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The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume II A

(The Science Fiction Hall of Fame)

Ben Bova (Editor),

C.M. Kornbluth,

Lester del Rey,

Robert A. Heinlein,

Theodore Sturgeon,

Henry Kuttner,

C.L. Moore,

Eric Frank Russell,

more…

4.33 · Rating details · 3,981 ratings · 88 reviews

Eleven Classic Novellas by the most honored authors of science fiction:

This volume is the definitive collection of the best science fiction novellas between 1929 to 1964 and contains eleven great classics. There is no better anthology that captures the birth of science fiction as a literary field. Published in 1973 to honor stories that had come before the institution of t ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, Eighth Printing, 572 pages

Published June 1st 1976 by Avon Books (first published January 1st 1973)

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Aug 10, 2008 Stephen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: anthologies, science-fiction, short-fiction, 1970-1979

5.0 stars. I have not read all of the books in this collection but will comment on the ones I have:

Call Me Joe (Poul Anderson)(1957): 6.0 Stars (One of my All Time Favorite Stories). Outstanding story about exploring and terraforming the surface of Jupiter through the use of bio-mechanical life forms whose consciousness is controlled via remote control with researchers above the planet. A story of identity and quality of life.

The Marching Morons (C.M. Kornbluth)(1951): 5.0 to 5.5 Stars. Satirica ...more

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Aug 29, 2016 Cheryl rated it liked it

I have to quibble: C'Mell is 20 pp, hardly a novella. This book didn't take long to read, as most stories were quite familiar to me from other anthologies. And some just don't hold up all that well. But as an introduction to some of the foundational & inspirational classics, it's quite good. ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Jim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the second time I’ve listened to The Science Fiction Hall of Fame v. 2A all the way through. I’ve also read many of these stories with my eyes, and even heard some of them in other audiobooks. In all, I’ve read some of these stories as many as five times. Some of them get better with every reading, and others are starting to wear out. My ratings are just my current emotional reaction.

- “Call Me Joe” by Poul Anderson is a wonderful tale about surviving on Jupiter, a planet we seldom see e This is the second time I’ve listened to The Science Fiction Hall of Fame v. 2A all the way through. I’ve also read many of these stories with my eyes, and even heard some of them in other audiobooks. In all, I’ve read some of these stories as many as five times. Some of them get better with every reading, and others are starting to wear out. My ratings are just my current emotional reaction.

- “Call Me Joe” by Poul Anderson is a wonderful tale about surviving on Jupiter, a planet we seldom see explored in science fiction. I believe it’s a bit dated now because of its reliance on psychic powers, but it’s still a compelling story. 4-stars

- “Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell, Jr. is a classic 1930s SF tale about a shape-shifting alien discovered in the Antarctic. Known for being made into a movie three times. However, I’ve gotten a bit tired of it. 3-stars.

- “Nerves” by Lester del Rey is a well-written drama about a disaster at a nuclear power planet written well before the public even heard about nuclear power. Unfortunately, it’s dated, and a tad too long. 3-stars.

- “Universe” by Robert A. Heinlein is an early story about a generation ship, and just brilliant. One of the greats of short SF. 5-stars

- “The Marching Morons” by C. M. Kornbluth is a cynical look at a society that feels especially relevant in 2020. However, I’ve grown to dislike this nasty look into the future. 2-stars.

- “Vintage Season” by C. L. Moore and Henry Kuttner is a beautiful and haunting tale that I don’t want to spoil. One of my all-time favorite SF stories. 5-stars.

- “… And Then There Was None” by Eric Frank Russell is a humorous look at an off-world contrarian society. The first time I read it decades ago it was merely good. I’ve read it four times now; at it’s become a 5-star story.

- “The Ballad of Lost C’Mell” by Cordwainer Smith is stylish and very different in tone. It feels more like a fantasy, almost allegorical. 4-stars

- “Baby Is Three” by Theodore Sturgeon is the middle story of his classic fix-up novel More Than Human. Listening to it makes you realize just how great a writer Sturgeon was at creating dramatic dialog. 5-stars.

- “The Time Machine” by H. G. Wells is another one of my all-time favorite SF stories. I consider it the original template for speculative fiction, and not only did it inspire the time travel sub-genre, but it also encouraged many a Dying Earth story to be written. 5-stars.

- “With Folded Hands” by Jack Williamson. Probably the first story where robots take over. This story is dated today, but still works, and covers many of the philosophical and ethical considerations about creating artificial intelligence. It was rewritten to become the novel, The Humanoids. 5-stars.
...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Williwaw rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Okay, so I cheated a bit. I did not re-read "The Time Machine," by H.G. Wells. I think I've probably read that story twice before and I've probably seen the excellent and faithful George Pal movie (1960)a couple times, as well. It is a good story and was worthy of inclusion in this book.

My favorite selection here is " . . . And Then There Were None," by Eric Frank Russell. This has got to be one of the most hilarious works of fiction that I have ever read. (If you love Vonnegut, my guess is tha Okay, so I cheated a bit. I did not re-read "The Time Machine," by H.G. Wells. I think I've probably read that story twice before and I've probably seen the excellent and faithful George Pal movie (1960)a couple times, as well. It is a good story and was worthy of inclusion in this book.

My favorite selection here is " . . . And Then There Were None," by Eric Frank Russell. This has got to be one of the most hilarious works of fiction that I have ever read. (If you love Vonnegut, my guess is that you will love this story.) It is about a diplomatic mission to check up on progress at various planets that were colonized by humans centuries before, and then left to their own devices. The story focuses on an exploratory mission to a planet inhabited by colonists who now call themselves "Ghandians." It turns out that they have developed a whole culture based on Ghandi's principles of civil disobedience. They are completely uninterested in the giant spaceship which has landed in their midst. Their most common response to any request is "I won't!" The whole culture is non-monetary, and is instead based upon a complicated barter structure of "obs" (obligations). Needless to say, this hyper-libertarian culture turns out to be very seductive to the diplomatic crew! I'm eager to read some more E.F. Russell now.

Other stand-out stories include: "Who Goes There," by John W. Campbell; "Vintage Season," by C.L. Moore & Henry Kuttner; and "The Marching Morons," by C.M. Kornbluth.

"Who Goes There" is about a deadly, shape-shifing alien who murders, and then assumes the identities of the members of a polar base. Campbell pulls it off beautifully for a very suspenseful read, as the scientists are picked off, one by one.

"Vintage Season" is an ingenious story about time-traveling "tourists" from the future. The narrative assumes the perspective of a clueless couple, who rent a house to the tourists. The tourists have taken an oath of secrecy, but the male landlord gets romantically involved with one of the "tourists" and their secrets are inadvertently revealed to him, with tragic results.

Moore & Kuttner were masters of characterization. Their stories are full of subtle touches and observations that make them memorable and vivid. I should mention that Moore & Kuttner (a married couple) were the dynamic duo of science fiction during the 1940's and '50's. Their story, "Mimsy Were the Borogoves," appeared in Volume I of this "Hall of Fame" series. It was also one of the best in that volume. Perhaps Moore and Kuttner are not so well remembered today because they focused their energies on short stories and novellas instead of novels. It's a shame, because they were truly brilliant and deserve a wider audience.

"The Marching Morons" is, for all its merit, an odd story. I had to read it twice because I was not sure that I understood it the first time. It is essentially a story about overpopulation in the distant future, and the struggle of a secret intelligentsia to overcome it. The discovery of a solution hinges on something that I found preposterous: the revival of a cryogenically preserved swindler from the past, whose simple, but unscrupulous ideas are somehow beyond the ken of the intelligentsia of the future. But I don't think the story is meant to be taken seriously. Instead, this is dark humor at its best (as long as you aren't too troubled by some borrowing from Nazi Germany).

The only stories that really let me down here were: "Nerves," by Lester del Rey (good on details, but too long and too slow); and "Call Me Joe," by Poul Anderson (too "far out" for my tastes).

In closing, I should give honorable mention to "Baby is Three," by Theodore Sturgeon. It works reasonably well as a stand-alone story, but I felt that it worked to better effect as part of the novel, "More Than Human." I have written a separate review of the novel, so I won't repeat myself here. ...more

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Jul 18, 2009 Bruce rated it liked it

So far:

"Call Me Joe" by Poul Anderson -- excellent

"Who's Out There?" by John W. Campbell -- Good page turner, interesting premise of a chameleon-like alien (the alien in Howard Hawks' classic horror film based on this story, The Thing, did not have this power), but a little too rushed and slapdash to be wholly convincing.

"Nerves" by Lester del Rey -- There's a good story here, but, as told, is rather a mess -- verbose, unorganized, with the technical aspects of the story (involving a Chernobyl-l So far:

"Call Me Joe" by Poul Anderson -- excellent

"Who's Out There?" by John W. Campbell -- Good page turner, interesting premise of a chameleon-like alien (the alien in Howard Hawks' classic horror film based on this story, The Thing, did not have this power), but a little too rushed and slapdash to be wholly convincing.

"Nerves" by Lester del Rey -- There's a good story here, but, as told, is rather a mess -- verbose, unorganized, with the technical aspects of the story (involving a Chernobyl-like disaster) not very adroitly handled. The main characters are, however, well-developed, and I did want to know how it all came out. Del Rey edited it for book publication, so perhaps the later version is better.

"Universe" by Robert A. Heinlein -- [spoiler alert] Intriguing story where the perceived good guys and bad guys are really the reverse. Heinlein's narrative voice is, as usual, very attractive, if somewhat too "pulpish" (i.e. redolent of pulp fiction).

I notice that many science-fiction stories seem too tied to the trappings of the genre. Their value as literature would expand, I believe, if the authors wrote them as straight-forward literature, and took time to develop the serious themes often touched upon. An example of such a work is 1984. I recognize that 1) this was often probably not possible given that they were slated for science-fiction magazines, and 2) some elements of the genre that fans love would be lost. Heinlein's "Universe," for instance, has a very appealing off-the-cuff quality which does reflect the personalities of its characters. This quality might be stifled by ponderous reflections on the need for freedom and independence in a successful society. I would still hope, however, that such thematic concerns could be integrated into the fabric of the story without didacticism.

"The Marching Morons" by C. M. Kornbluth -- Contains a good idea illustrated by a clever, but too far-fetched plot. Interestingly (apropos my comment above) Kornbluth makes sure the significance of his story hits home by stating the story's theme very succinctly and poetically at the end. It's the best thing in the story.

"Vintage Season" by Lawrence O'Donnell -- [spoiler alert] Fascinating -- until it all tumbles into a welter of pessimistic determinism. I wish O'Donnell had seen the potential in his characters to jump off the track of their disastrous fate.

"And Then There Were None . . ." by Eric Frank Russell -- My favorite in the collection so far, though a bit too leisurely and long-winded in the telling. Like Van Vogt's "The Weapons Shop," a paean to individualism and the natural benevolence of people.

"The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells -- I read this in my huge tome of Wells' Seven Famous Novels, and am now determined to read the other six this year. Wells is a born story-teller, with the knack for a relaxed, smoothly flowing and utterly captivating narrative. I see his influence on C. S. Lewis. In his preface, Wells emphasizes the importance of the verisimilitude of small details for fantasy and science-fiction, and he is clearly a master at making the unbelievable believable. The fact that the story is unrelentingly pessimistic almost seems beside the point given the sheer virtuosity of the story. ...more

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Jun 24, 2016 R.a. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fic-adventure, fic-sci-fi, fic-gen, fic-horror, allegory

4.0 stars

Summary / Anthology Review:

A much belated “Congratulations” to the Science Fiction Writers of America, (SFWA), and editor Ben Bova for presenting Volume II, (A), The Science Fiction Hall of Fame anthology—eleven of the “Greatest Science Fiction Novellas of All Time.”

Every included work is enjoyable and affecting in its own way.

Particularly laudable is the process with which the separate works were chosen as Bova explains in his introduction: the basic vote. Further discernment for selec 4.0 stars

Summary / Anthology Review:

A much belated “Congratulations” to the Science Fiction Writers of America, (SFWA), and editor Ben Bova for presenting Volume II, (A), The Science Fiction Hall of Fame anthology—eleven of the “Greatest Science Fiction Novellas of All Time.”

Every included work is enjoyable and affecting in its own way.

Particularly laudable is the process with which the separate works were chosen as Bova explains in his introduction: the basic vote. Further discernment for selection included a limit of one narrative per author and the unfortunate inability to secure works from copyright holders.

This anthology, then, becomes “classic” in its own right. A great collection.

Individual Narrative Review, (Long): (view spoiler)
...more

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Nov 21, 2007 Tracey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Comments/Reviews of the novellas in this anthology:

"Call Me Joe" - Poul Anderson. An artificial creature on the surface of Jupiter is psychically linked to a cripple in an orbiting spacestation. But who is controlling whom? Quite an enjoyable read.

"Who Goes There?" John W. Campbell Jr (as Don A. Stuart). A polar expedition discovers an alien - what happens when it is thawed? Meh - interesting concept, I guess - but the writing didn't really move me.

"Nerves" - Lester del Rey - A crisis at a nuc Comments/Reviews of the novellas in this anthology:

"Call Me Joe" - Poul Anderson. An artificial creature on the surface of Jupiter is psychically linked to a cripple in an orbiting spacestation. But who is controlling whom? Quite an enjoyable read.

"Who Goes There?" John W. Campbell Jr (as Don A. Stuart). A polar expedition discovers an alien - what happens when it is thawed? Meh - interesting concept, I guess - but the writing didn't really move me.

"Nerves" - Lester del Rey - A crisis at a nuclear power plant as seen through the eyes of the on-site doctor. I may be struck down for this - but another stoy that didn't do a lot for me. Perfect example of hard SF where the characters are subordinate to the technology.

"Universe" - Robert Heinlein. A multi-generational spaceship where the residents have "regressed" to primitive technology - the protagonist is captured by the Muties and learns (some of) the truth. I'm a Heinlein fan, and I think this is a good, representational sample of his work.

"The Marching Morons" - C.M. Kornbluth -- a man from our time is awakens in the far future where the lowest common denominator of society has overwhelmed the MENSA minority. Can the time-traveller help? A frighteningly prescient story , perhaps ...

"Vintage Season" - Henry Kuttner & C.L. Moore (as Lawrence O'Donnell) .... three strange travellers rent a San Francisco home for the month of May. The owner observes more than he should. Another enjoyable read - also a good sample of their work.

". . . And Then There Were None" - Eric Frank Russell. An ambassadorial/military ship from Terra visits an abandoned colony - to find the colonists are doing just fine without them. I remember reading this some years ago & would have SWORN it was Heinlein - the sentiment fits.

"The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" - Cordwainer Smith. A judge teams up with a catgirl to grant the underpeople freedom. One of several stories set in the same universe and very descriptive.

Baby is Three" - Theodore Sturgeon. An almost creepy story - how psi powers could be used to create a new type of human - told through the eyes of a young man at a psychiatrist's office.

" The Time Machine" - H.G. Wells - if you saw the most recent movie incarnation of this story (as I must admit I have :rolleyes:) -- go back & read the book. It's a bit heavy-handed at times, but required reading for any SF fan.

" With Folded Hands" - Jack Williamson. An inventor creates robots designed to take care of our every need... and realizes how terribly wrong he was to do so.

...more

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Aug 25, 2009 Steven Peterson rated it it was amazing

This is a treasure trove of older science fiction classic novellas. Authors here include such worthies as Poul Anderson, John Campbell, Jr., Lester del Rey, Robert Heinlein, C. M. Kornbluth, Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, Eric Frank Russell, Cordwainer Smith, Theodore Sturgeon (progenitor of Sturgeon's Law, "90% of everything is crud," if I recall accurately), H. G. Wells, and Jack Williamson. This volume was published originally in 1973 (the version, in fact, that I have).

Let's look at a coupl This is a treasure trove of older science fiction classic novellas. Authors here include such worthies as Poul Anderson, John Campbell, Jr., Lester del Rey, Robert Heinlein, C. M. Kornbluth, Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, Eric Frank Russell, Cordwainer Smith, Theodore Sturgeon (progenitor of Sturgeon's Law, "90% of everything is crud," if I recall accurately), H. G. Wells, and Jack Williamson. This volume was published originally in 1973 (the version, in fact, that I have).

Let's look at a couple examples. Kornbluth's work is a lugubrious application of eugenics to humans. With the reduction in accidents, war, illness, fewer ungifted people were "weeded out." The end result? As a character says, "The average IQ is now 45." Why not just let the ungifted die out through stupidity? One of the "gifted" who were around to keep the world going on mentioned that they had--but the "marching morons" were too dense to know that anything was wrong, as they began to die by large numbers. So, the gifted continue to keep the species alive. When I read this, I have mixed emotions indeed! I am not a fan of eugenics, but the novella lays out an interesting scenario.

Another favorite is Russell's "And Then There Were None." A sort of libertarian work, in which residents of a planet had seen their society evolve in a very different path from a galactic state. The central government decided to reassert authority over "The Gands" (residents of the planet, followers of the ideas of Gandhi). The society of the Gands is libertarian, with people having no right to define the duties of another. The ship's crew, when interacting with the Gands, decide they like their way of life better. Many desertions follow, before the officers and some crewmen lift off, to escape the society.

H. G. Wells' "The T8ime Machine" is here. So, too, Campbell's "Who Goes There?", the source for two different versions of a movie known to us as "The Thing." As other reviewers note, the novella is appropriately creepy.

Anyhow, if you don't like the style of classic science fiction, this may be unsatisfying. But for those of us who grew up with these authors, the book is a glorious reminder of our experiencing sci-fi in our younger days!
...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Rasheed rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: anthologies, science-fiction

Call Me Joe (1957) by Poul Anderson 5/5
Who Goes There? (1938) John W. Campbell 5/5
Nerves (1942) by Lester del Rey 5/5
Universe (1941) by Robert A. Heinlein 5/5 1st part of Orphans of the Sky - 2nd part equally enjoyable
The Marching Morons (1951) by C. M. Kornbluth 3/5
Vintage Season (1946) by Henry Kuttner & C.L. Moore 3/5
...And Then There Were None (1951) by Eric Frank Russell 4/5
The Ballad of Lost C'Mell (1962) by Cordwainer Smith 3/5
Baby Is Three (1952) by Theodore Sturgeon 5/5
The Time Machine ...more

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Oct 16, 2007 Gavin Otteson rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Lovers of literature.

An anthology of epic proportions in both concept and literary execution. Volumes IIA and IIB are comprised of novellas instead of short stories like Vol. I which is why it is split into two sub-volumes. However it packs a serious punch and sits near the top of my recommendation list for anyone interested in fiction.

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Feb 06, 2011 Taylor rated it really liked it

Stories too long to be in Vol 1. This is for both 2a and 2b

My favorites:
2A:
Heinlein's "Universe"
Eric Frank Russel "... And then there were none"
Sturgeon "Baby is Three"

2B:
Asimov "The martian way"
Blish "Earthman Come Home"
Vance "The Moon Moth" ...more

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Jul 28, 2008 Charles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

These are mostly of novella length rather than short stories, including "Who Goes There," the story that was filmed as "The Thing."

Great collection. ...more

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Jun 10, 2010 Michael rated it it was amazing

Shelves: xlong-over-400, speculative-fiction, short-stories, all-five-star, zz1973, fantastic-pulp, aa-unitedstateslit, aa-womanauthor, moore-c-l, golden-age-sff

??? childhood: ‘vintage season’ by kuttner and moore... an original favourite... good others too...

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May 12, 2013 Susanna - Censored by GoodReads rated it really liked it

Shelves: sf, short-stories

Some stories are better than others; but as a whole, a strong collection. My favorites include "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell," by Cordwainer Smith, and "Baby is Three," by Ted Sturgeon. ...more

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May 23, 2020 Tony rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-own-it, story-anthologies, listened-to-audio, hoopla

A very good collection that, along with the other two volumes, makes a great introduction to classic science fiction.

Call Me Joe • (1957) • novelette by Poul Anderson **** Fun and creative, bears some interesting similarities to the film Avatar (which came out over half a century later)

Who Goes There? • [Who Goes There?] • (1946) • novella by John W. Campbell, Jr. [as by Don A. Stuart] ***** I’ve read this one several times and each time I am again pleasantly surprised by how well it holds up

N A very good collection that, along with the other two volumes, makes a great introduction to classic science fiction.

Call Me Joe • (1957) • novelette by Poul Anderson **** Fun and creative, bears some interesting similarities to the film Avatar (which came out over half a century later)

Who Goes There? • [Who Goes There?] • (1946) • novella by John W. Campbell, Jr. [as by Don A. Stuart] ***** I’ve read this one several times and each time I am again pleasantly surprised by how well it holds up

Nerves • (1942) • novella by Lester del Rey *** very well thought out, but conceptually I didn’t find it as interesting as most of the other works

Universe • (1941) • novelette by Robert A. Heinlein **** a very good story that only suffers from being so influential that many of the concepts it originated have now become very familiar tropes. I found the ending slightly anti-climactic, but I did enjoy the commentary on promoting science in a religious environment

The Marching Morons • (1951) • novelette by C. M. Kornbluth **** considering its reputation as a comedic story, and again with similarities to a much later made film (Idiocracy), I was surprised by how dark and kind of horrifying ultimately was

Vintage Season • (1946) • novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore ***** a beautiful and haunting story, probably my favorite in the collection

... And Then There Were None • (1951) • novella by Eric Frank Russell **** I actually found this to be the funniest story in the collection. The narrator who read it for the audiobook did an especially good job too.

The Ballad of Lost C'mell • [The Instrumentality of Mankind] • (1962) • novelette by Cordwainer Smith **** great world building. I definitely want to explore more works in the series this story lead to. I would probably rate it higher, but it has some elements of male fantasy that are rather awkward

Baby Is Three • (1952) • novella by Theodore Sturgeon ***** I felt this was the most intense and emotional work in the collection. This was later expanded into a full novel, which I now look forward to reading (More than Human)

The Time Machine • [H. G. Wells' Time Machine Universe] • (1895) • novel by H. G. Wells ***** I was originally going to skip this, since I’ve read it a couple times before, but it drew me in again. It’s a classic for a reason

With Folded Hands • [Humanoids] • (1948) • novelette by Jack Williamson ****1/2 well this is a frightening scenario, would be curious to read the expanded novel version of this one as well ...more

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Dec 17, 2019 Matt rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

Anthologies tend to always be uneven, even when the stories are supposed to be Hall of Fame worthy.
My favorites in this anthology where:

Who Goes There? By John Campbell, Jr. A classic, although this resembles the John Carpenter film somewhat, the ending is different.

Robert Heinlein's Universe which the forgotten Canadian TV series "Starlost' from the 1970's seems to have been inspired by. And Harlan Ellison sued James Cameron over "The Terminator," for shame.

The Vintage Season by Harry Kuttner ...more

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Feb 18, 2019 Debbi rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, science-fiction, read-in-2018, read-in-2019

A nice collection of SF story. I only skipped one story. Most had a timeless message. I especially enjoyed "With Folded Hands" by Williamson and "Universe" by Heinlein. ...more

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Jul 19, 2019 K.A. rated it it was amazing

An excellent collection of short stories and classic novelettes in Science Fiction. I liked almost all of them and was happy to finally get the chance to read The Time Machine.

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Nov 16, 2015 Nihal Vrana rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

I have enjoyed the first volume more, but this was a treat too. Except 2-3 weak stories, it is masterpiece after masterpiece.
Call Me Joe · Poul Anderson : A better version of Rogue Moon and an expansion of the "running video" in Strange Days.

Who Goes There? [as by Don A. Stuart] · John W. Campbell, Jr.: the second most famous story in the collection after Time machine and the inspiration for the famous "The Thing" movie which I should watch sometime. It has some plotholes, but the atmosphere and ...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Michael Tildsley rated it liked it

This is another mixed bag of sorts. There are some really wonderful novellas in this collection, but also a fair share of clinkers. Some were clinkers for me personally because I first experienced them in a more entertaining media, such as "Who Goes There?" (which John Carpenter handled very well in his remake of The Thing) and "The Time Machine" (which I personally feel was handled better in both movie adaptations, because the time-traveler has more to gain or lose in his travels).

My favorites ...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Steven Peterson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another set of terrific works, this time novellas, in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. Ben Bova edited this volume. Some of nthe classics that I have enjoyed immensely that are included: Isaac Asimov, "The Martian Way," Algis Budrys, "Rogue Moon," Frederik Pohl, "The Midas Plague," and Jack Vance's "The Moon Moth."

A fine collection of novellas. . . . ...more

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Aug 01, 2013 Craig rated it it was amazing

This is another collection of true classics. H.G. Wells, one of Heinlein's best, one of Eric Frank Russell's best, terrific stories from Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson, the Campbell story that became famous films, stories by Lester Del Rey and Jack Williamson that were better than their longer novel versions... Classic stuff! ...more

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Feb 10, 2010 James Hurley rated it really liked it

This is a nice collection of some of the early works of some of the great masters of Sci Fi. My former instructor and mentor Jack Williamson is in this one, and it was one of my first readings of his work. A fun look back.

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Dec 14, 2008 DaughterDaDa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, short-stories

Classic science fiction stories that defined the genre.

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Jul 18, 2010 Stephanie "Jedigal" marked it as to-read

Recommended to Stephanie "Jedigal" by: Got it at the 2010 Book Fair w/Beth, Em

Shelves: sci-fi

Volume II (at least two parts, A and B) is "The Greatest Science Fiction Novellas of All Time". ...more

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Jan 19, 2011 David rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, scifi, sci-fi, ben-bova

This is a great book of science fiction writing. All of the stories are very good.

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Jul 25, 2011 Mark rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi

My own favorite story is "Mimsy Were the Borogoves". "X-logic" helped me toward a greater understanding of algebra! Well for a while, at least.
Also check out "Macroscopic God"... ...more

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Feb 28, 2019 Asha Hawkesworth rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-sf

The novellas in this book were chosen by SFWA, and I don't agree with all the picks. Some of the writers are mostly underappreciated these days, and there are some real classics here. So I'll address each story on its merits.

Call Me Joe, by Poul Anderson -- James Cameron probably "borrowed" (stole) from this story while he cobbled together the film "Avatar" (for the record, he has done this before, most notably stealing from and getting sued by Harlan Ellison for "Terminator"). A mind/bio-link b The novellas in this book were chosen by SFWA, and I don't agree with all the picks. Some of the writers are mostly underappreciated these days, and there are some real classics here. So I'll address each story on its merits.

Call Me Joe, by Poul Anderson -- James Cameron probably "borrowed" (stole) from this story while he cobbled together the film "Avatar" (for the record, he has done this before, most notably stealing from and getting sued by Harlan Ellison for "Terminator"). A mind/bio-link between a human and a genetically modified being who can tolerate the Jovian atmosphere/planet, with the human becoming more like his counterpart each day.

Who Goes There? by John Campbell Jr -- This story is the basis for the films "The Thing From Another World" and "The Thing" by John Carpenter. A classic.

Nerves, by Lester Del Rey -- A failure at a nuclear reactor, thanks to--yep--a failed experiment puts the region and possibly the world in danger. Can the medical team rescue the one guy who can possibly stop it? Well written hard SF.

Universe, by Robert Heinlein -- A "generation" ship, sailing toward a planet they are meant to settle, consists of inhabitants who have forgotten their original mission and have exchanged science for a religion in which they believe their ship is the entirety of the universe. The only members who believe otherwise are "rebels" who occupy other parts of the ship after a civil war. A classic.

The Marching Morons, by C.M. Kornbluth -- I would give this one a miss, unless you like stories that imply that only "smart" people (by whose criteria?) should breed, lest the ignorant masses outbreed them and produce a humanity that gets dumber and more incompetent by the day. Could have been written by Ayn Rand for her preteen audience.

Vintage Season, by Henry Kuttner/C.L. Moore -- A lovely story of a San Francisco landlord who finds himself with surprising short term rental tenants, who travel through time as epicures, enjoying "big events" in history. So, why are they in his house at that particular time...?

...And Then There Were None, by Eric Frank Russell -- An earth space ship arrives at a lonely settled planetary outpost, come to impose its command hierarchy on the citizens, who have created a libertarian utopia in which every one does as they please, and all payments are made with "obs" or obligations that they incur with their fellow citizens. Would that it were so easy.

The Ballad of Lost C'Mell, by Cordwainer Smith -- One of the many great stories by one of my favorite writers ever, drop everything now and go procure The Rediscovery of Man and The Instrumentality of Mankind and read them until you are finished. Amazing.

Baby is Three, by Theodore Sturgeon -- Also one of my favorite writers ever. Baby is Three is one of those "what happens next?" stories, and I can't really say anything without giving the whole thing away.

The Time Machine, by H. G. Wells -- It's easy to forget how old this book is. The framing is very Victorian, with the main narrative provided by a friend of the time traveler, with the subnarrative being spoken by the traveler himself. There is one point in the story where I cringed -- a comment made about African peoples that was all too normal in those days. Aside from that, it's still a classic.

With Folded Hands, by Jack Williamson -- A very well done visualization of what happens when a well-meaning human being attempts to liberate humans from some of the worst aspects of themselves and inadvertently brings about their enslavement. Sort of like what happened to Mickey Mouse in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Ahnna said it was her favorite story in the book. Very well done.

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May 09, 2020 Aki Umemoto rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, classic, short-stories

I originally had the paperback when this first came out, but unfortunately I dropped it in the bath and damaged a third of it. I always intended to get another copy and finally when I got my Kindle, I got a new version of this anthology and finally finished it.

Well, most of the stories haven't dated well. Some of the writing is stilted and verbose and the stories themselves have been well known thr0ugh TV and movie adaptations and countless anthologies. So here goes my review of the tales:

CALL M ...more

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Nov 21, 2019 Ken Abel rated it really liked it

Great selection of stories. Only one I feel was a waste of time was Vintage Season. The standout was Baby is Three by Theodore Sturgeon and Universe by Robert Heinlein. Although none prominently feature women or minorities, quite a few touch on civil rights.

Call Me Joe Poul Anderson
Great story about an enfeebled geriatric finding a new home in a new savage colony on the surface of Jupiter.

· Who Goes There? John W. Campbell, Jr.
The story that became the move The Thing. I felt like its still funn ...more

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About Ben Bova

Ben Bova

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Ben Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.

Bova is an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He is an environmentalist, but rejects Luddism.

Bova was a technical writer fo Ben Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.

Bova is an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He is an environmentalist, but rejects Luddism.

Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.

In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.

In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".

Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.

Bova is the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.

Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.

Bova is the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).

Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".

http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova
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