Mammoth Book of New World Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1960's (Mammoth Books) [Paperback]

Martin Harry Greenberg (Editor), etc. (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Mammoth Books | Publication Date: July 11, 1991

This volume follows the collections of novels from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s as well as short novels from the 60s most talented writers including Keith Laumer, Robert Silverberg, Anne McCaffrey, Philip Jose Farmer, Rick Raphael and Mack Reynolds.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The "new world" of science fiction reflected the concerns of the burgeoning youth culture as well as the technological advances of the 1960s. Robert Silverberg's classic "How It Was When the Past Went Away," which shows how the population of San Francisco both suffers and benefits from a memory-loss drug in the drinking water, illustrates the rising drug-consciousness of the times. While a crooked stockbroker's career is ruined--since he can no longer remember any of his marginal dealings--a widower tormented over the death of his family founds a new religion that worships the loss of the past. Philip Jose Farmer's "The Suicide Express" voices pk the '60s fascination with spirituality by creating a world where the dead are resurrected as part of an alien research project to determine whether human beings have souls. Notably, early protest against the Vietnam War glimmers in Gordon R. Dickson's "Soldier Ask Not," where a newsman of the future is helpless to stop a military onslaught. An intriguing collection from a historical perspective. Asimov, Greenberg and Waugh also edited Starships: Stories Beyond the Boundaries of the Universe.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Constable and Robinson (July 11, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185487084X
• ISBN-13: 978-1854870841
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,357,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another classic collection from the "Mammoth...Sci-Fi" Series!, January 28, 2011

By 

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

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of New World Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1960's (The Mammoth Book Series) (Paperback)

Like others in the series, the "Mammoth Book of New World Sci-Fi...1960's" features 10-short novels from the featured decade...each story being roughly 50 pages long. (Other volumes in the series are from the 30's, 40's, 50's, 70's, and 80's). Authors featured in this particular volume are sci-fi luminaries such as Zelany, Silverberg, G. Dickson, A. McCaffrey, & Philip J Farmer. The 10 stories featured are a strong sci-fi offering - a fair amount of variety, though somewhat weighted towards military sci-fi and reflective of the times and social changes in which they were written:

Three of the short stories featured were later developed into full-fledged series: "The Suicide Express" by Farmer/("The Riverworld Series); "Weyr Search" by McCaffrey/("The Dragon Riders of Pern" Series); and "Soldier Ask Not" by Dickson/(the "Dorsai" or "Childe Cycle" Series). These three are among the book's best offerings. But other gems include "How it was when the Past Went Away" by Silverberg (a story of mass amnesia set in San Fran, that clearly reflects influence of the time it was written despite supposedly being set in the 2000's); and "The Highest Treason" by Randall Garret (a military sci-fi that bears resemblance to later novels such as "The Forever War" and "Ender's Game.").

Another story also developed into a series is "Mercenary" by Mack Reynolds, which features a future where business disputes are settled via military battles (however weapons used must have been around pre-1900). Themes in "Mercenary" include a heavy caste system where many are disenfranchised, fiscally vibrant corporations having all the power, the "Two-party" system being a farce, and "lower classes" being kept satisfied and ignorant by being drugged but also (and perhaps more importantly) by being constantly occupied with mindless TV. "Mercenary" is intriguing in that the author seems making a fair amount of (perhaps thinly veiled) commentary about our society close to 50 years ago that many still make today. The author predicting 50 years ago that the masses would be kept occupied and satisfied by the various technology and devices available definitely makes one stop and think about the numerous "devices" that keep our population occupied today. Regardless of one's politics (and one certainly is under no requirement to agree with the author's implied views) Mack Reynold's concepts discussed in "Mercenary" are certainly intriguing to ponder.

There's not a clunker in here, all represent solid sci-fi offerings though I'm not sure "Code 3," (a story about a futuristic highway system and future law enforcement) or "Hawk Among Sparrows (an enjoyable but rather run-of-the-mill time-travel story) stand the test of time as classics. The other two stories include "Night of the Trolls" by Keith Laumer and "Eve of Rumoko" by Zelany - both good.

Unlike other anthologies, there is not much (or any) "extras" offered by way of commentary, annotations or notes on authors. But if you're looking for nothing but a collection of solid classic sci-fi's this is the place to go!