Knocked me back a step or two when I was fourteen, I will tell you that.John Brunner is an author I would like to give some time to and I love a number of Norman Spinrad's short stories--his novel BUG JACK BARRON used to be a big favorite of mine and I think I have a tattered copy of THE IRON DREAM around here somewhere.Ian, now you have scared me off Doc Smith for another 20 years.