Science Fiction

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31042, 23 April 1966, Page 4

Science Fiction

A Century of Great Short Science Fiction Novels. Edited by Damon Knight. Gollancz. 379 pp.

This collection of six novelettes embraces an important section of science fiction previously neglected by anthologists. Novels are often reprinted and the cream of the short stories (not to mention some of the more mediocre) are frequently anthologised. But too often, novelettes, once published, are not reprinted, and soon become almost unobtainable. It is to be hoped that this volume will set a precedent.

Two perennial favourites, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” and H. G. Wells’ “The Invisible Man,” represent the 19th century. The selection of “The Absolute At Large,” by the Czechoslovakian writer Karel Capek, will be approved of by most readers. Capek’s novel, published in English in 1927 but never reprinted, has long been unobtainable, and is here presented in an abridged form It is still excellent science fiction, and has not aged appreciably in the 40 years since it was written.

Robert A. Heinlein, who has done a great deal for science fiction, certainly deserves to be represented, but the selection of “Gulf,” which is not one of his best works, is an unfortunate one. T. L. Sherred’s “E for Effort,” and Richard McKenna's “Hunter, Come Home,” both enjoyable science fiction stories, complete this important collection.