The Mammoth Book of Vintage Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1950s (The Mammoth Book Series) [Paperback]

Isaac Asimov (Author), Charles G. Waugh (Author), Martin Greenberg (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Pub (November 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088184621X
• ISBN-13: 978-0881846218
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,067,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Sci-Fi Short Stories!, December 27, 2002

By 

. "mattb123" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of Vintage Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1950s (The Mammoth Book Series) (Paperback)

The Mammoth Book of "Vintage Science Fiction" is a collection of 10 short stories (i.e. around 50 pages each) from the 1950's. The authors contained in this volume include renowed sci-fi writers such as Asimov, Walter M. Miller (author of "Canticle for Lebowitz), Poul Anderson, Theodore Sturgeon, and Philip Jose Farmer; and it is edited by Asimov.

I recommend this collection for some one looking for a good or entertaining sci-fi read, or for some one looking for a "classic" sci-fi collection. The best stories include "Flight to Forever" by Poul Anderson (a captivating time-travelling tale that's on par with Time Machine), "The Oceans are Wide" by Frank M. Robinson (an interesting coming of age tale, on a ship on a long voyage into the unknown), "Dark Benediction" by Walter M. Miller (a story of a futuristic plague), and "Second Game" by Charles De Vet and Katherine MacLean. Other stories featured are "The Martian Way" by Asimov, "The Alley Man" by Farmer (reminiscent of something out of the "X-files"), and "Baby is Three" by Sturgeon, (which is a shorter version of his novel "More than Human").

The collection features some great sci-fi - some of which is nostalgic, but it in a good way - while other stories actually seem quite timeless. The "Mammoth" Sci books (by Carroll & Graf Sci-Fi) are actually a series of 6 volumes from the Classic sci-fi of the 1930's, through Modern Sci-fi of the 80's. Based on this volume, and some of the titles in the 60's volume, it's too bad these volumes are out of circulation and somewhat difficult to find. This is a great collection of page-turning stories, and would make a good gift for Sci-Fi fans, young and old! I recommend keeping an eye out for it in your local second-hand book store!