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Holt Anthology of Science Fiction
Introduction to the genre of science fiction,
Stories related to the various areas of science by leading authors in the field.
Stories related to the various areas of science by leading authors in the field.
310 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 5, 2019
This collection of short stories were published as an add-on for Holt's Middle-Grade Science textbook series and introduces them to science fiction. Published in, I believe, 2000, the book is a nice mix of classic sci-fi stories and some newer (relative to the publication date) stories.
It was fun reading the intro where they define the science fiction genre. Each story started with a vocabulary list of words included in the story. Most of the lists hinted at the tone the story would include, as in the list for Jack Williamson's The Metal Man where we have unheeding, folly, futility, desolate, plummet, etc. for a story that exemplifies these words. Then each story ended with a list of questions/assignments for the students to think about. I especially enjoyed the essay questions. Some such as question #4 on The High Test by Frederik Pohl asks students to look at the story in a way most would never think to look! Very fun! Each story concluded with a short biography of the author and a short list of suggested titles of works to read by that author.
Some of my favorite stories from this anthology:
The Homesick Chicken by Edward D. Hoch Such a ridiculous story that explores the old joke: 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' A great one to start with that I'm sure kept students reading on.
They're Made Out of Meat by Terry Bisson This one seemed ridiculous at first but by the end (or the questions if it takes a bit longer to sink in) makes you think differently about the story and to ponder a bit.
Desertion by Clifford Simak where a man must make the decision of whether to continue sentencing others to death for the advancement of humankind or to stop the project and forget colonizing Jupiter.
I also enjoyed Ursula K. Le Guin's Direction of the Road where you get to witness the world from an entirely different perspective. Isn't that what Le Guin does best?
And The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke which the novel and film 2001: A Space Odyssey were based upon.
It was fun reading the intro where they define the science fiction genre. Each story started with a vocabulary list of words included in the story. Most of the lists hinted at the tone the story would include, as in the list for Jack Williamson's The Metal Man where we have unheeding, folly, futility, desolate, plummet, etc. for a story that exemplifies these words. Then each story ended with a list of questions/assignments for the students to think about. I especially enjoyed the essay questions. Some such as question #4 on The High Test by Frederik Pohl asks students to look at the story in a way most would never think to look! Very fun! Each story concluded with a short biography of the author and a short list of suggested titles of works to read by that author.
Some of my favorite stories from this anthology:
The Homesick Chicken by Edward D. Hoch Such a ridiculous story that explores the old joke: 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' A great one to start with that I'm sure kept students reading on.
They're Made Out of Meat by Terry Bisson This one seemed ridiculous at first but by the end (or the questions if it takes a bit longer to sink in) makes you think differently about the story and to ponder a bit.
Desertion by Clifford Simak where a man must make the decision of whether to continue sentencing others to death for the advancement of humankind or to stop the project and forget colonizing Jupiter.
I also enjoyed Ursula K. Le Guin's Direction of the Road where you get to witness the world from an entirely different perspective. Isn't that what Le Guin does best?
And The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke which the novel and film 2001: A Space Odyssey were based upon.
May 7, 2020
Good collection..the last story was actually a book I already read so I skipped that..Jekel and Hyde...love that book..but the rest were great short stories I have not read before..the funniest is the ass hole student who thought he was being smart in stealing something to help him swim better and well..he got his just punishment. This is a student book but doesn't say what grade..possibly junior high or high school...it has a listing of vocabulary words and I was like...I knew all of these but through outside reading and before I hit junior high and highschool...if it was meant for college I'd be like...really...those words you would already know if you were a big reader...still..as far as readership I think with their choices it's like in the teen range. A very good intro to sci-fi writing.
May 3, 2019
I saw a blurb of one of the stories and decided to read the book. These are all science-fiction stories by different authors such as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Most stories were interesting and fun to read, except for the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde--I have never read that story until now and found it to be dragging on and on.
Since this is basically a middle grade type text book (there is a "dictionary" at the beginning of each story and questions at the end), it was an easy read. I would read a few stories and then put it down for another time. I think it would be a good reading for story time with a discussion afterward for older students.
Most stories were interesting and fun to read, except for the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde--I have never read that story until now and found it to be dragging on and on.
Since this is basically a middle grade type text book (there is a "dictionary" at the beginning of each story and questions at the end), it was an easy read. I would read a few stories and then put it down for another time. I think it would be a good reading for story time with a discussion afterward for older students.
July 2, 2022
Excellent selection. I would not have included “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” as a novelette as the final story. Something by Octavia Butler, and some other short stories would have been more to my liking.
September 29, 2017
Was this clearly an anthology meant for kids? Yes. Does that matter no me? Not a bit. I enjoyed some of the stories, and I have no idea why others were included.
So typical short story collection.
So typical short story collection.
January 1, 2022
This has been one of my favorite collections of short stories since middle school! My favorite is There will come soft rains!!!
July 5, 2016
Good anthology. Would be an addition to a classroom as well -- many of the 'Think About It' questions were thought-provoking. The information about the author and the 'Read On!' were a nice addition and might lead to further reading (always a bonus especially with students). I enjoyed the addition of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the end, but would have enjoyed more sci-fi stories instead. A couple of the stories really caught my interest.
August 1, 2013
a solid little anthology. aimed at school-aged readers, but the stories are really for everybody. stories I will single out for exceptionalness: contagion by Katharine Maclean, All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury, Ear by Jane Yolen, and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which I have never read, and am now glad I did.
September 22, 2012
Some really good stories by famous authors, plus Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, which was difficult to read.
January 1, 2013
All are good, solid sci-fi stories, though mostly at a young adult level.
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September 10, 2016This was the first anthology I ever read regarding science fiction. My favorite story was Desertion by Clifford D. Simak; it's been in the back of mind for five years and it's hard to forget.
May 4, 2015
My class read almost all of the stories in this anthology.It wasn't the best or the worst thing I have ever read.
September 28, 2016
Kids and I read a few of these stories but set it aside for now. Will probably pick it back up for when we need some quick fill-in reads.
July 31, 2011
Not 100% accurate to say that I actually read the whole thing but I read a few of the stories.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews