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The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Robert Silverberg (Editor)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews) |

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Book Description

Publication Date: January 13, 2005
The definitive collection of the best in science fiction stories between 1929-1964.

This book contains twenty-six of the greatest science fiction stories ever written. They represent the considered verdict of the Science Fiction Writers of America, those who have shaped the genre and who know, more intimately than anyone else, what the criteria for excellence in the field should be. The authors chosen for The Science Fiction Hall Fame are the men and women who have shaped the body and heart of modern science fiction; their brilliantly imaginative creations continue to inspire and astound new generations of writers and fans.

Robert Heinlein in "The Roads Must Roll" describes an industrial civilization of the future caught up in the deadly flaws of its own complexity. "Country of the Kind," by Damon Knight, is a frightening portrayal of biological mutation. "Nightfall," by Isaac Asimov, one of the greatest stories in the science fiction field, is the story of a planet where the sun sets only once every millennium and is a chilling study in mass psychology.

Originally published in 1970 to honor those writers and their stories that had come before the institution of the Nebula Awards, The Science Fiction Hall Of Fame, Volume One, was the book that introduced tens of thousands of young readers to the wonders of science fiction. Too long unavailable, this new edition will treasured by all science fiction fans everywhere.

The Science Fiction Hall Of Fame, Volume One, contains stories by such great masters of the form and includes the following authors:

Isaac Asimov
Alfred Bester
Jerome Bixby
James Blish
Anthony Boucher
Ray Bradbury
Fredric Brown
John W. Campbell
Arthur C. Clarke
Lester del Rey
Tom Godwin
Robert A. Heinlein
Daniel Keyes
Damon Knight
C.M. Kornbluth
Fritz Leiber
Murray Leinster
Richard Matheson
Judith Merril
Lewis Padgett
Clifford D. Simak
Cordwainer Smith
Theodore Sturgeon
A.E. van Vogt
Stanley G. Weinbaum
Roger Zelazny

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A basic one-volume library of the short science fiction story." -- Kirkus

"Libraries can toss out worn collections of partly good/partly poor and buy thiss volume of the creme de la creme." -- Library Journal

"The first definitive modern anthology of top science fiction stories." -- Newark Sunday News

"A basic one-volume library of the short science fiction story."--Kirkus on The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One

"Quibbling about the choice of the prize winners would be like arguing with the pros who vote on the Academy Awards."--Publishers Weekly on The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One

"The first definitive modern anthology of top science fiction stories."--Newark Sunday News on The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One

"Libraries can toss out worn collections of partly good/partly poor and buy this volume of the creme de la creme."--Library Journal on The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One

"Not for years has there appeared a collection of stories so remarkable, so profoundly enjoyable, so full of that marvelous 'remember when' quality, and, for the absolute beginner, so rewarding and informative a reading experience."--Theodore Sturgeon in the National Review on The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One


"A basic one-volume library of the short science fiction story." (Kirkus )

"Quibbling about the choice of the prize winners would be like arguing with the pros who vote on the Academy Awards." (Publishers Weekly )

"The first definitive modern anthology of top science fiction stories." (Newark Sunday News )

"Libraries can toss out worn collections of partly good/partly poor and buy this volume of the creme de la creme." (Library Journal )

"Not for years has there appeared a collection of stories so remarkable, so profoundly enjoyable, so full of that marvelous ''remember when'' quality." (Theodore Sturgeon National Review )

About the Author

Robert Silverberg is a past president of the Science Fiction Writers of America, has published stories in all of the major science fiction magazines, written numerous science fiction novels, and is considered one of the greatest authors in the field. He is an award-winning author and has edited the New York Times bestselling anthology Legends.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 576 pages
  • Publisher: Orb Books (January 13, 2005)
  • ISBN-10: 0765305372
  • ASIN: B001W6RRPW
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,546,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 99 people found the following review helpful
By Ken
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The stories in this book were voted by the Science Fiction Writers of America as the best short science fiction written between 1929 and 1964 and every one is a gem. Some of these stories are reasonably well known and often reprinted, but most of them are difficult to find anywhere else, making this an essential collection for a true fan of the genre. In response to an earlier request for a list of its contents, here are the story titles and authors. I was going to indulge myself by placing an asterisk next to my personal favorites, but I found myself marking almost all of them. The collection is that good.

