"From a darkly humorous tale of the power of words (Death and the Librarian) to a never-before-published response to events of September 11 (Ilion), Friesner's 12 stories illustrate the author's acutely sensitive vision of wonder in the everyday world... Known primarily for his 'Star Wars' novels... Zahn's short stories also deliver strong plots and memorable characters... Zebrowski's many novels (e.g. Macrolife) mark him as a visionary as well as a master of hard sf. The ten short stories collected in In the Distance provide a benchmark of his creativity... the author expands his concept of the human condition to embrace the stars. Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent author's, these three volumes belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal 20020615)
"...Part of Five Star's continuing commitment to showcasing the short fiction of the genre's most prominent authors, these three volumes (Death and the Librarian and Other Stories/ Star Song and Other Stories/ In the Distance, and Ahead in Time) belong in most libraries where short sf is popular."
-- Library Journal (December 2002) (Library Journal )
"Four more titles in Five Star's new series (God Is an Iron and Other Stories/ Generation Gap and Other Stories/ The Lady Vanishes and Other Oddities of Nature/ Suppose They Gave a Peace and Other Stories) of short fiction by noteworthy sf authors offer a variety of tales that illustrate the depth and staying power of the genre...Most of the stories in these volumes have only appeared in periodicals. Libraries wishing to augment their sf or short fiction collections should consider any of them."
-- Library Journal (June 2002) (Library Journal )
"James Blish was the model of a caring, exacting SF writer, and his accomplishments are fairly well served by this volume."
-- Science Fiction Weekly (Science Fiction Weekly )
"This anthology is a pleasant surprise for fans of speculative fiction as James Blish passed away in the 1970s, but as this work will prove he was and still is one of the best. Each of the ten tales is a superb example of why Mr. Blish is still considered a genius by the genre's writers."
-- Harriet Klausner (UNKNOWN )
Product Description
James Blish (1921-1975) was one of those rare authors who sought to fuse the imagination and ideas of science fiction with the language and power of mainstream fiction. He wasn't rare for attempting this combination, he was rare because he succeeded. His novels and short stories illuminated a bold new style of writing that helped shape the Golden Age of science fiction, and continued for more than thirty years.
For the first time in more than twenty years, we're pleased to present this collection of his best short fiction. Chosen and including an introduction by his wife, Judith Blish, these masterful short stories capture the essence of James's visionary fiction. Includes the stories Citadel of Thought, Nor Iron Bars, A Dusk of Idols and many more. (20021201)
