This is another solid anthology in The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction series. Gahan Wilson’s work continues to work the same side of the cartoon street as Charles Addams did. Robert Silverberg’s famous “Sundance” leads the list of best stories in this volume. The rising SF writer, Barry N. Malzberg (aka, “K. M. O’Donnell) delivers a powerful punch with “Notes Just Prior to the Fall.” I’m fond of “Confessions” by Ron Goulart. Larry Niven’s “Get a Horse!” is a variant of “The Flight of the Horse.”
“The Man Who Learned Loving” is another of Theodore Sturgeon’s stories you’ll be still thinking about long after you’ve finished reading his story. Robert Sheckley writes a canny story in “Starting From Scratch.” I enjoyed rereading many of these fine stories. You will too! GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- 6 Cartoons • interior artwork by Gahan Wilson
- 7 • Gone Fishin’ • (1970) • short story by Robin Scott Wilson
- 27 • Selectra Six-Ten • (1970) • short story by Avram Davidson
- 36 • Longtooth • (1970) • novelette by Edgar Pangborn
- 81 • Sundance • (1969) • short story by Robert Silverberg
- 100 • The Brief, Swinging Career of Dan and Judy Smythe • (1970) • short story by Carter Wilson
- 108 • Dream Patrol • (1970) • short story by Charles W. Runyon
- 125 • Calliope and Gherkin and the Yankee Doodle Thing • (1969) • novelette by Evelyn E. Smith
- 173 • Notes Just Prior to the Fall • (1970) • short story by Barry N. Malzberg [as by K. M. O’Donnell]
- 189 • Confessions • [Jose Silvera] • (1970) • novelette by Ron Goulart
- 212 • Get a Horse! • [Svetz] • (1969) • short story by Larry Niven (variant of The Flight of the Horse)
- 231 • The Man Who Learned Loving • (1969) • short story by Theodore Sturgeon
- 243 • Litterbug • (1969) • novelette by Tony Morphett
- 268 • An Adventure in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness • (1969) • novelette by Vance Aandahl
- 295 • Starting from Scratch • (1970) • short story by Robert Sheckley
- 300 • Benji’s Pencil • (1969) • short story by Bruce McAllister
- 313 • Afterword (The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: 19th Series) • (1971) • essay by Edward L. Ferman
Just reading the names of the authors …
Many were my favourites in the 60s and 70s.
I really should try to read those stories again – but too many books and not enough time …
And then of course the Wild Wild Web, just too much interesting info!
Wolf, reading THE BEST FROM FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION series for the past 19 months brought plenty of joy! So many great stories! Only six more volumes to go!
Oh, there are All Sorts of other best-ofs from F&SF, but the Doubleday series does come to an end…
Todd, the covers on the Doubleday hardcover volumes were mostly hideous.
The Ace volumes, particularly after A. A Wyn sold Ace, Average Even Worse.
Todd, I’m in total agreement with you on the decline of ACE Books cover artwork after A. A. Wyn sold the company. BAEN Books artwork can be awful, too.
Never heard of these authors but am glad you enjoyed the anthology.
Neeru, there are no few brilliant crime-fiction writers included here, such as Malzberg, Avram Davidson, Goulart, and occasional contributors to CF such as Edgar Pangborn, Sturgeon and Sheckley. You might well enjoy this volume, and its companions, if you find a copy.
Neeru, most of these stories are 50 years old or more. Many of the authors are gone, but their excellent work remains.
Other than the Silverberg I don’t remember any of these stories although I know most of the authors. I know I read this but that was almost 60 years ago. Wonder why Vance Aandahl disappeared from writing. He wrote a number of stories for F&SF back in the 60’s.
He was a talented youth who went and got his degrees and a professional career and wrote some more avocationally a few decades later.
Steve, “Sundance” is probably the most well-known story in this anthology–it has been anthologized many times. I don’t know where Vance Aandahl went to…but Todd might tell us.
In fact, I did already!
The Davidson is a particular favorite of Edward Ferman (who is a character in it), and Ferman as a result included it in the 30th Anniversary issue and the rather similar 30th Anniversary Anthology…it’s a very funny piece of work, and might be my own favorite included, among a good lot.
I have both editions, hopefully neither in the waterlogged boxes, with the nothing-special Dday hardcover package (Swiss cheese…really…) and the hideous Ace, and it is always nice to see a reminder of them.
Todd, even the ACE Books editions of this series suffered from poor cover artwork as the series progressed.