Book Review: The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume One, 1929-1964

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume One, 1929-1964     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Robert Silverberg
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction   [Short Stories]
Tor, Feb 2003, $27.95, 560 pp.

This is a reprint of a classic 1970 work in which The Science Fiction Writers of America members voted on what selections should be included in The Greatest Science Fiction Stories of All Time anthologies. The first volume includes twenty-six tales from 1929 through 1964 from some of the genre’s greatest authors, a who’s who. The criteria used were not the author’s fame but instead, the most important and influential stories and that, in spite of the votes, an author would appear only once.

Though three decades have passed, most of the contributors remain highly renowned even outside the genre, but a few are less famous except among long time purists. Thus the lack of a one-page biography hurts when a virtually unrecognizable name has authored a famous work especially when other media mainstreamed the tale. Still each story is well written and affirms why the ASFWA selected them thirty years ago. This is a winner mostly for science fiction buffs and the nostalgic amongst the boomers.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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