The Playboy Book of Science Fiction

by Alice K. Turner (Editor), Ray Bradbury, Doris Lessing

A collection of short stories from such contributors as Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and Ursula K. LeGuin covers topics such as the golden age, new wave, cyberpunk, and virtual sex.

Contents

1 • Introduction (The Playboy Book of Science Fiction) • essay by Alice K. Turner
3 • The Lost City of Mars • (1967) • novelette by Ray Bradbury
35 • Nine Lives • (1969) • novelette by Ursula K. Le Guin
63 • Deathwatch • (1965) • shortstory by Norman Spinrad
71 • Masks • (1968) • shortstory by Damon Knight
85 • Welcome to the Monkey House • (1968) • shortstory by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
105 • The Dead Astronaut • (1968) • shortstory by J. G. Ballard
119 • The Schematic Man • (1969) • shortstory by Frederik Pohl
127 • Can You Feel Anything When I Do This? • (1969) • shortstory by Robert Sheckley
139 • Transit of Earth • (1971) • shortstory by Arthur C. Clarke
155 • Report on the Threatened City • (1971) • novelette by Doris Lessing
189 • Leviathan! • [Svetz] • (1970) • shortstory by Larry Niven
203 • All the Birds Come Home to Roost • (1979) • shortstory by Harlan Ellison
219 • The Apotheosis of Myra • (1980) • novelette by Walter Tevis
243 • Frozen Journey • (1980) • shortstory by Philip K. Dick
265 • Gianni • (1982) • shortstory by Robert Silverberg
287 • The Word Processor • (1983) • shortstory by Stephen King
309 • Interstellar Pigeon • (1982) • shortstory by Donald E. Westlake
329 • Heirs of the Perisphere • (1985) • shortstory by Howard Waldrop
349 • Earth Station Charlie • (1986) • shortstory by Billy Crystal
357 • Slow, Slow Burn • [Budayeen] • (1988) • shortstory by George Alec Effinger
377 • More Than the Sum of His Parts • (1985) • shortstory by Joe Haldeman
397 • Sen Yen Babbo & the Heavenly Host • (1987) • shortstory by Chet Williamson
415 • Fire Zone Emerald • (1986) • novelette by Lucius Shepard
441 • The Ghost Standard • (1994) • shortstory by William Tenn
453 • An Office Romance • (1997) • shortstory by Terry Bisson

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Collections

469 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Michael Burnam-Fink · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I read Playboy for the articles" is as tired as a joke can get, but don't be lulled by the cliche. Playboy published some pretty serious science-fiction, by grandmasters like Bradbury, Le Guin, Vonnegutt, Niven, Ballard, and Philip K. Dick. This is as serious as a 20th century scifi anthology gets, with strong stories from classic authors. The themes are bent towards the New Wave, psychological science fiction about minds and bodies and alienation, and yes, just a little sex, but not an overwhelming amount. I'd say my favorite of the collection was "Gianni" by Robert Silverberg, about a classical composer brought forward into the 21st century, but it's not an easy choice.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only the Le Guin (“Nine Lives”) is really excellent (and it is really transcendent; this story alone makes this book worthwhile). Silverberg’s “Gianni” is quite good, Clarke’s “Transit of Earth” is good. The rest are decent overall but show a decidedly Playboy sort of male-focused sexual revolution “enlightenment” that really is just prurience (see especially Ellison’s Casanova wish fulfillment orgy in “All the Birds Come Home to Roost”). Some sad puppies here. None of these (save Le Guin) break the kind of ground Dangerous Visions did - and this collection is from the 90s! The emphasis placed on “good old fashioned SF yarns” and the dismissive attitude toward fantasy and broader forms of speculative fiction are a severe limitation. Lots of cautionary tales, reworkings of Frankenstein. No Delanys or Tiptrees here.

[Astrila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute collection of stories, but no where close to erotica. My favorite is the Microsoft Office one. Most of them are pretty cheap ditties, but a quick, fun read overall.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the jokes, you really could read Playboy for the articles and the fiction; Hugh Hefner paid top dollar for quality and it shows (he knew Sex + Sophistication would sell better than Sex alone). So we have stories by Bradbury, Ellison, Vonnegut, Doris Lessing, Billy Crystal (not a name normally associated with SF) and multiple others. Most of them are good, but Vonnegut's "Welcome to the Monkey House" is way too rapey.

[Sonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun collection of stories. Some I'd never read before!

[Mergenc Pater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hát nem tudom. Ezekkel a nevekkel azért sokkal ütősebbet is össze lehetett volna pakolni.

[Brian Gaston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great selection of golden age science fiction short stories.

[Brett]

Science Fiction,Anthology