The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. 1, 1929-1964

The Greatest Science Fiction Stories of All Time Chosen by the Members of the Science Fiction Writers of America

De: Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg - editor

Narrado por: Oliver Wyman, L. J. Ganser, Richard Ferrone

The definitive collection of the best in science fiction stories between 1929 and 1964.

This book contains 26 of the greatest science fiction stories ever written. They represent the considered verdict of the Science Fiction Writers of America, those who have shaped the genre and who know, more intimately than anyone else, what the criteria for excellence in the field should be.

The authors chosen for the Science Fiction Hall Fame are the men and women who have shaped the body and heart of modern science fiction; their brilliantly imaginative creations continue to inspire and astound new generations of writers and fans.

In "The Roads Must Roll", Robert Heinlein describes an industrial civilization of the future caught up in the deadly flaws of its own complexity. "Country of the Kind", by Damon Knight, is a frightening portrayal of biological mutation. "Nightfall", by Isaac Asimov, one of the greatest stories in the science fiction field, is the story of a planet where the sun sets only once every millennium and is a chilling study in mass psychology.

Originally published in 1970 to honor those writers and their stories that had come before the institution of the Nebula Awards, The Science Fiction Hall Of Fame, Vol. One, was the book that introduced tens of thousands of young listeners to the wonders of science fiction. Too long unavailable, this new edition will treasured by all science fiction fans everywhere.

This collection also includes an introduction by Robert Silverberg and stories by Stanley G. Weinbaum, John W. Campbell, Lester del Rey, Theodore Sturgeon, Lewis Padgett, Clifford D. Simak, Fredric Brown, Murray Leinster, Judith Merril, Cordwainer Smith, Ray Bradbury, C. M. Kornbluth, Richard Matheson, Fritz Leiber, Anthony Boucher, James Blish, Arthur C. Clarke, Jerome Bixby, Tom Godwin, Alfred Bester, Daniel Keyes, and Roger Zelazny.

The complete list of narrators includes Oliver Wyman, L. J. Ganser, Richard Ferrone, Pete Larkin, Graham Halstead, Eliza Foss, Fred Berman, Michael David Axtell, Michael Braun, Rick Adamson, Gabriel Sloyer, Amanda Leigh Cobb, Neil Hellegers, Mark Boyett, David Shih, Alex Bloch, Jeff Gurner, and Tom Burka.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2017 Robert Silverberg (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Better Than Old Time Radio

These stories were extraordinary for three reasons. 1) They were like listening to old time radio shows from the past only better since the narrative was spoken, 2) Each story gave an incredible peek into the time period they were written in. Pay attention to the time the story was written in order to get the full impact of the story. 3) The stories all have a meaning within themselves. The truths they reach are autonomous, they exist for their own being, and they help one understand one’s own existence all the more because they help in partially resolving the ‘paradox of the ego’ (a J.S. Mills expression).

My wife and I would listen to these together as we were in bed tucked in for the night. They made for a perfect end for our days. I like Robert Heinlein and have listened to gobs of his stories over the years, but I did not realize how much of a dick he was in 1940 and how much he was opposed to the working person out of ‘first principles’ as was illustrated by his story featured in this book. It made me reassess his other works through a different lens than I had previously.

To enhance the story and its meaning we would do a Wiki on ‘Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume I’ and look up the story background and plot summary for each short story featured. That added immensely to our listening pleasure.

More fun than old time radio, stories with meaning that transcend the ordinary, and a historical window that was more edifying than time travel and a perfect bed time companion, one cannot ask for more than that with ones entertainment!

Some of the best Science Fiction stories

Most of the stories featured are enjoyable to some extent but the following are, I feel, some of the best stories ever written: A Martian Odyssey, Twilight, The Roads Must Roll, Microcosmic God, Nightfall, The Weapon Shop, Mimsy Were the Borogroves, Arena, Scanners Live in Vain, The Quest for Saint Aquin, Surface Tension and Flowers for Algernon.

Ratings for individual stories:

A Martian Odyssey (1934) by Stanley G. Weinbaum 5/5
Twilight (1934) by John W. Campbell, Jr. 5/5
Helen O'Loy (1938) by Lester del Rey 3/5
The Roads Must Roll (1940) by Robert A. Heinlein 5/5
Microcosmic God (1941) by Theodore Sturgeon 5/5
Nightfall (1941) by Isaac Asimov 5/5
The Weapon Shop (1942) by A.E. van Vogt 5/5
Mimsy Were the Borogoves (1943) by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore 5/5
Huddling Place (1944) by Clifford D. Simak 4/5
Arena (1944) by Fredric Brown 5/5
First Contact (1945) by Murray Leinster 4/5
That Only a Mother (1948) by Judith Merril 3/5
Scanners Live in Vain (1950) by Cordwainer Smith 5/5
Mars Is Heaven! (1948) by Ray Bradbury 3/5
The Little Black Bag (1950) by C. M. Kornbluth 4/5
Born of Man and Woman (1950) by Richard Matheson 3/5
Coming Attraction (1950) by Fritz Leiber 3/5
The Quest for Saint Aquin (1951) by Anthony Boucher 5/5
Surface Tension (1952) by James Blish 5/5
The Nine Billion Names of God (1953) by Arthur C. Clarke 3/5
It's a Good Life (1953) by Jerome Bixby 3/5
The Cold Equations (1954) by Tom Godwin 4/5
Fondly Fahrenheit (1954) by Alfred Bester 4/5
The Country of the Kind (1956) by Damon Knight 4/5
Flowers for Algernon (1959) by Daniel Keyes 5/5
A Rose for Ecclesiastes (1963) by Roger Zelazny 4/5

the foundation of our current science fiction.

these stories are still relevant even though it's been almost a hundred years.

thumbs up on the river schedule what Mister experts on this matter but it was like sort of the special the native blackberry bushes somewhere around here just listen to sting nettle here right

Simply amazing

What fascinates me about reading stories from the early 20th century is that so many of the concepts are used today in Hollywood and sold as original.

A World Class Collection

The narrators are fantastic and the stories are the best of the best! Some of these really stuck with me after listening, and were really moving. Well worth every minute of listening!

Some good stories representative of early Sci-fi.

Some good stories representative of early Sci-fi. Though sometimes annoying how some authors reveal their disdain for religious ideas and embrace science as infallible, despite the fallibility of men such as themselves. But mostly it was nostalgic fun.

Well worth a listen

Great survey of sci-fi stories. Some are better than others. Most finish better than they start. Would recommend to both the casual and serious sci-fi fan.

THIS is science fiction!

Great writers, stories, narrators, wow--great collection! You can't call yourself a serious science fiction devotee unless you've read, or in this case listened to, most if not all of the stories in this book. HIGHLY recommended. Groff Conklin would be impressed!

A treat for any science fiction fan

The readings are nothing short of superb.
This was a labor of love. I will listen to this again and again.

Science Fiction Hall of Fame

This is a truly enjoyable experience for both hardened science fiction fans and new readers alike. Science fiction, even that of 60 years past, will never be tiresome or cease to be an object of marvel.
I have given 4 stars for performance since it seems as if both male and female characters were narrated by men. Foreign accents were slightly overdone and detracted from the overall listening pleasure.

Highly recommended.