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The Penguin World Omnibus of Science Fiction
From China to Chile, Africa to North America -- science fiction from all four corners of the globe and beyond.... Each story in this volume is dramatically different, vividly 'other'. The mystery of the disappearing lunatics, a clever computer crime, a semi-anthropological legend from Japan, erotic fantasy...the choice is yours: spoil yourself with this galactic confection -- as delicious as it is diverse.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1987
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78 people want to read
About the author
Brian W. Aldiss
833 books674 followersPseudonyms: Jael Cracken, Peter Pica, John Runciman, C.C. Shackleton, Arch Mendicant, & "Doc" Peristyle.
Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.
Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads
Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.
Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 11, 2023
This was a good omnibus with a wide variety of stories, both good and bad but they averaged pretty good, individual reviews below.
The half-wit of xeenemuende: 4/5
I quite liked this story it was brief and too the point and kinda had a message about not underestimating people with learning disabilities which I liked. The ending was also an interesting twist which I liked.
Alter ego: 2/5
This story was too basic and predictable for me, from the name and the first page it was clear what was going to happen and then it happened with no real flair to make it unique. Luckily it was really short so it was quick
A perfect marriage: 5/5
I really liked this story, it was a good piece of speculative science fiction and the ending was really uplifting. This book gave me hope for the future and was a beautiful story so I loved it.
The legend of the paper spaceship: 1/5
Right after I finished this story I wrote a very long review more in line with my reviews of full novels because of just how many thought I had, but with time to think about it I realised that most of it was just me being annoyed at it. This book drew me in at the start and then never explained anything leaving me confused and disappointed at the end. It was also included gratuitous amounts of sexual violence which I didn’t enjoy reading. I don’t want to read it ever again.
Feel free to ask for the full review I just didn’t want to clog up the list
Small world: 4/5
This story surprised me, I was a bit confused where it was going for quite a while and how it would link both stories together in such a short story but the end was a pleasantly elegant little twist which made me happy and optimistic.
The Whore of Babylon: 4/5
This story surprised me, at first it felt a little like a standard authoritarian rule story (1984, Brave new world, Fahrenheit 451, etc) but the ending was a nice twist, the wording used early on implied a whore of the traditional sense but the reality was a really nice surprise that made it stray from its influences.
Cost of Living: 3/5
This was a pretty clear critique of Cold War USA consumer culture which was an interesting thing to explore. However, they didn’t really do much with it other than say look how bad debt is cos they are buying useless stuff. An interesting dystopian idea of being able to sign away your children’s earning to buy more stuff though.
Night Broadcast: 2/5
I wasn’t very keen on this story, it wasn’t necessarily bad but the premise of a transmission from the future isn’t very unique and nothing was done to expand it (the downside to short stories) so it didn’t feel like anything happened, he got the transmission, wow it might be from the future, end.
A Perfect Christmas Evening: 2/5
No clue what this story was about something about phone calls and the past, maybe they were dead? Probably a bad translation
A Meeting In Georgestown: 3/5
This didn’t really have a plot but was an interesting look into cybersecurity the possibilities of blackmail.
Victims of Time: 5/5
I loved this, uses a narrator very strongly and makes me feel bad for him even if what is happening is good, an impressive feat in just 4 pages. Also an incredible starting premise
Myxamatosis Forte: 4/5
I really liked this story, it distributed the exposition well through the story so it was able to set everything up perfectly for the ending. The setting was really well thought out and the ending was a brilliant shock which I liked.
BCO equipment: 4/5
This story had a fascinating format, being an advert for the BCOs which I really enjoyed. Although there was no plot in the traditional sense it still felt like it had good development. It made an interesting critique of racism and misogyny and the concept of humanity.
Six Matches: 3/5
This was an interesting story about the risks of experimentation, but also the possible gains. It was good but somewhat forgettable. Shame because I really liked their other work
The Ring: 5/5
This was a brilliant story about time travel and how it could make you rich. I enjoyed the format of him telling the inspector how he may or may not have done it and the inspectors frustration. It was a brilliant and simple story that I really enjoyed.
‘Oh Lenore!’ came the echo: 3/5
That was an interesting story that started out about progression of culture and then turned into a story about space racism. I especially liked the description of the other species which added good depth to the plot.
Quo Vadis, Francisco?:4/5
This was an interesting look into preaching religion on another planet and integration with culture. The characters were the best part of this novel as we found out more about what the priest has had to do and the ending was very cathartic.
Forward, mankind!: 5/5
I loved this story it was a brilliant look at how we treat people we call insane, humanity’s desire of violence and first contact with other civilisations. Love a good story about humanity being bad
The mirror image of the world: 3/5
This was a little disappointing, it gripped me at the start with the premise but they never really went anywhere with it. ‘Wow they were watching us’ and then proceeds to never meet them or get any closure on why or who or what or how.
The new prehistory: 4/5
Was a fun little horror sci fi, the concept is terrifying and it was built up to really well, at first questioning what’s happening before things become more clear and scary
Equality: 4/5
A brilliant story about thinking machines and desire for equality. A bittersweet ending that I appreciated. Not necessarily unique premise but very well done.
The rising sun: 3/5
I think this story was too long for its own good. I got quite bored of it quickly, perhaps affected by it’s presence in a short story anthology but idk it had an alright story just told too long
The lens: 4/5
This was an interesting little story about loss and grief. Although little happens throughout we can get an insight into the narrators mind over his loss and his feelings of belonging somewhere else
Progenitor:4/5
Spoilers: at first I was really confused what it was about, probably cos I had no clue what a progenital was, anyway turns out his dick fell off and is going to become a new person and his wife is gonna chop him and up feed him to his dick baby, brilliant story would recommend.
The cage:5/5
I really liked this one, it had a lot of good plot progression at a good pace which I liked, we saw them get into a situation, adapt, get into another situation, adapt again and at last got a really good ending that is both commentary and humorous
An imaginary journey to the moon: 2/5
I really thought there would be a twist, there wasn’t. Either I got terrible reading skills or this dude literally trained and flew to the moon at some food and went home, not exactly gripping stuff
The half-wit of xeenemuende: 4/5
I quite liked this story it was brief and too the point and kinda had a message about not underestimating people with learning disabilities which I liked. The ending was also an interesting twist which I liked.
Alter ego: 2/5
This story was too basic and predictable for me, from the name and the first page it was clear what was going to happen and then it happened with no real flair to make it unique. Luckily it was really short so it was quick
A perfect marriage: 5/5
I really liked this story, it was a good piece of speculative science fiction and the ending was really uplifting. This book gave me hope for the future and was a beautiful story so I loved it.
The legend of the paper spaceship: 1/5
Right after I finished this story I wrote a very long review more in line with my reviews of full novels because of just how many thought I had, but with time to think about it I realised that most of it was just me being annoyed at it. This book drew me in at the start and then never explained anything leaving me confused and disappointed at the end. It was also included gratuitous amounts of sexual violence which I didn’t enjoy reading. I don’t want to read it ever again.
Feel free to ask for the full review I just didn’t want to clog up the list
Small world: 4/5
This story surprised me, I was a bit confused where it was going for quite a while and how it would link both stories together in such a short story but the end was a pleasantly elegant little twist which made me happy and optimistic.
The Whore of Babylon: 4/5
This story surprised me, at first it felt a little like a standard authoritarian rule story (1984, Brave new world, Fahrenheit 451, etc) but the ending was a nice twist, the wording used early on implied a whore of the traditional sense but the reality was a really nice surprise that made it stray from its influences.
Cost of Living: 3/5
This was a pretty clear critique of Cold War USA consumer culture which was an interesting thing to explore. However, they didn’t really do much with it other than say look how bad debt is cos they are buying useless stuff. An interesting dystopian idea of being able to sign away your children’s earning to buy more stuff though.
Night Broadcast: 2/5
I wasn’t very keen on this story, it wasn’t necessarily bad but the premise of a transmission from the future isn’t very unique and nothing was done to expand it (the downside to short stories) so it didn’t feel like anything happened, he got the transmission, wow it might be from the future, end.
A Perfect Christmas Evening: 2/5
No clue what this story was about something about phone calls and the past, maybe they were dead? Probably a bad translation
A Meeting In Georgestown: 3/5
This didn’t really have a plot but was an interesting look into cybersecurity the possibilities of blackmail.
