''The Best of C. M. Kornbluth'' 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 ...

of science fiction and fantasy short stories by American author

C. M. Kornbluth Cyril M. Kornbluth (July 2, 1923 – March 21, 1958) was an American science fiction author and a member of the Futurians. He used a variety of pen-names, including Cecil Corwin, S. D. Gottesman, Edward J. Bellin, Kenneth Falconer, W ...

, edited by

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 ...

. It was first published in hardback by Nelson Doubleday in October 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 January 1977, as a volume in its Classic Library of Science Fiction. A second hardcover edition was issued by Taplinger in November 1977, and an ebook edition by Faded Page in December 2017.

Summary

The book contains nineteen short works of fiction and an afterword by the author (reprinted from his 1954 collection '' The Explorers''), together with an introduction by editor

*"An Appreciation" ntroduction(

) *"The Rocket of 1955" (from ''Escape'', Aug. 1939) *"The Words of Guru" (from ''

Stirring Science Stories Stir, STIR, stirred, or stirrer may refer to: Art and entertainment * Stir (band), a music group from 1994-2005 * ''Stir'' (film), a 1980 Australian film directed by Stephen Wallace * ''Stir'' (TV series) * "Stirred", a ''West Wing'' episode Bu ...

'', Jun. 1941) *"The Only Thing We Learn" (from ''

Startling Stories ''Startling Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by publisher Ned Pines' Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of ''Thrilling Wonder Stories'', S ...

'', Jul. 1949) *"The Adventurer" (from ''

Space Science Fiction Between 1952 and 1954, John Raymond published four digest-size science fiction and fantasy magazines. Raymond was an American publisher of men's magazines who knew little about science fiction, but the field's rapid growth and a distributo ...

'', May 1953) *" The Little Black Bag" (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 ...

'', Jul. 1950) *"The Luckiest Man in Denv" (from '' Galaxy Science Fiction'', Jun. 1952) *"The Silly Season" (from '' The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction'', Fall 1950) *"The Remorseful" (from '' Star Science Fiction Stories No.2'', Dec. 1953) *"Gomez" (from '' The Explorers'', Aug. 1954) *"The Advent on Channel Twelve" (from ''

Star Science Fiction Stories No.4 ''Star Science Fiction Stories No.4'' is the fourth book in the anthology series, ''Star Science Fiction Stories'', edited by Frederik Pohl. It was first published in 1958 by Ballantine Books, and was reprinted in 1972. These books have been ver ...

'', Nov. 1958) *" The Marching Morons" (from '' Galaxy Science Fiction'', Apr. 1951) *"The Last Man Left in the Bar" (from ''

Infinity Science Fiction ''Infinity Science Fiction'' was an American science fiction magazine, edited by Larry T. Shaw, and published by Royal Publications. The first issue, which appeared in November 1955, included Arthur C. Clarke's "The Star", a story about a pla ...

'', Oct. 1957) *" The Mindworm" (from '' Worlds Beyond'', Dec. 1950) *"With These Hands" (from '' Galaxy Science Fiction'', Dec. 1951) *"Shark Ship" (from ''Vanguard Science Fiction'', Jun. 1958) *"Friend to Man" (from '' 10 Story Fantasy'', Spr. 1951) *"The Altar at Midnight" (from '' Galaxy Science Fiction'', Nov. 1952) *"Dominoes" (from ''

Star Science Fiction Stories A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night, but their immense distances from Earth make ...

'', Feb. 1953) *"Two Dooms" (from '' Venture Science Fiction Magazine'', Jul. 1958) *"About the Author" (from '' The Explorers'', Aug. 1954)

Reception

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 ...

'' writes that the collection indeed "includes some of ornbluth'svery best work, as well as a few earlier stories written before his style had fully evolved." He name checks several of the story, notably "the classic ' The Little Black Bag,' which any other writer would have turned into a long (and less forceful) novel." He concludes "I regret that a few of my favorites are not included. I'd like 'Thirteen O'Clock' and 'That Share of Glory.' But we can't have everything, and I'm glad to have so much of Cyril's writing in one book. Recommended."Del Rey, Lester. "The Reference Library." In ''Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact'', March 1977, p. 167.

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 Science Fiction'' praises this collection, saying "I haven't enjoyed a book so much in years."Robinson, Spider. "Galaxy Bookshelf." In ''Galaxy Science Fiction'', August 1977, p. 143. Mark Rich writes "Critics judging Kornbluth by this anthology, edited by Pohl, have seen a growing bitterness in his later stories. This reflects editorial choice more than reality, because Kornbluth also wrote delightful humor in his last years, in stories not collected here. These tales demonstrate Kornbluth's effective use of everyday individuals from a variety of ethnic backgrounds as well as his well-tuned ear for dialect."Rich, Mark. "The Best of C. M. Kornbluth." In Fiona Kelleghan (ed.). ''Classics of Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Volume 1: Aegypt—Make Room! Make Room!''. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press. pp. 45–47. The book was also reviewed by Michael Bishop in ''Delap's F & SF Review'', May 1977, and Philip Stephensen-Payne in ''Paperback Parlour''.

Awards

" The Little Black Bag won the 1951 Retro Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2001. "The Silly Season" was a preliminary nominee for the 1951 Retro Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 2001. "The Advent on Channel Twelve" was a finalist for the 1959 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. "Shark Ship" was a finalist for the 1959 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Best of C. M. Kornbluth, The 1976 short story collections Science fiction short story collections Doubleday (publisher) books Ballantine Books books

Summary

Contents

Reception

Awards

Notes