junemoon's review against another edition
5.0
A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum - ★★★★★
Twilight by John W. Campbell - ★★★★★
Helen O’Loy by Lester Del Rey – ★★
The Roads Must Roll by Robert A. Heinlein – ★★
Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon – ★★★
Nightfall by Isaac Asimov – ★★★★
The Weapon Shop by A. E. van Vogt – ★★
Mimsy Were the Borogroves by Lewis Padgett – ★★★★
Huddling Place by Cliffor D. Simak – ★★★★
Arena by Fredric Brown – ★★★★
First Contact by Murray Leinster – ★★
That Only a Mother by Judith Merril – ★
Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith – ★★★★
Mars is Heaven! By Ray Bradbury – ★★★
The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth – ★★
Born of Man and Woman by Richard Matheson – ★
Coming Attraction by Fritz Leiber – ★
The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher – ★★★★
Surface Tension by James Blish – ★★
The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke – ★★★★
It’s a Good Life by Jerome Bixby – ★★
The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin – ★★
Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester – ★
The Country of the Kind by Damon Knight – ★
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – ★★★★★
A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny – ★
Twilight by John W. Campbell - ★★★★★
Helen O’Loy by Lester Del Rey – ★★
The Roads Must Roll by Robert A. Heinlein – ★★
Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon – ★★★
Nightfall by Isaac Asimov – ★★★★
The Weapon Shop by A. E. van Vogt – ★★
Mimsy Were the Borogroves by Lewis Padgett – ★★★★
Huddling Place by Cliffor D. Simak – ★★★★
Arena by Fredric Brown – ★★★★
First Contact by Murray Leinster – ★★
That Only a Mother by Judith Merril – ★
Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith – ★★★★
Mars is Heaven! By Ray Bradbury – ★★★
The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth – ★★
Born of Man and Woman by Richard Matheson – ★
Coming Attraction by Fritz Leiber – ★
The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher – ★★★★
Surface Tension by James Blish – ★★
The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke – ★★★★
It’s a Good Life by Jerome Bixby – ★★
The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin – ★★
Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester – ★
The Country of the Kind by Damon Knight – ★
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – ★★★★★
A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny – ★
losthitsu's review against another edition
5.0
I'm still surprised I liked this as much as I did! Would definitely recommend to anyone who - like me - is just dipping their toes into this whole sci-fi thing, I found almost every single one of them in some way intriguing and enjoyable.
barry_x's review against another edition
4.0
Picked this up from a local free bookshop which aims to give books away for free that would otherwise be landfill (healthyplanet.org). This edition is from 1972 and I'm glad 'someone' saved this!
The Science Fiction Writers of America was formed in 1965 and held it's first annual awards in 1966 to celebrate and recognise the very best in science fiction. Those awards became known as the Nebula's and are still one of the most respected awards in science fiction.
A couple of years into the history of the SFWA members decided to recognise the best in science fiction before the awards. The result was a two volume collection of short stories from before 1964. This book is volume II of this collection and is a really strong collection. As a body of work I'm viewing this as a very welcome and essential inclusion into my basic knowledge of sci-fi. A couple of stories don't hold up well but this is an essential collection.
I love this period of sci-fi as although sci-fi doesn't concern itself with 'the future', more 'what if...' when we look at the prominent ideas in stories we can see how science did develop and also have an insight into the preoccupations of the period.
That Only a Mother - Judith Merril - not much to this one. Due to radiation a significant percentage of children are born with mutations. This story discusses the perception of a mother in related to mutated children. In 1948 Hiroshima was not history...
Scanners Live in Vain - Cordwainer Smith - Scanners are 'former' humans, more machine than men. Altered in such a way to enable humanity to experience travel between the stars. This story concerns an assassination attempt to the inventor of new technology which the scanners believe will make them obsolete. Some interesting ideas in here of the power of the scanners and the almost religious respect and fervour the scanners have. I found the story clunky in places and the pay-off wasn't that good but some very interesting ideas about space travel and the nature of humanity.
Mars Is Heaven! - Ray Bradbury - Astronauts land on Mars and it seems quite like their idyllic youth, what's more their deceased relatives are waiting for them and are very welcoming....
This story did play up on the 'Red Menace' of the period and the idea that aliens / communists could be next day and you wouldn't be able to tell looking at them. I really didn't care for how quickly the main character came to some very loose connections (which were true)
The Little Black Bag - C.M. Kornbluth - I really enjoyed this. A doctor's bag from the future is sent back through time in error and is picked up by a derelict alcoholic former doctor. The bag makes medicine and treatment really easy and the doctor rediscovers his passion for helping others. I really liked the story and the idea. Loved the twist at the end.
Born of Man and Woman - Richard Matheson - More mutated kids in the basement. Not much to this and a different treatment from 'That Only a Mother'.
Coming Attraction - Fritz Leiber - What do you get if you have a post Nuclear war world, a ridiculous restriction of women's rights and what is considered moral and male vs. female wrestling matches? This story. In a 'near future' America it is a woman's face rather than breasts and legs that has become the ultimate in sexual attraction. Therefore women are continually masked and never reveal their faces. It's an interesting idea today in that many in the world consider it immoral for women to publically reveal their faces. It also identifies with how a woman may feel and the conditioning of people to consider one body part over another as 'shameful'. Even the 'hero' in this displays a level of misogyny that may have been acceptable in the 50's but doesn't feel liberating today. The world building is interesting and I have a soft spot for wrestling which I never thought I'd read in a story like this. Lucha sci-fi?
The Quest For Saint Aquin - Anthony Boucher - The underlying concept here is can science and god be reconciled. I'll leave that to the theologians as I'm not religious and would consider myself atheist with a Catholic background.
In the future religion is persecuted, essentially being considered irrational. Society is ruled by a technocracy. A priest looks for a relic which will prove the existence of God and help the Church resurge. For those familiar with the Bible this story closely resembles the Temptation of Christ and also has a smattering of the Good Samaritan in it. I appreciated the nod to Catholic teachings and also the crisis of faith. Ideas include, 'does truth matter in the pursuit of the greater good' and of course the existence of God. It's not all religion though. We have a robot dog as a companion and also the idea if robots have souls and can believe in God. Good story.
Surface Tension - James Blish - Super story. If humanity was dying out and decided to repopulate worlds this is what they'd do. This story is about evolution of Man as he tries to leave the sea. Of course humanity is not how we know it but is microscopic. Great story about evolution and humanity's desire to explore the unknown. I love the idea of 'above water' being space and this idea of generations of humanity with a rich culture and history existing in a puddle. Blish has a wonderful imagination and creates a believable culture and characters. Really enjoyed this.
The Nine Billion Names of God - Arthur C. Clarke - Build a computer to prove the existence of God and see what happens. Okay story but a little disappointing considering Clarke's reputation.
It's A Good Life - Jerome Bixby - If you had a child that could do anything with the power of his imagination how would you feel? If that child could read your thoughts what would you think around him? Good story with a disturbing plot and the fear of the townspeople in the novel is evoked successfully. I'd hate my three year old to have these powers!
The Cold Equations - Tom Godwin - A pilot of a spaceship has limited fuel to get to a planet. A stowaway is discovered which imbalances the weight of the ship and consequently will cause the ship to crash. Protocol is to eject the stowaway out of the airlock but this time it doesn't happen. I was a little annoyed with this story as it was another example of the accepted sexism of the era. The stowaway is a teenage woman. So here's the deal - because one is a young attractive woman she is higher up your 'love' list than any other. If the stowaway was a black man he'd be ejected no worries. I'm against how we value life dependent on youth, gender or looks. It's very gallant but 'women and children first' is bullshit. It's the same with animals cute vs. food split.
Rant aside the story does provide interesting ideas of whether it is acceptable to take one life to save others and also the idea that life can be taken based on 'rational' decision making rather than an appeal to heart and conscious. I like the idea of one being powerless to affect change and 'we can't change the system'. It shows how large organisations and governments can make life and death decisions whilst removed from humanity. The end is really sad and I felt quite deflated. Strong story.
Fondly Farenheit - Alfred Bester -a story about a psychotic android and their paranoid schizophrenic owner.
The Country of the Kind - Damon Knight - The story concerns a sociopath and a 'kind' society's treatment of him. Some really interesting ideas here of freedom and also alienation. Is it acceptable to medically interfere with an 'aberration'? Is allowing despicable behaviour of an individual acceptable? What about free will? Is permanent exclusion of an individual from groups justified. I also think this story parallels the civil rights struggle in America of the period. The idea that there is a feared individual in society who lives with us but is 'not one of us' plays into the fears of others. An interesting story which concerns racism and crime and punishment.
Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes - A wonderful short story that was the basis for the classic novel of the same title. Charlie Gordon has a low IQ yet tries to learn and study. He is selected to undergo surgery that will triple his intelligence. Charlie has the surgery and his intelligence rapidly increases. At a peak he understands the issue and science behind his treatment more than his doctors. There are negatives to this increase in intelligence - he realises that people he thought were friends had made fun of him. He found that super intelligence just like low intelligence can be a barrier to companionship and friendship. Algernon is a mouse who underwent similar treatment who relapses and quickly loses motor skills before dying. Charlie realises that the same will happen to him and he loses his intelligence just like intelligence. The story poses the questions, 'is it better to know how others view us or is blissful ignorance better' and 'is it better to experience greatness and cope with it's loss or better to stay the same'. I'd love to read the novel this became - wonderful story with great structure.
A Rose For Ecclesiastes - Roger Zelazny - A poet goes to Mars to study their ancient culture and religion. He beds a Martian. Turns out he is a prophecy come true. So-so story.
The Science Fiction Writers of America was formed in 1965 and held it's first annual awards in 1966 to celebrate and recognise the very best in science fiction. Those awards became known as the Nebula's and are still one of the most respected awards in science fiction.
A couple of years into the history of the SFWA members decided to recognise the best in science fiction before the awards. The result was a two volume collection of short stories from before 1964. This book is volume II of this collection and is a really strong collection. As a body of work I'm viewing this as a very welcome and essential inclusion into my basic knowledge of sci-fi. A couple of stories don't hold up well but this is an essential collection.
I love this period of sci-fi as although sci-fi doesn't concern itself with 'the future', more 'what if...' when we look at the prominent ideas in stories we can see how science did develop and also have an insight into the preoccupations of the period.
That Only a Mother - Judith Merril - not much to this one. Due to radiation a significant percentage of children are born with mutations. This story discusses the perception of a mother in related to mutated children. In 1948 Hiroshima was not history...
Scanners Live in Vain - Cordwainer Smith - Scanners are 'former' humans, more machine than men. Altered in such a way to enable humanity to experience travel between the stars. This story concerns an assassination attempt to the inventor of new technology which the scanners believe will make them obsolete. Some interesting ideas in here of the power of the scanners and the almost religious respect and fervour the scanners have. I found the story clunky in places and the pay-off wasn't that good but some very interesting ideas about space travel and the nature of humanity.
Mars Is Heaven! - Ray Bradbury - Astronauts land on Mars and it seems quite like their idyllic youth, what's more their deceased relatives are waiting for them and are very welcoming....
This story did play up on the 'Red Menace' of the period and the idea that aliens / communists could be next day and you wouldn't be able to tell looking at them. I really didn't care for how quickly the main character came to some very loose connections (which were true)
The Little Black Bag - C.M. Kornbluth - I really enjoyed this. A doctor's bag from the future is sent back through time in error and is picked up by a derelict alcoholic former doctor. The bag makes medicine and treatment really easy and the doctor rediscovers his passion for helping others. I really liked the story and the idea. Loved the twist at the end.
Born of Man and Woman - Richard Matheson - More mutated kids in the basement. Not much to this and a different treatment from 'That Only a Mother'.
Coming Attraction - Fritz Leiber - What do you get if you have a post Nuclear war world, a ridiculous restriction of women's rights and what is considered moral and male vs. female wrestling matches? This story. In a 'near future' America it is a woman's face rather than breasts and legs that has become the ultimate in sexual attraction. Therefore women are continually masked and never reveal their faces. It's an interesting idea today in that many in the world consider it immoral for women to publically reveal their faces. It also identifies with how a woman may feel and the conditioning of people to consider one body part over another as 'shameful'. Even the 'hero' in this displays a level of misogyny that may have been acceptable in the 50's but doesn't feel liberating today. The world building is interesting and I have a soft spot for wrestling which I never thought I'd read in a story like this. Lucha sci-fi?
The Quest For Saint Aquin - Anthony Boucher - The underlying concept here is can science and god be reconciled. I'll leave that to the theologians as I'm not religious and would consider myself atheist with a Catholic background.
In the future religion is persecuted, essentially being considered irrational. Society is ruled by a technocracy. A priest looks for a relic which will prove the existence of God and help the Church resurge. For those familiar with the Bible this story closely resembles the Temptation of Christ and also has a smattering of the Good Samaritan in it. I appreciated the nod to Catholic teachings and also the crisis of faith. Ideas include, 'does truth matter in the pursuit of the greater good' and of course the existence of God. It's not all religion though. We have a robot dog as a companion and also the idea if robots have souls and can believe in God. Good story.
Surface Tension - James Blish - Super story. If humanity was dying out and decided to repopulate worlds this is what they'd do. This story is about evolution of Man as he tries to leave the sea. Of course humanity is not how we know it but is microscopic. Great story about evolution and humanity's desire to explore the unknown. I love the idea of 'above water' being space and this idea of generations of humanity with a rich culture and history existing in a puddle. Blish has a wonderful imagination and creates a believable culture and characters. Really enjoyed this.
The Nine Billion Names of God - Arthur C. Clarke - Build a computer to prove the existence of God and see what happens. Okay story but a little disappointing considering Clarke's reputation.
It's A Good Life - Jerome Bixby - If you had a child that could do anything with the power of his imagination how would you feel? If that child could read your thoughts what would you think around him? Good story with a disturbing plot and the fear of the townspeople in the novel is evoked successfully. I'd hate my three year old to have these powers!
The Cold Equations - Tom Godwin - A pilot of a spaceship has limited fuel to get to a planet. A stowaway is discovered which imbalances the weight of the ship and consequently will cause the ship to crash. Protocol is to eject the stowaway out of the airlock but this time it doesn't happen. I was a little annoyed with this story as it was another example of the accepted sexism of the era. The stowaway is a teenage woman. So here's the deal - because one is a young attractive woman she is higher up your 'love' list than any other. If the stowaway was a black man he'd be ejected no worries. I'm against how we value life dependent on youth, gender or looks. It's very gallant but 'women and children first' is bullshit. It's the same with animals cute vs. food split.
Rant aside the story does provide interesting ideas of whether it is acceptable to take one life to save others and also the idea that life can be taken based on 'rational' decision making rather than an appeal to heart and conscious. I like the idea of one being powerless to affect change and 'we can't change the system'. It shows how large organisations and governments can make life and death decisions whilst removed from humanity. The end is really sad and I felt quite deflated. Strong story.
Fondly Farenheit - Alfred Bester -a story about a psychotic android and their paranoid schizophrenic owner.
The Country of the Kind - Damon Knight - The story concerns a sociopath and a 'kind' society's treatment of him. Some really interesting ideas here of freedom and also alienation. Is it acceptable to medically interfere with an 'aberration'? Is allowing despicable behaviour of an individual acceptable? What about free will? Is permanent exclusion of an individual from groups justified. I also think this story parallels the civil rights struggle in America of the period. The idea that there is a feared individual in society who lives with us but is 'not one of us' plays into the fears of others. An interesting story which concerns racism and crime and punishment.
Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes - A wonderful short story that was the basis for the classic novel of the same title. Charlie Gordon has a low IQ yet tries to learn and study. He is selected to undergo surgery that will triple his intelligence. Charlie has the surgery and his intelligence rapidly increases. At a peak he understands the issue and science behind his treatment more than his doctors. There are negatives to this increase in intelligence - he realises that people he thought were friends had made fun of him. He found that super intelligence just like low intelligence can be a barrier to companionship and friendship. Algernon is a mouse who underwent similar treatment who relapses and quickly loses motor skills before dying. Charlie realises that the same will happen to him and he loses his intelligence just like intelligence. The story poses the questions, 'is it better to know how others view us or is blissful ignorance better' and 'is it better to experience greatness and cope with it's loss or better to stay the same'. I'd love to read the novel this became - wonderful story with great structure.
A Rose For Ecclesiastes - Roger Zelazny - A poet goes to Mars to study their ancient culture and religion. He beds a Martian. Turns out he is a prophecy come true. So-so story.
the_dave_harmon's review against another edition
4.0
Phew, it takes awhile to get through a long audiobook when you don't commute everyday!
(Tip: Short stories are great for intermittently heard audiobooks!)
Overall these were very good. Four or five stories were excellent, a couple were blah, most were good. Even by today's standards. Which says a lot considering these were written in the 1940s and 50s.
The best were:
Nightfall
Mimsy were the borogroves
Surface tension
The nine billion names of god
*It's a good life
*The cold equations
*Flowers for algernon
*A rose for Ecclesiastes
(Tip: Short stories are great for intermittently heard audiobooks!)
Overall these were very good. Four or five stories were excellent, a couple were blah, most were good. Even by today's standards. Which says a lot considering these were written in the 1940s and 50s.
The best were:
Nightfall
Mimsy were the borogroves
Surface tension
The nine billion names of god
*It's a good life
*The cold equations
*Flowers for algernon
*A rose for Ecclesiastes
june_moon's review against another edition
5.0
A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum - ★★★★★
Twilight by John W. Campbell - ★★★★★
Helen O’Loy by Lester Del Rey – ★★
The Roads Must Roll by Robert A. Heinlein – ★★
Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon – ★★★
Nightfall by Isaac Asimov – ★★★★
The Weapon Shop by A. E. van Vogt – ★★
Mimsy Were the Borogroves by Lewis Padgett – ★★★★
Huddling Place by Cliffor D. Simak – ★★★★
Arena by Fredric Brown – ★★★★
First Contact by Murray Leinster – ★★
That Only a Mother by Judith Merril – ★
Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith – ★★★★
Mars is Heaven! By Ray Bradbury – ★★★
The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth – ★★
Born of Man and Woman by Richard Matheson – ★
Coming Attraction by Fritz Leiber – ★
The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher – ★★★★
Surface Tension by James Blish – ★★
The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke – ★★★★
It’s a Good Life by Jerome Bixby – ★★
The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin – ★★
Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester – ★
The Country of the Kind by Damon Knight – ★
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – ★★★★★
A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny – ★
Twilight by John W. Campbell - ★★★★★
Helen O’Loy by Lester Del Rey – ★★
The Roads Must Roll by Robert A. Heinlein – ★★
Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon – ★★★
Nightfall by Isaac Asimov – ★★★★
The Weapon Shop by A. E. van Vogt – ★★
Mimsy Were the Borogroves by Lewis Padgett – ★★★★
Huddling Place by Cliffor D. Simak – ★★★★
Arena by Fredric Brown – ★★★★
First Contact by Murray Leinster – ★★
That Only a Mother by Judith Merril – ★
Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith – ★★★★
Mars is Heaven! By Ray Bradbury – ★★★
The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth – ★★
Born of Man and Woman by Richard Matheson – ★
Coming Attraction by Fritz Leiber – ★
The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher – ★★★★
Surface Tension by James Blish – ★★
The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke – ★★★★
It’s a Good Life by Jerome Bixby – ★★
The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin – ★★
Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester – ★
The Country of the Kind by Damon Knight – ★
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – ★★★★★
A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny – ★
jersy's review against another edition
5.0
Hier geht es um die großen Themen der Science Fiction in einer Umsetzung, die fern ab von 0815 ist. Egal ob Dystopie, künstliche Intelligenz oder Zeitreise, es ist nie die Standartgeschichte die man erwarten würde und so bleiben die Geschichten heut noch frisch oder zumindest nicht klischeehaft.
Viele der Geschichten sind echte Highlights und auch bei denen, die es für mich nicht waren, verstehe ich ihren Wert irgendwie. Durch die vielen bekannten Autoren kann man sich einen Überblick über klassische Science Fiction schaffen, aber auch für Leser die schon den ein oder anderen alten Schinken gelesen haben ist es unglaublich interessant.
Für mich war es genau, was ich mir unter dem Titel vorgestellt und erhofft habe.
Viele der Geschichten sind echte Highlights und auch bei denen, die es für mich nicht waren, verstehe ich ihren Wert irgendwie. Durch die vielen bekannten Autoren kann man sich einen Überblick über klassische Science Fiction schaffen, aber auch für Leser die schon den ein oder anderen alten Schinken gelesen haben ist es unglaublich interessant.
Für mich war es genau, was ich mir unter dem Titel vorgestellt und erhofft habe.
horscht's review against another edition
5.0
Diese legendäre Kurzgeschichten-Sammlung hat uns vom Stammtisch der SF-Freunde Stuttgart im Rahmen unseres Lesezirkels über Jahre hinweg bestens unterhalten. Ein „must read“ für jeden Science-Fiction Freund.
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