Edward L. Ferman succeeds Avram Davidson as editor with this volume. My favorite story in this anthology is Fritz Leiber’s “Four Ghosts in Hamlet.” Perhaps the most famous story in The Best Fantasy and Science Fiction, 15th Series is Roger Zelazny’s “The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth” about a fishing expedition on Venus.
R. A. Lafferty’s “Hog-Belly Honey” presents his usual comic silliness. Zenna Henderson’s touching story of The People, “No Different Flesh,” begins with a flying baby and ends in hope. The Best Fantasy and Science Fiction, 15th Series shows Edward L. Ferman can assemble a quality anthology in the manner that Anthony Boucher and Avram Davidson did for years. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- xi • Introduction (The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: 15th Series) • (1966) • essay by Edward L. Ferman
- 1 • The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth • (1965) • novelette by Roger Zelazny
- 36 • Love Letter from Mars • (1965) • poem by John Ciardi
- 37 • Rake • [Ben Jolsen / Chameleon Corps] • (1965) • short story by Ron Goulart
- 48 • Cartoon: “This is Willy, and this is Willy’s imaginary playmate.” • (1965) • interior artwork by Gahan Wilson
- 49 • The History of Doctor Frost • (1965) • short story by Roderic C. Hodgins
- 64 • Four Ghosts in Hamlet • (1965) • novelette by Fritz Leiber
- 100 • Treat • (1964) • poem by Walter H. Kerr
- 101 • Keep Them Happy • (1965) • short story by Robert Rohrer
- 110 • Cartoon: “Marsha, you’re tending to lead again! • (1965) • interior artwork by Gahan Wilson
- 111 • A Murkle for Jesse • (1965) • short story by Gary Jennings
- 129 • Eyes Do More Than See • (1965) • short story by Isaac Asimov
- 133 • Cartoon: no caption • (1965) • interior artwork by Gahan Wilson
- 134 • The House the Blakeneys Built • (1965) • short story by Avram Davidson
- 146 • The Eight Billion • (1965) • short story by Richard Wilson
- 157 • Something Else • (1965) • short story by Robert J. Tilley
- 174 • Aunt Millicent at the Races • (1965) • short story by Len Guttridge
- 176 • Cartoon: no caption [2] • (1965) • interior artwork by Gahan Wilson
- 187 • Sea Bright • (1965) • short story by Hal R. Moore
- 200 • From Two Universes • (1964) • poem by Doris Pitkin Buck
- 201 • Hog-Belly Honey • (1965) • short story by R. A. Lafferty
- 210 • Cartoon: “Harry!” • (1965) • interior artwork by Gahan Wilson
- 211 • No Different Flesh • [The People] • (1965) • novelette by Zenna Henderson
Oops! You accidently changed the editor’s nationality in your header, George.
Another great anthology with classic stories from Leiber and Zelazny. I also loved the Goulart, Davison, Wilson, Lafferty and Henderson stories. Nothing in this anthology is less than entertaining; and that includes the poetry. Ed Ferman was off to a great start!
Jerry, the demonic WORDPRESS spellchecker changed “Ferman” to “German” without asking me for permission! I also liked the five cartoons by Gahan Wilson.
I remember the Asimov, Goulart, and Zelazny but none of the others. 1965 was a tough year for choosing a “Best Of” collection for F&SF that wouldn’t have run another hundred-plus pages. Among the notable stories that didn’t make this cut — Poul Anderson’s three Gunnar Heim novellas, Brian Aldiss’ “The Saliva Tree,” Larry Niven’s “Becalmed in Hell,” and Jack Vance’s “The Overworld.”
Fred, you’re right: 1965 offered a ton of great SF and Fantasy stories!
Good collection. Not great. I would have preferred several of the ones Fred mentioned, especially the Vance and Niven. The Aldiss was probably too long to be included.
Steve, I’m a fan of the Vance, and Niven, too. The Aldiss would be too long for an anthology of this sort.
Ferman loved that Leiber story more than any other he was able to publish, I think…he included it in the 30th Anniversary issue/anthology. The Davidson story rivals it for me, and I like other stories by both writers better, but this was a good selection from ELF’s first run as editor, even when part of it was as ghost-editor for his father. The Asimov has gotten to be one of the most famous stories in the book over the decades, and I’d say both the Asimov and Zelazny, the alpha and omega, have slipped back into a relative obscurity with today’s readers–the Henderson might spark recognition in the echo of the eventual collection/fix-up title. And it was younger Ferman’s idea to hire Gahan Wilson for a monthly cartoon (as well as buying the occasional story and book review’column from him, so all that credit as well.
Hell, Gary Jennings is probably obscure for most readers now, in a way that would’ve been unlikely twenty years ago.
Todd, I still see copies of Gary Jennings’s AZTEC and THE JOURNEYER in Library Book Sales.
Yes. No new editions on the shelves…
Todd, I agree with your assessment of THE BEST FROM FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, 15TH SERIES. Adding Gahan Wilson to the mix was an act of genius!
Mea culpa–Ferman bemoaned Not having a Leiber or a Bloch in the 30th anniversary anthology/issue (they had nearly the same content, Davis Publications-style). Where he did single it out among the Leibers he published was in THE BEST FANTASY STORIES FROM FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, from Octopus Books (when no sensible non-instant remainder publisher snapped it up)(Octopus was among the better and more adventurous publishers in that discount field).
Todd, I may have that Octopus Books volume. Another book to find!