''The Best of Cordwainer Smith'' is a

collection Collection or Collections may refer to: * Cash collection, the function of an accounts receivable department * Collection (church), money donated by the congregation during a church service * Collection agency, agency to collect cash * Collectio ...

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 stories 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 t ...

by American author

Cordwainer Smith Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger (July 11, 1913 – August 6, 1966), better known by his pen-name Cordwainer Smith, was an American author known for his science fiction works. Linebarger was a US Army officer, a noted East Asia scholar, and a ...

, edited by J. J. Pierce. It was first published in hardback by

Nelson Doubleday Nelson Doubleday (June 16, 1889 – January 11, 1949) was a U.S. book publisher and president of Doubleday Company from 1922–1946. His father Frank Nelson Doubleday had founded the business. His son Nelson Doubleday Jr. followed him i ...

in July 1975 and in paperback by

Ballantine Books Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann in 1998 and remains ...

in September of the same year as a volume in its Classic Library of Science Fiction. The Ballantine edition was reprinted in October 1977 and July 1985.

Phoenix Pick Phoenix Pick is the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Arc Manor Publishers based in Rockville, Maryland, United States. Phoenix Pick publishes many classic and semi-classic works of science fiction and fantasy. These include '' Dark Unive ...

issued a new edition in trade paperback and ebook in April, 2017. A British paperback edition under the alternative title ''The Rediscovery of Man'' was published by Gollancz in June 1988, and reissued in 1999, 2003, and 2010; Gollancz also brought out hardcover and ebook versions in September 1988 and November 2012, respectively. The book has also been translated into

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 contains twelve short works of fiction by the author, all set in his "

Instrumentality of Mankind In the science fiction of Cordwainer Smith, the Instrumentality of Mankind refers both to Smith's personal future history and universe and to the central government of humanity within that fictional universe. ''The Instrumentality of Mankind'' is ...

future history A future history is a postulated history of the future and is used by authors of science fiction and other speculative fiction to construct a common background for fiction. Sometimes the author publishes a timeline of events in the history, whi ...

series, together with an introduction and timeline by editor J. J. Pierce. All versions of the collection following the first feature a corrected version of the timeline, retitled "TImeline from The Instrumentality of Mankind."

*"Cordwainer Smith: The Shaper of Myths" ntroduction( J. J. Pierce) *"The Instrumentality of Mankind" imeline( J. J. Pierce) *"

Scanners Live in Vain "Scanners Live in Vain" is a science fiction short story by American writer Cordwainer Smith ( pen name of American writer Paul Linebarger). It was the first story in Smith's Instrumentality of Mankind future history to be published and the first ...

" (from ''

Fantasy Book Fantasy literature is literature set in an imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. Fan ...

'', Jan. 1950) *"The Lady Who Sailed the Soul" (with Genevieve Linebarger) (from ''

Galaxy Magazine ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Editi ...

'', Apr. 1960) *"

The Game of Rat and Dragon "The Game of Rat and Dragon" is a science fiction short story by American author Cordwainer Smith, written in 1954J.J. Pierce (ed.), ''The Best of Cordwainer Smith'' (1975), p. 67. and published in ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' in 1955. It is set in t ...

" (from ''

Galaxy Science Fiction ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Editi ...

'', Oct. 1955) *"The Burning of the Brain" (from '' If'', Oct. 1958) *"Golden the Ship Was — Oh! Oh! Oh!" (with Genevieve Linebarger) (from ''

Amazing Science Fiction Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances i ...

'', Apr. 1959) *"

The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal "The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal" is a science fiction short story by Cordwainer Smith, set in Smith's " Instrumentality" universe. It was first published in ''Amazing Stories'' in May 1964, and is collected in ''The Rediscovery of Man' ...

" (from ''

Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances i ...

'', May 1964) *"

The Dead Lady of Clown Town "The Dead Lady of Clown Town" is a science fiction novella by American writer Cordwainer Smith, set in his Instrumentality of Mankind future history. It was originally published in ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' in 1964. It was included in the collectio ...

" (from ''

'', Aug. 1964) *"Under Old Earth" (from ''

'', Feb. 1966) *"

Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons" is a classic science fiction short story by American writer Cordwainer Smith, first published in ''Galaxy Magazine'' in 1961, and partly based on Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. It is collected most recently in '' ...

" (from ''

'', Jun. 1961) *"

Alpha Ralpha Boulevard "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" is a science fiction story by American writer Cordwainer Smith, set in his Instrumentality of Mankind universe, concerning the opening days of a sudden radical shift from a controlling, benevolent, but sterile society, to ...

" (from ''

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ''The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'' (usually referred to as ''F&SF'') is a U.S. fantasy and science fiction magazine first published in 1949 by Mystery House, a subsidiary of Lawrence Spivak's Mercury Press. Editors Anthony Boucher a ...

'', Jun. 1961) *"

The Ballad of Lost C'Mell "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" is a science fiction novella by American writer Cordwainer Smith. It was first published in October 1962 in ''Galaxy Magazine'', and since reprinted in several compilations and omnibus editions. The main characters ar ...

" (from ''

'', Oct. 1962) *"

A Planet Named Shayol "A Planet Named Shayol" is a science fiction story by American writer Cordwainer Smith (the pen name of Paul Linebarger). Like most of his science fiction work, it takes place in his Instrumentality of Mankind setting. It was first published in '' ...

" (from ''

'', Oct. 1961)

Reception

The book was reviewed by

Lester del Rey Lester del Rey (June 2, 1915 – May 10, 1993) was an American science fiction author and editor. He was the author of many books in the juvenile Winston Science Fiction series, and the editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science ...

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 ...

'', March 1977, Michael Bishop in ''Delap's F & SF Review'', May 1977, Philip Stephensen-Payne in ''Paperback Parlour'', June 1977, and

Spider Robinson Spider Robinson (born November 24, 1948) is an American-born Canadian list of science fiction authors, science fiction author. He has won a number of awards for his hard science fiction and humorous stories, including the Hugo Award 1977 and 198 ...

in ''

Galaxy A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek ' (), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System. ...

'', August 1977.

Awards

The book placed second in the 1976 Locus Poll Award for Best Single Author Collection. "

" was nominated for the 1951 Retro Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2001. "

" was nominated for the 1956

Hugo Award for Best Short Story The Hugo Award for Best Short Story is one of the Hugo Awards given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories published or translated into English during the previous calendar year. The short story award is available for works of fiction of ...

. "

" was nominated for the 1962

Hugo Award for Best Short Fiction The Hugo Award for Best Short Story is one of the Hugo Awards given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories published or translated into English during the previous calendar year. The short story award is available for works of fiction of ...

. "

" was nominated for the 1964

. "

" won the 1995 Seiun Award for Best Translated Short Story.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Best of Cordwainer Smith, The 1975 short story collections Science fiction short story collections Doubleday (publisher) books Ballantine Books books

Summary

Contents

Reception

Awards

Notes