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ContentsPreface · Bonnie L. Heintz, Frank Herbert, Donald A. Joos & Jane Agorn McGee · prScience Fiction and You · Frank HerbertThe Star · H.G. WellsThe Subliminal Man · J.G. BallardThe Waveries · Fredric BrownNightfall · Isaac AsimovThe Nothing · Frank HerbertBitter End · Eric Frank RussellThe Winner · Donald E. WestlakeThe Lawgiver · Keith LaumerUtopian · Mack ReynoldsRescue Party · Arthur C. ClarkeFor the Sake of Grace · Suzette Haden ElginThe Other Foot · Ray BradburyCrate · Theodore SturgeonThe Cloudbuilders · Colin KappThe Shortest Science Fiction Story Ever Told · Forrest J. AckermanStreet of Dreams, Feet of Clay · Robert SheckleyThe Veldt [“The World the Children Made”] · Ray BradburyAfter the Myths Went Home · Robert SilverbergArena · Fredric Brown“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman · Harlan EllisonThe Hole on the Corner · R.A. LaffertyTexas Week · Albert HernhuterHemeac · E.G. Von WaldThis Grand Carcass · R.A. LaffertyThe Perfect Woman · Robert SheckleyDesertion [City (Websters)] · Clifford D. SimakHere There Be Tygers · Ray BradburyCrucifixus Etiam · Walter M. Miller, Jr.Sunrise on Mercury [as by Calvin M. Knox] · Robert SilverbergOmnilingual · H. Beam PiperThe Sentinel [“Sentinel of Eternity”] · Arthur C. ClarkeSeeds of the Dusk · Raymond Z. GallunSpecialist · Robert SheckleyHalf-Breed [Half-Breeds] · Isaac AsimovBomb Scare · Vernor VingeKeyhole · Murray LeinsterSundance · Robert SilverbergGoldfish Bowl [as by Anson MacDonald] · Robert A. HeinleinSword Game · H. H. HollisThe Singing Bell [Wendell Urth] · Isaac AsimovPrivate Eye · Lewis Padgett
This collection assembles a diverse array of speculative narratives that explore the intersection of human behavior and technological advancement. The anthology serves as a curated survey of mid-twentieth-century science fiction, presenting various scenarios where characters confront the consequences of scientific discovery, alien contact, and societal shifts. Through a mix of established masters and genre pioneers, the text examines how individuals navigate environments defined by radical change and existential uncertainty.
Readers frequently highlight this anthology as a comprehensive introduction to the golden age and subsequent evolution of science fiction. Discussion often centers on the thematic consistency across disparate authors, noting how the collection balances technical speculation with human-centric storytelling. Critics observe that the pacing varies significantly between the shorter, punchy pieces and the more expansive, world-building narratives. The volume is often cited for its utility in providing a broad overview of the genre's development during the mid-twentieth century.
Page Count:
619
Publication Date:
1974-01-01
Publisher:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School
ISBN-10:
0030107962
ISBN-13:
9780030107962
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