A Martian Odyssey -- Stanley G. Weinbaum

Twilight -- John W. Campbell

Helen O'Loy -- Lester del Rey

The Roads Must Roll -- Robert A. Heinlein

Microcosmic God -- Theodore Sturgeon

Nightfall -- Isaac Asimov

The Weapon Shop -- A. E. van Vogt

Mimsy Were the Borogoves -- Lewis Padgett

Huddling Place -- Clifford D. Simak

Arena -- Fredric Brown

First Contact -- Murray Leinster

That Only a Mother -- Judith Merril

Scanners Live in Vain -- Cordwainer Smith

Mars is Heaven -- Ray Bradbury

The Little Black Bag -- C. M. Kornbluth

Born of Man and Woman -- Richard Matheson

Coming Attraction -- Fritz Leiber

The Quest for Saint Aquin -- Anthony Boucher

Surface Tension -- James Blish

The Nine Billion Names of God -- Arthur C. Clarke

It's a Good Life -- Jerome Bixby

The Cold Equations -- Tom Godwin

Fondly Fahrenheit -- Alfred Bester

The Country of the Kind -- Damon Knight

Flowers for Algernon -- Daniel Keyes

A Rose for Ecclesiastes -- Roger Zelazny
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47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked this collection up on a whim at my local used book store, mostly to get an idea of which other Sci-fi writers I might be interested in collecting from. This collection turned out to be a goldmine of Science Fiction. In fact, this is one of the only books I will not lend out to friends; and I own an old, ratty-looking paperback Copyright 1970! There are many great stories here, but there are a few I must mention as bona-fide masterpieces. "Microcosmic God" by Theodore Sturgeon is fantastic; the plotting for this story reminded me of the 1995 cable pilot episode for the film "The Outer Limits: Sandkings." Even the creators of South Park use similar ideas in one of their episodes. This collection also contains the sparkling jewel "Nightfall" from Issac Asimov. "Surface Tension" from James Blish is superb in every way. "The Nine Billion Names of God" finds Arthur C. Clarke is fine form. "The Cold Equations" from Tom Godwin is arguably the most intense and sad of all the stories here, packing an emotional wallop not ordinarily seen in Sci-fi. And of course, "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes. I believe that last one is my favorite here, showing a retarded man's ascension to genius, 'childhood' to a wise and intellectual human being. This story was later expanded into a novel which, in fact, I am reading right now. However, I prefer the original short story version, if only slightly. There are so many stories here ranging from good to marvellous that I simply had to write a review praising this incredible collection. This book is easy to recommend.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Some great memories February 14, 2007
Format:Paperback
The old purple and blue version of this book - the purple was on the edge of the pages, the way some older books have velvety green sides - was my first introduction to the Golden Age of science fiction. The inventiveness and the creative audacity of these stories was always enough to overcome what I felt would have been a cripplingly antiquated "Gee golly" 1950s vernacular... except that the writing almost never has that black and white Leave it to Beaver sitcomish feel that, for some reason, was always attached to the Golden Age in my mind. Stylistically the collection is all over the place. The Connecticut Yankee anachronism of Roger Zelazny in "Lord of Light" is nowhere to be found in "A Rose for Ecclesiastices". Clarke's famous "The Nine Billion Names of God" isn't even a science fiction story until, basically, the last sentence. And describing anything written by Cordwainer Smith with "genre", "usual" or even "describable" is not applicable. I love this collection and, impossibly, every story in it - though some more than others.

I won't dwell on the weakest. Instead I'll highlight what I consider to be the best:

Sturgeon's "Microcosmic God" has the creepy, jealousy tinged atmosphere of nerds watching another nerd who is better at being a nerd than anyone else. This is what I would've been doing with my adolescent years if only mind and matter would've allowed, so reading it brings the distinct pleasure of reliving childhood fantasies. I'm also pretty sure it's the inspiration for a Simpsons Halloween episode involving Lisa and her tooth, which became a South Park nod to both the story and the Simpsons.

