The Hugo Winners, Volume 5: Nine Prizewinning Science Fiction Stories (1980 - 1982)

Rating:
Summary: Some of the best short science fiction stories ever written
Review: Like all other areas of fiction, a science fiction story will evoke different responses in different people. Even the greatest stories of the time, so acknowledged by the author receiving a Hugo for writing it, fall into that category. This collection is no different; there were some that I found much more interesting than others. It contains the stories:

*) Enemy Mine, by Barry B. Longyear
*) Sandkings, by George R. R. Martin
*) The Way of the Cross and Dragon, by George R. R. Martin
*) Lost Dorsai, by Gordon R. Dickson
*) The Cloak and the Staff, by Gordon R. Dickson
*) Grotto of the Dancing Dear, by Clifford D. Simak
*) The Saturn Game, by Poul Anderson
*) Unicorn Variations, by Roger Zelazny
*) The Pusher, by John Varley

"Enemy Mine" has since been made into a movie that was a big hit.
In my opinion, three of the stories are truly great, "Enemy Mine", "Lost Dorsai" and "The Cloak and the Staff." The first and the third both deal with what I consider the most significant theme of science fiction, what will happen when humans encounter an intelligent species from another world. In "Enemy Mine" the other species (Dracons) is roughly of the same technical competence and temperament, so they engage in a ruthless war with the humans over space and supremacy. There is a much greater disparity in "The Cloak and the Staff." The Aalaag are technically superior and have conquered many other planets. The main character is human and serves the Aalaag and understands how futile resistance is. And yet, he starts a resistance movement that has no hope of success. I consider this one of the best science fiction stories every written and fortunately, Dickson expanded it into the book, "Way of the Pilgrim."
Collections of award-winning stories always contain a wide variation of themes and this one is no exception. However, unlike some others, even the worst of this group is very, very good and well worth reading.