Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century: 6

These twenty-seven science fiction stories are those Orson Scott Card found memorable, enjoyable and influential. Card stratifies his collection by three eras of twentieth century science fiction: The Golden Age (beginning of the century to the mid-1960s); The New Wave (mid-1960s to mid-1970s); and The Media Generation (mid-1970s and onward). Readers interested in the genre's history might consult Adam Roberts' History of Science Fiction for a definition of these eras--and pre-twentieth-century periods that Card omits from consideration. The Golden Age "includes the writers and stories that created science fiction as we know it." Of Card's nine stories, two stand out. Poul Anderson's "Call Me Joe" explores the psychological connection between a biologically-engineered "remote" on Jupiter's surface and its human operator in orbit above. The still-current topic contrasts with a retro feel from "tubes and circuits" technology. Robert Heinlein's "All You Zombies--" guides us through the now-familiar scenario of a time-traveling police force that guards the timelines and recruits from various eras. The story's recruitment is undertaken with a close-knit cast of characters. New Wave stories are drawn from a period when science fiction was moving beyond the common story structures of the Golden Age. I have two favorites of Card's seven. Ursula Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" reminds us that we pay an almost-hidden price for our happy lives. After reading her story, we cannot claim to have no choice. Larry Niven's "Inconstant Moon" paces through the long, sleepless night after its protagonist figures out the puzzle of the evening sky's too-bright moon. Media Generation stories come from a less well-defined era, produced by writers who grew up watching science fiction movies and television shows. Here are the best two of Card's eleven. George Martin's "Sandkings" features a wealthy man who is self-centered, vain and cruel. And yet his alien pets worship him. Terry Bisson's "Bear's Discover Fire" explores the implications of a slight intelligence increase in a familiar mammal. It is understated, clever, and emotionally rich. The collection is highly recommended, both to experienced fans and to those needing an introduction to this century's science fiction. As Card admits, there are many good stories left out, many important authors not represented. Read for what is here. And enjoy.

I liked very much the choice of the stories. I believe it is a very difficult task to choose among so many good writers and so many good works, but the editors did a superb job. I recomend this book for all that like Science Fiction, either the old fans like me, or new ones.

Look at the names on that list. Each is like revisiting an old friend. I recommend this collection for anybody seeking a book to introduce another to really good science fiction.

Masterpieces is the most accessible anthology of great science fiction short stories I have ever read. Every piece was easy to get into, yet not lacking in depth. Only the Niven and Asimov pieces were even vaguely familiar -- well, I've read absolutely ALL of Asimov. Each author was carefully and, in my opinion, well selected. I was especially impressed by George R.R. Martin's menacing "Sandkings", C.J. Cherryh's "Pots", set in yet another invented universe, and by "Dogfight", the most readable Gibson (written with Michael Swanwick) I've ever encountered, but still illuminated by narrative from within cyberspace. I thoroughly enjoyed every story.

This latest "best ... of the century" actually consists of twenty-six tales from the second half of the twentieth century and one story from the 1940s. Either that means science fiction matured considerably after World War II, the editor is too young to appreciate the early years, or the anthology should be labeled differently. In either case, the contributions are all aces and represent the wide gamut of the genre divided into three classifications: "The Golden Age, "The New Wave", and "The Media Generation". Though I enjoyed the other two periods, my favorite stories are from "The New Wave" because I cut my molars on several of these including having read some while working on a masters thesis involving science fiction. Regardless of nostalgia or other reasons for personal taste, each entry is powerful and shows how enlightening the genre can be when written by masters like those who rendered entries to MASTERPIECES: THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION OF THE CENTURY.Harriet Klausner