Asimov's "Nightfall" is rightly considered one of the best science fiction short stories ever. I've read the longer form and this is superior in pretty much every way: it's already one of the longer stories in this collection but it still benefits from the shorter form with its building stress and, yes, horror during the final pages. Many would disagree but I think "Nightfall" is one of the least creative stories in the collection in terms of sheer inventiveness. Despite that it's still incredible.

Cordwainer Smith is just amazing. As prosaic as that sounds it's about all I can say. "Scanners Live in Vain" is one of the weirdest stories in the collection and it might arguably be one of Smith's most "mundane". Reading a Smith story is like opening the pages of the Book of Revelations as interpreted by the grandson of cartoonist Gary Larson, the painter Francis Bacon, a very wise female clown and Joan of Arc - and you're on acid. This is all an endorsement, by the way.

James Blish's "Surface Tension" is as good an "adventure" story as you'll find here. It's got a fairly linear plot and isn't hard to follow. It isn't simplistic, per se, but it hasn't got the style of some of the other pieces in this collection. It's one of my sentimental favorites, though, for its ability to impart - at least somewhat - a finer sense of proportion than pretty much any description of the vastness of the universe, including Doug Adams'.

And, finally, my absolutely favorite: "Mimsy Were the Borogroves". I'm not doing to describe it. I'm going to simply agree with another commentator that purchasing this book is worth it if only for this one story.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fun read for sci-fi buffs.
Galactic spanning civilizations that distribute news on bulky, printed papers! Moral quandaries about inflexible physical rules as they apply somehow differently to Women (capital... Read more
Published 2 months ago by sbergeon
In Search of a Long-Ago Read Sci-Fi Short Story
Sometime during the mid 1970's, while an undergraduate student majoring in Biology, my brother loaned me an anthology of Science Fiction short stories. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Henry Spratt
The Old That is Strong Does Not Wither
This collection of the best science fiction stories between 1929 and 1964 was assembled by the Science Fiction Writers of America and has the high quality that results from an... Read more
Published 14 months ago by John M. Ford
Wow!
Great collection. I thought the stories were terrific on two levels. First level, as straight stories, they are uniformly exceptional. Read more
Published 14 months ago by RaDadIndy
Real Sci Fi at its finest.
They just don't write science fiction this well anymore. These works are rich and hearty unlike some the the sad excuses for writing that is current.
Published 17 months ago by Daphne Iodice
A good collection of short stories from before 1965
I didn't know exactly what this was before I took a chance on it, but I'm glad I did: the stories are almost all good and I haven't read most of them in other science fiction short... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Jacob Sorensen
Science fiction as it was
This was an excellent set of science fiction short stories from the past. I came back to science fiction after a 40+ year hiatus, and the stories were as wonderful and full of... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Larry E Armstrong
Oldies but goodies, take 2
This review applies to BOTH Science Fiction anthologies I bought at the same time ... all are works from early in SF's history. Read more
Published on April 28, 2010 by N. Mumbach
Great SCi-Fi
This is a great collection of stories, even if you're not a sci-fi fan. They are mind expanding and have alot to tell us about ourselves.
Published on February 12, 2010 by Barbara P
For aficionados
Great stuff. Some stories feel less immersive due to an antiquated writing style, but show a surprising level of technical sophistication for the time in which they were written. Read more
Published on February 1, 2010 by Clayton Pigwillow
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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lotus lake, aptitude android, alien skipper, roads must roll, huddling place, visor screen, weapon shop, helmet phones, vision plates, psi factor, blue sand, crystal cube
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Adam Stone, Miss Kinnian, Tommy Dort, Van Kleeck, Aunt Amy, Isaac Asimov, Captain John Black, Lewis Padgett, Dallas Brady, Roger Zelazny, Theodore Sturgeon, Murray Leinster, Fara Clark, Cordwainer Smith, James Blish, Bill Soames, Sacramento Sector, Dan Hollis, Pat Reilly, Tom Godwin, Mare Chronium, Great Pain, Daniel Keyes, Group One, Charlie Gordon
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