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More of the Best of Science Fiction & Fantasy
Who better to narrate today's best science-fiction stories than today's favorite science-fiction stars? This exciting collection features Roger Zelazny's "Permafrost" read by Siddig El Fadil ( Star Deep Space Nine), Orson Scott Card's "Fat Farm" read by Roddy McDowall ( Planet of the Apes), and John Varley's "Options" read by Claudia Christian ( Babylon 5). Robin Curtis ( Star Trek III and Star Trek IV), Terry Farrell ( Star Deep Space Nine), Nana Visitor ( Star Deep Space Nine), and Wil Wheaton ( Star The Next Generation) also perform, reading works by Karen Joy Fowler, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Robert Silverberg, Arthur C. Clarke, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Joe Haldeman.
Audio Cassette
First published June 1, 1995
85 people want to read
About the author
Arthur C. Clarke
1,650 books11.6k followersStories, works of noted British writer, scientist, and underwater explorer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, include
2001: A Space Odyssey
(1968).
This most important and influential figure in 20th century fiction spent the first half of his life in England and served in World War II as a radar operator before migrating to Ceylon in 1956. He co-created his best known novel and movie with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.
Clarke, a graduate of King's College, London, obtained first class honours in physics and mathematics. He served as past chairman of the interplanetary society and as a member of the academy of astronautics, the royal astronomical society, and many other organizations.
He authored more than fifty books and won his numerous awards: the Kalinga prize of 1961, the American association for the advancement Westinghouse prize, the Bradford Washburn award, and the John W. Campbell award for his novel Rendezvous with Rama. Clarke also won the nebula award of the fiction of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo award of the world fiction convention in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he stood as grand master of the fiction of America. The queen knighted him as the commander of the British Empire in 1989.
This most important and influential figure in 20th century fiction spent the first half of his life in England and served in World War II as a radar operator before migrating to Ceylon in 1956. He co-created his best known novel and movie with the assistance of Stanley Kubrick.
Clarke, a graduate of King's College, London, obtained first class honours in physics and mathematics. He served as past chairman of the interplanetary society and as a member of the academy of astronautics, the royal astronomical society, and many other organizations.
He authored more than fifty books and won his numerous awards: the Kalinga prize of 1961, the American association for the advancement Westinghouse prize, the Bradford Washburn award, and the John W. Campbell award for his novel Rendezvous with Rama. Clarke also won the nebula award of the fiction of America in 1972, 1974 and 1979, the Hugo award of the world fiction convention in 1974 and 1980. In 1986, he stood as grand master of the fiction of America. The queen knighted him as the commander of the British Empire in 1989.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 25, 2012
The Sentinel by Clarke 3.5/5
Fat Farm by Card 2/5
Our Lady of the Sauropods by Silverberg 3.5/5
Options by Varley 2/5
Why I left Harry's All Night Hamburgers by Lawrence Watt-Evans 4/5
The Poplar Street Study by Karen Joy Fowler 3.5/5
Feedback by Haldeman 2/5
Permafrost by Zelazny 4/5
Skin Deep by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 4/5
narration 5/5
Fat Farm by Card 2/5
Our Lady of the Sauropods by Silverberg 3.5/5
Options by Varley 2/5
Why I left Harry's All Night Hamburgers by Lawrence Watt-Evans 4/5
The Poplar Street Study by Karen Joy Fowler 3.5/5
Feedback by Haldeman 2/5
Permafrost by Zelazny 4/5
Skin Deep by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 4/5
narration 5/5
December 21, 2010
The stories were great. The production of this audiobook is baffling. There is no introduction before each story, such as title, author, or reader. There is very little pause between stories. I'm hoping for this to be re-released with better production.
January 11, 2019
3.5 Stars overall
Includes 9 short stories and as such some are amazing but others not as much. The audiobook is a bit weird since there are no titles or intro to each story. You're just shocked by the sudden change of narrator or tone.
Sentinel - Arthur C. Clarke. = 2/5
The truth is out there... on the moon.
Forgettable and lame, the aliens are so advance and amazing and man is small and insignificant. Just like every retro sci-fi out there.
Fat Farm - Orson Scott Card. = 5/5
Layers and layers of technological advancement, the human psyche and how everything has a price.
