Anthologies
Vol. 22, No. 2, December 1963. Cover art by Ed Emshwiller illustrating "The Star King" (serial, part 1 of 2) by Jack Vance. ALSO: "If There Were No Benny Cemoli" by Philip K. Dick; "The Big Pat Boom" by Damon Knight; plus stories by C. C. MacApp, Fritz Leiber and others. FEATURES: editorial by Frederik Pohl; For Your Information: The Names of the Constellations (science essay) by Willy Ley; book revioews by Theodore Sturgeon and Frederik Pohl. Interior art by Ed Emshwiller, Jack Gaughan,and others. Editor: Frederik Pohl.
The third in a series of superb science fiction. The Alpha series of anthologies center on no particular theme except that of literary quality. Two criteria were used in the selecting of these stories—literary merit and importance to the genre. The result is that the variety of subjects is matched only by the richness and diversity of their handling—brilliant, frightening, clever, bizarre, powerful, witty, funny—and several steps in-between. Simply put, here is the best science fiction from the best science fiction writers. The main intent of the Alpha series is to assemble groups of stories that give pleasure by demonstrating the richness and variety of the science-fiction form. Quality of storytelling is the touchstone; I make no effort to gather the stories in any one volume according to any thematic pattern. Yet thematic patterns seem to creep into the books like insidious invaders from far galaxies. The first Alpha contained a cluster of tales dealing with travel through time—relativity gone topsy-turvy all over the book. The second volume, through no prior intent of the editor, seemed to deal almost entirely with the tensions arising out of man's confrontation with technology. And in this third one, I find, a prevailing theme in nearly every story is the conflict between ourselves and strangers. Again and again, through some odd accident of balance, you will find tales of tense encounters, showing protagonists facing the unknown quantities of time and space. Freud tells us that nothing ever happens by accident. Perhaps so. These anthologies are not assembled in a random process, and no doubt the editor's mind serves as a thematic filter in ways that are not clear to the editor himself except in hindsight. And one can reasonably object that virtually every good science-fiction story deals in meetings with the unknown, so that the supposed theme detected here is no true theme at all, but only a universal characteristic of the genre. In any event, here are ten outstanding stories. I think they achieve what is for me the basic science-fiction accomplishment: they show the reader visions he has not previously had, and send him away transformed and enlarged. Go thou and read. Go and be changed.
Poul Anderson, Harlan Ellison, Jack Vance, Larry Niven
Contains all the short fiction winners of the Nebula Award from 1965 - 1969. Contents include: "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman - Harlan Ellison (also winner, 1966 Hugo). The Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth, Roger Zelazny (nominated, 1966 Hugo). The Saliva Tree - Brian W. Aldiss. He Who Shapes - Roger Zelazny. The Secret Place - Richard McKenna (nominated, 1967 Hugo). Call Him Lord - Gordon R. Dickson (nominated, 1967 Hugo). The Last Castle. Jack Vance (winner, 1967 Hugo). Aye, and Gomorrah - Samuel R. Delany (nominated, 1968 Hugo). Gonna Roll the Bones - Fritz Leiber (winner, 1968 Hugo). Behold The Man - Michael Moorcock. The Planners - Kate Wilhelm. Mother to the World - Richard Wilson (nominated, 1969 Hugo). Dragonrider - Anne McCaffrey (nominated, 1969 Hugo). Passengers - Robert Silverberg (nominated, 1969 Hugo). Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones - Samuel R. Delany (winner, 1969 Hugo). A Boy and His Dog - Harlan Ellison (nominated, 1969 Hugo).
Contents 9 Introduction (The Fantasy Hall of Fame) (1983) essay by Robert Silverberg 13 The Masque of the Red Death (1842) shortstory by Edgar Allan Poe (variant of The Mask of the Red Death) 21 An Inhabitant of Carcosa (1886) shortstory by Ambrose Bierce 26 The Sword of Welleran (1908) shortstory by Lord Dunsany 42 The Women of the Wood (1926) novelette by A. Merritt (variant of The Woman of the Wood) 76 The Weird of Avoosl Wuthoqquan [Hyperborea] (1932) shortstory by Clark Ashton Smith 86 The Valley of the Worm [James Allison] (1934) novelette by Robert E. Howard 110 Black God's Kiss [Jirel of Joiry] (1934) novelette by C. L. Moore 143 The Silver Key [Randolph Carter] (1929) shortstory by H. P. Lovecraft 157 Nothing in the Rules (1939) novelette by L. Sprague de Camp 191 A Gnome There Was (1941) shortstory by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore [as by Lewis Padgett ] 221 Snulbug (1941) shortstory by Anthony Boucher 239 The Words of Guru (1941) shortstory by C. M. Kornbluth 248 Homecoming [The Elliott Family] (1946) shortstory by Ray Bradbury (variant of The Homecoming) 263 Mazirian the Magician [Dying Earth] (1950) novelette by Jack Vance 282 O Ugly Bird! [John the Balladeer] (1951) shortstory by Manly Wade Wellman 296 The Silken-Swift (1953) shortstory by Theodore Sturgeon 318 The Golem (1955) shortstory by Avram Davidson 325 That Hell-Bound Train (1958) shortstory by Robert Bloch 341 Kings in Darkness [The Elric Saga] (1962) novelette by Michael Moorcock and James Cawthorn [as by Michael Moorcock ] 375 Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes (1967) novelette by Harlan Ellison 399 Gonna Roll the Bones (1967) novelette by Fritz Leiber 424 The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (1973) shortstory by Ursula K. Le Guin
This collection of stories spans fantasy writing through the decades. The collection includes the story of a boy who brings a whale to the parched surroundings of Arizona and the story of the parents who suffer agonies when their son deserts wizardry for accountancy.
