The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume 3: The Nebula Winners

by Arthur C. Clarke (Editor), George W. Proctor (Editor)

ix • Introduction (Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume III) • (1981) • essay by Arthur C. Clarke
2 • "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman • (1965) • shortstory by Harlan Ellison
15 • The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth • (1965) • novelette by Roger Zelazny
49 • The Saliva Tree • (1965) • novella by Brian W. Aldiss
122 • He Who Shapes • (1965) • novella by Roger Zelazny
216 • The Secret Place • (1966) • shortstory by Richard McKenna
232 • Call Him Lord • (1966) • novelette by Gordon R. Dickson
254 • The Last Castle • (1966) • novella by Jack Vance
318 • Aye, and Gomorrah. . . • (1967) • shortstory by Samuel R. Delany
329 • Gonna Roll the Bones • (1967) • novelette by Fritz Leiber
352 • Behold the Man • (1966) • novella by Michael Moorcock
406 • The Planners • (1968) • shortstory by Kate Wilhelm
422 • Mother to the World • (1968) • novelette by Richard Wilson
461 • Dragonrider • (1967) • novella by Anne McCaffrey
580 • Passengers • (1968) • shortstory by Robert Silverberg
593 • Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones • (1968) • novelette by Samuel R. Delany
632 • A Boy and His Dog • [Vic and Blood • 2] • (1969) • novella by Harlan Ellison

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Collections, Fantasy

623 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 1981

About the author

Stories, 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.

Reviews

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Contains the stories:

Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman (1965) by Harlan Ellison - 4/5 - a wicked satire of modern culture emerges eventually
The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth (1965) by Roger Zelazny - 5/5 - Moby Dick on Old Venus
The Saliva Tree (1965) by Brian W. Aldiss - 4/5 - H.G. Wells' (fictional) inspiration for a couple of his best-known tales
He Who Shapes (also known as The Dream Master) (1965) by Roger Zelazny - 3/5 - silent lucidity
The Secret Place (1966) by Richard McKenna - 4/5 - Oregon treasure hunt, although I still don't understand the ending
Call Him Lord (1966) by Gordon R. Dickson - 3/5 - good although not particularly memorable tale of an heir to the Galactic Empire who returns to Earth
The Last Castle (1966) by Jack Vance
Aye, and Gomorrah (1967) by Samuel R. Delany
Gonna Roll the Bones (1967) by Fritz Leiber
Behold the Man (1966) by Michael Moorcock
The Planners (1968) by Kate Wilhelm
Mother To The World (1968) by Richard Wilson
Dragonrider (1967) by Anne McCaffrey - 3/5 - the second half of Dragonflight ("Weyr Search" is the first half of that fix-up novel)
Passengers (1968) by Robert Silverberg
Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones (1968) by Samuel R. Delany
A Boy and His Dog (1969) by Harlan Ellison

[Foxtower · Rating 1 out of 5]

The problem with volume III and IV of this series is that Nebula winners, being chosen by authors, are often about what authors find clever. Most of the stories are so cerebral and cryptic I often found myself finishing a story and asking “what the heck was that?”. I’m a reader, not a literature major, and the majority of the stories just didn’t make any sense. UGH!

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

On July 12, 2023, i officially decided to stop believing that i would eventually read "The Last Castle" or "Drangonriders". I probably will never read them. And i'm quite certain that i never have read them.

I retain the 5 star rating attributed to this collection in the '80s by teenage me. Middle-aged me is just as happy but less wowed. I don't want to stop believing that i will eventually write more about what this book and its stories meant and mean to me.

Contents thanks to the Internet SF db
ix • Introduction (Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume III) • (1981) • essay by Arthur C. Clarke
2 • "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman • (1965) • short story by Harlan Ellison
15 • The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth • (1965) • novelette by Roger Zelazny
49 • The Saliva Tree • (1965) • novella by Brian W. Aldiss
122 • He Who Shapes • (1965) • novella by Roger Zelazny
216 • The Secret Place • (1966) • short story by Richard McKenna
232 • Call Him Lord • (1966) • novelette by Gordon R. Dickson
254 • The Last Castle • (1966) • novella by Jack Vance
318 • Aye, and Gomorrah ... • (1967) • short story by Samuel R. Delany
329 • Gonna Roll the Bones • (1967) • novelette by Fritz Leiber
352 • Behold the Man • (1966) • novella by Michael Moorcock
406 • The Planners • (1968) • short story by Kate Wilhelm
422 • Mother to the World • (1968) • novelette by Richard Wilson
461 • Dragonrider • (1967) • novella by Anne McCaffrey
580 • Passengers • (1968) • short story by Robert Silverberg
593 • Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones • (1968) • novelette by Samuel R. Delany
632 • A Boy and His Dog • (1969) • novella by Harlan Ellison

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume collects the short fiction Nebula Award winners from 1965-1969. There's not a bad story in the lot, and the works by Zelazny, Moorcock, and Ellison are still my favorites these many years later. It's one of those few books I'd seriously call a must-read for anyone interested in the modern genre.

