Favorite Anthologies
Excellent introductions to genre fiction
I enjoy a well put together anthology. An anthology is a collection of stories in this case gathering writings from multiple contributors “under a single overarching theme, genre, or time period.”
I have found anthologies the best way to sample a new genre I am not familiar with. I generally like reprint anthologies but have enjoyed some new fiction entries.
Here are some favorites of mine:
Swordsmen in the Sky, Ace Books, 1964, 192 pages, edited by Donald A. Wolleheim.
Contents:
Swordsman of Lost Terra · Poul Anderson · nv Planet Stories Nov 1951
People of the Crater [Garan] · Andre Norton · nv Fantasy Book #1 1947, as by Andrew North
The Moon That Vanished · Leigh Brackett · nv Thrilling Wonder Stories Oct 1948
A Vision of Venus · Otis Adelbert Kline · ss Amazing Dec 1933
Kaldar, World of Antares [Stuart Merrick] · Edmond Hamilton · nv The Magic Carpet Apr 1933
Sword & planet fiction is fantasy with some science fiction window dressing written in an era when fantasy was out of fashion. This is a killer collection of reprints. Classic Frank Frazetta art on the cover.
Swords & Sorcery, Pyramid Books, Dec. 1963, 186 pages, edited by L. Sprague de Camp
Contents:
Introduction: Heroic Fantasy · L. Sprague de Camp · in
The Valor of Cappen Varra [Cappen Varra] · Poul Anderson · ss Fantastic Universe Jan 1957
Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweller · Lord Dunsany · ss The Sketch Jan 11 1911
Shadows in the Moonlight [Conan] · Robert E. Howard · nv Weird Tales Apr 1934
The Citadel of Darkness [Prince Raynor] · Henry Kuttner · nv Strange Stories Aug 1939
When the Sea-King’s Away [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] · Fritz Leiber · nv Fantastic May 1960
The Doom That Came to Sarnath [revised from The Slot Jun ’20] · H. P. Lovecraft · ss Weird Tales Jun 1938
Hellsgarde [Jirel of Joiry] · C. L. Moore · nv Weird Tales Apr 1939
The Testament of Athammaus · Clark Ashton Smith · ss Weird Tales Oct 1932
This is the first sword & sorcery anthology. Cover by Virgil Finlay which give a nice pulp feel to the book. Contents are strong. L. Sprague de Camp’s author introduction on Robert E. Howard appears to be a case of testing the waters as his wording would become harsher in later books. Still, this is an excellent introduction to sword & sorcery. De Camp would edit three more reprint anthologies which are all worth tracking down.
Great Science Fiction Adventures, Lancer Books, Oct. 1963, 174 pages, edited by Larry T. Shaw
Contents:
The Starcombers · Edmond Hamilton · na Science Fiction Adventures Dec 1956
Hunt the Space-Witch! · Robert Silverberg · na Science Fiction Adventures Jan 1958, as by Ivar Jorgenson
The Man from the Big Dark · John Brunner · na Science Fiction Adventures Jun 1958
The World Otalmi Made · Harry Harrison · nv Science Fiction Adventures Jun 1958
This is a book of stories reprinted from the magazine Science Fiction Adventures from the late 1950s. This is action adventure space opera. Shaw was editor at Lancer Books. Cover by Emsh. There was a 2nd printing in 1968 with cover by Freas.
