Another world: A science fiction anthology

by Fritz Leiber (Editor), Brian W. Aldiss (Contributor), Keith Roberts (Contributor)

Contents
11 • Introduction (Another World) • (1977) • essay by Gardner Dozois
15 • The Oldest Soldier • [Change War] • (1960) • shortstory by Fritz Leiber
36 • After the Myths Went Home • (1969) • shortstory by Robert Silverberg
47 • The Stars Below • (1974) • shortstory by Ursula K. Le Guin
70 • Straw • (1975) • shortstory by Gene Wolfe
80 • On the Gem Planet • [Casher O'Neill] • (1963) • novelette by Cordwainer Smith
113 • Beam Us Home • (1969) • shortstory by James Tiptree, Jr.
131 • The Barbarian • [Alyx] • (1968) • novelette by Joanna Russ
157 • Among the Hairy Earthmen • (1966) • shortstory by R. A. Lafferty
172 • Man in the Jar • (1957) • shortstory by Damon Knight
188 • Old Hundredth • (1960) • shortstory by Brian W. Aldiss
203 • The Signaller • [Pavane] • (1966) • novelette by Keith Roberts
243 • Reader's Guide to SF • (1977) • essay by uncredited

Genres: Anthologies

282 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1977

About the author

Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr. was one of the more interesting of the young writers who came into HP Lovecraft's orbit, and some of his best early short fiction is horror rather than sf or fantasy. He found his mature voice early in the first of the sword-and-sorcery adventures featuring the large sensitive barbarian Fafhrd and the small street-smart-ish Gray Mouser; he returned to this series at various points in his career, using it sometimes for farce and sometimes for gloomy mood pieces--The Swords of Lankhmar is perhaps the best single volume of their adventures. Leiber's science fiction includes the planet-smashing The Wanderer in which a large cast mostly survive flood, fire, and the sexual attentions of feline aliens, and the satirical A Spectre is Haunting Texas in which a gangling, exo-skeleton-clad actor from the Moon leads a revolution and finds his true love. Leiber's late short fiction, and the fine horror novel Our Lady of Darkness, combine autobiographical issues like his struggle with depression and alcoholism with meditations on the emotional content of the fantastic genres. Leiber's capacity for endless self-reinvention and productive self-examination kept him, until his death, one of the most modern of his sf generation.

Used These Alternate Names: Maurice Breçon, Fric Lajber, Fritz Leiber, Jr., Fritz R. Leiber, Fritz Leiber Jun., Фриц Лейбер, F. Lieber, フリッツ・ライバー

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The late Gardner Dozois was well-known for his science fiction and fantasy anthologies. This was one of the first he did -- and one of his best. This came out right in the same year as the original Star Wars movie, which made science fiction respectable. The stories were originally published from 1957 to 1975.

Dozois not only did the introductions to the stories, he also wrote a long list of recommended reading for people just getting into science fiction, or sci-fi fans wanting to know about older stories, books, and magazines. Not surprisingly, many if the recommendations are for anthologies. Oh, how I wished there was something like Dozois' list for horse books.

It was another world back in 1977. It was hard to find out about books, old and new. Going to a used book store was like walking into a treasure chest. My brother was the sci-fi and fantasy nut. I went for horse books, and the occassional unicorn book. When the Internet came along, it took a lot of the thrill of book shopping away, but it sure made it easier to get a hold of books old and new.

Stories

* "Introduction" by Gardner Dozois. Please don't skip this. Later on, Dozois' introductions would drone on forever, but this one is short and insightful. It's a brief autobiography of his relationship with science fiction.
* "The Oldest Soldier" by Fritz Lieber. A guy in Chicago keeps saying how he's been in every battle there ever was or will be. He befriends a guy who used to be a pacifist. The story blends science fiction and horror.
* "After the Myths Went Home" by Robert Silverberg. In the far future, a man invents a machine that brings mythological gods and heroes to life. Very insightful.
* "The Stars Below" by Ursula K. Le Guin. More fantasy than sci-fi, this beautiful tale is of an astronomer denied his craft and passion, the stars.
* "Straw" by Gene Wolfe. In an alternative Middle Ages, soldiers of fortune travel by straw-powered balloons.
* "On the Gem Planet" by Cordwainer Smith. This is the powerful story that inspired the cover art for the 1977 paperback. Cordwainer Smith (not his real name) was one of my favorite sci-fi authors. Here, he writes about one of my favorite subjects -- horses. My favorite story in the lot.
* "Beam Us Home" by James Tiptree, Jr. Not her real name, either. At the time, Dozois had no idea that Tiptree was really a woman. A teen who used to be a Star Trek fan wants to be an astronaut ... but can't.
* "The Barbarian" by Joanna Russ. The weakest story of the lot. A normal but brutal woman forms a weird partnership with a time-traveller.
* "Among the Hairy Earthmen" by R. A. Lafferty. The children of a superior alien species decides to spend a Long Afternoon on Earth to play. This is the only Lafferty story that I like.
* "Man in the Jar" by Damon Knight. Tightly written suspense story of survival in a luxury hotel room.
* "Old Hundredth" by Brian W. Aldis. A hopeful story about animals long after humans have gone, even if the main character has chosen to commit suicide.
* "The Signaller" by Keith Roberts. Another alternative history story, where electricity or the telegraph was never invented, so messages were relayed by huge semaphore towers. This is mostly a fantasy story, and the longest in the anthology.