This collection of Science Fiction stories, first published in 1993, could have easily been titled The Best of Harry Harrison. The book leads off with “The Streets of Ashkelon” (aka, “An Alien Agony”), a story that caused a sensation when it appeared in 1962 because it featured an atheist. “Survival Planet” has overtones of Harrison’s famous Deathworld series.
Harrison displays his snarky humor in “Brave Newer World” and “The Secret of Stonehenge.” I’m also fond of “The Mothballed Spaceship.”
If you check out the cover of Stainless Steel Visions, you’ll see “Featuring a New Stainless Steel Rat Story!” near the bottom. That would seem to be the motivation for the title even though the Stainless Steel Rat–Harrison’s best known character and the star of a series of SF novels about an interstellar thief–only appears in one story in this collection. No matter. This collection brings together several of Harrison’s best short stories for you to enjoy. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction –7
The streets of Ashkelon — 13
Toy shop — 33
Not me, not Amos Cabot! — 41
The mothballed spaceship — 53
Commando raid — 73
The repairman — 87
Brave newer world — 105
The secret of Stonehenge — 149
Rescue operation — 155
Portrait of the artist — 175
Survival planet — 187
Roommates — 205
The golden years of the stainless steel rat — 235
I remember reading The Streets of Ashkelon when it first appeared in an issue of New Worlds which at that time was distributed in the U.S. It is by far Harrison’s best piece of short fiction. I also enjoyed his Deathworld novels and Make Room! Make Room(Soylent Green). I never cared much for the Stainless Steel Rat series.
Steve, I like Harrison’s DEATHWORLD series more than THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT series, too. After the first couple volumes, the Stainless Steel Rat slid into silliness.
Disagree, they are all fun.
Rick, I think the “fun” of the Stainless Steel Rat series dissipated in 1994 with The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues. Or, it might have been in 1996 with The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell.. Maybe in 1999 with The Stainless Steel Rat Joins the Circus.
An enjoyable author but, again, I can only take his work in small doses — especially when he delves into slapstick.
Jerry, Harry Harrison could write very serious SF like SOYLENT GREEN (aka, MAKE ROOM! MAKE ROOM!) about overpopulation and then turn around and write silly, slapstick Stainless Steel Rat stories. Harrison was also a very good editor.
I’ve read a few of his things. Will probably look out for this collection.
Jeff, I have a couple of Harry Harrison short story collections. STAINLESS STEEL VISIONS is right up there.
Sorry, “slapstick “ is Keystone Kops. Harrison may be, often is clever and funny but describing his work as slapstick is going too far. Perhaps it’s a matter of definition; do you consider Donald Westlake slapstick too?
Rick, there are slapstick elements in Westlake’s work, but no…I would not consider his novels and stories Slapstick.
I don’t think I have ever read anything by Harry Harrison. My son found me a couple of his books at the book sale a few years ago but I still have not tried them. Short stories might be a good way to go too.
Tracy, Harry Harrison’s cleverness infuses both his novels and short stories. I think you would enjoy them.