One of a series of fiction for schools, this is a collection of visions of the future by leading science-fiction writers who include Kurt Vonnegut, J.G. Ballard, Robert Sheakley and Arthur C. Clarke.
Bob Shaw was born in Northern Ireland. After working in structural engineering, industrial public relations, and journalism he became a full time science fiction writer in 1975.
Shaw was noted for his originality and wit. He was two-time recipient (in 1979 and 1980) of the Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. His short story Light of Other Days was a Hugo Award nominee in 1967, as was his novel The Ragged Astronauts in 1987.
Bedtime reading of one of the favourite collection of science fiction short stories I taught to 12-13 year olds. It’s an assorted mix of different styles but it has always given me pleasure. Delightful.
Some great some terrible. Favourites have to be Vonnegurt's Harrison Bergeron: simple, funny and cutting (and love the fact it was a woman in charge); and Let's go to Golgotha by Kilworth: a scary thought about humans as perpetually causing own woes.