Month: June 2017

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 15 (1953), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1986 [Tony Roberts]

The Sargasso Sea, of space?

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Contents

The Big Holiday, by Fritz Leiber, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Crucifixus Etiam, by Walter M. Miller, Jr., from Astounding Science Fiction

Four In One, by Damon Knight, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Saucer of Loneliness, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Galaxy Science Fiction

The Liberation of Earth, by William Tenn, from Future Science Fiction

Lot, by Ward Moore, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

The Nine Billion Names of God, by Arthur C. Clarke, from Star Science Fiction Stories

Warm, by Robert Sheckley, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Imposter, by Philip K. Dick, from Astounding Science Fiction

The World Well Lost, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Universe Science Fiction

A Bad Day For Sales, by Fritz Leiber, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Common Time, by James Blish, from Science Fiction Quarterly

Time Is The Traitor, by Alfred Bester, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

The Wall Around the World, by Theodore R. Cogswell, from Beyond Fantasy Fiction

The Model of a Judge, by William Morrison, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Hall of Mirrors, by Fredric Brown, from Galaxy Science Fiction

It’s A Good Life, by Jerome Bixby, from Star Science Fiction Stories 2

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 14 (1952), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1986 [Tony Roberts]

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On close examination, this composition seems to have elements and influences from the works of H.R. (Hans Ruedi) Giger.

Contents

The Pedestrian, by Ray Bradbury, from The Reporter

The Moon Is Green, by Fritz Leiber, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Lost Memory, by Peter Phillips, from Galaxy Science Fiction

What Have I Done?, by Mark Clifton, from Astounding Science Fiction

Fast Falls the Eventide, by Eric Frank Russell, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Business, As Usual, by Mack Reynolds, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

A Sound of Thunder, by Ray Bradbury, from Collier’s

Hobson’s Choice, by Alfred Bester, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Yesterday House, by Fritz Leiber, from Galaxy Science Fiction

The Snowball Effect, by Katherine MacLean, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Delay in Transit, by F.L. Wallace, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Game for Blondes, by John D. MacDonald, from Second Galaxy Reader of Science Fiction

The Altar at Midnight, by Cyril M. Kornbluth, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Command Performance, by Walter M. Miller, Jr., from Galaxy Science Fiction

The Martian Way, by Isaac Asimov, from Galaxy Science Fiction

The Impacted Man, by Robert Sheckley, from Astounding Science Fiction

What’s It Like Out There?, by Edmond Hamilton, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Sail On, Sail On!, by Philip Jose Farmer, from Startling Stories

Cost of Living, by Robert Sheckley, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 12 (1950), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1984 [Dino Marsan]

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Blue and blue, trimmed with yellow:  Art with discordant elements – a hooded jester working on an electronic Einstein? – which somehow, strangely, combine into an intriguing, if strange, composition. 

Contents

Not With A Bang, by Damon Knight, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Spectator Sport, by John D. MacDonald, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

There Will Come Soft Rains, by Ray Bradbury, from Collier’s

Dear Devil, by Eric Frank Russell, from Other Worlds

Scanners Live In Vain, by Cordwainer Smith (Paul M.A. Linebarger), from Fantasy Book

Born of Man and Woman, by Richard Matheson, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

The Little Black Bag, by Cyril M. Kornbluth, from Astounding Science Fiction

Enchanted Village, by A.E. van Vogt, from Other Worlds

Oddy and Id, by Alfred Bester, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Sack, by William Morrison, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Silly Season, by Cyril M. Kornbluth, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Misbegotten Missionary, by Isaac Asimov, from Galaxy Science Fiction

To Serve Man, by Damon Knight, from Galaxy Science Fiction

Coming Attraction, by Fritz Leiber, from Galaxy Science Fiction

A Subway Named Moebius, by A.J. Deutsch, from Astounding Science Fiction

Process, by A.E. van Vogt, from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

The Mindworm, by Cyril M. Kornbluth, from Worlds Beyond

The New Reality, by Charles L. Harness, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 10 (1948), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1983 [Robert Andre]

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Excellent art by Robert Andre.  Space exploration, exoarcheology, extraterrestrial intelligence, immensity, and mystery. 

Contents

Don’t Look Now, by Henry Kuttner, from Startling Stories

He Walked Around the Horses, by H. Beam Piper, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Strange Case of John Kingman, by Murray Leinster (William Fitzgerald Jenkins), from Astounding Science Fiction

That Only A Mother, by Judith Merril, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Monster, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction

Dreams Are Sacred, by Peter Phillips, from Astounding Science Fiction

Mars Is Heaven!, by Ray Bradbury, from Planet Stories

Thang, by Martin Gardner, from Comment

Brooklyn Project, by William Tenn, from Planet Stories

Ring Around the Redhead, by John D. MacDonald, from Startling Stories

Period Piece, by A.J. Coupling, from Astounding Science Fiction

Dormant, by A.E. van Vogt, from Startling Stories

In Hiding, by Wilmar H. Shiras, from Astounding Science Fiction

Knock, by Fredric Brown, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

A Child Is Crying, by John D. MacDonald, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Late Night Final, by Eric Frank Russell, from Astounding Science Fiction

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 9 (1947), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1983 [Bernal]

Contents

Little Lost Robot, by Isaac Asimov, from Astounding Science Fiction

Tomorrow’s Children, by Poul Anderson, from Astounding Science Fiction

Child’s Play, by William Tenn, from Astounding Science Fiction

Time and Time Again, by H. Beam Piper, from Astounding Science Fiction

Tiny and The Monster, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Astounding Science Fiction

E For Effort, by T.L. Sherred, from Astounding Science Fiction

Letter to Ellen, by Chan Davis, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Figure, by Edward Grendon, from Astounding Science Fiction

With Folded Hands, by Jack Williamson, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Fires Within, by Arthur C. Clarke, from Fantasy (Great Britain)

Zero Hour, by Ray Bradbury, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Hobbyist, by Eric Frank Russell, from Astounding Science Fiction

Exit The Professor, by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore), from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Thunder and Roses, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Astounding Science Fiction

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 8 (1946), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1982 [Oliviero Berni]

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A thematically symbolic piece by Oliviero Berni, combining thematic elements connoting war (albeit war-just-ended), robotics (great robot!), technology, and space travel.  Is that hovering red sphere a star, or, some kind of weapon?

Contents

A Logic Named Joe, by William F. Jenkins, from Astounding Science Fiction

Memorial, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Astounding Science Fiction

Loophole, by Arthur C. Clarke, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Nightmare, by Chan Davis, from Astounding Science Fiction

Rescue Party, by Arthur C. Clarke, from Astounding Science Fiction

Placet Is A Crazy Place, by Frederic Brown, from Astounding Science Fiction

Conqueror’s Isle, by Nelson S. Bond, from Blue Book Magazine

Lorelei of The Red Mist, by Ray Bradbury and Leigh Brackett, from Planet Stories

The Million Year Picnic, by Ray Bradbury, from Planet Stories

The Last Objective, by Paul A. Carter, from Astounding Science Fiction

Meihem In Ce Klasrum, by Dolton Edwards K.W. Lessing), from Astounding Science Fiction

Vintage Season, by Lawrence O’Donnell (Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore), from Astounding Science Fiction

Evidence, by Isaac Asimov, from Astounding Science Fiction

Absalom, by Henry Kuttner, from Startling Stories

Mewhu’s Jet, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Astounding Science Fiction

Technical Error, by Arthur C. Clarke, from Fantasy (Great Britain)

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 6 (1944), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – December, 1981 [Oliviero Berni]

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Art by Oliviero Berni connoting themes of solitude, power, mystery, and transformation.  This piece would actually be fitting for Theodore Sturgeon’s 1959 short story The Man Who Lost the Sea.

Contents

Far Centaurus, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction

Deadline, by Cleve Cartmill, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Veil of Astellar, by Leigh Brackett, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Sanity, by Fritz Leiber, from Astounding Science Fiction

Invariant, by John R. Pierce, from Astounding Science Fiction

City, by Clifford D. Simak, from Astounding Science Fiction

Arena, by Frederic Brown, from Astounding Science Fiction

Huddling Place, by Clifford D. Simak, from Astounding Science Fiction

Kindness, by Lester del Rey, from Astounding Science Fiction

Desertion, by Clifford D. Simak, from Astounding Science Fiction

When the Bough Breaks, Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore (as “Lewis Padgett”), from Astounding Science Fiction

Killdozer!, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Astounding Science Fiction

No Woman Born, by Catherine L. Moore, from Astounding Science Fiction

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 5 (1943), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1981 [Unknown Artist]

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A distinctly blue theme predominates in this scene of a spacecraft flying by an asteroid.  Given the time of the publication of Volume 5 of this series (1981), the artist was probably influenced by the Cylon Raiders featured in the television series (the original series) Battlestar Gallactica. 

Contents

The Cave, by P. Schuyler Miller, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Halfling, by Leigh Brackett, from Astounding Stories

Mimsy Were the Borogoves, by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore), from Astounding Science Fiction

Q.U.R., by Anthony Boucher, from Astounding Science Fiction

Clash By Night, by Lawrence O’Donnell (Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore), from Astounding Science Fiction

Exile, by Edmond Hamilton, from Super Science Stories

Daymare, by Frederic Brown, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Doorway Into Time, by Catherine L. Moore, from Famous Fantastic Mysteries

The Storm, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Proud Robert, by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore), from Astounding Science Fiction

Symbiotica, by Eric Frank Russell, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Iron Standard, by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore), from Astounding Science Fiction

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 4 (1942), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – October, 1980 [One Plus One Studio]

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A theme of red:  Red cover, and art depicting a space shuttle deploying a probe above a red planet, surrounded by a glowing reddish atmosphere.  

Notice that the cover illustration of Volume 4 of The Great SF Stories is identical to the image on the cover of Volume 7!

Contents

The Star Mouse, by Frederic Brown, from Planet Stories

The Wings of Night, by Lester del Rey, from Astounding Science Fiction

Cooperate – Or Else, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction

Foundation, by Isaac Asimov, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Push of A Finger, by Alfred Bester, from Astounding Science Fiction

Asylum, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction

Proof, by Hal Clement, from Astounding Science Fiction

Nerves, by Lester del Rey, from Astounding Science Fiction

Barrier, by Anthony Boucher, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Twonky, by Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore (as “Lewis Padgett”), from Astounding Science Fiction

QRM-Interplanetary, by George O. Smith, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Weapon Shop, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction

Mimic, by Donald A. Wollheim, from Astonishing Stories

Isaac Asimov Presents the Great SF Stories 3 (1941), Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg – 1980 [Jack Gaughan]

Contents

Mechanical Mice, by Maurice A. Hugi, from Astounding Science Fiction

Shottle Bop, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Unknown

The Rocket of 1955, by Cyril M. Kornbluth, from Stirring Science Stories

Evolution’s End, by Robert Arthur, from Thrilling Wonder Stories

Microcosmic God, by Theodore Sturgeon, from Astounding Science Fiction

Jay Score, by Eric Frank Russell, from Astounding Science Fiction

Liar!, by Isaac Asimov, from Astounding Science Fiction

Time Wants A Skeleton, by Ross Rocklynne, from Astounding Science Fiction

The Words of Guru, by Cyril M. Kornbluth, from Stirring Science Stories

The Seesaw, by A.E. van Vogt, from Astounding Science Fiction

Armageddon, by Frederic Brown, from Unknown

Adam and No Eve, by Alfred Bester, from Astounding Science Fiction

Solar Plexus, by James Blish, from Astonishing Stories

Nightfall, by Isaac Asimov, from Astounding Science Fiction

A Gnome There Was, by Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore, from Unknown

Snulbug, by Anthony Boucher, from Unknown

Hereafter, Inc., by Lester Del Rey, from Unknown