While most Sci-fi use cloning and body switching as a way to give the MC perfection this story deals with the broken, useless lump left behind when the clone walks away. For this person is still there, he still has his memories and the clone is but a perfectly sculpted copy. This one alone made the audiobook worth while for me.
Our Lady of the Sauropods - Robert Silverberg. = 3.5/5
Jurassic park has opened it's doors and the inhabitants are here to stay.
It started off on shaky grounds but ended up as a fun and weird way to look at things from the dinos point of view.
Options - John Varley. = 1/5
Gender switching is just a fact of life and is only one procedure away.
Has a very grounded message and currently relevant. The differences between the genders (i.e. none they both have problems) however the execution was muddled and attempted to fit different elements into this narrow space instead of focusing on the main one.
Why I left Harry's All night diner - Lawrence Watt-evans. = 2/5
The swallow travels south for the winter each year and comes back with stories of the wide world and all it's wonders.
The hen travels south to the edge end of the streets and thinks my how far I have gone and much I have seen.
Though the moral of this tale attempts to see things from a different perspective of (hey at least the hen got to travel, why don't you?) I can't help but be reminded of the difference between the Hen and the swallow in it.
The Poplar Street Study - Karen Joy Fowler. = 4/5
What if you and your entire neighborhood were the lab rat?
Very interesting take on the matter and well written, lost a point due to the abrupt ending.
Feedback - Joe Haldeman. = 2.5/5
If you could link minds with someone so as to use his experiences for something how much of the end result is you and how much is them.
Interesting perspective but the narrative was too technical and the outcome predictable.
Permafrost - Roger Zelazny = 5/5
Hate is only love with it's back turned. Also you might not want to go back to your ex with nothing but lame excuses if you've done something irredeemable.
Skin Deep - Kristine Kathryn Rusch = 5/5
Perfection. About how we sometimes see people as people only if they have the right skin on. Those that different are automatically persecuted... even if they are the ones that truly belong not us. Easily the best in the collection.
Summery
Interesting collection to pass the time for a Sci-fi fan. What you like and dislike will vary according to your own personal tastes but in the end everyone will come out of it with something.
Looking at the other reviews I feel I should explain my love for the story (Fat Farm) and my low opinion of the story (Why I Left Harry's All Night Diner).
I won't. Everyone has the right to form his or her own opinion regardless of the name attached to the work. It's also fine to like what you like even if it's not popular. Just have fun with the book.
Includes 9 short stories and as such some are amazing but others not as much. The audiobook is a bit weird since there are no titles or intro to each story. You're just shocked by the sudden change of narrator or tone.
Sentinel - Arthur C. Clarke. = 2/5
The truth is out there... on the moon.
Forgettable and lame, the aliens are so advance and amazing and man is small and insignificant. Just like every retro sci-fi out there.
Fat Farm - Orson Scott Card. = 5/5
Layers and layers of technological advancement, the human psyche and how everything has a price.
While most Sci-fi use cloning and body switching as a way to give the MC perfection this story deals with the broken, useless lump left behind when the clone walks away. For this person is still there, he still has his memories and the clone is but a perfectly sculpted copy. This one alone made the audiobook worth while for me.
Our Lady of the Sauropods - Robert Silverberg. = 3.5/5
Jurassic park has opened it's doors and the inhabitants are here to stay.
It started off on shaky grounds but ended up as a fun and weird way to look at things from the dinos point of view.
Options - John Varley. = 1/5
Gender switching is just a fact of life and is only one procedure away.
Has a very grounded message and currently relevant. The differences between the genders (i.e. none they both have problems) however the execution was muddled and attempted to fit different elements into this narrow space instead of focusing on the main one.
Why I left Harry's All night diner - Lawrence Watt-evans. = 2/5
The swallow travels south for the winter each year and comes back with stories of the wide world and all it's wonders.
The hen travels south to the edge end of the streets and thinks my how far I have gone and much I have seen.
Though the moral of this tale attempts to see things from a different perspective of (hey at least the hen got to travel, why don't you?) I can't help but be reminded of the difference between the Hen and the swallow in it.
