The Great science fiction series : stories from the best of the series from 1944 to 1980 by twenty all-time favorite writers edited by Frederik Pohl, Martin Harry Greenberg, and Joseph Olander came to my attention through the great web site, BLACKGATE.COM. John O’Neill reviewed this forgotten classic book from 1980 here.. I had never heard of this book before reading John O’Neill’s review. John also pointed out that The Great Science Fiction Series cost over $100 at online booksellers. Fortunately, the Buffalo Erie County Public Library had a copy which I took out and read.
Many of the stories in The Great Science Fiction Series are familiar: “Hothouse” by Brian W. Aldiss, “The Cloud-Sculptors of Coral D” by Ballard, “Surface Tension” by James Blish, “Ararat” by Zenna Henderson, “The Great Magic” by Fritz Leiber, etc. Most SF readers know about Saberhagen’s “Berserker” stories and Larry Niven’s “Known Space” series. Some of these series expanded after The Great Science Fiction Series was published in 1980. This anthology features a bibliography of the series and informative introductions to the stories and the series included in this volume. I hope I can find a copy at a reasonable price so I can add it to my book collection! How many of these series do you remember? GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction by Frederik Pohl ix
Hothouse Series Introduction by Brian W. Aldiss 1
“Hothouse” by Brian W. Aldiss (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, February 1961) 3
Nicholas van Rijn Series/Technic History Introduction by Poul Anderson 32
“A Little Knowledge” by Poul Anderson (Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, August 1971) 34
The Wendell Urth Series Introduction by Isaac Asimov 52
“The Talking Stone” by Isaac Asimov (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1955) 54
Vermilion Sands Series Introduction by J. G. Ballard 71
“The Cloud-Sculptors of Coral D” by J. G. Ballard (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December 1967) 72
Cities in Flight Series Introduction by James and Judith Blish 86
“Bridge” by James Blish (Astounding Science Fiction, February 1952) 88
Surface Tension/The Pantropy Series Introduction by James and Judith Blish 112
“Surface Tension” by James Blish (Galaxy Science Fiction, August 1952) 114
The Feghoot Series Introduction by Grendel Briarton (R. Bretnor) 150
“Through Time and Space with Ferdinand Feghoot” by Reginald Bretnor (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May 1956). 152
The White Hart Series Introduction by Arthur C. Clarke 154
“The Reluctant Orchid” by Arthur C. Clarke (Satellite Science Fiction, December 1956) 155
Tales from Gavagan’s Bar Introduction by L. Sprague de Camp 164
‘The Ancestral Amethyst” by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1952) 166
The People Series Introduction by Zenna Henderson 173
“Ararat” by Zenna Henderson (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1952) 175
Retief Series Introduction by Keith Laumer 194
“Ballots and Bandits” by Keith Laumer (If, September-October 1970) 196
The Change War Series Introduction by Fritz Leiber 221
“No Great Magic” by Fritz Leiber (Galaxy Magazine, December 1963) 223
The Dragonriders of Pern Series Introduction by Anne McCaffrey 259
“The Smallest Dragonboy” by Anne McCaffrey (Science Fiction Tales, 1973) 261
Helva/The Ship Who Sang Series Introduction by Anne McCaffrey 273
“The Ship Who Sang” by Anne McCaffrey (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April 1961) 274
Known Space Series Introduction by Larry Niven 290
“A Relic of the Empire” by Larry Niven (If, December 1966) 292
Berserker Series Introduction by Fred Saberhagen 308
“Sign of the Wolf” by Fred Saberhagen (If, May 1965) 309
Slow Glass Series Introduction by Bob Shaw 317
“Burden of Proof” by Bob Shaw (Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, May 1967) 318
The AAA Ace Series Introduction by Robert Sheckley 331
“The Lifeboat Mutiny” by Robert Sheckley (Galaxy Science Fiction, April 1955) 332
In Hiding/Children of the Atom Series Introduction by Wilmar H. Shiras 343
“Opening Doors” by Wilmar H. Shiras (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1949) 344
City Series Introduction by Clifford D. Simak 373
“Aesop” by Clifford D. Simak (Astounding Science Fiction, December 1947) 374
The Instrumentality of Mankind Introduction by John J. Pierce 400
“The Game of Rat and Dragon” by Cordwainer Smith (Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1955) 402
Notes on Contributors 416
Copyrights 420