[Kolya Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of these are excellent stories, but several make me wonder what the SFWA members were thinking when they chose them. I wish there was some sort of discussion included of what swayed the voters.

"Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman
Well-crafted, poetic social critique. The science-fictional element is there (the "cardio-plate"), but the emphasis here is definitely on the flow of words. Has a great title and a great sentence about jelly beans.

The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth
Very readable tale of man confronting something greater than himself, set on a Venus they must have known was impossible by 1965.

The Saliva Tree
Very scary gothic tale set on a remote farm in Victorian England. Walking through a dimly lit city square after reading this, I saw a statue of a frog out of the corner of my eye, and jumped a foot. The build-up of the sense of looming doom is scarcely perceptible, but inexorable.

He Who Shapes
Another very readable tale from Mr. Zelazny, with lots of fun predictions for our own time with the usual distortion (we have already greatly improved on the clunky interface he presents for his self-driving cars, but we're still lacking the self-driving cars.) I'm not sure I understand the ending.

The Secret Place
I don't really see how this is science fiction. A team is sent to search the Oregon desert for uranium during World War II. None is found, but one man becomes involved with a local girl whose fantasy play-world inexplicably mirrors the topography of the Miocene epoch.

It may be classifiable as speculative fiction, but it's not particularly illuminating speculation.

Call Him Lord
An entertaining concept - (mild spoilers:) Earth is maintained as a museum world by a Space Empire, with the population living like an Amish enclave (adopting some new technologies, not others.) The heir to the Empire has to visit Kentucky, of all places, to have his character judged - if he's too much of a city slicker, no Empire for him!

The Last Castle
Nicely written far-future tale on an Earth reverted to wilderness. Reminds me of Against the Fall of Night. The use of animals in the place of machines (for ground and air transport) is a novel touch. The aversion of the gentlemen to any manual labor seems faintly silly, but cases nearly as extreme can be found in actual history. I like the raucous Birds and the occasional info-dumping footnotes.

Aye, and Gomorrah. . .
Very New Wave. The basic conceit (that space travelers, to avoid radiation problems, must be neutered pre-puberty, like castrati; and that the resulting androgynes would become objects of sexual fascination to certain people) is interesting, but I would like it better as a backdrop element in a larger tale, rather than the sole focus of a story.

Gonna Roll the Bones
This is a work of fantasy, not science fiction! A few references to space ships and Martian creatures could be deleted with no effect on the story. It seems to be set on an asteroid, but that, too, is immaterial.

Behold the Man
Time travel is the only science-fictional element here. Otherwise, it is filled with mainstream strained-relationship flashbacks mixed into a version of "Life of Brian" without the humor.

The Planners
This is a story about injecting sRNA (in blood) into chimps and other subjects, to transfer training or knowledge. Of course, if this happened, recipients of blood transfusions would find themselves suddenly able to speak foreign languages or play new instruments, which they don't. This basically silly idea is made to appear more serious by having the protagonist constantly hallucinate bizarre scenes and be sick of his wife. This might be interesting if it turned out to be somehow linked to the experiments, but it's not.

Mother to the World
Standard postapocalyptic Adam-and-Eve story with the twist that Eve is mentally deficient.

Dragonrider
The second Pern story. The world-building is fantastic (the well-developed social and political structures forming the backdrop of the story.) The characters are a bit stilted. The resolution is rather pat. Honestly, I think the universe would have been better off without the time-jumping bit (which Wikipedia tells me John W. Campbell was responsible for.) Certainly deserves to be in this volume.

Passengers
Good, true sci-fi: society deals with the effects of "Passengers" which can unexpectedly take control of anyone's body, to use for their own purposes for some hours or days, then depart. New-Wavey in that it focuses solely on the effects on people; no investigation or explanation is offered as to the cause or agency of these possessions. I would prefer that something be said about this, but it's good nonetheless.

Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones
A picaroon in space! An enjoyable romp with a discordant ending. I like the concept of the Singers.

A Boy and His Dog
This is New Wave done right. Sure, the focus is on the characters, and those characters are certainly not the heroic heroes and villainous villains of older sci-fi; but stuff actually happens, and there are reasons why it happens, and the world is clearly described. Recommended if you have a strong stomach.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of 60's science fiction works. A mixture of what at that time was old school SF and the humanist New Wave which makes a nice contrast and compare collection. Includes Ellison's A Boy and His Dog among others. I may not have read this particular collection, but I've read all of the stories listed.

