''Nebula Award Stories Eight'' is an

anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

short works ''Short Works'' is a strand of short works of fiction broadcast since 2017 on BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety o ...

edited by American writer

Isaac Asimov yi, יצחק אזימאװ , birth_date = , birth_place = Petrovichi, Russian SFSR , spouse = , relatives = , children = 2 , death_date = , death_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S. , nationality = Russian (1920–1922)Soviet (192 ...

. It was first published in hardcover in November 1973, in the United States by Harper & Row and in the United Kingdom by

Gollancz Gollancz may refer to: * Gollancz (surname), a Polish-Jewish surname * Victor Gollancz Ltd, a former British publishing house, now used as an imprint by the Orion Publishing Group See also * Gołańcz Gołańcz (german: Gollantsch) is a town ...

. The British edition bore the variant title ''Nebula Award Stories 8''. Paperback editions followed from

Berkley Medallion Berkley Books is an imprint of the Penguin Group. History Berkley Books began as an independent company in 1955. It was founded as "Chic News Company" by Charles Byrne and Frederick Klein, who had worked for Avon; they quickly renamed it Berkl ...

in the U.S. in September 1975, and

Panther Panther may refer to: Large cats *Pantherinae, the cat subfamily that contains the genera ''Panthera'' and ''Neofelis'' **''Panthera'', the cat genus that contains tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards. ***Jaguar (''Panthera onca''), found in Sout ...

in the U.K. in the same year; both paperback editions adopted the British version of the title. The book has also been published in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

Summary

The book collects pieces that won or were nominated for the

Nebula Award The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), a nonprofit association of profe ...

s for

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian ''novella'' meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) facts ...

novelette Novelette may also refer to: * ''Novelette'' (ballet), a solo modern dance work choreographed by Martha Graham * Novelette (music), a short piece of lyrical music * Novelette (literature), a work of narrative prose fiction that is longer than a ...

and

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

for the year 1973 and nonfiction pieces related to the Nebula and

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier a ...

s, together with an introduction by the editor. All three of the winning stories were included, but only a selection of the non-winning pieces nominated for the awards.

*"Introduction: So Why Aren't We Rich?" (

) *"

A Meeting with Medusa ''A Meeting with Medusa'' is a science fiction novella by British writer Arthur C. Clarke. It was originally published in 1971 and has since been included in the anthology '' Nebula Award Stories Eight'' as well as several collections of C ...

" est Novella winner, 1973(

Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science-fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host. He co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A Spac ...

) *"Shaffery Among the Immortals" est Short Story nominee, 1973(

Frederik Pohl Frederik George Pohl Jr. (; November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013) was an American science-fiction writer, editor, and fan, with a career spanning nearly 75 years—from his first published work, the 1937 poem "Elegy to a Dead Satelli ...

) *"Patron of the Arts" est Novelette nominee, 1973( William Rotsler) *" When It Changed" est Short Story winner, 1973( Joanna Russ) *"On the Downhill Side" est Short Story nominee, 1973(

Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison (May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018) was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. Robert Bloch, the author of '' Psycho'' ...

) *"

The Fifth Head of Cerberus ''The Fifth Head of Cerberus'' is the title of both a novella and a single-volume collection of three novellas, written by American science fiction and fantasy author Gene Wolfe, both published in 1972. The novella was included in the anthology ...

" est Novella nominee, 1973( Gene Wolfe) *"When We Went to See the End of the World" est Short Story nominee, 1973(

Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg (born January 15, 1935) is an American author and editor, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple winner of both Hugo and Nebula Awards, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and a Grand ...

) *" Goat Song" est Novelette winner, 1973( Poul Anderson) *"The Nebula Awards" *"The Hugo Awards"

Reception

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' assessed the anthology as " rst-rate," stating it "deserves an award itself," and commenting individually on all the pieces contained except the Pohl. In particular, Rotsler is praised for "creat ng a new science fictional art form," and the reviewer notes that Clarke "finds wonder in the old man confronts-Jupiter theme," Russ "writes powerfully of a society of women," Ellison "spins a delicate fantasy of salvation," and Wolfe "provides a complex and subtle variation on the ... subject of clones."''Kirkus Reviews'' (review)
Nov. 1, 1973.

P. Schuyler Miller Peter Schuyler Miller (February 21, 1912 – October 13, 1974) was an American science fiction writer and critic. Life Miller was raised in New York's Mohawk Valley, which led to a lifelong interest in the Iroquois Indians. He pursued this as ...

in ''

Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'' praises editor Asimov's introduction as "thoughtful ... as good an analysis as we have had of what science fiction is, how it is fundamentally different from other ''genre'' fiction ... and why it stands a good chance of surviving when fiction ''per se'' seems on its way out." He feels the appendix renders the book "a valuable reference" and comments on the pieces by Russ, Ellison ("one of the author's new, lovely, and 'atypical' ... cycle of stories about New Orleans"), and Wolfe ("recommended enthusiastically"), while noting the remaining ones.Miller, P. Schuyler. Review in ''Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact'' v. 93, no. 4, June 1974, pages 166-168. The book was also reviewed by W. N. MacPherson in ''The Science Fiction Review Monthly'', issue #7, September 1975, and Richard Delap in ''Delap's F & SF Review'', v. 1, no. 7, October 1975.

Awards

The collection placed tenth in the 1974 Locus Poll Award for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection.

Notes

{{Nebula Awards Showcase Nebula 8 1973 anthologies 1970s science fiction works Isaac Asimov anthologies Harper & Row books Victor Gollancz Ltd books

Summary

Contents

Reception

Awards

Notes