The End of the Rull/Human War

 

Read/Watch 'em In Order #115

The last of the stories that A.E. Van Vogt later rewrote into the fix-up novel The War Against the Rull was one of three that was originally set in the Rull Universe and the second one that originally featured Professor Jamieson, who was made the protagonist of all the stories when they were changed for the novel.

"The Rull" was published in the May 1948 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and begins with Jamieson surveying a planet that would make a strategically useful base for either the humans or the Rull. 

It turns out that Jamieson isn't the only one interested in the planet. A Rull ship shows up. Violent shenanigans ensue and both ships end up damaged. For several days, the Rull is stuck in his ship with a jammed hatch while he cuts an alternate exit. Jamieson is stuck in his ship for that time as well, recovering from an injured leg.

The opponents are both highly intelligent, though the Rull has a physical advantage in his ability to absorb damage, strength and keenness of his senses. So Jamieson realizes he's either going to outsmart the Rull or he (Jamieson) is going to die.

During the long Human-Rull War, both sides have learned a little about the other, though both individuals on both sides are conditioned to kill themselves if captured. All the same, the Rull have ways of playing on the human subconscious in deadly ways. Jamieson is aware of this, but it is still a difficult tactic for him to counter.

But the Rull aren't the only ones good at psychological warfare. Jamieson comes up with a plan involving Pavlovian conditioning that might not only allow him to survive, but also net a valuable prisoner. As it turns out, Jamieson realizes that he might concievably found a way to end the war.

Read in their original pulp versions, the Van Vogt stories I've been reading probably don't really qualify as Read 'em In Order entries, since only three of them were originally set in that universe. So it's possible I may soon be arrested and sent to "Bad Blogger" prison. But Van Vogt's stories are always worth reading. His prose is clear and straightforward, while his ideas are always clever and often (for the time they were written) innovative. A Van Vogt story will always leave you satisfied.

You can read "The Rull" online HERE. 

You know, I haven't done a movie series as part of the Read/Watch 'em In Order series for awhile. I have several DVDs of the Whistler movies, recorded off of Turner Classic Movies a few years ago. These are B-films from the 1940s based on the radio series. Though, like the radio show, the movies were an anthology series featuring different characters, I think it might be argued that they qualify as Read/Watch 'em In Order material. If not, then I'm just giving the Feds more evidence to get me on "Bad Blogger" charges. But sometimes, life must be lived dangerously.