The Fantastic Universe Omnibus

by Hans Stefan Santesson (Editor), Isaac Asimov, L. Sprague de Camp

Paperback Library, 1968. Stories from the magazine "Fantastic Universe", which was published 1953-1960. Stories here

"First Law" (1956) by Isaac Asimov; She Only Goes Out at Night (1956) by William Tenn ; The Pacifist (1956) by Arthur C. Clarke; The Bounty Hunter (1958) by Avram Davidson; The Muted Horn (1957) by Dorothy Salisbury Davis; A Way of Life (1956) by Robert Bloch; In Lonely Lands (1959) by Harlan Ellison; Fall of Knight (1958) by A. Bertram Chandler; Sit by the Fire (1958) by Myrle Benedict ; A Thing of Custom (1957) by L. Sprague de Camp; Exile from Space (1956) by Judith Merril; Mex (1957) by Larry M. Harris; The Amazing Mrs. Mimms (1958) by David C. Knight; My Father, the Cat (1957) by Henry Slesar; Title Fight (1956) by William Campbell Gault; The Golden Pyramid (1956) by Sam Moskowitz; The Robot Who Wanted to Know (1958) by Felix Boyd; Road to Nightfall (1958) by Robert Silverberg; The Velvet Glove (1956) by Harry Harrison.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Science Fiction Fantasy

254 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic Universe was a digest-sized science fiction magazine that was published from 1953-1960. There were 69 issues, and Santesson was the editor from 1956-1960, succeeding Leo Margulies. The popularity faded in his last years as the publisher tried unsuccessfully to capitalize on the flying-saucer fad. Santesson edited this volume, which can be seen as a "Best of..." his term as editor. The magazine wasn't as high-paying or prestigious a market as were other magazines of the time, such as Astounding, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, or Galaxy, but he did succeed in printing some good stories. This one has nice work from Harlan Ellison, Henry Slesar, A. Bertram Chandler, L. Sprague de Camp, Robert Silverberg, and others. Perhaps most notable is a robot story, First Law, by Isaac Asimov.

[Alvaro Zinos-Amaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a lackluster anthology.

Tenn's "She Only Goes Out at Night ..." is cute, Bloch's "A Way of Life" is funny and acerbic meta-sf (and I don't think much reprinted elsewhere), Ellison's "In Lonely Lands" holds up, and Harrison's (pseud) "The Robot Who Wanted to Know", though predictable, I think still packs the feels. Silverberg's "Road to Nightfall" I've read a number of times, and it remains a strong, dark early story of his. Rest were between decent and meh.

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of sci-fi stories by different authors. Some gave their age away, but that was OK. And there were several gems that transcended publication date and really tapped into something deeper.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite anthologies--includes "My father, the cat". A Science Fiction Book Club selection.

[Forked Radish]

"Fall of Knight" by A. Bertram Chandler: ⭐️⭐️: A dog of a tale and vice versa.

[Andrew Laboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

out of 19 stories,i liked 11 of them

[Jenn]

Would like to read Boyd's The Robot Who Wanted to Know, but hard to find this collection!