Science Fiction Research The : Association Anthology

Rating:
Summary: A solid science fiction anthology designed for the classroom
Review: At first glance you would think that "Science Fiction: The Science Fiction Research Association Anthology" is a traditional collection of science fiction short stories. But then you take one look at the prices and realize this could only be a college textbook. This is too bad, because as a science fiction anthology this is certainly a nice little collection, but the price is going to restrict sales to those who can pass the bill along to mater and pater. The 26 stories in this anthology were selected during 1984 and 1985 by the members of the Science Fiction Research Association who nominated and selected novelettes and short stories they wanted to appear in a definitive anthology. The 175 most frequently mentioned stories were but on a final ballot and divided in the name of historical perspective into three chronological eras around the founding in 1926 of Amazing Stories and the death of its influential editor John W. Campbell, Jr. in 1970. Consequently, "Science Fiction" offers three stories each from the periods before and after this period, and 20 from the period itself.

The only real way to decide if you want to invest in this anthology is to look over the list of the 26 stories. Therefore, here is what you get: (1) Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Birthmark"; (2) H. G. Wells, "The Star"; (3) H. G. Wells, "The Country of the Blind"; (4) E. M. Forster, "The Machine Stops"; (5) Stanley G. Weinbaum, "A Martian Odyssey"; (6) John W. Campbell, Jr., "Who Goes There?"; (7) Isaac Asimov, "Nightfall"; (8) C. L. Moore, "No Woman Born"; (9) Theodore Sturgeon, "Thunder and Roses"; (10) Henry Kuttner, "Private Eye"; (11) Ray Bradbury, "There Will Come Soft Rains"; (12) Arthur C. Clarke, "The Sentinel"; (13) James Blish, "Common Time"; (14) Cordwainer Smith, "The Game of Rat and Dragon"; (15) Alfred Bester, "The Men Who Murdered Mohammed"; (16) Daniel Keyes, "Flowers for Algernon"; (17) Roger Zelazny, "A Rose for Ecclesiastes"; (18) Samuel R. Delany, "Driftglass"; (19) Philip K. Dick, "Faith of Our Father"; (20) Harlan Ellison, "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream"; (21) Ursula K. Le Guin, "Nine Lives"; (22) Joanna Russ, "When It Changed"; (23) Vonda N. McIntyre, "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand"; (24) James Tiptree, Jr., "Houston, Houston, Do You Read?"; (25) John Varley, "Options"; and (26) Octavia E. Butler, "Bloodchild."

There is an additional index that rearranges the chronological list by Thematic Contents, broken down into the interest categories of biological, environmental, psychosocial, and technological (with several stories appearing in more than one category). Each story is followed by several paragraphs of editorial commentary (by college professors other than the trio of editors) that explains things about the author and the story's place in the history of science fiction. The list of authors included in this anthology is certainly impressive and while you might be inclined to quibble on some of the choices (e.g., why not Ellison's "Repent, Harlequin...") the editorial comments usually provide a decent rationale for the story's right to be included. So this anthology is geared specifically for college students.

The price still scares me, but I have to admit it is not too far above average for a college class in America today; I am going with a smaller anthology, not just for reasons of price, but also because I want to devote more time to classic science fiction novels (plus one Fifites film). Still, I can easily see developing an entire course around what Warrick, Waugh and Greenberg have collected in this volume.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but way overpriced for its size
Review: In terms of quality, this is an excellent collection. Warrick has selected outstanding stories that cover a wide time span--enough from the founders to be substantial, and a great selection of mid-year sci fi (50s to 70s). Two of my favorite stories of all time are included (by Butler and Tiptree)--and these are ones hard to get anywhere else. But....you would be better off looking for one of David Hartwell's books, which offer more value.