[Heath Lesjak]

Didn't make it all the way through, so I won't rate it.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

By 1965, the New Wave had mostly drowned sci-fi. This collection is bookended by two of Harlan Ellison's best known works, and also features two by Samuel R. Delaney, and two of the worst things Roger Zelazny ever wrote. The best selection in this collection wound up being the Introduction by Arthur C. Clarke.

The main problem with this book is that almost all of these stories and novellas can be found in a zillion other sci-fi anthologies.

Selections:

* "Introduction" by Arthur C. Clarke. This was one of the funniest things Clarke ever wrote, ending with a poignant tribute to Richard McKenna. If you read just one thing from this book, make it this Introduction.

1965
* "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison. Arguably the best title Ellison ever came up with. It's very similar to Alan Moore's V for Vendetta, but Ellison's come years before Moore's graphic series.
* "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth" by Roger Zelazny. This has aged like milk. In 1965, sport hunting and whaling were considered not only acceptable, but noble. Also, no one knew what Venus was really like. This whole thing was about hunting the largest creature ever to live in the solar system. It's ending is sudden and lacks the description of the earlier narration. And it all happens in 2010.
* "The Saliva Tree" by Brian W. Aldiss. The Predator visits Victorian England. Yeah, I know, technically the alien isn't the Predator from the movie franchise, but COME ON. WARNING: Lots of animals and babies die horrible deaths here.
* "He Who Shapes" by Roger Zelazny. This also has aged like milk. It has no conclusion, and lots of unnecessary blah-blah. Set in 1998 or 1999, when mutated dogs can talk, when Prozac was never invented, when cars were as large as trains and went 160 mph ... and the battle of the sexes is still a yawner.

1966
* "The Secret Place" by Richard McKenna. Difficult WWII story, but worth it. The story was found posthumously. McKenna died suddenly from a heart attack in 1964. It is possible that McKenna wasn't completely happy with it, which was why it wasn't published in his lifetime, but writers are often their own worst critics.
* "Call Him Lord" by Gordon R. Dickson. Vintage Dickson. A Kentucky farmer and horseman is called upon by the Emperor of a 100 worlds to be the bodyguard to his eldest son. Nice twist at the end.
* "The Last Castle" by Jack Vance. Very dull novella about a strict class society on a future Earth. May be a parody of the American South before the Civil War. Apparently the moral is: Slavery is wrong. Really? This is a new concept?

1967
* "Aye, and Gomorrah" by Samuel R. Delaney. Don't even bother.
* "Gonna Roll the Bones" by Fritz Lieber. A miserable story about a miserable guy gambling. The majority of the plot involves a throw by throw crap game. Ugh. WARNING: Intensely racist and sexist.
* "Behold the Man" by Michael Moorcock. Why, if you get a working time machine, you should never go back in time to meet Jesus.

1968
* "The Planners" by Kate Wilhelm/Mrs Damon Knight. This inhumane experiment with hundreds of primates (including people) has no resolution. It was sad to read about what the Florida environment used to be like.
* "Mother to the World" by Richard Wilson. I wound up skimming this Last Two People on Earth novella because, as an animal lover, it was horrifying. All of the billions of animals dying of starvation while these two are watching Fellini films for days on end. Shooting caged animals in Central Park Zoo. As a horror show, this was effective. Off to vomit now.
* "Dragonrider" by Anne McCaffery. This novella would find itself turned later into the best selling novel of the same name. If you've never read the book, enjoy this now. However, if you read it, skip this.

1969
* "Passengers" by Robert Silverberg. Although imaginative, this story suffers from being set in December, 1987. I was a freshman in community college then. Sadly, I don't remember any helpful Central Comouter, electric vehicles, instant purple hangover cures, or invisible parasites that take over your body.
* "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones" by Samuel R. Delaney. Huh?
* "A Boy and His Dog" by Harlan Ellison. We began with Ellison, and we end with Ellison. This was the original story that was made into a movie. It's partly a parody of boy and his dog stories before 1970, and part chilling post-Apocalyptic narrative. I particularly liked the ending. WARNING: Lots of dogs get killed here, including one small lapdog fed to Our Protagonist's dog.

[Marc Goldstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman • (1965) • shortstory by Harlan Ellison
Set in a dystopia where time is regulated and tardiness is deducted from your lifespan. The Harlequin is a merry prankster who stages amusing distractions to throw the system out of balance.

The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth • (1965) • novelette by Roger Zelazny
A whale of a tale. Echoes of Moby Dick but our hero seeks redemption rather than revenge.

The Saliva Tree • (1965) • novella by Brian W. Aldiss
As if H.G. Wells wrote The Colour Out of Space.

