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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
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:- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
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"
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]
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.
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.
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.
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 – ★
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.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Hall of Fame Volume, but I wouldn't have expected to say that when I first started reading. The first short stories were difficult for me to read because they were not particularly well written, and they were so obviously written by men with a male gaze.
The stories got better in the 1930s, though. The 1940s and 50s brought us fascinating, creative ideas in sci-fi, and I found myself devouring this volume.
A small note and warning for those who have not yet read Flowers for Algernon: get ready with a tissue or two. Having read it multiple times, it still makes me weep.
I hadn't yet read any Zelazny until the final story, but I am intrigued. He reminds me a bit of William Gibson, lite. I may need to read more.
Overall, a good read, a nice sampling, and a great beginning for rich discussion amongst fellow sci-fi nerds.
The stories got better in the 1930s, though. The 1940s and 50s brought us fascinating, creative ideas in sci-fi, and I found myself devouring this volume.
A small note and warning for those who have not yet read Flowers for Algernon: get ready with a tissue or two. Having read it multiple times, it still makes me weep.
I hadn't yet read any Zelazny until the final story, but I am intrigued. He reminds me a bit of William Gibson, lite. I may need to read more.
Overall, a good read, a nice sampling, and a great beginning for rich discussion amongst fellow sci-fi nerds.