Road to Science Fiction volume 3: From Heinlein to Here [Paperback]

James Gunn (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996

The Road to Science Fiction has been called "the best historical anthology of SF ever assembled" (Anatomy of Wonder). The series offers more than 2,000 pages of science fiction, including discussions of the genre and its authors. The third volume carries the story of SF forward from 1940 to 1977, through the Golden Age and the New Wave to their reconciliation.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

James Gunn is one of the preeminent science fiction scholars working in the field today, and his Road to Science Fiction historical anthology series has been called "as definitive an SF anthology as one can obtain," by Publishers Weekly. This third volume in the series collects the best work published between 1940 and 1977, showcasing such notable authors as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke and Ursula K. Le Guin. This is a must-have primer for both veteran SF fans and newcomers alike.

Review

...the stories are among the field's best known, by the most highly regarded authors of the period....There's little doubt why these stories are considered among the finest in science fiction history....Gunn's commentary is both informative and perceptive....he explains the literary development of science fiction, and the stories support his analysis....It belongs on the bookshelf of everyone who loves science fiction. (Science Fiction Weekly )

An excellent introduction to the history of the genre. (The New York Times )

The best series, historically arranged, of SF anthologies ever assembled...All six volumes belong in the library of every university, school, and teacher and reader of science fiction. Gunn has gathered stories of importance to the development of SF and stories that represent the best writing of the genre. (Anatomy Of Wonder, 5Th Edition )

...provides one of the most comprehensive views of the field and should be required reading for all students of sf. It has withstood the test of time, with classic stories....Gunn's headnotes and introductions remain provocative, even years later. The Road to Science Fiction can be read as an historical document, one that says much about Gunn, his mind, and his take on sf as it does about the state of sf from its roots to its full maturity as a genre. (Science Fiction Studies ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 550 pages
• Publisher: White Wolf Publishing (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565048210
• ISBN-13: 978-1565048218
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,442,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oustanding classics, June 6, 2010

By 

bujoldfan "bujoldfan" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Road to Science Fiction 3: From Heinlein to Here (Paperback)

Collection of arguably the most significant short science fiction stories of the period 1941 to 1972.
Contents:
1 * On the Road to Science Fiction: From Heinlein to Here * (1979) * essay by James E. Gunn
25 * "All You Zombies . . ." * (1959) * shortstory by Robert A. Heinlein (Nominated, 1980 Balrog Award)
40 * Reason * [Mike Donovan (Robot)] * (1941) * shortstory by Isaac Asimov
59 * Desertion * [City] * (1944) * shortstory by Clifford D. Simak
73 * Mimsy Were the Borogoves * (1943) * novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore [as by Lewis Padgett ] (Basis of film, The Last Mimzy; Science Fiction Hall of Fame story)
107 * October 2026--The Million-Year Picnic * (1946) * shortstory by Ray Bradbury
119 * Thunder and Roses * (1947) * novelette by Theodore Sturgeon
143 * That Only a Mother * (1948) * shortstory by Judith Merril (Science Fiction Hall of Fame story)
155 * Brooklyn Project * (1948) * shortstory by William Tenn
168 * Coming Attraction * (1950) * shortstory by Fritz Leiber (Nominated, 2001 Retro Hugo Award, Best Short Story of 1950; Science Fiction Hall of Fame story)
181 * The Sentinel * (1951) * shortstory by Arthur C. Clarke (Partial basis for 2001: A Space Odyssey)
195 * Sail On! Sail On! * (1952) * shortstory by Philip José Farmer
207 * Critical Factor * (1953) * shortstory by Hal Clement
224 * Fondly Fahrenheit * (1954) * novelette by Alfred Bester (Science Fiction Hall of Fame story)
246 * The Cold Equations * (1954) * novelette by Tom Godwin (Science Fiction Hall of Fame story)
273 * The Game of Rat and Dragon * [The Instrumentality of Mankind] * (1955) * shortstory by Cordwainer Smith
290 * Pilgrimage to Earth * (1956) * shortstory by Robert Sheckley
304 * Who Can Replace a Man? * (1958) * shortstory by Brian W. Aldiss
316 * Harrison Bergeron * (1961) * shortstory by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
326 * The Streets of Ashkelon * (1962) * shortstory by Harry Harrison
343 * The Terminal Beach * (1964) * novelette by J. G. Ballard
367 * Dolphin's Way * (1964) * shortstory by Gordon R. Dickson
387 * Slow Tuesday Night * (1965) * shortstory by R. A. Lafferty
398 * Day Million * (1966) * shortstory by Frederik Pohl
407 * We Can Remember It for You Wholesale * (1966) * novelette by Philip K. Dick (Basis of film, Total Recall)
431 * I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream * (1967) * shortstory by Harlan Ellison (Winner, 1968 Hugo Award)
449 * Aye, and Gomorrah. . . * (1967) * shortstory by Samuel R. Delany (Winner, 1967 Nebula Award. Nominated, 1968 Hugo Award)
462 * The Jigsaw Man * [Known Space] * (1967) * shortstory by Larry Niven (Nominated, 1968 Hugo Award)
476 * Kyrie * (1968) * shortstory by Poul Anderson (Nominated, 1968 Nebula Award)
490 * Masks * (1968) * shortstory by Damon Knight (Nominated, 1968 Nebula Award, 1969 Hugo Award)
503 * Stand on Zanzibar (Excerpt) * (1968) * short fiction by John Brunner (Excerpt from novel; novel won 1969 British Science Fiction Award, 1969 Hugo Award, 1973 Prix Apollo.)
519 * The Big Flash * (1969) * novelette by Norman Spinrad (nominated, 1969 Nebula Award)
543 * Sundance * (1969) * shortstory by Robert Silverberg
560 * The Left Hand of Darkness (Excerpt) * (1979) * short fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin (excerpt from novel; novel won 1969 Nebula Award, 1970 Hugo Award, 1995 James Tiptree, Jr. Award)
577 * When It Changed * (1972) * shortstory by Joanna Russ (Winner, 1972 Nebula Award, 1995 James Tiptree, Jr. Award)
588 * The Engine at Heartspring's Center * (1974) * shortstory by Roger Zelazny (Nominated, 1974 Nebula Award)
600 * Tricentennial * (1976) * shortstory by Joe Haldeman (Winner, 1977 Hugo Award, 1977 Locus Poll Award)
620 * Index * (1979)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential, May 13, 2007

By 

Perry Baldwin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Road to Science Fiction: From Heinlein to Here (Road to Science Fiction (Scarecrow Press)) (Paperback)

An essential anthology that cover the "golden age" of SF (1940-1975). Every true SF fans needs this.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Road to Science Fiction: From Heinlein to Here, January 10, 2005

By 

C. L. Schultheis "BiblioFilly" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Road to Science Fiction: From Heinlein to Here (Road to Science Fiction (Scarecrow Press)) (Paperback)

After reading this as a text for a college course, I lost my copy. Then found one again and was amazed how still fresh and interesting these short stories are. I recommend this volume as a good start to reading Sci-Fi as the stories are some of the best ever and will only leave the reader hungry for more. The British Writer's version is a good one, too.