Collection of favourite short stories from World Fantasy convention members. Published by Robinson in 1990.
This science fiction anthology contains: stories from SF's founding fathers, from Wells and Kipling to C.S. Lewis and Jack London; genre mainstays like Philip Jose Farmer, Jack Vance and Poul Anderson; noted female writers; and modern greats such as Bruce Sterling and William Golding.
In this text Margaret Weis has gathered together a collection of twenty fantasy stories by top authors including Ray Bradbury, Katherine Kurtz and Jack Vance.
Works by Nicola Griffith, Elizabeth Hand, Jonathan Lethem, Jack Vance, and many others grace this volume of the closest thing SF has to a literary yearbook (Locus).
“Diverse and remarkable speculations on futures so remote as to be all but beyond conjecture” by Brian Aldiss, Poul Anderson, Robert Silverberg, and more ( Kirkus Reviews ). It is the essence of science fiction to chart the possibilities of the future, but it takes the hand of a master to capture the farthest reaches of time—futures almost unimaginably distant. The Furthest Horizon collects seventeen of the most inventive and audacious visions of the future by many acclaimed writers, including: Brian Aldiss * Poul Anderson * Avram Davidson * Joe Haldeman * Alexander Jablokov * Paul J. McAuley * Ian McDonald * Michael Moorcock * Frederik Pohl * Robert Reed * Keith Roberts * Robert Silverberg * Cordwainer Smith * James Tiptree, Jr. * Jack Vance * Walter Jon Williams * Gene Wolfe “A variety of authors, writing styles and topics are included in this entertaining anthology, and Dozois provides insightful notes before each story.” —Science Fiction Weekly “Editor Dozois’ latest theme anthology presents 17 stories, many of them classics, set in a future so far from now that memories of today’s humans have been lost by our descendants . . . another feather for his cap.” — Booklist
GET READY FOR A GIANT, MIND-EXPANDING DOSE OF THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION EVER WRITTEN BY THE GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS OF ALL TIME! When readers first encounter science fiction, they find adventures on other planets and in future worlds, explorations of future technology and its implications, and extrapolations of social trends and warnings of where they may lead—but they also encounter concepts heretofore undreamed of, and the impact on the readers' thinking does nothing less than turn their world upside down. Now, David Drake, Jim Baen and Eric Flint gather together some of the greatest science fiction ever written in one volume, with each story chosen for a startling breakthrough concept which left readers stunned and changed the course of science fiction. In the Golden Age of science fiction, the science fiction magazines weren't given titles such as Astounding, Amazing, Startling, etc., for nothing! Pick up this generous serving of the very best of science fiction and prepared to be astounded, amazed, startled—and entertained. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).
To honor the magnificent career of Jack Vance, one unparalleled in achievement and impact, George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, with the full cooperation of Vance, his family, and his agents, have created a Jack Vance tribute anthology: Songs of the Dying Earth . The best of today's fantasy writers to return to the unique and evocative milieu of The Dying Earth, from which they and so many others have drawn so much inspiration, to create their own brand-new adventures in the world of Jack Vance’s greatest novel. Half a century ago, Jack Vance created the world of the Dying Earth, and fantasy has never been the same. Now, for the first time ever, Jack has agreed to open this bizarre and darkly beautiful world to other fantasists, to play in as their very own. To say that other fantasy writers are excited by this prospect is a gross understatement; one has told us that he'd crawl through broken glass for the chance to write for the anthology, another that he'd gladly give up his right arm for the privilege. That's the kind of regard in which Jack Vance and The Dying Earth are held by generations of his peers. This book contains original stories from George R. R. Martin, Neil Gaiman, Dan Simmons, Elizabeth Moon, Tanith Lee, Tad Williams, Kage Baker, and Robert Silverberg, along with fifteen others--as well as an introduction by Dean Koontz.
Armchair Fiction presents extra large paperback collections of the best in classic science fiction short stories. "Science Fiction Gems, Vol. One" features works by Clifford D. Simak, Isaac Asimov, John Jakes, Henry Slesar, Algis Budrys, Jack Vance, J. F. Bone, Ron Goulart, Eando Binder, and others. This is a brand new anthology of nostalgic science fiction. It’s sure to titillate your imagination, rouse memories of childhood daydreams, and probe the deepest recesses of your mind.