Once again, stories from John W. Campbell, Jr.’s Astounding Science Fiction dominated another volume of The Great SF Stories. T. L. Sherred’s classic “E for Effort” stands out. Poul Anderson’s “Tomorrow’s Children” presents themes Anderson would explore in future stories. William Tenn’s “Child’s Play” is a personal favorite. Once again I applaud Asimov and Greenberg for including multiple stories by an author. In this case, it’s Theodore Sturgeon’s “Tiny and the Monster” and “Thunder and Roses.” The Brits are represented by Arthur C. Clarke’s “The Fires Within” and Eric Frank Russell’s “Hobbyist.” The overall quality of these volumes from the 1940s continue to improve with each year. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION by Isaac Asimov & Martin H. Greenberg 11
“Little Lost Robot” by Isaac Asimov (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1947) 15
“Tomorrow’s Children” by Poul Anderson (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1947). 42
“Child’s Play” by William Tenn (Philip Klass) (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1947) 71
“Time and Time Again” by H. Beam Piper (Astounding Science Fiction, April 1947) 100
“Tiny and the Monster” by Theodore Sturgeon (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1947) 119
“E for Effort” by T. L. Sherred (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1947) 155
“Letter to Ellen” by Chan Davis (Astounding Science Fiction, June 1947) 207
“The Figure” by Edward Grendon (Lawrence L. LeShan) (Astounding Science Fiction, July 1947) 220
“With Folded Hands…” by Jack Williamson (Astounding Science Fiction, July 1947) 226
“The Fires Within” by Arthur C. Clarke (Fantasy Great Britain, August 1947). 272
“Zero Hour” by Ray Bradbury (Thrilling Wonder Stories, Fall 1947). 282
“Hobbyist” by Eric Frank Russell (Astounding Science Fiction, September 1947). 293
“Exit the Professor” by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner & C. L. Moore) (Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1947). 327
“Thunder and Roses” by Theodore Sturgeon (Astounding Science Fiction, November 1947) 343
…and will continue to do so. Yes, this is a good anthology.
Rick, I enjoying rereading THE GREAT SF STORIES series. I’m almost up to the year I was born: 1949!
George, you’ve now caught up with me. I’m just finishing up volume 10. I guess my favorite of volume 9 is “With Folded Hands….”
Jim, I’m a big fan of Jack Williamson, too! I’ll be starting Volume 10 in a couple of weeks.
The T. L. Sherred (my favorite) and the Poul Anderson (and his collaborator, F. N. Waldrop…often uncredited for some reason) are first stories for their authors….
Todd, both Sherred and Anderson hit it out of the park…metaphorically! Wonderful first stories!