Galactic Empires Volume One, St. Martins, 1977, 305 pages, edited by Brian Aldiss
Introduction · Brian W. Aldiss · in
A Sense of Perspective · Brian W. Aldiss · si
6 · Been a Long, Long Time · R. A. Lafferty · ss Fantastic Dec 1970
14 · The Possessed · Arthur C. Clarke · ss Dynamic Science Fiction Mar 1953
20 · Protected Species · H. B. Fyfe · ss Astounding Mar 1951
23 · All the Way Back · Michael Shaara · ss Astounding Jul 1952
‘Wider Still and Wider...’ · Brian W. Aldiss · si
60 · The Star Plunderer · Poul Anderson · nv Planet Stories Sep 1952
90 · Foundation [Foundation] · Isaac Asimov · nv Astounding May 1942
127 · We’re Civilized · Mark Clifton & Alex Apostolides · ss Galaxy Aug 1953
Horses in the Starship Hold · Brian W. Aldiss · si
146 · The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal · Cordwainer Smith · ss Amazing May 1964
165 · The Rebel of Valkyr · Alfred Coppel · nv Planet Stories Fll 1950
215 · Brightness Falls from the Air [contest story] · Idris Seabright · ss F&SF Apr 1951
223 · Immigrant · Clifford D. Simak · na Astounding Mar 1954
The Health Service in the Skies · Brian W. Aldiss · si
289 · Resident Physician [Sector General] · James White · nv New Worlds Sep 1961
318 · Age of Retirement · Mal Lynch · ss Astounding Apr 1954
325 · Planting Time · Pete Adams & Charles Nightingale · ss Antigrav: Cosmic Comedies, ed. Philip Strick, London: Hutchinson 1975
Galactic Empires Volume Two, St. Martins, 1977, 278 pages, edited by Brian Aldiss
Introduction · Brian W. Aldiss · in
1 · ‘You Can’t Impose Civilization by Force’ · Brian W. Aldiss · si
8 · Escape to Chaos · John D. MacDonald · na Super Science Stories Jun 1951
55 · Concealment [Dellian Robots] · A. E. van Vogt · ss Astounding Sep 1943
72 · To Civilize · Algis Budrys · ss Future Jan 1954
82 · Beep · James Blish · nv Galaxy Feb 1954
123 · The Other End of the Stick · Brian W. Aldiss · si
126 · Down the River · Mack Reynolds · ss Startling Stories Sep 1950
135 · The Bounty Hunter · Avram Davidson · ss Fantastic Universe Mar 1958
141 · Not Yet the End · Fredric Brown · vi Captain Future Win 1941
145 · All Things Are Cyclic · Brian W. Aldiss · si
150 · Tonight the Stars Revolt! · Gardner F. Fox · nv Planet Stories Mar 1952
192 · Final Encounter · Harry Harrison · nv Galaxy Apr 1964
215 · Big Ancestors and Descendants · Brian W. Aldiss · si
219 · Lord of a Thousand Suns · Poul Anderson · nv Planet Stories Sep 1951
251 · Big Ancestor · F. L. Wallace · nv Galaxy Nov 1954
278 · The Interlopers · Roger Dee · ss Astounding Sep 1954
296 · Epilogue · Brian W. Aldiss · aw
This is probably the best anthology of space opera/galactic empire sub-genre of science fiction yet produced though David Hartwell’s Space Opera Renaissance covers more recent fiction. These two volumes include some of my favorite Poul Anderson in rip-roaring Planet Stories form, Gardner F. Fox, Alfred Coppel’s “The Rebel of Valkyr.” Not every story is a keeper but the good outweighs the bad. Avon reprinted both volumes as paperbacks in 1979. The hardbacks are fairly common in used bookstores. A couple of other Aldiss edited anthologies to look out for are Space Opera (1974) and Space Odysseys (1974).
The Barbarian Swordsmen, Star Books, 1981, 172 pages, edited by Peter Haining as “Sean Richards”
Contents:
9 · Introduction · Sean Richards · in
19 · The War of Fire · J.-H. Rosny-Aîné · ex 1909
27 · The Sword of Welleran · Lord Dunsany · ss The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, London: G. Allen 1908
41 · The Tower of the Elephant [Conan] · Robert E. Howard · nv Weird Tales Mar 1933
67 · Brachan the Kelt · Robert E. Howard · uw *
75 · Jirel Meets Magic [Jirel of Joiry] · C. L. Moore · nv Weird Tales Jul 1935
111 · Spawn of Dagon [Elak of Atlantis] · Henry Kuttner · ss Weird Tales Jul 1938
130 · The Thief of Forthe [Rald] · Clifford Ball · nv Weird Tales Jul 1937
154 · The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] · Fritz Leiber · ss Fantastic Aug 1968
170 · The Man Who Influenced Robert E. Howard · Robert E. Howard · lt Jun 1934; letter from Howard to H.P. Lovecraft
More sword & sorcery with an obscure Robert E. Howard story and excerpt of J. H. Rosny-Aîné’s from Quest for Fire. The contents are mostly from pulp magazines except Rosny and Lord Dunsany. Cover by Gino D’Achille.
Heroic Fantasy, DAW Books, April 1979, 320 pages, edited by Gerald W. Page & Hank Reinhardt
Contents:
7 · Editor’s Introduction · Gerald W. Page & Hank Reinhardt · in
11 · Sand Sister [Witch World] · Andre Norton · na *
58 · The Valley of the Sorrows · Galad Elflandsson · ss *
69 · Ghoul’s-Head · Donald J. Walsh, Jr. · ss *
81 · Commentary on Swords and Swordplay · Hank Reinhardt · ar *
86 · Astral Stray [Voidal] · Adrian Cole · nv *
105 · Blood in the Mist · E. C. Tubb · nv *
134 · Commentary on Armor · Hank Reinhardt · ar *
138 · The Murderous Dove [Cyrion] · Tanith Lee · ss *
153 · Death in Jukun · Charles R. Saunders · ss *
169 · The De Pertriche Ring · H. Warner Munn · nv *
206 · Commentary on Courage and Heroism · Hank Reinhardt · ar *
211 · The Hero Who Returned · Gerald W. Page · nv *
235 · The Riddle of the Horn [Julian] · Darrell Schweitzer · ss *
251 · The Age of the Warrior · Hank Reinhardt · ss *
266 · The Mistaken Oracle · A. E. Silas · ss *
280 · Demonsong · F. Paul Wilson · ss *
299 · The Seeker in the Fortress · Manly Wade Wellman · nv *
If one is going to produce an original anthology, this is how you do it. Page and Reinhardt got two pulp era writers in Wellman and Munn to contribute and (at the time) new rising talent including Adrian Cole and Charles R. Saunders. Reinhardt has some excellent articles within the book.
Swords Against Darkness, Vol 1-5, Zebra Books, 1977-1979, edited by Andrew J. Offutt
Contents for Volume 1 (Feb. 1977, 288 pages):
7 · Foreword · Andrew J. Offutt · fw
12 · Nekht Semerkeht · Robert E. Howard & Andrew J. Offutt · nv *
49 · The Tale of Hauk · Poul Anderson · nv *
80 · The Smile of Oisia · George W. Proctor · nv *
118 · Pride of the Fleet · Bruce Jones · ss *
135 · Straggler from Atlantis · Manly Wade Wellman · nv *
170 · The Ring of Set [Simon of Gitta] · Richard L. Tierney · nv *
206 · Largarut’s Bane · Raul Garcia Capella · ss *
220 · Dragons’ Teeth [Dama (& Vettius)] · David Drake · nv Midnight Sun #2 1975
250 · The Sustenance of Hoak [Ryre] · Ramsey Campbell · nv *
More original sword & sorcery. Offutt was fortunate in that there was a thriving small press scene with lots of talent to pick from. Ramsey Campbell, Richard L. Tierney, and Manly Wade Wellman all had multiple entries for series characters within this series. There were two printings of volume 1. Cover by Frank Frazetta for volume 1. Finding all of these can take time and probably money now. It took me a couple years in the middle 1980s to track them down.
Note: I copied and pasted the contents from the indispensable Galactic Central website. It saved me time typing out the contents from each book.