false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg 449308 3 <I>The Avram Davidson Treasury</I> may be the most satisfying short-story collection of the decade. Davidson (1923-1993), one of science fiction and fantasy's greatest writers, was "a master shaper of small stories," writes Alan Dean Foster in his introduction to "Or the Grasses Grow." Foster is joined in introducing the stories by dozens of extraordinary authors, including Ursula K. Le Guin, Gene Wolfe, William Gibson, Poul Anderson, and many others. Davidson was clearly adored, and often emulated, despite his reputation for being somewhat curmudgeonly. His mastery of language was exquisite, and his stories glittered like diamonds. Each of the 38 tales in this collection spanning five decades is a self-contained wonderland. One of the most famous (and most often plagiarized) short stories in science fiction appears here: "Or All the Seas with Oysters," tells of slightly sinister safety pin pupae, coat hanger larvae, and bicycle adults in a world where machines are more than they seem.<p> Of "Dagon," John Clute writes, "It is as vicious as the world of a fish, and wise. It is masterly.... it cannot be read. It can only be re-read." On the surface, this is the story of an American military officer in Peking in 1945, but lurking underneath are ancient gods, Chinese magicians, and the obscene torpor of hell. As Ray Bradbury writes in his afterword, "Many of these stories are complete mysteries, puzzles. Avram Davidson starts us in a fog and lets us orient ourselves slowly.... His knack for a proper pace is that of a true teller of tales." But all of Davidson's stories aren't dark--far from it. He was a satirical genius, able to poke fun at sacred cows and turn a comic phrase with the best of them. Some of these stories will make you laugh out loud.<p> To the fan of great literary short fiction: Don't skip over this deeply fulfilling treasury because Avram Davidson was "only" a science fiction author. He's been compared to Rudyard Kipling, Saki, John Collier, and G.K. Chesterton, if you need a literary excuse. <p> And to the science fiction or fantasy fan: This amazing and creative Hugo, Edgar, and World Fantasy Award winner, nominated for <I>seven</I> Nebula Awards by his fellow writers, will astound and amaze you. <I>--Therese Littleton</I> 948547 1998 The Avram Davidson Treasury: A Tribute Collection total:25|5:11|4:10|3:4|2:0|1:0| 25 107 57 3 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 5 3 false Wed Jul 25 12:53:23 -0700 2007 Wed Jul 25 17:25:39 -0700 2007 more...]]> 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 0 0 false Sat Dec 20 16:57:27 -0800 2008 Sun Dec 21 20:16:12 -0800 2008 more...]]> 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 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http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 5 0 false Fri Sep 18 19:43:03 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 18 19:43:03 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 0 0 false Sun Sep 06 12:57:27 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 06 12:57:27 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 0 0 false Sat Aug 29 12:28:16 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 29 12:28:16 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 0 0 false Sun Aug 02 15:26:57 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 11 13:03:25 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 0 0 false Tue Jul 21 23:13:21 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 21 23:13:21 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 4 0 false Thu Jun 25 19:27:32 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 25 19:27:32 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 0 0 false Sat Jun 20 05:56:01 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 20 05:56:05 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 4 0 false Wed Jun 03 21:49:46 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 03 21:49:46 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 5 0 false Sat May 23 16:01:05 -0700 2009 Sat May 23 16:01:05 -0700 2009 449308 031286731X 9780312867317 20 3 4.28 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174871052m/449308.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/449308.The_Avram_Davidson_Treasury_A_Tribute_Collection 0 0 false Sat Apr 25 01:19:11 -0700 2009 Sat Apr 25 01:19:11 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=449308