Major Ingredients [Hardcover]

Eric Frank Russell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001

This volume contains thirty of Russell’s best short science fiction stories. It includes “Allamagoosa,” “And Then There Were None,” “Dear Devil,” “I Am Nothing,” “Jay Score,” and “Metamorphosite.” Introduction by Jack L. Chalker. Dustjacket art by Bob Eggleton.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Russell (1905-78), a British subject who published mostly in the U.S., had an authorial voice that made readers take him for an American. This volume reprints 30 of his short stories, including such classics as "Allamagoosa," "Homo Sap," "Hobbyist," "Jay Score," and "Now Inhale." The predominant themes are Russell's dislikes for pomposity, bureaucracy, and idiotic militarism (Russell has doubts that there is any other kind), and the belief that most people would rather live and let live. Read all at once, the stories begin to seem rather all of a piece, and their generally dated style and content don't help them, either. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Publisher

This book is the fourteenth volume in the "NESFA's Choice" series and previously had the working title Into Your Tent I'll Creep.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 701 pages
• Publisher: Nesfa Pr; 1 edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886778108
• ISBN-13: 978-1886778108
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,144,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT Fun to read, May 25, 2006

By 

Sam C. Fraser "Sam C. Fraser" (St Petersburg, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Major Ingredients (Hardcover)

I have never written a review here before this. I am an engineer/cpa; I am not a liberal arts major. I just feel so strongly about this book, and the author, that I have to tell all you potential readers to get this book and "Men, Martians and Machines," also by Russell. Mark Twain said about himself that he wrote for the stomach, not for the head. Russell was one of those rare writers that wrote for the stomach and hit the mark, with class. His short stories and novels are delightful to read - just plain fun. In contradiction to a previous reviewer, I read this book straight through (700 pages), and loved every minute of it. I really feel that Russell is on a plane with Twain, Rex Stout and Tom Clancy. They all wrote(write) books that are just wonderful fun to read. The short story "Dear Devil" (in this book) is one of the sweetest works I have ever read - touching and classically sweet. I usually prefer F-15's and such, but "Dear Devil" is wonderful. This book if full of great tales. Get it, read it, enjoy!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Long Forgotten Treasures, September 7, 2005

By 

Dave_42 "Dave_42" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Major Ingredients (Hardcover)

This is a very good collection of 30 short stories by Eric Frank Russell. First published in 2000, this brought back into print a large number of stories which today's science fiction lovers could not easily find. When combined with "Entities", published in 2001, there is at long last a solid foundation of Russell's works, both novels and shorter pieces, in print again for the first time in a long time.

There are too many stories here to cover them all, but the highlights include "Allamagoosa", the first short story ever to win a Hugo, "Dear Devil", "Jay Score", "Study In Still Life", "Top Secret", and many more. Also included are an Introduction by Jack L. Chalker, and an Afterword by "Mike Resnick". Russell's stories focus mainly on ideas, rather than characters, which is something some readers may not like. Chalker and Resnick offer some wonderful insights into his work and why it is that Russell's work has often been overlooked when it comes to awards and recognition. This collection was ranked 6th on the Locus Poll for Collections in 2001.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure Discovered, February 14, 2010

By 

Michael Quinn "sci fi nut" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Major Ingredients (Hardcover)

I've beee a fan of Eric Frank Russell for more than 30 years ever since I read Allamagoosa. This book is a delight to read and showcases the talent, wit and insight of the author. Some of the works here are just not available and this book was a chance to discover afresh the author's talents. I can't praise this book highly enough. It is a must for all Sci Fi fans.