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Title: The Great Novellas
Series: Science Fiction Hall of Fame #2B
Editor: Ben Bova
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: SF
Pages: 743
Words: 202K
| Synopsis: |
Book includes:
The Martian Way – Isaac Asimov
Earthman, Come Home – James Blish
Rogue Moon – Algis Budrys
The Specter General – Theodore R. Cogswell
The Machine Stops – E. M. Forster
The Midas Plague – Frederik Pohl
The Witches of Karres – James H. Schmitz
E for Effort – T. L. Sherred
In Hiding – Wilmar H. Shiras
The Big Front Yard – Clifford D. Simak
The Moon Moth – Jack Vance
| My Thoughts: |
After the complete stinker that was the set of Novellas (Vol. 2A), I went into this read very trepidatiously. Thankfully, the first novella by Asimov set me at my ease, as I’d read the short story it was based on in one of his collections. Familiarity not only can breed contempt but it can also breed contentedness. I’d also read the full novel of Budry’s Rogue Moon and Pohl’s The Midas Plague.
With that, I experienced none of the “can we get this over this, please?!?!?” that I experienced in the previous volume. These novellas I found interesting and engaging and I kept on wanting to read them. I don’t know why I enjoyed ALL of the novellas in this volume and none of the ones in 2A. Honestly, it baffles me.
If you want to experience SF in all its glory and all its stigma, read this series. The first volume of short stories is just sublime, Vol 2A is shamefully boring and this 2B volume brings things back to a more balanced view. I believe there are two more volumes (Volumes 3 and 4) but I think I’m going to pass since I doubt they’re all on the level of Vol 1.
★★★★☆
Maybe it’s a matter of different editors? I had a similar problem with Zelazny’s short stories and novellas – very uneven collection in several books, some great and some just meh.
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Unfortunately, Ben Bova was the editor for both of these…
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I’ve read short stories by Asimov, Blish, and Pohl, and enjoyed those. I know what you mean, though, that there’s no way to tell if a collection will actually contain things you enjoy.
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I’m just really glad this volume was better than the previous. THAT one was just abysmal 😦
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A good number of authors listed in this collection can be called “classics”, but this does not always guarantee reader enjoyment: I’m happy that this time the choice of stories was more to your liking! 🙂
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I am thankful too. But I’m not going to try any more. Just not worth the chance…
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Ahhh, this is definitely reassuring. Funnily, I only recognize Asimov in this party. Did this lead you to look into the books of some of the authors here?
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Not really. I’ve read enough of them growing up that I don’t feel the need to chase after them now 🙂
Besides big hair, that is another reason I’m glad I grew up when I did.
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