The Great Science Fiction Series

by Martin H. Greenberg (editor/contributor), Reginald Bretnor (Contributor), J.G. Ballard (Contributor)

s/t: Stories from the Best of the Science Fiction Series from 1944 to 1980
The Ship Who Sang 1961 novelette by Anne McCaffrey
Hothouse 1961 novelette by Brian W. Aldiss
The Game of Rat & Dragon/Instrumentality of Mankind 1955 story by Cordwainer Smith
Aesop/City 1947 novelette by Clifford D. Simak
Burden of Proof 1967 story by Bob Shaw
The Lifeboat Mutiny/AAA Ace 1955 story by Robert Sheckley
A Little Knowledge 1971 novelette by Poul Anderson
The Cloud-sculptors of Coral D/Vermilion Sands 1967 story by J.G. Ballard
Sign of the Wolf/Berserker 1965 story by Fred Saberhagen
Ballots & Bandits/Retief 1970 novelette by Keith Laumer
Bridge 1952 novelette by James Blish
Ararat/The People 1952 novelette by Zenna Henderson
Opening Doors 1949 novelette by Wilmar H. Shiras
Surface Tension/Pantropy 1952 novelette by James Blish
The Reluctant Orchid/Tales from the White Hart 1956 story by Arthur C. Clarke
No Great Magic 1963 novella by Fritz Leiber
A Relic of the Empire/Known Space 1966 novelette by Larry Niven
The Talking Stone/Wendell Urth 1955 story by Isaac Asimov
The Smallest Dragonboy/Dragonriders of Pern 1973 story by Anne McCaffrey
The Ancestral Amethyst/Gavagan's Bar 1952 story by L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt
Through Time & Space with Ferdinand Feghoot 1978 story by Reginald Bretnor aka Grendel Briarton
Introduction essay by Frederik Pohl
Introduction to Bridge essay by J.A. Lawrence & James Blish aka James & Judith Blish
Introduction to Surface Tension essay by James Blish & J.A. Lawrence aka James & Judith Blish
Introduction to The Ancestral Amethyst essay by L. Sprague de Camp
Introduction to The Game of Rat & Dragon essay by John J. Pierce
Notes on Contributors
nstrumentality Series essay by John J. Pierce
City Series essay by Clifford D. Simak
In Hiding Series essay by Wilmar H. Shiras
AAA Ace Series essay by Robert Sheckley
Slow Glass Series essay by Bob Shaw
Berserker Series essay by Fred Saberhagen
Known Space Series essay by Larry Niven
Helva Series essay by Anne McCaffrey
Dragon Series essay by Anne McCaffrey
Change War Series essay by Fritz Leiber
Retief Series essay by Keith Laumer
People Series essay by Zenna Henderson
Tales from Gavagan's Bar Series essay by L. Sprague de Camp
White Hart Series essay by Arthur C. Clarke
Feghoot Series essay by Reginald Bretnor aka Grendel Briarton
Pantropy Series essay by James Blish & J.A. Lawrence aka James & Judith Blish
Cities in Flight Series essay by James Blish & J.A. Lawrence aka James & Judith Blish
Vermilion Sands Series essay by J.G. Ballard
Wendell Urth Series essay by Isaac Asimov
Nicholas van Rijn Series essay by Poul Anderson
Hothouse Series essay by Brian W. Aldiss

Genres: Anthologies, Short Stories, Science Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1980

About the author

Martin Harry Greenberg was an American academic and speculative fiction anthologist. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned over 8,200 original short stories. He founded Tekno Books, a packager of more than 2000 published books. In addition, he was a co-founder of the Sci-Fi Channel.

For the 1950s anthologist and publisher of Gnome Press, see Martin Greenberg.

Reviews

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Backpacker Lifecycle is an engaging, humorous, and deeply relatable travel memoir that captures the full arc of life on the road. Brendyn Zachary takes readers through 20 years and 45 countries, showing how travel evolves alongside the traveler—emotionally, practically, and philosophically.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its authenticity. Zachary doesn’t romanticize travel; instead, he embraces its contradictions. From chaotic hostel experiences and hitchhiking mishaps to the gradual shift toward comfort, routine, and reflection, each phase of the journey feels honest and earned. Readers who have traveled extensively—and those who dream of it—will recognize themselves in these moments.

The memoir balances laugh-out-loud humor with thoughtful introspection. Beneath the anecdotes is a deeper story about aging, identity, adaptability, and how long-term travel reshapes priorities. The writing is accessible, vivid, and conversational, making the book easy to move through while still offering moments that linger.

The Backpacker Lifecycle is a compelling read for travel enthusiasts, memoir lovers, and anyone curious about how experiences abroad shape who we become over time.