Penguin Science Fiction

by Brian W. Aldiss

A 1960s anthology, and a good one. In the introduction Aldiss talks about what he and others see Science Fiction as, and the role it can play.

Penguin Science Fiction : Sole Solution - Eric Frank Russell
Penguin Science Fiction : Lot - Ward Moore
Penguin Science Fiction : The Short-Short Story of Mankind [We're Holding Our Own] - John Steinbeck
Penguin Science Fiction : Skirmish [Bathe Your Bearings in Blood!] - Clifford Simak
Penguin Science Fiction : Poor Little Warrior! - Brian W. Aldiss
Penguin Science Fiction : Grandpa - James H. Schmitz
Penguin Science Fiction : The Half Pair - Bertram Chandler
Penguin Science Fiction : Command Performance - Walter M. Miller
Penguin Science Fiction : Nightfall - Isaac Asimov
Penguin Science Fiction : The Snowball Effect - Katherine MacLean
Penguin Science Fiction : The End of Summer - Algis Budrys
Penguin Science Fiction : Track 12 - J. G. Ballard

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Pseudonyms: Jael Cracken, Peter Pica, John Runciman, C.C. Shackleton, Arch Mendicant, & "Doc" Peristyle.

Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.

Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads

Reviews

[Paul Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 stories, 11 from the 1950s plus “Nightfall” from 1941, the most famous short sf story in the world. The best ones are (along with the said "Nightfall")

- Grandpa by James Schmitz who was not a big name but this one is bold, pulpy and delightful, imagining a whole exotic biosphere on an alien planet where the smug colonising humans find that their assumptions are way too cosy
- The Snowball Effect by Katherine MacLean, a story which, allegedly, invented the concept of pyramid selling
- And the best one, Lot by Ward Moore. Finally society crumbles and everyone is heading out of the cities in their cars in a mad panic; we follow one average American family. The final scene is a knockout, still shocking after all these years.

This Penguin SF series (three books) was one of the best things I ever stumbled upon in my teenage years, along with the Best SF series by Edmund Crispin. I still have my original beat-up paperbacks. When you turn out the light they all shine with a golden glow, like the holy relics they are.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm honestly a little surprised how much I enjoyed this - I'm not usually the biggest fan of short stories/anthologies but I got really into this one. Asides from Lot and Poor Little Warrior! I enjoyed at least part of each story in this.
I particularly loved Sole Solution - that was just such an incredible story in just 3 pages. I also thought the endings to The Short-Short Story Of Mankind and The Half Pair were brilliant. Then Grandpa and The Snowball Effect had some great elements. Plus Command Performance and Nightfall dealt with some fascinating concepts indeed that were excellently executed.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly mediocre but the one(!) woman writer's story about a bunch of sewing group ladies basically disproving the theories of annoying economist/finance men is brilliant for that reason alone

[Todd Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing i love the most about this collection is that the stories in it aren't really sciency. They are rather more about how humans deal with extraordinary circumstances. And of course its a winner with Asimovs 'Nightfall' in it.

[Hallie Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penguin Science Fiction (1961) Edited by Brian Aldiss

1. The End of Summer (1954) by Algis Budrys

It is possibly the most confusing out of all of the stories, but that's what draws me into it so much. It's probably the story I'd most likely re-read as well. Such mind-boggling and nauseating worldbuilding and events. Love it, really.

2. Nightfall (1941) by Isaac Asimov

It was a really fun first Asimov for me, and I'm certainly interested in reading the novel version of this short story. A simple enough story with plenty of potential, it's a fascinating idea of what humanity would be like if we never experienced darkness.

3. The Snowball Effect (1952) by Katherine Maclean
4. Lot (1953) by Ward Moore
5. Track 12 (1958) by J. G. Ballard

These three stories are all different and fun, not a lot to say about any of them, but had a blast with them each.

6. Command Performance (1952) by Walter M. Miller
7. The Half Pair (1957) by Bertram Chandler
8. Sole Solution (1956) by Eric Frank Russell
9. Grandpa (1955) by James H. Schmitz
10. Skirmish (1950) by Clifford Simak

Nothing particularly amazing in this bunch, but some intriguing ideas here and there. Some are definitely too long for what they're worth, but the short and sweet ones are just that.

11. The Short-Short Story of Mankind (1958) by John Steinbeck
12. Poor Little Warrior ! (1958) by Brian W. Aldiss

Neither of these interests me whatsoever. Aldiss might be a decent editor and curator, but his own writing is two-for-two rather poor for me so far.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing like an anthology to show the contrast between writers. Algis Budrys' The End of Summer, JG Ballard's Track 12, and Skirmish by Clifford Simal stand out.

Sole Solution, by Eric Frank Russell, is just frustrating.

[Dawn Tyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of SF short stories and, for me, reading them was a blast from the past. Some stand out titles were, Nightfall, Command Performance, The End of Summer. There is a variety of themes in the collection, all entertaining and well written.

[Brian Moloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, Brian Aldiss is a much better editor than he is an author. From start to finish these stories show off the range of sci fi that existed at the time of publication and proves that there was actually quite a lot going on before the new wave took over. A very personal response to the collapse of society in Ward Moore's "Lot", the existential angst of Walter m. Miller's "Command Performance" , the feel-goodery of "The Half Pair" by Bertram Chandler and the dangers of a different type of science in "The Snowball Effect" from Katherine Maclean. Asimov's "Nightfall" makes an appearance (required reading for any fan of sci-fi) and so do compositions from such lofty talents as John Steinbeck and J. G. Ballard. These last two fall flat, sadly, and one feels that were included for their names to lend literary credibility to the book, rather than for the merits of the stories themselves.Of the lot, "the End Of Summer", written by Algis Budrys stands out the most in terms of world building, pacing, and a good balance between gradual exposition on the differences between our and the characters worlds and progression of the plot, which casts earlier parts of the story in new and sinister light as the nature of this reality is unveiled.
If you're into sci-fi, and enjoy (or can gloss over) quaint and antiquated science and style (such as solid fuel rockets for the former, influence of early 20th century adventure tales for the latter) then pick this up if you can.