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neilfein's review
5.0
This series is in three volumes, cunningly called “Volume 1″, “Volume 2A” and “Volume 2B”. (The second volume was split into two physical book for publication.) That makes this article the first of a series of… I’ll play it save and say “a bunch”. It seems appropriate to split up this review in particular.
In 1965, the Science Fiction Writers of America started giving out the Nebula Awards. They published this anthology and its companion volume(s) by way of recognizing pre-1965 work that the membership thought was exceptional.
I read this book and its siblings in the seventies; the stories seem better in some ways, particularly the more sophisticated prose. A few stories haven’t ages all that well.
Story-by-story reviews (part 1) are here, I'm currently working on part 2.
In 1965, the Science Fiction Writers of America started giving out the Nebula Awards. They published this anthology and its companion volume(s) by way of recognizing pre-1965 work that the membership thought was exceptional.
I read this book and its siblings in the seventies; the stories seem better in some ways, particularly the more sophisticated prose. A few stories haven’t ages all that well.
Story-by-story reviews (part 1) are here, I'm currently working on part 2.
shreyasdeshpande1992's review
4.0
Most of these stories do belong in the hall of fame. A couple were less than at that level. However we all have different opinions and overall the book was a great anthology of science fiction stories from the past.
When you read it you will recognize some plots that continue to appear in current stories, and probably will continue into the future.
Ratings:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
When you read it you will recognize some plots that continue to appear in current stories, and probably will continue into the future.
Ratings:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
wmhenrymorris's review
Overall a three stars anthology, but bumped up to four for "The Quest for Saint Aquin," "[b:Flowers for Algernon|18373|Flowers for Algernon|Daniel Keyes|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166910991s/18373.jpg|3337594]," and "A Rose for Ecclesiastes"
nwhyte's review against another edition
http://nhw.livejournal.com/1122211.html[return][return]This is one of those classic collections, assembling the top sf stories published before 1965 as voted for by the membership of SFWA in the late 1960s. (I wonder how different the results would be, if a similar poll were taken now?) Most of these stories were very familiar to me, but it filled in a couple of gaps - I don't think I had read either Theodore Sturgeon's "Microcosmic God" or Alfred Bester's "Fondly Fahrenheit" before. Anyway it's good to have such a selection of classics within a single set of covers. [return]
lasairfiona's review
5.0
Casey down there has it right. Starfall is amazing and so are the rest of the stories. I love being able to pick it up and just reading a quick story when I don't have time for a full book, or when I want a shot of great sci-fi. So awesome.
nicmcphee's review
5.0
Probably the most amazing collection of scifi I've ever run across. I bought this in high school (70's) and have read it numerous times, leaving my battered but much loved.
Caveat: It is very white guy heavy, an issue that I totally missed 30+ years ago.
Caveat: It is very white guy heavy, an issue that I totally missed 30+ years ago.
yi5h's review
3.0
A bit of a mixed bag. Some stories were a bit meh, even adjusting for when they were written. Definitely wouldn't have put them in the order they were voted on.
june_moon's review against another edition
5.0
A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum - ★★★★★
Twilight by John W. Campbell - ★★★★★
Helen O’Loy by Lester Del Rey – ★★
The Roads Must Roll by Robert A. Heinlein – ★★
Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon – ★★★
Nightfall by Isaac Asimov – ★★★★
The Weapon Shop by A. E. van Vogt – ★★
Mimsy Were the Borogroves by Lewis Padgett – ★★★★
Huddling Place by Cliffor D. Simak – ★★★★
Arena by Fredric Brown – ★★★★
First Contact by Murray Leinster – ★★
That Only a Mother by Judith Merril – ★
Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith – ★★★★
Mars is Heaven! By Ray Bradbury – ★★★
The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth – ★★
Born of Man and Woman by Richard Matheson – ★
Coming Attraction by Fritz Leiber – ★
The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher – ★★★★
Surface Tension by James Blish – ★★
The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke – ★★★★
It’s a Good Life by Jerome Bixby – ★★
The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin – ★★
Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester – ★
The Country of the Kind by Damon Knight – ★
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – ★★★★★
A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny – ★
Twilight by John W. Campbell - ★★★★★
Helen O’Loy by Lester Del Rey – ★★
The Roads Must Roll by Robert A. Heinlein – ★★
Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon – ★★★
Nightfall by Isaac Asimov – ★★★★
The Weapon Shop by A. E. van Vogt – ★★
Mimsy Were the Borogroves by Lewis Padgett – ★★★★
Huddling Place by Cliffor D. Simak – ★★★★
Arena by Fredric Brown – ★★★★
First Contact by Murray Leinster – ★★
That Only a Mother by Judith Merril – ★
Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith – ★★★★
Mars is Heaven! By Ray Bradbury – ★★★
The Little Black Bag by C.M. Kornbluth – ★★
Born of Man and Woman by Richard Matheson – ★
Coming Attraction by Fritz Leiber – ★
The Quest for Saint Aquin by Anthony Boucher – ★★★★
Surface Tension by James Blish – ★★
The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke – ★★★★
It’s a Good Life by Jerome Bixby – ★★
The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin – ★★
Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester – ★
The Country of the Kind by Damon Knight – ★
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes – ★★★★★
A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny – ★
tanyxscreams's review
3.0
It could get boring sometimes, as this was written a hundred years ago. It highlighted some of the most iconic scenes of sci-fi: sexy androids,Mars, the end of religion. It's generally a outpour of love for stars and technology, but it was love from really old people.