Victims of Time: 5/5
I loved this, uses a narrator very strongly and makes me feel bad for him even if what is happening is good, an impressive feat in just 4 pages. Also an incredible starting premise
Myxamatosis Forte: 4/5
I really liked this story, it distributed the exposition well through the story so it was able to set everything up perfectly for the ending. The setting was really well thought out and the ending was a brilliant shock which I liked.
BCO equipment: 4/5
This story had a fascinating format, being an advert for the BCOs which I really enjoyed. Although there was no plot in the traditional sense it still felt like it had good development. It made an interesting critique of racism and misogyny and the concept of humanity.
Six Matches: 3/5
This was an interesting story about the risks of experimentation, but also the possible gains. It was good but somewhat forgettable. Shame because I really liked their other work
The Ring: 5/5
This was a brilliant story about time travel and how it could make you rich. I enjoyed the format of him telling the inspector how he may or may not have done it and the inspectors frustration. It was a brilliant and simple story that I really enjoyed.
‘Oh Lenore!’ came the echo: 3/5
That was an interesting story that started out about progression of culture and then turned into a story about space racism. I especially liked the description of the other species which added good depth to the plot.
Quo Vadis, Francisco?:4/5
This was an interesting look into preaching religion on another planet and integration with culture. The characters were the best part of this novel as we found out more about what the priest has had to do and the ending was very cathartic.
Forward, mankind!: 5/5
I loved this story it was a brilliant look at how we treat people we call insane, humanity’s desire of violence and first contact with other civilisations. Love a good story about humanity being bad
The mirror image of the world: 3/5
This was a little disappointing, it gripped me at the start with the premise but they never really went anywhere with it. ‘Wow they were watching us’ and then proceeds to never meet them or get any closure on why or who or what or how.
The new prehistory: 4/5
Was a fun little horror sci fi, the concept is terrifying and it was built up to really well, at first questioning what’s happening before things become more clear and scary
Equality: 4/5
A brilliant story about thinking machines and desire for equality. A bittersweet ending that I appreciated. Not necessarily unique premise but very well done.
The rising sun: 3/5
I think this story was too long for its own good. I got quite bored of it quickly, perhaps affected by it’s presence in a short story anthology but idk it had an alright story just told too long
The lens: 4/5
This was an interesting little story about loss and grief. Although little happens throughout we can get an insight into the narrators mind over his loss and his feelings of belonging somewhere else
Progenitor:4/5
Spoilers: at first I was really confused what it was about, probably cos I had no clue what a progenital was, anyway turns out his dick fell off and is going to become a new person and his wife is gonna chop him and up feed him to his dick baby, brilliant story would recommend.
The cage:5/5
I really liked this one, it had a lot of good plot progression at a good pace which I liked, we saw them get into a situation, adapt, get into another situation, adapt again and at last got a really good ending that is both commentary and humorous
An imaginary journey to the moon: 2/5
I really thought there would be a twist, there wasn’t. Either I got terrible reading skills or this dude literally trained and flew to the moon at some food and went home, not exactly gripping stuff
November 4, 2020
Intriguing and overall enjoyable selection of stories from around the world, with styles straddling both "golden age" and "new wave" science fiction, and with several delightful diversions into areas not widely covered within the genre in the west - the works by Zheng Wenguang and Rene Rebetez-Cortes, and a lovely story at the edges of sf and fable by Tetsu Yano were particularly though provoking. Peter Lengyel's "Rising Sun" was also an impressive piece. One interesting feature was that almost all the stories from (at the time) Soviet countries were written from the point of view of someone giving a report to a senior or an investigator. Only three authors, those who have English as their first language, understandably, are widely known in English-speaking countries, and of the three tales presented by them, that by Bob Shaw was also an impressive meditation of how actions can sometimes have surprising and unexpected outcomes.
January 19, 2011
Solid collection of diverse stories and authors from around the world. Recommend for an in-between-big-books easy reader with some challenging ideas and good writing.
April 24, 2010
Quite a few on creation, Jesus Christ.
August 2, 2016
Antologia di racconti di fantascienza: non avevo mai letto nulla di questo genere e questo libro ha rappresentato un primo passo.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews