''The Best of John W. Campbell'' is the title of two

collections 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 * Collection ...

of science fiction short stories by American author

John W. Campbell John Wood Campbell Jr. (June 8, 1910 – July 11, 1971) was an American science fiction writer and editor. He was editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'' (later called ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'') from late 1937 until his death ...

. The first, a British edition edited by George Hay, was first published in hardcover by Sidgwick & Jackson in February 1973, and in paperback by Sphere Books in November 1976. Sidgwick & Jackson later gathered together with ''The Far-Out Worlds of A. E. van Vogt'' (1968) into the omnibus volume ''Science Fiction Special 15'' (1975), and with Brian N. Ball's ''Singularity Station'' (1973) and Poul Anderson's ''

Orbit Unlimited ''Orbit Unlimited'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Poul Anderson, first published in 1961. Essentially a linked group of short stories, it recounts the colonisation of the planet Rustum, a fictional terrestrial world orbiting Epsi ...

'' (1961) into the omnibus volume ''Science Fiction Special 20 (1977)''. The second collection of this title, an American edition edited by Lester del Rey, was first published in hardcover by Nelson Doubleday in May 1976, 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 June 1976 as a volume in its Classic Library of Science Fiction. The American edition was reprinted by Del Rey/Ballantine in February 1995, and has also been translated into

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Summary

The British edition contains five short works of fiction by the author, together with an introduction by James Blish. The American edition contains twelve short works of fiction by the author, together with an introduction by editor Lester del Rey and an afterword by the author's widow Mrs. John W. Campbell (Margaret Winter Campbell). The selection of stories varies between the two versions, though four of the five in the British title (all except for "The Double Minds") also appear in the American title.

Contents (British edition)

*"Foreword" ( James Blish) *"The Double Minds" (from ''

Thrilling Wonder Stories ''Wonder Stories'' was an early American science fiction magazine which was published under several titles from 1929 to 1955. It was founded by Hugo Gernsback in 1929 after he had lost control of his first science fiction magazine, ''Amazing Stor ...

'', Aug. 1937) *"Forgetfulness" (from ''

Astounding Stories ''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 Cl ...

'', Jun. 1937) *"

Who Goes There? ''Who Goes There?'' is a 1938 science fiction horror novella by American author John W. Campbell, written under the pen name Don A. Stuart. Its story follows a group of people trapped in a scientific research outpost in Antarctica with shapesh ...

" (from ''

Astounding Science-Fiction ''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 ...

'', Aug. 1938) *"Out of Night" (from ''

'', Oct. 1937) *"Cloak of Aesir" (from ''

'', Mar. 1939)

Contents (American edition)

*"Introduction: The Three Careers of John W. Campbell" ( Lester del Rey) *"The Last Evolution" (from '' Amazing Stories'', Aug. 1932) *" Twilight" (from ''

'', Nov. 1934) *"The Machine" (from ''

'', Feb. 1935) *"The Invaders" (from ''

'', Jun. 1935) *"Rebellion" (from ''

'', Aug. 1935) *"Blindness" (from ''

'', Mar. 1935) *"Elimination" (from ''

'', May 1936) *"Forgetfulness" (from ''

'', Jun. 1937) *"Out of Night" (from ''

'', Oct. 1937) *"Cloak of Aesir" (from ''

'', Mar. 1939) *"

" (from ''

'', Aug. 1938) *"Space for Industry" ditorial(from '' Astounding/Analog Science Fact & Fiction'', Apr. 1960) *"Postscriptum" fterword(Mrs. John W. Campbell)

Reception

The British edition was reviewed by Van Ikin in'' SF Commentary'' #47, 1976, Steve Fahnestalk (1976) in ''New Venture'' #4, Summer 1976, anonymously in ''Reclams Science Fiction Führer'', 1982, and by Stephen E. Andrews and Nick Rennison in ''100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels'', 2006. The American edition was reviewed by Howard Waldrop in ''Delap's F & SF Review'', August 1976, Lester del Rey 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 ...

'' November 1976, and Algis Budrys in '' The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'', December 1976.

Awards

The American edition placed twelfth in the 1977 Locus Poll Award for Best Single Author Collection. "

" won the 1939 Retro Hugo Award for Best Novella in 2014.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Best of John W. Campbell, The 1973 short story collections 1976 short story collections Science fiction short story collections Ballantine Books books