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Universe 12
Book by Carr, Terry
241 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
32 people want to read
About the author
Terry Carr
219 books31 followersCarr was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. He attended the City College of San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley from 1954 to 1959.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
Carr discovered science fiction fandom in 1949, where he became an enthusiastic publisher of fanzines, which later helped open his way into the commercial publishing world. (He was one of the two fans responsible for the hoax fan 'Carl Brandon' after whom the Carl Brandon Society takes its name.) Despite a long career as a science fiction professional, he continued to participate as a fan until his death. He was nominated five times for Hugos for Best Fanzine (1959–1961, 1967–1968), winning in 1959, was nominated three times for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973), winning in 1973, and was Fan Guest of Honor at ConFederation in 1986.
Though he published some fiction in the early 1960s, Carr concentrated on editing. He first worked at Ace Books, establishing the Ace Science Fiction Specials series which published, among other novels, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin and Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin.
After conflicts with Ace head Donald A. Wollheim, he worked as a freelancer. He edited an original story anthology series called Universe, and a popular series of The Best Science Fiction of the Year anthologies that ran from 1972 until his death in 1987. He also edited numerous one-off anthologies over the same time span. He was nominated for the Hugo for Best Editor thirteen times (1973–1975, 1977–1979, 1981–1987), winning twice (1985 and 1987). His win in 1985 was the first time a freelance editor had won.
Carr taught at the Clarion Workshop at Michigan State University in 1978, where his students included Richard Kadrey and Pat Murphy.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 2, 2022
Full review: https://sciencefictionruminations.com...
3.5/5
"My fifth sojourn to Terry Carr’s Universe series of original anthologies (17 volumes published between 1971-1987) embodies the reasons I gravitate towards the medium: I discover new authors, I reassess old opinions, and deepen my understanding of my favorites. Recommended for Nancy Kress’ rumination on a childhood wrecked by insanity; Kim Stanley Robinson’s character [...]"
3.5/5
"My fifth sojourn to Terry Carr’s Universe series of original anthologies (17 volumes published between 1971-1987) embodies the reasons I gravitate towards the medium: I discover new authors, I reassess old opinions, and deepen my understanding of my favorites. Recommended for Nancy Kress’ rumination on a childhood wrecked by insanity; Kim Stanley Robinson’s character [...]"
November 3, 2009
The incredibly terse introduction tells us that "Universe concentrates on the human element in stories of the future and occasionally the past; literary quality combined with soaring imagination are the touchstones."
First up is 'A Pursuit Of Miracles' by George Turner. Research into telepathy has some unexpected results. A slight story that didn't realy make much of an impression on me.
'Exploring Fossil Canyon' by Kim Stanley Robinson is about a tourist on Mars who finds the one thing she certainly wasn't looking for. KSR seems great at bringing totally alien landscapes to life, without getting bogged down in too long descriptive passages. I really enjoyed this story.
'God's Hooks' by Howard Waldrop tells of some angling-crazy nobles in seventeenth century England who set out to catch a giant fish discovered in Bedford. An interesting fantasy, and the period feeling is well realized.
'Talp Hunt' by Nancy Kress is about a space pioneer driven mad by the many personalities she has had to take on to survive on different planets. It kind of feels like the 'new age of sf' stories that were prevalent ten years previously.
'When the Fathers Go' by Bruce McAllister is about one of earths elite space ambassadors who returns home to his wife claiming he has fathered a child with an alien, and the child is coming to live with them. This is a tough read - the two main characters are fairly unlikeable, and they lie all the time. To each other AND us. But it is full of invention.
'Thieving Bear Planet' by R. A. Lafferty is, I think, a pastiche of or homage to the breathless adventure sf of a much earlier time. I really didn't like it.
'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' by Mary C. Pangborn is the tale of a wilful young lad who teams up with an old magician, with with results. Would appeal to the Harry Potter fan in your life, I suspect.
'In Memory of' by James Patrick Kelly is the 'dead talk' (a kind of will recorded by a person shortly before his or her death), by the daughter of the man who invented 'dead talk'. It reveals the misery his success wrought on their family. A dark and grim tale.
'Helen, Whose Face Launched Twenty-Eight Conestoga Hovercraft' by Leigh Kennedy is a tale of political intrigue within a small community on another planet. Some great characterization, I really enjoyed this one a lot.
So a mixed bag overall, as to be expected with the 'original anthology'. All the stories are at least well written, and the good stuff repayed reading through the stuff I didn't like so much.
First up is 'A Pursuit Of Miracles' by George Turner. Research into telepathy has some unexpected results. A slight story that didn't realy make much of an impression on me.
'Exploring Fossil Canyon' by Kim Stanley Robinson is about a tourist on Mars who finds the one thing she certainly wasn't looking for. KSR seems great at bringing totally alien landscapes to life, without getting bogged down in too long descriptive passages. I really enjoyed this story.
'God's Hooks' by Howard Waldrop tells of some angling-crazy nobles in seventeenth century England who set out to catch a giant fish discovered in Bedford. An interesting fantasy, and the period feeling is well realized.
'Talp Hunt' by Nancy Kress is about a space pioneer driven mad by the many personalities she has had to take on to survive on different planets. It kind of feels like the 'new age of sf' stories that were prevalent ten years previously.
'When the Fathers Go' by Bruce McAllister is about one of earths elite space ambassadors who returns home to his wife claiming he has fathered a child with an alien, and the child is coming to live with them. This is a tough read - the two main characters are fairly unlikeable, and they lie all the time. To each other AND us. But it is full of invention.
'Thieving Bear Planet' by R. A. Lafferty is, I think, a pastiche of or homage to the breathless adventure sf of a much earlier time. I really didn't like it.
'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' by Mary C. Pangborn is the tale of a wilful young lad who teams up with an old magician, with with results. Would appeal to the Harry Potter fan in your life, I suspect.
'In Memory of' by James Patrick Kelly is the 'dead talk' (a kind of will recorded by a person shortly before his or her death), by the daughter of the man who invented 'dead talk'. It reveals the misery his success wrought on their family. A dark and grim tale.
'Helen, Whose Face Launched Twenty-Eight Conestoga Hovercraft' by Leigh Kennedy is a tale of political intrigue within a small community on another planet. Some great characterization, I really enjoyed this one a lot.
So a mixed bag overall, as to be expected with the 'original anthology'. All the stories are at least well written, and the good stuff repayed reading through the stuff I didn't like so much.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews