Decimated. Jack Dann

Harlan Ellison, James Tiptree, Jr., Joanna Russ, Pamela Zoline, Sonya Dorman, Kit Reed, Roger Zelazny, Samuel R. Delany, J.G. Ballard (whose “condensed novels” really were something new in the world), John Brunner, Brian Aldiss, Thomas N. Disch, and a host of others were redefining the genre. Although some of the stories in this collection were definitely influenced by the newfound stylistic freedom of the New Wave, “Traps” is a story that moved against the strong tide of the zeitgeist.

      As George suggested, we were trying to write a traditional story, a pastiche in the style of Poul Anderson, Gordon R. Dickson, Clifford Simak, Murray Leinster, and A. E. van Vogt (if, indeed, van Vogt with his rule of introducing a new plot element every 800 words could ever be considered traditional).