Customer Reviews

The Hugo Winners, Volume 4: Thirteen Prizewinning Stories (1976 - 1979)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This volume collects the coveted prize-winning novellas, novelettes, and short stories from 1976 to 1979. The Viet Nam debacle had left America questioning the role of violence in resolving human conflict, and some of the better selections reflect that concern in imaginative ways.

Among the notables: Zelazny's "Home Is the Hangman" is an immediately engrossing private eye thriller. Niven's Known Space tale, "The Borderland of Sol" is a solid hard-science entry, fascinating because it fits into his imaginative but well-thought-out future. Leiber's "Catch That Zeppelin" seems a little too predictable, and despite the presence of some real science, is ultimately just another dream story anyway. "By Any Other Name," Spider Robinson's dark tale of genocide and vengeance, is appropriately powerful, while James Tiptree, Jr's "Houston, Houston, Do You Read" takes us to a future that takes a dim view of male sexuality. Asimov's "Bicentennial Man" shows the evolution of artificial intelligence, but is a far cry from the master's best work. "Hunter's Moon" is another fine story of redemption from conflict that threatens to destroy both sides.

Obviously a superior choice for fans of science fiction, but for those who aren't; despite its fine pedigree, this particular collection doesn't offer much that's likely to change your mind.

An exceptional anthology, obtaining the platinum standard of a 4 average, including two 5s. The only weak spot is the Leiber.

Hugo Winners 4 : Home Is the Hangman - Roger Zelazny
Hugo Winners 4 : The Borderland of Sol - Larry Niven
Hugo Winners 4 : Catch That Zeppelin! - Fritz Leiber
Hugo Winners 4 : By Any Other Name - Spider Robinson
Hugo Winners 4 : Houston Houston Do You Read? - James Tiptree Jr.
Hugo Winners 4 : The Bicentennial Man - Isaac Asimov
Hugo Winners 4 : Tricentennial - Joe W. Haldeman
Hugo Winners 4 : Stardance [short story] - Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson
Hugo Winners 4 : Eyes of Amber - Joan D. Vinge
Hugo Winners 4 : Jeffty Is Five - Harlan Ellison
Hugo Winners 4 : The Persistence of Vision - John Varley
Hugo Winners 4 : Hunter's Moon - Poul Anderson
Hugo Winners 4 : Cassandra - C. J. Cherryh


Telepresence party prank has terrible results, robot killer wrongly represented afterwards, but does his duty despite detective.

5 out of 5


Indestructible interstellar ship interference.

3.5 out of 5


Airship transport changes.

3 out of 5


Genius' common cold cure provokes civilisation smelling overload suicide slaughter.

4 out of 5


Solar flare spaceship time lost in space, plague earth now has paucity of separatist clone chick population.

4.5 out of 5


Robot evolution legal test case.

4 out of 5


SETI success spurs space dwellers to sneaky space mission.

4 out of 5


Showing a bit of galactic leg.

3.5 out of 5


I am the Music Man, and I talk to people who don't come from down your way.

4 out of 5


Parents eventual terminal lack of patience with kid with the brilliant new old stuff.

5 out of 5


Communication fuller but lots weirder with fewer senses.

4.5 out of 5


Xenology swarm study feedback a bit two-way.

3.5 out of 5


Ghost ruins.

3.5 out of 5