# Science/speculative fiction short story anthology recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763 "2020-02-11T09:53:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/1 "2020-02-11T09:53:34Z")
I don’t read much fiction, and when I do my schedule isn’t really conducive to reading long novels. ([The last novel I read](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1491113.Die_Stadt_der_Tr_umenden_B_cher) took me over five years. Seriously.) But I recently discovered that I can get through short story collections very quickly. I can manage about ten pages a day on my commute to and from work, which suits me just fine. I’ve found the SDMB to be an excellent source of media recommendations, so I am hoping that people here might suggest some short story collections for me that are similar to the previous ones I’ve read and enjoyed. There are exactly two of these, both in the genre of science fiction or speculative fiction: [ul] [li]I just finished _[Store of the Worlds](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12455877-store-of-the-worlds)_, a collection of short stories by Robert Sheckley. Sheckley is great at writing imaginative, thought-provoking stories with unforeseeable twists. The tales, often in a futuristic or sci-fi setting, deal with social, philosophical, logical, legalistic, or ethical questions, often taking them to absurd extremes. I particularly liked “The Monsters” (an alien species that periodically slaughters its females are horrified by human visitors who do not) and “The Native Problem” (the sole human colonist of a distant planet is mistaken for a primitive indigene by stubbornly prejudiced colonists who arrive some time later). Apparently Douglas Adams was a fan of Sheckley and cited him as a big influence; from this collection it’s easy to see why.[/li][li]Back when I was a kid I read _[The Twilight Zone: The Original Stories](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/882029.The_Twilight_Zone)_, which is basically a collection of (almost) every original short story that later got adapted into a _Twilight Zone_ episode. “Little Girl Lost” (the one about the little girl who accidentally falls into the fourth dimension) and “It’s a Good Life” (about a town living in terror of an omnipotent and capricious little boy) have haunted me to this day.[/li][/ul] So I guess I am asking whether there are any further sci-fi or speculative fiction anthologies in a similar style. I guess my only other restriction is that the collection must be available as a printed and bound book. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/2 "2020-02-11T12:29:20Z")
_The Persistence of Vision_ by John Varley _Ten Thousand Light Years from Home_ by James Tiptree, Jr. _Dangerous Visions_, Ed by Harlan Ellison There’s also [Science Ficton for the Throne](https://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-Throne-One-Sitting-Reads/dp/1515410250), which would be perfect given your reading situation. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/3 "2020-02-11T13:04:39Z")
There are several other Sheckley story collections available, as well. You can probably find them used, on line, or you might get NESFA’s collection. **The Masque of Manana** , which contains several paperback’s worth of Sheckley Short Fiction: > **[NESFA | The Masque of Mañana](https://www.nesfa.org/book/the-masque-of-manana/)** > > This volume contains the major short science fiction of Robert Sheckley. It was produced for his Guest of Honourship at … Continue reading "The Masque of Mañana" If you like short stories with punch (and generally a twist ending), you should know that this was pretty much a staple of 1950s SF. Try the works of Fredric Brown (who was a master of the form), Theodore Cogswell, William Tenn, Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, and others. Again, these are out of print, but available at used book stores, through online used books, and probably as e-books. NESFA, typically, has collections available: [i[From These Ashes\* – the complete short SF of Fredric Brown > **[From These Ashes: The Complete Short SF (Science Fiction) of Fredric Brown:...](https://www.amazon.com/These-Ashes-Complete-Science-Fiction/dp/1886778183)** > > From These Ashes: The Complete Short SF (Science Fiction) of Fredric Brown \[Fredric Brown, Ben Yalow\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. From These Ashes: The Complete Short SF (Science Fiction) of Fredric Brown _Martians and Madness_ – the complete SF novels of Fredric Brown (but they’re short, and worth it): > **[NESFA | Martians and Madness](https://www.nesfa.org/book/martians-and-madness/)** > > Martians and Madness contains the complete science fiction and fantasy novels of Fredric Brown as well as, "Gateway to Darkness," … Continue reading "Martians and Madness" (Brown also wrote great short mysteries. 30 years ago a small press released these in hardcover and paperback, but they’re out of print now. Haffner Press is in the process of collecting them in a few hardcover editions, but they’re a bit pricey) William Tenn: _Immodest Proposals_, the Complete Tenn Vol. I [http://data.nesfa.org/press/Books/Tenn-1.html](http://data.nesfa.org/press/Books/Tenn-1.html) \*Here Comes Civilization The Complete Tenn Vol. II [http://data.nesfa.org/press/Books/Tenn-2.html](http://data.nesfa.org/press/Books/Tenn-2.html) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/4 "2020-02-11T13:38:58Z")
Of course, I’d always recommend _The Science Fiction Hall of Fame_ (especially the first volume, since you’re into short stories), although, like the ones I recommend above, the stories are pretty old now. Classics, though. I don’t think Fredric Brown’s _Arena_ is dated at all, for instance. for more up-to-date stories, check out _[The Year’s Best Science Fiction_ collections > **[Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fifth Annual Collection (Year's Best Science...](https://www.amazon.com/Years-Best-Science-Fiction-Thirty-Fifth/dp/125016463X)** > > Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fifth Annual Collection (Year's Best Science Fiction, 35) \[Dozois, Gardner\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fifth Annual Collection (Year's Best Science... …and the similarly-named _The Year’s Best SF_. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/5 "2020-02-11T13:44:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If you like short stories with punch (and generally a twist ending), you should know that this was pretty much a staple of 1950s SF. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Of course, I’d always recommend _The Science Fiction Hall of Fame_ (especially the first volume, since you’re into short stories), although, like the ones I recommend above, the stories are pretty old now. Thanks to you and RealityChuck for the recommendations so far. Reading old stories doesn’t bother me, as long as they’re good. My favourite stories from the Sheckley collection described in my OP are mostly from the 1950s anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/6 "2020-02-11T14:17:17Z")
I don’t know how it would fit your taste, but [this](https://www.amazon.com/50-Short-Science-Fiction-Tales/dp/0684842963) is a classic collection of especially short SF stories. (If I were you, I’d go for the $6.62 copy, not the $952.95 one.) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/7 "2020-02-11T14:19:03Z")
**Adventures in Time and Space** is the anthology that turned me on to the genre, big-time. Check it out: > **[Adventures in Time and Space](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_in_Time_and_Space)** > > Adventures in Time and Space is an American anthology of science fiction stories edited by Raymond J. Healy and J. Francis McComas and published in 1946 by Random House. A second edition was also published in 1946 that eliminated the last five stories. A Modern Library edition was issued in 1957. When it was re-released in 1975 by Ballantine Books, Analog book reviewer Lester del Rey referred to it as a book he often gave to people in order to turn them onto the genre. It is now once again The b... ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/8 "2020-02-11T14:27:38Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If you like short stories with punch (and generally a twist ending), you should know that this was pretty much a staple of 1950s SF. Ever [read](https://archive.org/details/VortexScienceFiction1Of2/mode/2up) [_Vortex_](https://archive.org/details/VortexScienceFiction2Of2/mode/2up)? About as 50s as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/9 "2020-02-11T14:31:20Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I don’t know how it would fit your taste, but [this](https://www.amazon.com/50-Short-Science-Fiction-Tales/dp/0684842963) is a classic collection of especially short SF stories. (If I were you, I’d go for the $6.62 copy, not the $952.95 one.) I’ve got that one. I recommend Ted Chiang’s Stories of Your Life as well. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/10 "2020-02-11T14:46:31Z")
I was going to recommend Robert Reed and Tim Pratt, but it looks like their short story collecting hasn’t caught up with their short story writing. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/11 "2020-02-11T14:49:44Z")
Since Gardner Dozois (of _The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Xth Annual Collection_) is now dead, to keep up with the most important science fiction short stories each year you should read Neil Clarke’s anthologies (_The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume X_). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/12 "2020-02-11T16:19:07Z")
[The Thackery T. Lambshead Guide to Eccentric and Discredited Diseases](https://www.amazon.com/Thackery-Lambshead-Eccentric-Discredited-Diseases/dp/0553383396) is so weird and delightful. They commissioned a bunch of authors to create new diseases and write medical guides about them. The one I remember best is by China Mieville and describes a mindworm that consists entirely of a specific arrangement of neurons that form in response to hearing a specific vocalization. The mindworm replicates by compelling its infested victim create the vocalization. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/13 "2020-02-11T20:58:41Z")
Are there still yearly anthologies of the Hugo winners? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-speculative-fiction-short-story-anthology-recommendations/847763/14 "2020-02-12T02:18:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Are there still yearly anthologies of the Hugo winners? There’s never been yearly anthologies of the Hugo winners. You’re thinking of Nebula winner anthologies, which are still going on. They’re now called Nebula Award Showcases. The stories will be very, very different from 50s sf, though. I used _More Human than Human: Stories of Androids, Robots, and Manufactured Humanity_, by Neil Clarke, and Robots: _The Recent A.I._, by Rich Horton, to mine recent stories for my robot book. Several award nominees in there. Rich also has been doing best of the year anthologies, and both Neil and Rich have released a long line of other more specialized anthologies and you could spend the next several years going through their oeuvre.