Stellar #4: Science Fiction Stories

Stellar #4

by Judy-Lynn del Rey (Editor)

Stellar #4. The fourth in the Stellar anthology series. Stellar Science Fiction short stories. Delightfully entertaining science-fiction short stories, written by the stars of the field. Science Fiction in the grand tradition. Stories to read and enjoy. Boasting a truly stellar list of contributors, a story collection that guarantees you hours of mind-spinning entertainment. A good collection of "good old fashioned SF stories", that have more-or-less stood the test of time, designed to counter-balance some of the weird, pretentious New Wave SF anthologies...being good old-fashioned stories that are fun to read.

Contents;
* We Who Stole the Dream (1978) / novelette by James Tiptree, Jr.
* Animal Lover (1978) / novella by Stephen R. Donaldson
* Snake Eyes [Pip & Flinx • 5] (1978) / novelette by Alan Dean Foster
* The Last Decision (1978) / novelette by Ben Bova
* The Deimos Plague [Burmeister and Carver • 2] (1978) / short story by Charles Sheffield
* Assassin (1978) / novelette by James P. Hogan
* About the Authors (Stellar #4) • essay by Ediitor

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Genres: Science Fiction, Anthologies, Science Fiction Fantasy

243 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is fourth volume of the original anthology series edited by Judy Lynn Benjamin del Rey in which her stated goal was to present old-time sense-of-wonder stories with the character depth and literary quality of the New Wave movement. I didn't think this one was as strong as the earlier volumes I'd read; the authors seemed to be limited to those strongly associated with the publisher and there wasn't as much range in the stories. I liked the Flinx story by Alan Dean Foster particularly, and the ones from Ben Bova and Charles Sheffield were enjoyable.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Contains the stories:

We Who Stole The Dream by James Tiptree Jr. - 4/5 - aliens steal a spaceship to escape human oppressors
Animal Lover by Stephen R. Donaldson
Snake Eyes by Alan Dean Foster
The Last Decision by Ben Bova
The Deimos Plague by Charles Sheffield
Assassin by James P. Hogan

[Austin Beeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATED 100% POSITIVE.

STORY SCORE 4.3 OF 5
6 STORIES : 2 GREAT / 4 GOOD / 0 AVERAGE / 0 POOR / 0 DNF

It is that rarest of all things on this blog, a 100% positive anthology. It is certainly easier with only 6 stories, but it is high risk as well. Only 1 poor story can get you down to an 83%

The Stellar Science Fiction Anthology series published original short stories in seven volumes between 1974 and 1981. I was able to grab the entire series - plus the volume of “short novels - for a song on eBay recently.

The series was envisaged as a follow-up to Star Science Fiction Stories ed Frederik Pohl 1953-1959, also published by Ballantine. However, Stellar, while entertaining, concentrated more on straightforward adventure, with the emphasis on Hard SF, and less on the Satire typical of Pohl's series
-The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

I jumped into Stellar 4 first for two reasons. 1) The stories were all published in my birth year; I’ve tried magazines from 1978 with poor results and was hopeful for something better. (IASFM 57%, Galaxy 75%). 2) A recommendation from the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Fiction Group on Facebook for the Tiptree story that “haunted me for years.” They weren’t wrong.

Two Stories Join the Best of All Time List: https://www.shortsf.com/beststories

We Who Stole the Dream • novelette by James Tiptree, Jr. A brutally brilliant story about oppression, liberation, sacrifice, and a shockingly clear perspective on the nature of humanity. An alien race makes horrendous sacrifices to escape from the barbaric Terran colonizers and return home to their people, but aren’t prepared for what they learn.

The Last Decision • novelette by Ben Bova. The elderly Emperor of the Hundred Worlds has to decide if he is going to take the advice of a young female science with an original plan to save the old backwater planet of Earth. Wonderful examine of courtly intrigue and political tradecraft. Enthralling stuff.

***

We Who Stole the Dream • novelette by James Tiptree, Jr.

Great. A brutally brilliant story about oppression, liberation, sacrifice, and a shockingly clear perspective on the nature of humanity. An alien race makes horrendous sacrifices to escape from the barbaric Terran colonizers and return home to their people, but aren’t prepared for what they learn.

Animal Lover • novella by Stephen R. Donaldson

Good. A police cyborg who loves animals is sent to investigate a hunting preserve that is resulting in the deaths of more hunters than prey. A long, fun, and enjoyable novella.

Snake Eyes • [Pip & Flinx • 5] • novelette by Alan Dean Foster

Good. A prospector has discovered a batch of stones that look like a human eye and are going to make him rich. But only if he can survive the onslaught of criminals, aliens, and animals that want to take it from him. Vibes of the old west.

The Last Decision • novelette by Ben Bova

Great. The elderly Emperor of the Hundred Worlds has to decide if he is going to take the advice of a young female science with an original plan to save the old backwater planet of Earth. Wonderful examine of courtly intrigue and political tradecraft. Enthralling stuff.

The Deimos Plague • short story by Charles Sheffield

Good. A man has to get off planet quickly or die. He ends up sleeping among the pigs that are being transported in the spaceship. When the rest of the crew start to sicken and die, he must try to complete the transport without falling sick himself.

Assassin • novelette by James P. Hogan

Good. A brilliant assassin is nearing the crucial moment of a plan that was 10 years in the making. He is going to kill a defector from the Martian Federation to Earth. Things seem to be going too easily.

[Kristal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed everything in here, but Animal Lover is the most stupid fun I’ve had reading a short story/novella in a long time

[Des · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Science fiction. A slim volume, and worth reading just for the Bove piece, really.

[John L · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this collection are wide-ranging in mood and style: from the non-stop violent action of Animal Lover, to the tongue-in-cheek humor of The Deimos Plague, to the amazing plot twists in The Assassin, to the ethereal beauty and optimism of The Last Decision, one of the best short stories I have read in ANY genre. A thoroughly enjoyable collection.

[Matthew]

an interesting collection; the cover story is actually one in which humans are the brutal oppressors, and the aliens are the victims turned victors...only to learn that their race, too, is more than merely innocent.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection edited by Judy-Lynne del Rey, fourth wife of Lester del Rey and co-founder of Del Rey Books. Fair. Nothing very special.