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The Best of C. M. Kornbluth
by
Contents:
· An Appreciation · Frederik Pohl · in
· The Rocket of 1955 · vi Escape Aug ’39
· The Words of Guru [as by Kenneth Falconer] · ss Stirring Science Stories Jun ’41
· The Only Thing We Learn · ss Startling Stories Jul ’49
· The Adventurer · ss Space Science Fiction May ’53
· The Little Black Bag · nv Astounding Jul ’50
· The Luckiest Man in Denv [as by Simon Eisner] ...more
· An Appreciation · Frederik Pohl · in
· The Rocket of 1955 · vi Escape Aug ’39
· The Words of Guru [as by Kenneth Falconer] · ss Stirring Science Stories Jun ’41
· The Only Thing We Learn · ss Startling Stories Jul ’49
· The Adventurer · ss Space Science Fiction May ’53
· The Little Black Bag · nv Astounding Jul ’50
· The Luckiest Man in Denv [as by Simon Eisner] ...more
Get A Copy
Mass Market Paperback, 312 pages
Published
December 12th 1976
by Ballantine Books
(first published January 1st 1976)
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of The Best of C. M. Kornbluth
I had never heard of C.M. Kornbluth, but found this in one of the "Little Free Libraries" around town and noted the introduction by Frederik Pohl. The stories were all decidedly science fiction, but in that way that doesn't require aliens or interstellar travel. Stories set in bars and dirty apartments. Gritty stuff. What really resonated with me was this voice, from the 50s, sounding the alarm on societal concerns that seem so modern and urgent today, especially our ability to amuse ourselves
...more
Jun 11, 2012
Rasheed
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction,
collections
Surprisingly, all of the stories were of mediocre quality with the exception of The Little Black Bag. I listened to an old audiobook edition so perhaps it was the poor quality of the recording which was partly blame.
2.5 stars
This rating and review is specifically for the story Reap the Dark Tide. I'm not going to rate the whole book based on just this one story so I'll keep my rating here within my review and leave the book without one.
For our book club this month we are reading four classic short stories and Reap the Dark Tide is one of them. I found this story at first to be pretty boring, but it did get better as it went on. A whole section of humanity has taken to the seas on a fleet of ships and hasn't ...more
This rating and review is specifically for the story Reap the Dark Tide. I'm not going to rate the whole book based on just this one story so I'll keep my rating here within my review and leave the book without one.
For our book club this month we are reading four classic short stories and Reap the Dark Tide is one of them. I found this story at first to be pretty boring, but it did get better as it went on. A whole section of humanity has taken to the seas on a fleet of ships and hasn't ...more
I first read The Best of C. M. Kornluth more than 30 years ago and loved it. I haven't been back to it since because I was worried I might not enjoy it as much but I need not have worried. I loved it again.
The book and each story have an introduction from his friend Frederik Pohl. All the stories were written between 1941 and 1958, the year he died. Most, if not all the stories as set on Earth and written in a style that seems a little dated today but you have to take that into account. I think ...more
The book and each story have an introduction from his friend Frederik Pohl. All the stories were written between 1941 and 1958, the year he died. Most, if not all the stories as set on Earth and written in a style that seems a little dated today but you have to take that into account. I think ...more
One of several books I've been juggling over the past month, The Best of C.M. Kornbluth is very good, if somewhat depressing science fiction. Think Philip K. Dick with a 50's sensibility and a bit more wry humour. Like Dick, his career was also cut short, but by death, not mental illness.
Kornbluth's best-known works - "The Marching Morons" and "The Little Black Bag" - posit a future where intelligence has been bred out of humanity for the most part, and the super-brains are run ragged caring for ...more
Kornbluth's best-known works - "The Marching Morons" and "The Little Black Bag" - posit a future where intelligence has been bred out of humanity for the most part, and the super-brains are run ragged caring for ...more
Aug 08, 2010
Raj
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
short-stories,
sci-fi
I've not read very much of Cyril Kornbluth's work but this collection won me over. Kornbluth's writing is humorous, sarcastic and revels in the stupidity of the human species (in one or two stories, the idea that stupid people are outbreeding the intelligentsia are actively explored). Kornbluth collaborated with Fred Pohl extensively in his fairly short life and Pohl's introductions to the stories show a warmth to his friend and offer some interesting notes on the stories themselves. Definitely
...more
Jul 14, 2013
Frederic
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fict-scifi-fantasy-horror
I had previously rated this 4 stars, have now raised it to 5. The reason? Not only the best-known stories like "The Little Black Bag" and "The Marching Morons", or even the Irving Klaw-inspired world of "Shark Ship", but the way that these stories have stuck with me over the years. I first read this when it came out in the '70s, have re-read it once or twice since, and many of these stories are ones that come to mind regularly.
its hard to rate a book of short stories but the best of these stories are as good as any fantasy/science fiction from the 50's. Kornbluth has a very cynical view of mankind but he dramatizes his dramatizes his cyncism he isn't preachy. He's a bit like Ambrose Bierce in that way.
Died to early, worth reading marching morons, little black bag and the mindworm are the best of the bunch.
Died to early, worth reading marching morons, little black bag and the mindworm are the best of the bunch.
I had never read Kornbluth before but was highly impressed with stories like "Little Black Bag" and "Gomez." Kornbluth does a great job at characterization. His characters feel like real people. I also enjoyed the not-so-subtle points of many of these stories. Great read! Highly recommend!
Here is an overlooked writing talent. I'm obsessed now. Totally my kind of thing.
A collection of C. M. Kornbluth's best short stories as collected and introduced by frequent collaborator, Frederik Pohl.
I like Kornbluth and these are some of his best stories but I find it's difficult to read this many in quick succession. He often expresses a very cynical and depressing outlook that wears after a while. Though, to be fair, there are a few optimistic stories to found here. They are all well-written and make you think, which is all you can ask for from any short story.
This ...more
I like Kornbluth and these are some of his best stories but I find it's difficult to read this many in quick succession. He often expresses a very cynical and depressing outlook that wears after a while. Though, to be fair, there are a few optimistic stories to found here. They are all well-written and make you think, which is all you can ask for from any short story.
This ...more
While not all of his stories were hits, many of them still resonate today. In particular, 'The Marching Morons' is clearly a predecessor to the sadly prophetic Idiocracy, and my personal favorite "It happened at 10 on TV (or whatever)" actually made me laugh out loud, with my favorite new mantra: "Poop Poop Poopy."
Didn't care for it. Too hard to follow.
Found a worn copy of this book at a garage sale.
The short stories are not just about spaceships (contrary to what the cover art implies), so I was positively surprised.
The short stories are not just about spaceships (contrary to what the cover art implies), so I was positively surprised.
C.M. Kornbluth’s short stories include what are probably the most modern-sounding stories in the Classic Science Fiction library. Partly this is because he eschews the heavy use of modifier language that was common in fiction—both literary and genre—of the time.
Partly it is because he goes beneath the surface of the day’s problems to reach the timeless core. In The Silly Season, he examines how easy it is to not just use the media to spread fake news, but to anesthetize the media and the public ...more
Partly it is because he goes beneath the surface of the day’s problems to reach the timeless core. In The Silly Season, he examines how easy it is to not just use the media to spread fake news, but to anesthetize the media and the public ...more
6/15/12: "Two Dooms" (1958)
5/12/13: "The Words of Guru" (1941)
5/12/13: "The Words of Guru" (1941)
Book OK, but in general I wasn't a big fan. It is a collection of short stories. I liked Gomez and Two Dooms. Several were OK and a few were boring.
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Cyril M. Kornbluth was born and grew up in Inwood in New York City. As a teenager, he became a member of the Futurians, the influential group of science fiction fans and writers. While a member of the Futurians, he met and became friends with Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, Donald A. Wollheim, Robert A. W. Lowndes, and his future wife Mary Byers. He also participated in the Fantasy Amateur Press
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