He Who Shapes • (1965) • novella by Roger Zelazny
A therapist capable of entering the dreams of others tries to introduce a blind woman to visual sensations.

The Secret Place • (1966) • shortstory by Richard McKenna
A fantasy about the importance of imagination in science.

Call Him Lord • (1966) • novelette by Gordon R. Dickson
An arrogant lordling visits Earth. He doesn't understand that it's a test.

The Last Castle • (1966) • novella by Jack Vance
Alien slaves revolt against their human overlords.

Aye, and Gomorrah. . . • (1967) • shortstory by Samuel R. Delany
Sci-Fi begins to grapple with gender identity and sexual orientation.

Gonna Roll the Bones • (1967) • novelette by Fritz Leiber
A gambling addict plays craps with the grim reaper.

Behold the Man • (1966) • novella by Michael Moorcock
Portnoy's Complaint gets crucified.

The Planners • (1968) • shortstory by Kate Wilhelm
A scientist conducts genetic engineering experiments to increase the intelligence of chimps. He tries the solution on himself and things get surreal.

Mother to the World • (1968) • novelette by Richard Wilson
Post-apocalyptic Adam & Eve story. Wilson, for some reason, chooses to make the woman mentally disabled. The results are icky and tone deaf.

Dragonrider • (1967) • novella by Anne McCaffrey
Some impressive world-building but I didn't like or care about any of the characters.

Passengers • (1968) • shortstory by Robert Silverberg
A horror story where people are randomly possessed by the minds of others for short periods.

Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones • (1968) • novelette by Samuel R. Delany
About an interplanetary criminal trying to negotiate a world where police and crime lords have access to data that can predict behaviors, something like Minority Report.

A Boy and His Dog • [Vic and Blood • 2] • (1969) • novella by Harlan Ellison
A rough post-apocalyptic tale. The world resembles Fallout where the surface of Earth is a wasteland filled with raiders while a small population resides in underground bunkers. Our anti-hero is a raider partnered with an intelligent, telepathic dog.

[Lucien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of these stories are great and i can see why they won awards; however, i am amazed at some the choices made by the SFWA as they just don't cut it for me - by the late 60s, the SF "golden age" was assuredly over.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little collection of sci-fi with stories that are all over the map. Really enjoyed The Doors of His Face The Lamps of His Mouth, Gonna Roll The Bones, Dragonrider, and Time Considered As a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones. Only a few weren’t my style, but that’s the joy of a collection book.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

16 stories:

*** "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman (1965) • Harlan Ellison
**** The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth (1965) • Roger Zelazny
*** The Saliva Tree (1965) • Brian W. Aldiss
**** He Who Shapes (1965) • Roger Zelazny
*** The Secret Place (1966) • Richard McKenna
**** Call Him Lord (1966) • Gordon R. Dickson
**** The Last Castle (1966) • Jack Vance
**** Aye, and Gomorrah ... (1967) • Samuel R. Delany
***** Gonna Roll the Bones (1967) • Fritz Leiber
*** Behold the Man (1966) • Michael Moorcock
**** The Planners (1968) • Kate Wilhelm
*** Mother to the World (1968) • Richard Wilson
**** Dragonrider (1967) • Anne McCaffrey
**** Passengers (1968) • Robert Silverberg
**** Time Considered As a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones (1968) • Samuel R. Delany
**** A Boy and His Dog (1969) • Harlan Ellison

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some fine works in this collection of Nebula Award winners. Arthur Clarke and George Proctor edited this book, with winners from 1965 through 1969.

These include some absolutely crackerjack works. Among my favorites: Harlan Ellison's "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," Roger Zelazny's "He Who Shapes," Jack Vance's "The Last Castle," Fritz Leiber's "Gonna Roll the Bones," Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonrider," and Samuel Delany's "Tome Considered as a Helix of Precious Stones."

A classic compilation. . . .

[Cole Schoolland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not recommend this particular series highly enough. What a spectacular collection. Some HUGE names are in here.

My Favorites Were:
- Repent Harlequin Said the Ticktockman
- The Saliva Tree
- Call Him Lord
- The Last Castle
- Gonna Roll the Bones
- Dragonrider
- A Boy and His Dog

This book wont be getting donated. I intend to pass it around.

[Foxtower · Rating 1 out of 5]

The problem with volume III and IV of this series is that Nebula winners, being chosen by authors, are often about what authors find clever. Most of the stories are so cerebral and cryptic I often found myself finishing a story and asking “what the heck was that?”. I’m a reader, not a literature major, and the majority of the stories just didn’t make any sense. UGH!

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Includes short stories, novellettes and Novellas. Features two very good stories by Harlan Ellison, including the dynamite "A Boy and His Dog."

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic short fiction by Ellison Zelazny, Delany, and others.