Subterranean Press won’t win any prizes for the cover of this fine volume of short stories. The previous three collections had the same bland covers. But it’s what’s inside that counts, and what’s inside this book is some of Robert Silverberg’s best writing. “A Sea of Faces,” “The Dybbuk of Mazel Tov IV,” “Capricorn Games,” “Ship-Sister, Star-Sister,” “Trips,” “Born With the Dead,” “Schwartz Between the Galaxies,” and my personal favorite, “In the House of the Double Minds” are all here to delight you. Silverberg provides informative introductions to each story capturing the spirit of the times and how the story got published. There are over 400 pages of top quality story-telling here. Silverberg was at the top of his game in the Seventies. This volume shows why. GRADE: A
The introductions to the stories in these volumes are worth the price of admission.
Silverberg has a volume of memoirs called Other Spaces, Other Times: A Life Spent in the Future that I have on order. When that comes in, you know I’ll read it right away and review it here.
I just read his sf/mystery stories written with Randall Garrett in the 1950’s published by Crippen & Landru. It was pretty entertaining stuff.
Bill Crider liked that Randall Garrett/Robert Silverberg collection, too. I’ll have to order it. I love Crippen & Landru!
I have that C&L Silverberg-Garrett collection, although I’ve not yet read it. The backlog of books here is frightening! I did just finish the C&L collection A POCKETFUL OF NOSES by James Powell, which was entertaining.
As for Silverberg, I find it interesting how some authors seem to “click” with some readers while leaving others unenchanted. Silverberg’s shorts have never appealed to me very much. I did like LORD VALENTINE’S CASTLE but didn’t read any other Majipoor books. For me Silverberg is one of those authors who didn’t click.
Robert Silverberg has written so much, in so many different styles, it’s hard to get a fix on him, Rick. Some of Silverberg’s best work are his novellas like “Born With the Dead” and “In the House of Double Minds.” Some fans love DYING INSIDE. Others think THORNS is Silverberg’s best novel. I’m partial to MAN IN THE MAZE for obvious reasons.
Say, I looked up at the sci-fa shelves and there was my copy, unread, of THORNS (Ballantine original, 1967, 75 cents). Maybe I’ll give it a try one of these days.
Silverberg was at the top of his game in the Sixties and Seventies, Rick. THORNS is of that vintage.
1. THORNS is one of his best.
2. I also enjoyed MAN IN THE MAZE, but I’m baffled by your “obvious reasons” quote.
3. My favorite Silverberg is DOWNWARD TO THE EARTH. Not only a good novel, but I
found it interesting as a late 60’s and early 70’s period piece. That must have been
an exciting time to be reading sf. I wonder if novels like Silverberg’s would be able
to find a mainstream publisher today.
You’re right, Drongo, THORNS is one of Silverberg’s best novels. My comment about MAN IN THE MAZE is an inside joke for Rick. We’re both members of DAPA-EM, a mystery apa. The name of my zine is…MAZES. The mainstream publishing market has been totally transformed. Most of Silverberg’s SF–as well as those classic titles by Asimov, Heinlein, Simak, etc.–wouldn’t be published today, sadly. That’s why I think Silverberg is so involved in this Subterranean Press project to preserve the best of his short fiction.