The most famous story in The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction, 20th Series is Harlan Ellison’s “The Deathbird.” It won the 1974 Hugo Award for Best Novelette. The story follows the format of a test (although some of the questions don’t make sense). Now, the world is coming to an end and Nathan Stack, the latest incarnation of a long line of humans going back to Lilith’s husband, is revived by Snake (aka Dira) after spending 250 thousand years in an underground crypt to make the journey to the mountain where God lives. Stack is the only human capable of confronting God and putting the Earth out of its misery through the summoning of what is referred to as the Deathbird.
My favorite story in this anthology is Phyllis Eisenstein’s “Born to Exile,” one of her Tales of Alaric the Minstrell series. Alaric lives in a violent, feudal world. However, Alaric does have the power to teleport himself over short distances. After reading “Born to Exile,” I immediately ordered Eisenstein’s Born to Exile (1977) and In the Red Lord’s Reach (1989) which collect the stories of Alaric the Minstrell.
I’m also fond of Frederik Pohl’s “Shaffery Among the Immortals,” which has a certain special impact after Covid-19. Another solid Ferman anthology. GRADE: B
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Cartoons • interior artwork by Gahan Wilson
- 1 • Shaffery Among the Immortals • (1972) • short story by Frederik Pohl
- 21 • A Different Drummer • (1971) • short story by Raylyn Moore
- 40 • The Deathbird • (1973) • novelette by Harlan Ellison
- 75 • Born to Exile • [Tales of Alaric the Minstrel] • (1971) • novelette by Phyllis Eisenstein
- 112 • Thus Love Betrays Us • (1972) • short story by Phyllis MacLennan
- 133 • The Animal Fair • (1972) • novelette by Alfred Bester
- 179 • Is It the End of the World? • (1972) • short story by Wilma Shore
- 191 • The Bear with the Knot on His Tail • [Stardust (Stephen Tall)] • (1971) • novelette by Stephen Tall
- 231 • Birdlime • (1971) • short story by B. L. Keller
- 241 • The Problem of Pain • [Avalon (Technic Civilization)] • (1973) • novelette by Poul Anderson
- 265 • Sooner or Later or Never Never • [Reverend Crispin Mobey] • (1972) • novelette by Gary Jennings
I liked the Alaric stories by Phyllis Eisenstein also. I also liked the Ellison, Bester and Pohl. Don’t remember most of the others but I’m sure I read them.
Steve, I haven’t read much by Phillis Eisenstein, but I have six of her books on order now!
Sorry about the Test message…please delete at will. Our wonkily-wired kitchen was trying to shut itself down (whole walls are set to one dispswitch by the cheapjack family house contractor/son of the previous owner).
I’ve read a lot of Eisenstein’s Alaric stories, but only slightly among her other work. Sadly, she died not too far back…the Alaric stories should continue to be read, at least.
Todd, I have several of Eisenstein’s books on order. I’ll be playing Catch-Up on the Alaric stories and her other works in the next few months.
test
Another case where I have both the relatively unattractive editions, though the Joseph Lombadero cover on the Ace does have a certain Michael Whelanish flair. The test questions which are difficult or impossible to answer simply repicate life, of course…this is my default choise for favorite Ellison story. And essay, as a nonfiction account of his dog Abhu is tipped in, and rather well.
There are no stories I remember not liking, though there’s no Raylyn Moore story I’ve enountered that I like much at all…she really didn’t seem to like women very much. I’ve never tackled Gary Jennings’s big bestsellers such as AZTEC and SPANGLE even while enjoying the relativelly antic (if somewhat sophomoric) Mobey stories…notable he didn’t choose to publish them in the clear in book form, but hidden behind several dodges. “Shaffery” perhaps my favorite single Pohl-alone story.
It’s a good book to have, and might be the best of Ferman’s volumes.
Todd, the cover on the hardcover edition of THE BEST OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, 20th Series is…lame. I’m sure I encountered it over the years at various used bookstores and Library Book Sales…and passed on it each time. I have the ACE Books edition. Ferman’s editing of THE BEST FROM FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION remains remarkably consistent…and good!