The SFWA Grand Masters

I admit that my background in the classics of sci-fi and fantasy is weak. So, I snatched up Volume I of The SFWA Grand Masters to see what these authors wrote and how constructed stories and used language. If I have any disappointments at all, it's that so many writers since these five have used the basic premises that the stories seemed familiar, and that's not a dig against them, it's a complement (hell, I've already come up with a great character and premise, myself). Here is the list of authors and stories: Heinlein, Robert A., (1907-1988) --The Roads Must Roll, 1940. (novelette) (Astounding, June, 1940.) SFHF --The Year of the Jackpot, 1951. (Galaxy, March, 1951.) --Jerry Was a Man, 1947. (Thrilling Wonder Stories, October, 1947.) --The Farthest Place, 1992. (excerpt from Tramp Royale, 1992.) --The Long Watch, 1976. (The American Legion, 1976.) Williamson, Jack, (1908- ) --With Folded Hands, 1947. (novelette) (Astounding, July, 1947.) --Jamboree, 1969. (Galaxy, December, 1969.) --The Mañana Literary Society, 1984. (excerpt from Wonder's Child: My Life in Science Fiction, 1984.) --The Firefly Tree, 1997. (short short) (Science Fiction Age, #28, May, 1997.) Simak, Clifford D., (1904-1988) --Desertion, 1944. (Astounding, November, 1944.) --Founding Father, 1957. (Galaxy, May, 1957.) --Grotto of the Dancing Bear, 1980. (Analog, April, 1980.) Hugo de Camp, L. Sprague, (1907-2000) --A Gun for Dinosaur, 1956. (Galaxy, March, 1956.) --Little Green Men from Afar, 1976. (article) (The Humanist, July, 1976.) --Living Fossil, 1939. (Astounding, February, 1939.) Leiber, Fritz, (1910-1992) --Sanity, 1944. (Astounding, April, 1944.) --The Mer She, 1978. (novelette) (Heroes and Horrors, Whispers Press, 1978.) --A Bad Day for Sales, 1953. (Galaxy, July, 1953.) For me Heinlein's stories were the best, but I've always been a fan. Some of the other highlights, however: Jack Williamson's With Folded Hands feels like a story that has spawned so many other robots replace human stories throughout the ages. It's spooky, straightforward, and masterfully simple. The Mer She by Fritz Leiber is a Grey Mouser story and was really engaging, a fun read which kept me in wonderment as to where it was going. Desertion by Clifford Simak is a story I've read before and it remains one of my all-time favorites. It deserves to be a movie, and now that the technology can make that happen, I hope it comes to be. Great stories, great authors, and a great collection. I'll be reading volume II soon. - CV Rick

firstly, this book is from the "golden age" of science fiction - generally, the time span of the 1950s - late 1960s. of course, there is quite the sf debate to be had as to whether this was really a "golden age" or not, but that's left out of this review ;) there are three volumes, each containing assorted works by five grandmaster award winners. essentially, the grandmaster award "may not be awarded more than six times in ten years" and is given to a contemporary (re: living) science fiction author.heinlein's stories are very good - they take up approximately 1/3 of the book, though. "the roads must roll" was quite dated, and definitely the worst of the bunch; though that alone is completely relative, by itself it wouldn't have been nearly so bad. the rest of his stories are magnificant, and he remains arguably one of the best science fiction writers to ever put the pen to the paper. jack williamson, clifford simak, l. sprague de camp, and fritz leiber all produce fantastic stories for this anthology, as well.one of the best aspects of this anthology is that it offers stories which may not otherwise have been discovered. frederick pohl does an appropriate and respectful job introducing the authors, and his love of the genre is apparant. this book should not be overlooked and is one of the most valuable science fiction short story anthologies i have come across. highly recommended.

I'd been frustrated by the "Golden Age" because it is often written or talked about and is often impossible to find, even in used bookstores. Heinlein can still be found, but even works of his, some considered classics, are out-of-print. Anthologies of those times are difficult to find, and modern anthologies often throw in a "Golden Age" story as an afterthought.This anthology is different. Each of the authors featured in this volume (Heinlein, Williamson, Simak, de Camp, and Leiber) were the "Golden Age".With the exception of two stories by Fritz Leiber ("Sanity" & "A Bad Day for Sales") whose pessimism put me off, each story in this volume captured and held my attention throughout. The themes of these stories inspired my own speculations, and unlike much of modern science fiction, the entertainment value alone makes this volume worth purchasing. Frederik Pohl has written succinct, informative introductions and recommends further reading which has sent me to the used bookstores already. More importantly, however, he has chosen great stories and has let the authors speak for themselves. Personally, I would recommend "The Year of the Lottery" ( a humorous story about the ultimate bad day), "With Folded Hands" (inhuman "perfection" taken to the extreme), all of Clifford D. Simak, and "Gun for Dinosaur" (30 years ahead of Jurassic Park and infinitely superior). However, cracking this book at any place will lead to good results.

Frederik Pohl has done a fantastic job of assembling this collection of material. Himself one of the first 15 SFWA grand masters, Pohl's personal reflections on each of these authors are worth the purchase price by themselves. For each writer, Pohl has selected at least one seminal gem from their body of work, and at least one neglected treasure, with additional pieces that show the tremendous range each of these authors was/is capable of.Although most of Heinlein's fiction is still in print, these days it can be hard to find the work of these other Grand Masters, especially the older material. That makes this volume especially valuable.For myself, Clifford Simak and Fritz Leiber are two of my all-time favorite writers, and I am happy to see there work exposed to a new generation of readers, especially in this context. Both the Science Fiction Writers of America and Frederik Pohl should be applauded for this worthy tribute.

This book, edited by Fred Pohl -- who happens to be a grand master himself, is a god intro to the work of Heinlein, Williamson, Simak, de Camp and Leiber. Especially the later four. (As Heinlein's works are still mainly in print.)Jack Williamson, L. Sprague de Camp, Clifford Simak and Fritz Leiber, and of course, Robert Heinlein are some of the best writers of SF ever. (If Asimov and Clarke were includes in this like, it might well be the top seven.)Stories like "With Folded Hands" by Williamson, "Grotto of the Dancing Deer" by Simak, "A Gun for Dinosaur" by de Camp... are all great stories. There is not one "stinker", as Heinlein would have put it, in this book. Enjoy the stories here. They really are not making them like they used to.