There is no The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction, 21st Series. Instead, Edward L. Ferman assembled this The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction: A Special 25th Anniversary Anthology (1974) featuring stories from the special Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction first six special one-author issues.
The one-author issues started in early 1960s with Theodore Sturgeon (September 1962) followed by Ray Bradbury (May 1963) then Isaac Asimov (October 1966), Fritz Leiber (July 1969), Poul Anderson (April 1971), and James Blish (April 1972).
In his Introduction, Ferman gives credit to Joe Ferman, then the publisher of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, for the idea of one-author issues and the format: a major new work of fiction by the author, accompanied by a profile, critical appreciation, and bibliography.
If you’re a fan of Sturgeon, Bradbury, Asimov, Leiber, Anderson, and Blish this anthology should be a fixture in your library. Great stories! And I enjoyed reading the critical appreciations by Judith Merril, William F. Nolan, L. Sprague de Camp, Gordon R. Dickson, and Robert A. W. Lowndes. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- ix • Introduction (The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, 25th Anniversary) • (1974) • essay by Edward L. Ferman
- 3 • When You Care, When You Love • (1962) • novelette by Theodore Sturgeon
- 56 • Theodore Sturgeon • (1962) • essay by Judith Merril
- 68 • Sturgeon Bibliography • (1962) • essay by Sam Moskowitz (variant of Fantasy and Science Fiction by Theodore Sturgeon (Bibliography))
- 75 • To the Chicago Abyss • (1963) • short story by Ray Bradbury
- 88 • Ray Bradbury • (1963) • essay by William F. Nolan (variant of Bradbury: Prose Poet in the Age of Space)
- 107 • Bradbury Bibliography • (1963) • essay by William F. Nolan (variant of An Index to Works of Ray Bradbury)
- 113 • The Key • [Wendell Urth] • (1966) • novelette by Isaac Asimov
- 153 • Isaac Asimov • (1966) • essay by L. Sprague de Camp (variant of You Can’t Beat Brains)
- 159 • Asimov Bibliography • (1966) • essay by Isaac Asimov (variant of Isaac Asimov: A Bibliography) [as by uncredited]
- 169 • Ship of Shadows • (1969) • novelette by Fritz Leiber
- 226 • Fritz Leiber • (1969) • essay by Judith Merril (variant of Fritz Leiber (profile))
- 240 • Leiber Bibliography • (1969) • essay by Al Lewis (variant of Fritz Leiber: A Bibliography)
- 247 • The Queen of Air and Darkness • [The Queen of Air and Darkness] • (1971) • novella by Poul Anderson
- 307 • Poul Anderson • (1971) • essay by Gordon R. Dickson (variant of Profile: Poul Anderson)
- 315 • Anderson Bibliography • (1971) • essay by uncredited (variant of Poul Anderson: Bibliography)
- 323 • Midsummer Century • (1972) • novella by James Blish
- 420 • James Blish • (1972) • essay by Robert A. W. Lowndes (variant of James Blish: Profile)
- 428 • Blish Bibliography • (1972) • essay by Mark Owings (variant of James Blish: Bibliography)
Just reading the list of authors makes me happy – couldn’t say which of them was “the best” – they’re all mong my favourites.
That was one of the best things about the 60s and 70s:
At least every month you would discover a new great author.
Wolf, I loved the format of the single-author issues of THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION. My favorite is the Fritz Leiber issue.
Well–never a single-author, but a highlighted writer…even Ellison’s three stories didn’t squeeze everyone else out…
I wasn’t familiar with this book or these issues of the magazine. This looks like a lot of fun. I’ll have to look for a copy. Great writers, all of them.
Byron, the single-author issues of F&SF were very popular back in the day. If you can track a copy down online, it’s worth checking out! Meanwhile, this 25th Anniversary volume can be found at affordable rates. And, some good libraries might still have this book on their shelves.
More popular with collectors than newsstand buyers, though…a highlighted writer apparently could turn people off. While even the Stephen King issue wouldn’t necessarily vanish from the magazine racks.
Not the most hideous cover Ace, in its tree-martyring days (there were about a hundred words per page on a lot of mid/late ’70s Ace Books), but ugly enough…the one they slapped on the next volume worse. Interesting…I’d forgotten that Ferman had chosen “Abyss” from the two Bradbury stories in the tribute issue to RB.