph Mauser spotted the recruiting lineup from two or three blocks down the street, shortly after driving into Kingston. The local offices of Vacuum Tube Transport, undoubtedly. Baron Haer would be doing his recruiting for the fracas with Continental Hovercraft there if for no other reason than to save on rents. The Baron was watching pennies on this one and that was bad.
In fact, it was so bad that even as Joe Mauser let his sports hover-car sink to a parking level and vaulted over its side he was still questioning his decision to sign up with the Vacuum Tube outfit rather than with their opponents. Joe was an old pro and old pros do not get to be old pros in the Category Military without developing an instinct to stay away from losing sides.
Fine enough for Low-Lowers and Mid-Lowers to sign up with this outfit, as opposed to that, motivated by no other reasoning than the snappiness of the uniform and the stock shares offered, but an old pro considered carefully such matters as budget. Baron Haer was watching every expense, was, it was rumored, figuring on commanding himself and calling upon relatives and friends for his staff. Continental Hovercraft, on the other hand, was heavy with variable capital and was in a position to hire Stonewall Cogswell himself for their tactician.
However, the die was cast. You didnβt run up a caste level, not to speak of two at once, by playing it careful. Joe had planned this out; for once, old pro or not, he was taking risks.
Recruiting lineups were not for such as he. Not for many a year, many a fracas. He strode rapidly along this one, heading for the offices ahead, noting only in passing the quality of the men who were taking service with Vacuum Tube Transport. These were the soldiers heβd be commanding in the immediate future and the prospects looked grim. There were few veterans among them. Their stance, their demeanor, theirβ ββ β¦ well, you could tell a veteran even though he be Rank Private. You could tell a veteran of even one fracas. It showed.
He knew the situation. The word had gone out. Baron Malcolm Haer was due for a defeat. You werenβt going to pick up any lush bonuses signing up with him, and you definitely werenβt going to jump a caste. In short, no matter what Haerβs past record, choose what was going to be the winning sideβ βContinental Hovercraft. Continental Hovercraft and old Stonewall Cogswell who had lost so few fracases that many a Telly buff couldnβt remember a single one.
Individuals among these men showed promise, Joe Mauser estimated even as he walked, but promise means little if you donβt live long enough to cash in on it.
Take that small man up ahead. Heβd obviously got himself into a hassle maintaining his place in line against two or three heftier would-be soldiers. The little fellow wasnβt backing down a step in spite of the attempts of the other Lowers to usurp his place. Joe Mauser liked to see such spirit. You could use it when you were in the dill.
As he drew abreast of the altercation, he snapped from the side of his mouth, βEasy, lads. Youβll get all the scrapping you want with Hovercraft. Wait until then.β
Heβd expected his tone of authority to be enough, even though he was in mufti. He wasnβt particularly interested in the situation, beyond giving the little man a hand. A veteran would have recognized him as an old-timer and probable officer, and heeded, automatically.
These evidently werenβt veterans.
βSays who?β one of the Lowers growled back at him. βYou one of Baron Haerβs kids, or something?β
Joe Mauser came to a halt and faced the other. He was irritated, largely with himself. He didnβt want to be bothered. Nevertheless, there was no alternative now.
The line of men, all Lowers so far as Joe could see, had fallen silent in an expectant hush. They were bored with their long wait. Now something would break the monotony.
By tomorrow, Joe Mauser would be in command of some of these men. In as little as a week he would go into a full-fledged fracas with them. He couldnβt afford to lose face. Not even at this point when all, including himself, were still civilian garbed. When matters pickled, in a fracas, you wanted men with complete confidence in you.
The man who had grumbled the surly response was a near physical twin of Joe Mauser which put him in his early thirties, gave him five foot eleven of altitude and about one hundred and eighty pounds. His clothes casted him Low-Lowerβ βnothing to lose. As with many who have nothing to lose, he was willing to risk all for principle. His face now registered that ideal. Joe Mauser had no authority over him, nor his friends.
Joeβs eyes flicked to the other two who had been pestering the little fellow. They werenβt quite so aggressive and as yet had come to no conclusion about their stand. Probably the three had been unacquainted before their bullying alliance to deprive the smaller man of his place. However, a moment of hesitation and Joe would have a trio on his hands.
He went through no further
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