The Best of Stanley G. Weinbaum
Encyclopedia
The Best of Stanley G. Weinbaum is a collection of science fiction
stories by Stanley G. Weinbaum
, published in 1974 as an original paperback
by Ballantine Books
. The volume included an introduction by Isaac Asimov
and an afterword by Robert Bloch
. Ballantine reissued the collection twice in the later 1970s; Garland Publishing published a library hardcover
edition in 1973, and Sphere Books
released a UK market edition in 1977, under the title A Martian Odyssey and Other Stories. The original edition placed third in the 1975 Locus Poll
for best genre collection.
"The Adaptive Ultimate" originally appeared under the byline "John Jessel".
and Cory Panshin
reported that although the collection was important because it gave modern readers "the chance to see Weinbaum in context with this major collection of his short work," they concluded that "the special power to command that Weinbaum once had no longer exists. What is left is, at best, no more than occasionally and tepidly amusing."
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
stories by Stanley G. Weinbaum
Stanley G. Weinbaum
Stanley Grauman Weinbaum was an American science fiction author. His career in science fiction was short but influential...
, published in 1974 as an original paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
by Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
. The volume included an introduction by Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
and an afterword by Robert Bloch
Robert Bloch
Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer, primarily of crime, horror and science fiction. He is best known as the writer of Psycho, the basis for the film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock...
. Ballantine reissued the collection twice in the later 1970s; Garland Publishing published a library hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
edition in 1973, and Sphere Books
Sphere Books
-History:Founded in 1961, Sphere Books began work on its first publication, the 1962 paperback edition of Gottfried Benn's The Trainee Man. Originally part of The Thomson Corporation, Sphere was sold to Pearson PLC in 1985 and became part of Penguin...
released a UK market edition in 1977, under the title A Martian Odyssey and Other Stories. The original edition placed third in the 1975 Locus Poll
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
for best genre collection.
Contents
- "The Second Nova", Isaac Asimov
- "A Martian Odyssey" (Wonder StoriesWonder StoriesWonder Stories was an early American science fiction magazine which was published under several titles from 1929 to 1955. It was founded by Hugo Gernsback in 1929 after he had lost control of his first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories, when his media company Experimenter Publishing went...
1934) - "Valley of Dreams" (Wonder Stories 1934)
- "The Adaptive Ultimate" (Astounding 1935)
- "Parasite Planet" (Astounding 1935)
- "Pygmalion’s Spectacles" (Wonder Stories 1935)
- "Shifting Seas" (Amazing 1937Amazing StoriesAmazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
) - "The Worlds of If" (Wonder Stories 1935)
- "The Mad Moon" (Astounding 1935)
- "Redemption Cairn" (Astounding 1936)
- "The Ideal" (Wonder Stories 1935)
- "The Lotus Eaters" (Astounding 1935)
- "Proteus Island" (Astounding 1936)
- "Stanley G. Weinbaum: A Personal Recollection", Robert Bloch
"The Adaptive Ultimate" originally appeared under the byline "John Jessel".
Reception
AlexeiAlexei Panshin
Alexis Adams Panshin is an American author and science fiction critic. He has written several critical works and several novels, including the 1968 Nebula Award-winning novel Rite of Passage and the 1990 Hugo Award winning study of science fiction The World Beyond the Hill .-Other works:Panshin...
and Cory Panshin
Cory Panshin
Cory Panshin is an American science fiction critic and writer. She often writes in collaboration with her husband, Alexei Panshin. The Panshins won the Hugo award for Best Non-Fiction Book in 1990 for The World Beyond the Hill, a massive history of science fiction.-External links:* Cory Panshin's...
reported that although the collection was important because it gave modern readers "the chance to see Weinbaum in context with this major collection of his short work," they concluded that "the special power to command that Weinbaum once had no longer exists. What is left is, at best, no more than occasionally and tepidly amusing."