What do you think?
Rate this book
Alien Worlds
Contents include: The Cosmic Poachers by Philip K. Dick / The Last Monster by Poul Anderson / The Fear Planet by Robert Bloch / Singleminded by John Brunner / The Brain Stealers of Mars by John Campbell / The Man from Beyond by John Wyndham / Madnes from Mars by Clifford D. Simak / Dawn Invader by Robert Sheckley / Afternoon of a Fahn by Eric Frank Russell / The Stars, My Brothers by Edmond Hamilton.
- GenresScience Fiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
39 people want to read
About the author
Roger Elwood
185 books29 followersRoger Elwood was an American science fiction writer and editor, perhaps best known for having edited a large number of anthologies and collections for a variety of publishers in the early 1970s. Elwood was also the founding editor of Laser Books and, in more recent years, worked in the evangelical Christian market.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 9, 2019
Alien Worlds is a very good collection of Science Fiction shorts, primarily dealing with space travel. Among my favorites in this were The Cosmic Poachers by Phillip K. Dick, Dawn Invader by Robert Sheckley, The Fear Planet by Robert Bloch, and The Brain-Stealers of Mars. Nearly all of the stories have a good twist and a morality lesson. I could have seen many of these as good scripts for The Twilight Zone.
January 27, 2025
It's surely a little book, but it's rich with amazing stories and I'm proud to own it! Found it hidden in an outside stand of a BMV bookstore in Toronto for only 1 dollar, it really scratched an itch I had for old sci-fi for a good while.
It contains 10 stories in the following order:
"Afternoon of a Fahn" by Eric Frank Russell (1951) - 3,5/5 stars
This was an odd start to the collection, not bad by any means, but it felt more like a fantasy setting than a sci-fi. It also has a very old fashioned way to say certain actions, for example "the guy ejaculated" to say he gasped, immediately followed by "guy came erect" to say he stood up lmao
"The Cosmic Poachers" by Philip K. Dick (1953) - 4,5/5
Intriguing hunt of what the humans thought a ship of poachers jumping from a planet to another, I laughed so hard at the end because I knew immediately where it was going
"It is going to be eggs, isn't it?"
"Dawn Invader" by Robert Sheckley (1957) - 4/5
This new kind of invasion and battle for conquest was something I wasn't expecting, with a calm yet satisfying end.
"The Last Monster" by Poul Anderson (1951) - 5/5
This was just SAD. I loved everything of it and cried more than I wanted to. Unfortunately the theme is something that I see happening...
"The Fear Planet" by Robert Bloch (1942) - 4,5/5
Creepy and atmospheric, written as a warning letter for whoever comes after.
"Singleminded" by John Brunner (1963) - 2,5/5
This involved an American being saved by a Russian woman who is connected through a hive mind to her comrades... The less exciting story of the bunch, didn't care much of it. Bit sexist of course...
"The Stars, My Brothers" by Edmond Hamilton (1963) - 3/5
This story hurt me in a way, I had just enjoyed a ton one of the books of Captain Future from this very author and I what I read here was... disappointing. Incredible setting, not going to lie, but the characters seemed off, especially the protagonist, yet I do understand his choices and his contrast with the others he meets later on. The planet where they all choose to hide was in theory an interesting set, but the focus on a primitive girl was not alright to me.
The end simply irked me, not because he chose the aliens, but how he talked to the other people. I believe he wasn't a character to love from the start. Understandable, but not my cup of tea.
"The Brain Stealers of Mars" by John Campbell (1936) - 4,5/5
Back on track with a very good, creative, odd read, still leans a bit on fantasy with martian centaurs, but the mimics they are forced to live with are immensely creepy. How the two humans protagonists have to face them is such a good tale, I really enjoyed this short work, though I think it could be put a bit better, too sharp in the changes and flow of the story, I guess it was the fashion of the 30s.
"The Man from Beyond" by John Wyndham (1934) - 5/5
Another story including a centaur-like creature evolved on Venus by ancient six legged critters. Gorgeous, interesting, sad with an ending that I imagine was the only way out if unable to adapt. This seemed way ahead of its time.
"Madness from Mars" by Clifford D. Simak (1938) - 4,5/5
Another sad ending story! Poor little fluffy creature... Well written with a little commentary to society.
It contains 10 stories in the following order:
"Afternoon of a Fahn" by Eric Frank Russell (1951) - 3,5/5 stars
This was an odd start to the collection, not bad by any means, but it felt more like a fantasy setting than a sci-fi. It also has a very old fashioned way to say certain actions, for example "the guy ejaculated" to say he gasped, immediately followed by "guy came erect" to say he stood up lmao
"The Cosmic Poachers" by Philip K. Dick (1953) - 4,5/5
Intriguing hunt of what the humans thought a ship of poachers jumping from a planet to another, I laughed so hard at the end because I knew immediately where it was going
"It is going to be eggs, isn't it?"
"Dawn Invader" by Robert Sheckley (1957) - 4/5
This new kind of invasion and battle for conquest was something I wasn't expecting, with a calm yet satisfying end.
"The Last Monster" by Poul Anderson (1951) - 5/5
This was just SAD. I loved everything of it and cried more than I wanted to. Unfortunately the theme is something that I see happening...
"The Fear Planet" by Robert Bloch (1942) - 4,5/5
Creepy and atmospheric, written as a warning letter for whoever comes after.
"Singleminded" by John Brunner (1963) - 2,5/5
This involved an American being saved by a Russian woman who is connected through a hive mind to her comrades... The less exciting story of the bunch, didn't care much of it. Bit sexist of course...
"The Stars, My Brothers" by Edmond Hamilton (1963) - 3/5
This story hurt me in a way, I had just enjoyed a ton one of the books of Captain Future from this very author and I what I read here was... disappointing. Incredible setting, not going to lie, but the characters seemed off, especially the protagonist, yet I do understand his choices and his contrast with the others he meets later on. The planet where they all choose to hide was in theory an interesting set, but the focus on a primitive girl was not alright to me.
The end simply irked me, not because he chose the aliens, but how he talked to the other people. I believe he wasn't a character to love from the start. Understandable, but not my cup of tea.
"The Brain Stealers of Mars" by John Campbell (1936) - 4,5/5
Back on track with a very good, creative, odd read, still leans a bit on fantasy with martian centaurs, but the mimics they are forced to live with are immensely creepy. How the two humans protagonists have to face them is such a good tale, I really enjoyed this short work, though I think it could be put a bit better, too sharp in the changes and flow of the story, I guess it was the fashion of the 30s.
"The Man from Beyond" by John Wyndham (1934) - 5/5
Another story including a centaur-like creature evolved on Venus by ancient six legged critters. Gorgeous, interesting, sad with an ending that I imagine was the only way out if unable to adapt. This seemed way ahead of its time.
"Madness from Mars" by Clifford D. Simak (1938) - 4,5/5
Another sad ending story! Poor little fluffy creature... Well written with a little commentary to society.
September 10, 2025
An interesting read of strange worlds and alien creatures
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews