What do you think?
Rate this book
Future Imperfect
Master of science fiction James Gunn explores the infinite possibilities of the unknown world in his collection of short stories, Future Imperfect.. From planets where social status is based on poverty to a human zoo that serves as a refrigerator for a bloodthirsty monster, James Gunn tests the limit of human imagination.
Step inside, and feel free to browse. This Venusian factory in Jersey manufactures only the finest women on the market. Each woman is flawless in her beauty and poise, but there is one malfunction that may prove deadly for the future of this company and the owner of the lovely lass. Enjoy this tale and more, in this collection of alternate realities.
ebook
First published January 1, 1964
1 person is currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
James E. Gunn
267 books117 followersAmerican science fiction author, editor, scholar, and anthologist. His work from the 1960s and 70s is considered his most significant fiction, and his Road to Science Fiction collections are considered his most important scholarly books. He won a Hugo Award for a non-fiction book in 1983 for Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction. He was named the 2007 Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Gunn served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, after which he attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1947 and a Masters of Arts in English in 1951. Gunn went on to become a faculty member of the University of Kansas, where he served as the university's director of public relations and as a professor of English, specializing in science fiction and fiction writing. He is now a professor emeritus and director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, which awards the annual John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best novel and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award at the Campbell Conference in Lawrence, Kansas, every July.
He served as President of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1971–72, was President of the Science Fiction Research Association from 1980-82, and currently is Director of The Center for the Study of
Science Fiction. SFWA honored him as a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 2007.
Gunn began his career as a science fiction author in 1948. He has had almost 100 stories published in magazines and anthologies and has authored 26 books and edited 10. Many of his stories and books have been reprinted around the world.
In 1996, Gunn wrote a novelization of the unproduced Star Trek episode "The Joy Machine" by Theodore Sturgeon.
His stories also have been adapted into radioplays and teleplays:
* NBC radio's X Minus One
* Desilu Playhouse's 1959 "Man in Orbit", based on Gunn's "The Cave of Night"
* ABC-TV's Movie of the Week "The Immortal" (1969) and an hour-long television series in 1970, based on Gunn's The Immortals
* An episode of the USSR science fiction TV series This Fantastic World, filmed in 1989 and entitled "Psychodynamics of the Witchcraft" was based on James Gunn's 1953 story "Wherever You May Be".
Gunn served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, after which he attended the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1947 and a Masters of Arts in English in 1951. Gunn went on to become a faculty member of the University of Kansas, where he served as the university's director of public relations and as a professor of English, specializing in science fiction and fiction writing. He is now a professor emeritus and director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, which awards the annual John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best novel and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award at the Campbell Conference in Lawrence, Kansas, every July.
He served as President of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1971–72, was President of the Science Fiction Research Association from 1980-82, and currently is Director of The Center for the Study of
Science Fiction. SFWA honored him as a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 2007.
Gunn began his career as a science fiction author in 1948. He has had almost 100 stories published in magazines and anthologies and has authored 26 books and edited 10. Many of his stories and books have been reprinted around the world.
In 1996, Gunn wrote a novelization of the unproduced Star Trek episode "The Joy Machine" by Theodore Sturgeon.
His stories also have been adapted into radioplays and teleplays:
* NBC radio's X Minus One
* Desilu Playhouse's 1959 "Man in Orbit", based on Gunn's "The Cave of Night"
* ABC-TV's Movie of the Week "The Immortal" (1969) and an hour-long television series in 1970, based on Gunn's The Immortals
* An episode of the USSR science fiction TV series This Fantastic World, filmed in 1989 and entitled "Psychodynamics of the Witchcraft" was based on James Gunn's 1953 story "Wherever You May Be".
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 6, 2019
The book contains ten pieces, however, the first and second are related and ought to be read together, even though originally published over ten years apart. For the most part the stories were quick reads. Unfortunately, there was nothing here that I felt was outstanding or excellent.
If you can only read one story from these, select the sixth: “Every Day is Christmas.”
Overall, its worth a look if you really do not know what else to read. It does read quickly, but it is somewhat unsatisfactory in execution. Gunn fans will want to read it for completeness sake. Vintage science fiction fans will find value here. I wanted this collection to be a lot better.
If you can only read one story from these, select the sixth: “Every Day is Christmas.”
Overall, its worth a look if you really do not know what else to read. It does read quickly, but it is somewhat unsatisfactory in execution. Gunn fans will want to read it for completeness sake. Vintage science fiction fans will find value here. I wanted this collection to be a lot better.
December 28, 2012
A collection of short stories which at times feel a little dated but still make you wonder about how strange the future might be. I especially liked the story about advertising and consumerism taken to the extreme. Now that's one frighteningly plausible future scenario!
September 28, 2024
I hadn't read any old school sci fi short stories for it bit, so it was time. James Gunn is one of those people who you don't really know who they are until you look them up, and then you find out they are everywhere. To my knowledge, I'd never read anything of his before.
All these stories were written in the mid 50s, and you can tell.. Most of them are pretty dated, and a bit cringy as far as gender roles go.
There were 2 stories I liked.. 'Every Day is Christmas' was a fun one about consumerism gone amok... I liked the REASON it happened alot (turning advertising into science instead of art... sounds familiar, right?), but the very short period of time it took place it (3 years) was silly.
The other, by far the best of the bunch, was 'survival policy'.. a story about an insurance agent and a woman who asked to take out a policy on the survival of her race. I would totally read more stories about Malachi Jones.
All these stories were written in the mid 50s, and you can tell.. Most of them are pretty dated, and a bit cringy as far as gender roles go.
There were 2 stories I liked.. 'Every Day is Christmas' was a fun one about consumerism gone amok... I liked the REASON it happened alot (turning advertising into science instead of art... sounds familiar, right?), but the very short period of time it took place it (3 years) was silly.
The other, by far the best of the bunch, was 'survival policy'.. a story about an insurance agent and a woman who asked to take out a policy on the survival of her race. I would totally read more stories about Malachi Jones.
October 24, 2024
Wow. Stories from the 50s and 60s that still hit hard today. Crazy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews