This was a nice collection of some pretty weighty short stories – and some pretty surprisingly light-weight ones as well (surprising considering they’re all Hugo winners). The stories take us roughly from 1953 to 1962, covering of course the first few Hugo awards ceremonies. As such, some have not aged too well in their attitudes (particularly in their politics – sometimes verging on McArthyism – and their sexual politics). Let’s just say that some of them read as a little old fashioned. But the best – the Simak, the Keys and the Anderson – are as valid and wonderful today as when they were written. Asimov provides his usual breezy – and egotistical! – commentaries profiling the authors and something about the Science Fiction Conventions where the awards were presented. I mean, god yes that guy had an ego!
Story and Author | Tags/Hub Areas | Therapeutic Tags | Personal Rating |
The Darfstellar, by Walter M Miller Jr | Automation, theatre | Vocation | ** |
Allamagoosa, by Eric Frank Russell | Shaggy dog, starship inspection, beauracracy | Humour | ** |
Exploration Team, by Murray Leinster | Human-animal symbiosis, rescue mission, robots, Barsoomian | Self determination, freedom | ****1/2 |
The Star, by Arthur C Clarke | Religion, astrophysicist priest, Phoenix nebula, Christ, supernova, dead civilisation | Discovery, faith | ***** |
Or All the Seas With Oysters, by Avram Davidson | Regeneration, mimickry, bike shop, sentient evolutionary objects, revenge | Paranoia confirmed, enjoying life | *** |
The Big Frontyard, by Clifford D Simak | Portals, inter-galactic trade, levitation, alien communication, international diplomacy, autism | Property rights, animal rights, disabled rights, authority defiance | ***** |
The Hell-Bound Train, by Robert Bloch | Deal with the devil, trains, horror, fooling the devil | Aspirations, fulfilment | ***1/2 |
Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keyes | Artificially increased intelligence, report form, subliminal learning, progression and regression, experiment | Empathy, Mentally disabled rights, imperfection | ***** |
The Longest Voyage, by Poul Anderson | First contact, pirates, piratepunk, galactic league of nations, stranded alien, advancement opportunity refused | Acceptance, philosophical outlook | ***** |