The Poplar Street Study - Karen Joy Fowler. = 4/5
What if you and your entire neighborhood were the lab rat?
Very interesting take on the matter and well written, lost a point due to the abrupt ending.
Feedback - Joe Haldeman. = 2.5/5
If you could link minds with someone so as to use his experiences for something how much of the end result is you and how much is them.
Interesting perspective but the narrative was too technical and the outcome predictable.
Permafrost - Roger Zelazny = 5/5
Hate is only love with it's back turned. Also you might not want to go back to your ex with nothing but lame excuses if you've done something irredeemable.
Skin Deep - Kristine Kathryn Rusch = 5/5
Perfection. About how we sometimes see people as people only if they have the right skin on. Those that different are automatically persecuted... even if they are the ones that truly belong not us. Easily the best in the collection.
Summery
Interesting collection to pass the time for a Sci-fi fan. What you like and dislike will vary according to your own personal tastes but in the end everyone will come out of it with something.
Looking at the other reviews I feel I should explain my love for the story (Fat Farm) and my low opinion of the story (Why I Left Harry's All Night Diner).
I won't. Everyone has the right to form his or her own opinion regardless of the name attached to the work. It's also fine to like what you like even if it's not popular. Just have fun with the book.
January 8, 2019
Two great, some terrible.
I had to give it a 3 even though two of the stories were excellent. The bad ones brought it down.
The Sentinel (Arthur C. Clarke)
Well-written and interesting story of an Earth-man’s encounter on the moon. (3 stars out of 5)
Fat Farm (Orson Scott Card)
Gross and dumb (1/5)
Our Lady of the Sauropods (Robert Silverberg)
If nature eventually fixes its mistakes, this one is a doozy! (4/5)
Options (John Varley)
A stupid story but a topic definitely relevant to society today. A technological trip to logical conclusions and their ultimate downsides. But the story itself tries to take all sides. (1/5)
Why I Left Harry’s All Night Hamburgers (Lawrence Watt-Evans)
AWESOME story! It’s all about perspective. (5/5)
The Poplar Street Study (Karen Joy Fowler)
How would you react to becoming a lab rat? (4/5)
Feedback (Joe Haldeman)
Interesting technology in a not bad story. (3/5)
Permafrost (Roger Zelazny)
Cool story that could have been an episode of Westworld. (4/5)
Skin Deep (Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
Excellent story about a family of colonists from Earth. (5/5)
I had to give it a 3 even though two of the stories were excellent. The bad ones brought it down.
The Sentinel (Arthur C. Clarke)
Well-written and interesting story of an Earth-man’s encounter on the moon. (3 stars out of 5)
Fat Farm (Orson Scott Card)
Gross and dumb (1/5)
Our Lady of the Sauropods (Robert Silverberg)
If nature eventually fixes its mistakes, this one is a doozy! (4/5)
Options (John Varley)
A stupid story but a topic definitely relevant to society today. A technological trip to logical conclusions and their ultimate downsides. But the story itself tries to take all sides. (1/5)
Why I Left Harry’s All Night Hamburgers (Lawrence Watt-Evans)
AWESOME story! It’s all about perspective. (5/5)
The Poplar Street Study (Karen Joy Fowler)
How would you react to becoming a lab rat? (4/5)
Feedback (Joe Haldeman)
Interesting technology in a not bad story. (3/5)
Permafrost (Roger Zelazny)
Cool story that could have been an episode of Westworld. (4/5)
Skin Deep (Kristine Kathryn Rusch)
Excellent story about a family of colonists from Earth. (5/5)
February 4, 2017
This was cheap on Audible, and some of the stories were good, but this is a horribly assembled collection -- no titles, highly variable quality, etc. I like short stories in audiobook form, but not badly assembled collections. At the price ($0.99), it just took one to be good -- Permafrost was probably the best, but I think Fat Farm by OSC was an interesting concept.
(I wish there were some kind of subscribe-to-a-stream-of-good, well-curated short stories in text or audio form; the modern equivalent of a sci-fi magazine.)
(I wish there were some kind of subscribe-to-a-stream-of-good, well-curated short stories in text or audio form; the modern equivalent of a sci-fi magazine.)
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January 1, 2009Best of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Arthur C Clarke (1999)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews