And now, we come to what in effect is the final volume of Judith Merril’s 1950s-1960s science fiction (and fantasy) anthology, SF: The Best of the Best. This un-numbered series anthology comprises a collection of what truly were the best stories gathered across all volumes of SF, and in this, it succeeds entirely. Unlike prior books in the series, this volume is absent of non-fiction commentary or scientific speculation, cartoons, poems, and especially (thankfully!) stories-not-published-elsewhere commissioned solely for this series. If you were to purchase any one volume of SF, this is the one.
Given this book’s title, it would seem that the intention of Judith Merril (and Dell) was that the series would end with this volume, which represents a retrospective of the entire series. However, Volume 12 – in reality the actual, final volume – was published in 1969, a year after this compilation. So, it would seem that the publication schedule was reversed as the series approached its culmination.
Norman Adams’ cover painting, which has an eerie anthropomorphic theme, represents a combination of elements from both science fiction and fantasy, especially the latter. Something tells me that this painting could have been inspired by (or could have inspired, if we’re talking about time travel, parallel universes, and backwards causation!) the hieroglyphic murals upon the walls of the un-named city of the Elder Things in H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness.
Just sayin’. One never knows, do one?
All these stories…
Introduction (SF: The Best of the Best), Essay by Judith Merril
“The Hoofer”, by Walter M. Miller, Jr.,
from Fantastic Universe, September, 1955 (Volume 1)
“Bulkhead”, by Theodore Sturgeon,
from Galaxy Science Fiction, March, 1955 (Volume 1)
“Anything Box” (variant of The Anything Box), by Zenna Henderson,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October, 1956 (Volume 2)
“Prima Belladonna” (Vermilion Sands series), by J.G. Ballard,
from Science Fantasy, December, 1956 (Volume 2)
“Casey Agonistes”, by R.C. McKenna,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September, 1958 (Volume 4)
“A Death in the House”, by Clifford D. Simak,
from Galaxy Science Fiction, October, 1959 (Volume 5)
“Space-Time for Springers” (Gummitch the Cat series), by Fritz Leiber,
from Star Science Fiction Stories No. 4, November, 1958 (Volume 4)
“Pelt”, by Carol Emshwiller,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November, 1958 (Volume 4)
“Stranger Station”, by Damon Knight,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December, 1956 (Volume 2)
“Satellite Passage”, by Theodore L. Thomas,
from If, December, 1958 (Volume 4)
“No, No, Not Rogov!” (The Instrumentality of Mankind series), by Cordwainer Smith (Paul M. Linebarger),
from If, February, 1959 (Volume 5)
“Compounded Interest”, by Mack Reynolds,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August, 1956 (Volume 2)
“Junior”, by Robert Abernathy,
from Galaxy Science Fiction, January, 1956 (Volume 1)
“Sense from Thought Divide” (Ralph Kennedy series), by Mark Clifton,
from Astounding Science Fiction, March, 1955 (Volume 1)
“Mariana, by Fritz Leiber”,
from Fantastic Science Fiction Stories, February, 1960 (Volume 5)
“Plenitude”, by Will Worthington (Will Mohler),
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, November, 1959 (Volume 5)
“Day at the Beach”, by Carol Emshwiller,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August, 1959 (Volume 5)
“Let’s Be Frank”, by Brain W. Aldiss,
from Science Fantasy, June, 1957 (Volume 3)
“The Wonder Horse”, by George Bryam,
from The Atlantic Monthly, August, 1957 (Volume 3)
“Nobody Bothers Gus” (Gus series), by Algis Budrys,
from Astounding Science Fiction, November, 1955 (Volume 1)
“The Prize of Peril”, by Robert Sheckley,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May, 1958 (Volume 4)
“The Handler”, by Damon Knight,
from Rogue, August, 1960 (Volume 5)
“The Golem”, by Avram Davidson,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March, 1955 (Volume 1)
“The Sound Sweep”, by J.G. Ballard (Variant of “The Sound-Sweep”,
from Science Fantasy, #39, February, 1960), specifically for this volume (Volume 5)
“Hickory, Dickory, Kerouac”, by Richard Gehman,
from Playboy, March, 1958 (Volume 4)
“Dreaming Is a Private Thing”, by Isaac Asimov,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December, 1955 (Volume 1)
“The Public Hating”, by Steve Allen,
from The Blue Book Magazine, January, 1955 (Volume 1)
“You Know Willie”, by Theodore R. Cogswell,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May, 1957 (Volume 3)
“One Ordinary Day, with Peanuts”, by Shirley Jackson,
from The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January, 1955 (Volume 1)
And in conclusion, a textual solution!
Internet Speculative Fiction Database
Published Variants of This Book (Just two!)