The Greatest Science Fiction Stories of the 20th Century. edited by Martin H Greenberg. 1998
THE GREATEST SCIENCE FICTION STORIES OF THE 20TH CENUTRY
RATED 100% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE 4.5 OF 5
12 STORIES : 6 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 0 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Discovering an anthology that exclusively exists in an audio format is a rare and intriguing occurrence. This is a remarkable anthology that spans over four decades of science fiction excellence. While many of these stories are familiar, having appeared in various anthologies, their availability in audio form is a delightful novelty. The ease of access on Audible, a leading platform in the audiobook market, adds to the allure.
Any anthology purporting to be “the greatest stories” is going to excite discussion and argument. That is one of the joys of science fiction fandom. While one can certainly quibble with some of the stories excluded from this book, it is hard to argue against the quality of the stories that we hear within.
This anthology, however, is not without its flaws. The primary issue lies not within the content, which scored a perfect 100% on my rating scale, but in the audio quality of the recordings. It's evident that several stories were recorded during the era of audiocassettes, resulting in inconsistent audio quality and occasional background hiss. For seasoned audiobook enthusiasts like myself, who nostalgically refer to them as "books on tape," this is a minor inconvenience. However, younger listeners, accustomed to pristine digital quality, may find these auditory artifacts distracting.
Half of the anthology - six stories - join the all time great list:
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas • (1973) • short story by Ursula K. Le Guin. World building as famous sci-fi thought experiment. Le Guin invites us (with beautiful prose) to imagine a nearly perfect world with a necessary cruelty at the center.
Bears Discover Fire • (1990) • short story by Terry Bisson. Bears seem to have discovered fire and are monopolizing the medians of highways in the American South. This is an upgrade from my previous review in HUGO AND NEBULA AWARD WINNERS FROM ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION. It took hearing this performed by an actor for me to really connect with the quiet character work here. Now I really enjoy this story.
The Crystal Spheres • (1984) • short story by David Brin. Humanity discovered that the solar system was encased in a crystal sphere when it accidentally shattered it. It turns out that all planets with the potential for life have the same spheres. Impenetrable from the outside and seemingly designed to keep intelligent spacefaring species apart from each other. One day, humanity discovers another solar system with another broken sphere.
Tangents • (1986) • short story by Greg Bear. Awe-inspiring story of a mathematician trying to connect with multi-dimensional beings. Another story in conversation with the great book Flatland, but this story brings great characters and literary flair.
The Nine Billion Names of God • (1953) • short story by Arthur C. Clarke. Monks receive a computer to help them discover all the names of God, but the result might be more universal than they expected.
Why I Left Harry's All-Night Diner • (1987) • short story by Lawrence Watt-Evans (variant of Why I Left Harry's All-Night Hamburgers). Heartwarming piece of SF Americana. A young man works nights in a diner that caters to strange beings from all over.
The Greatest Science Fiction Stories Of The 20Th Century
12 STORIES : 6 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 0 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF
Jeffty Is Five • (1977) • short story by Harlan Ellison
Good. In his own world, Jeffty stays five even as everyone else gets older.
Twilight • [Twilight • 1] • (1934) • novelette by John W. Campbell, Jr. [as by John W. Campbell]
Good. A time traveler tells his story about traveling to the twilight of the human race. A time when machines do everything and what few people are left are beaten and lacking all drive.
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas • (1973) • short story by Ursula K. Le Guin
Great. World building as famous sci-fi thought experiment. Le Guin invites us (with beautiful prose) to imagine a nearly perfect world with a necessary cruelty at the center.
Bears Discover Fire • (1990) • short story by Terry Bisson
Great. Bears seem to have discovered fire and are monopolizing the medians of highways in the American South. This is an upgrade from my previous review in HUGO AND NEBULA AWARD WINNERS FROM ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION. It took hearing this performed by an actor for me to really connect with the quiet character work here. Now I really enjoy this story.
The Crystal Spheres • (1984) • short story by David Brin
Great. Humanity discovered that the solar system was encased in a crystal sphere when it accidentally shattered it. It turns out that all planets with the potential for life have the same spheres. Impenetrable from the outside and seemingly designed to keep intelligent spacefaring species apart from each other. One day, humanity discovers another solar system with another broken sphere.
That Only a Mother • (1948) • short story by Judith Merril
Good. The inability of us to see the horrors right in front of us, as told in part-epistolary style by a pregnant wife writing to her husband who works on atomic weapons. Creeping horrors that is keep mostly off-page.
Allamagoosa • (1955) • short story by Eric Frank Russell
Good. Fun, but slight tale of a spaceship crew that has their shore leave cut short when they are going to be audited. The manifest claims they had something called an offog, but no one knows what that is.
Tangents • (1986) • short story by Greg Bear
Great. Awe-inspiring story of a mathematician trying to connect with multi-dimensional beings. Another story in conversation with the great book Flatland, but this story brings great characters and literary flair.
The Nine Billion Names of God • (1953) • short story by Arthur C. Clarke
Great. Monks receive a computer to help them discover all the names of God, but the result might be more universal than they expected.
Huddling Place • [City] • (1944) • short story by Clifford D. Simak
Good. In a future where there is no need to leave his home, on man discovers that he had developed crippling agoraphobia.
Why I Left Harry's All-Night Diner • (1987) • short story by Lawrence Watt-Evans (variant of Why I Left Harry's All-Night Hamburgers)
Great. Heartwarming piece of SF Americana. A young man works nights in a diner that caters to strange beings from all over.
Fermi and Frost • (1985) • short story by Frederik Pohl
Good. A thought experiment of life during a nuclear winter.
