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Review
"Tom Shippey is a major contributor in science fiction, as well as in medieval and language studies, and his new anthology not only is useful and important, it illuminates the field with the editor's insights and selections."--James Gunn, Director, The Center for the Study of Science Fiction, University of Kansas
"A vindication for all of us [science fiction fans] who have had to defend the genre as deserving serious consideration...This book collects 30 classic science-fiction stories by some of the field's msot famous authors....It's a great selection of intelligent and intriguing work."--The ClevelandPlain Dealer
"A collection that makes us feel the uniqueness of this discipline so freshly is doing its job."--Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Product Description
'As good an introduction to SF as you can buy.' Iain Banks The definitive collection of the twentieth-century's most characteristic genre-from H.G. Wells's prophetic vision of technological warfare to contemporary cyberspace, and up-to-the-minute myths of genetic engineering.
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The young lieutenant lay beside the war correspondent and admired the idyllic calm of the enemy's lines through his field-glass. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The young lieutenant lay beside the war correspondent and admired the idyllic calm of the enemy's lines through his field-glass. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This collection was initially issued in 1992; in 2003 it is a welcome reissue. At this moment in time SF is more accessible than ever- with the reissue of short-story collections like this & the brilliant SF-masterworks series that features authors like PK Dick, JG Ballard, Richard Matheson, James Blish & Theodore Sturgeon. As this book demonstrates, SF is a wide church- frequently not the space fiction/star trek stereotype perpetuated by people who perpetuate such things...
Shippey offers a brilliant introduction, noting that the book can't cover anything (though a second volume might be a great idea!)- there is also a select bibliography- which I feel is a little incomplete (for that see books like Trillion Year Spree & The Encyclopedia of SF- listed in this rudimentary bibliography).
The 30 odd stories are what this collection is about, and reason why this collection is such great value. All of the stories can be read in short sessions- whether communting, accelerating towards sleep or waiting, waiting, waiting...Then the reader can decide which kind of SF they most enjoy & pursue other works by that writer (most probably reissued by people like SF masterworks!). The collection opens with key SF-writer (if mild proponent of eugenics), HG Wells and ends bang up to date on Dave Brin. Between we get stories from such key SF-writers as Arthur C Clarke, Ursula K Le Guin, James Blish, Gene Wolfe, Bruce Sterling & William Gibson. Favourites include John W. Campbell Jr's Night, Brian Aldiss's Who Can Replace a Man? (definite AI-related territory & a place where cybernetic notions are beginning to develop- into the new wave) & JG Ballard's hilarious Billennium- which takes a Kafka-inspired look at over-population (and stems from the brilliant Terminal Beach collection).
Shippey's collection is the perfect SF-introduction, or if you are quite au fait with the genre- an obligatory purchase. It is also 500plus pages evidence that in SF, the short-story is still as important as the novel- and the place where the latter usually stem from...
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have enjoyed most of the stories. quite a few are short enough to read all the way through at bed-time
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Excellent Science Fiction Anthology
4 Dec 2005
Format:Hardcover
The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories edited by Tom Shippey is a very representative collection of some of the best short stories of the genre written between 1903 and 1990 and collecting stories form such luminaries in the field as H.G. Wells, Ursula K. LeGuin, and George R. R. Martin. As you read each story, you are on a linear progression throughout the last century, watching the genre evolve and you get a good representation of the various forms of science fiction, from extraterrestrial exploration to time traveling. Shippey also does a good job of choosing stories that reflect the social conditions of the time each story was written letting us see how the world turned out despite the warnings given by the author's tale. The introduction is also a wonderful accounting of science fiction and its eras written by Shippey, which is a great read. This book should definitely be on the shelf of every science fiction aficionado.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Excelent insight into the gnere
14 April 2000
Format:Hardcover
A collection of Science-Fiction stories that tries to follow the genere from it's earliest days of H.G. Wells to the modern Gibson and Brin. Some of the stories are already famous, but a surprising number of them are excelent, yet mostly unknown to the average reader. In my opinion it's good both as an excelent collection as an historic collection.
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Not Free SF Reader
27 Jan 2008
Format:Hardcover
As you would expect from an anthology of this sort, there is a historical and/or critical if you like introduction to the field of science fiction, of some reasonable length, before getting to the stories.
Then, you have a chronological progression of tales, or various types chosen by the editor to be presumably representative. He appears to have done a rather good job, too, averaging 3.73 over a wide range of eras. Should be able to, though, if taking your pick. Pretty minor Wolfe and Le Guin stories, and a useless Disch tale drag it down a little.
With that, and the intro, probably a 4.75 anthology I think, definitely excellent.
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Land Ironclads - H. G. Wells
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Finis - Frank L. Pollock
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : As Easy as A.B.C. - Rudyard Kipling
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Metal Man - Jack Williamson
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : A Martian Odyssey - Stanley G. Weinbaum
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Night - John W. Campbell, Jr.
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Desertion - Clifford D. Simak
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Piper's Son - Lewis Padgett
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Monster - A. E. van Vogt
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Second Night of Summer - James H. Schmitz
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Second Dawn - Arthur C. Clarke
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Crucifixus Etiam - Walter M. Miller
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Tunnel Under the World - Frederik Pohl
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Who Can Replace a Man? - Brian W. Aldiss
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Billenium - J. G. Ballard
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Ballad of Lost C'Mell - Cordwainer Smith
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Semley's Necklace - Ursula K. Le Guin
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : How Beautiful with Banners - James Blish
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : A Criminal Act - Harry Harrison
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Problems of Creativeness - Thomas M. Disch
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : How the Whip Came Back - Gene Wolfe
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Cloak of Anarchy - Larry Niven
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : A Thing of Beauty - Norman Spinrad
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Screwfly Solution - Raccoona Sheldon
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Way of Cross and Dragon - George R. R. Martin
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Swarm - Bruce Sterling
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Burning Chrome - William Gibson
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Silicon Muse - Hilbert Schenck
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Karl and the Ogre - Paul J. McAuley
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Piecework - David Brin
Give tanks a try.
3.5 out of 5
Flame on, lights out.
4 out of 5
Air travel advancing control.
4 out of 5
Amazing scientifiction.
3 out of 5
Interplanetary interpersonal communication.
4 out of 5
Showing your flight age.
3.5 out of 5
Altered man mission adds a mutt.
4.5 out of 5
Dead race destruction discovery toasting.
3 out of 5
Grandma has a pony. All the better to help her defeat alien invastions.
4 out of 5
Composite Mind War accomodation.
3.5 out of 5
Martian labor aeration.
4 out of 5
Brain capacity reduction circuit.
3 out of 5
Human lack machine chaos conflict.
4 out of 5
Population space premium.
4 out of 5
Underpeople Lord assisted capital punishment escapage.
4.5 out of 5
Dowry delay death.
3 out of 5
Bubble suit Titan tearaway.
4 out of 5
Breeding punishment volunteer.
4 out of 5
Classification.
2.5 out of 5
Slave vote.
3.5 out of 5
Free Park experiment not bright.
4 out of 5
Got a bridge to sell you.
4 out of 5
S8x and violence.
4 out of 5
Betrayer Star Knights.
3.5 out of 5
Interspecies business shocks.
4 out of 5
Cracking victim charity.
4 out of 5
Total access story program plan.
4 out of 5
A whole generation of children with enhanced intelligence wipe out all the adults via bacteria, and these superbright changelings go hunting the remnants that haven't been killed outright.
3.5 out of 5
Dropping your bundle and bundle.
4 out of 5
Then, you have a chronological progression of tales, or various types chosen by the editor to be presumably representative. He appears to have done a rather good job, too, averaging 3.73 over a wide range of eras. Should be able to, though, if taking your pick. Pretty minor Wolfe and Le Guin stories, and a useless Disch tale drag it down a little.
With that, and the intro, probably a 4.75 anthology I think, definitely excellent.
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Land Ironclads - H. G. Wells
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Finis - Frank L. Pollock
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : As Easy as A.B.C. - Rudyard Kipling
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Metal Man - Jack Williamson
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : A Martian Odyssey - Stanley G. Weinbaum
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Night - John W. Campbell, Jr.
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Desertion - Clifford D. Simak
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Piper's Son - Lewis Padgett
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Monster - A. E. van Vogt
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Second Night of Summer - James H. Schmitz
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Second Dawn - Arthur C. Clarke
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Crucifixus Etiam - Walter M. Miller
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Tunnel Under the World - Frederik Pohl
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Who Can Replace a Man? - Brian W. Aldiss
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Billenium - J. G. Ballard
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Ballad of Lost C'Mell - Cordwainer Smith
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Semley's Necklace - Ursula K. Le Guin
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : How Beautiful with Banners - James Blish
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : A Criminal Act - Harry Harrison
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Problems of Creativeness - Thomas M. Disch
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : How the Whip Came Back - Gene Wolfe
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Cloak of Anarchy - Larry Niven
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : A Thing of Beauty - Norman Spinrad
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Screwfly Solution - Raccoona Sheldon
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : The Way of Cross and Dragon - George R. R. Martin
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Swarm - Bruce Sterling
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Burning Chrome - William Gibson
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Silicon Muse - Hilbert Schenck
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Karl and the Ogre - Paul J. McAuley
Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories : Piecework - David Brin
Give tanks a try.
3.5 out of 5
Flame on, lights out.
4 out of 5
Air travel advancing control.
4 out of 5
Amazing scientifiction.
3 out of 5
Interplanetary interpersonal communication.
4 out of 5
Showing your flight age.
3.5 out of 5
Altered man mission adds a mutt.
4.5 out of 5
Dead race destruction discovery toasting.
3 out of 5
Grandma has a pony. All the better to help her defeat alien invastions.
4 out of 5
Composite Mind War accomodation.
3.5 out of 5
Martian labor aeration.
4 out of 5
Brain capacity reduction circuit.
3 out of 5
Human lack machine chaos conflict.
4 out of 5
Population space premium.
4 out of 5
Underpeople Lord assisted capital punishment escapage.
4.5 out of 5
Dowry delay death.
3 out of 5
Bubble suit Titan tearaway.
4 out of 5
Breeding punishment volunteer.
4 out of 5
Classification.
2.5 out of 5
Slave vote.
3.5 out of 5
Free Park experiment not bright.
4 out of 5
Got a bridge to sell you.
4 out of 5
S8x and violence.
4 out of 5
Betrayer Star Knights.
3.5 out of 5
Interspecies business shocks.
4 out of 5
Cracking victim charity.
4 out of 5
Total access story program plan.
4 out of 5
A whole generation of children with enhanced intelligence wipe out all the adults via bacteria, and these superbright changelings go hunting the remnants that haven't been killed outright.
3.5 out of 5
Dropping your bundle and bundle.
4 out of 5
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