The Science Fiction Century

"Science fiction is the characteristic literary genre of the century. It is the genre that stands in opposition to literary modernism." So says David G. Hartwell in his introduction to The Science Fiction Century, an anthology spanning a hundred years of science fiction, from its birth in the 1890s to the future it predicted.

David G. Hartwell is a World Fantasy Award-winning editor and anthologist who has twice before redefined a genre--first the horror field with The Dark Descent, then the subgenre of hard science fiction with The Ascent of Wonder, coedited with Kathryn Cramer. Now, Hartwell has compiled the mother of all definitive anthologies, guaranteed to change not only the way the science fiction field views itself but also the way the rest of literature views the field.

Contents

17 • Introduction (The Science Fiction Century) • (1997) • essay by David G. Hartwell21 • Beam Us Home • (1969) • shortstory by James Tiptree, Jr.31 • Ministering Angels • (1955) • shortstory by C. S. Lewis39 • The Music Master of Babylon • (1954) • novelette by Edgar Pangborn57 • A Story of the Days to Come • (1899) • novella by H. G. Wells112 • Hot Planet • (1963) • shortstory by Hal Clement127 • A Work of Art • (1956) • novelette by James Blish139 • The Machine Stops • (1909) • novelette by E. M. Forster161 • Brightness Falls from the Air • (1951) • shortstory by Margaret St. Clair166 • 2066: Election Day • (1956) • shortstory by Michael Shaara177 • The Rose • (1953) • novella by Charles L. Harness [as by Charles Harness ]232 • The Hounds of Tindalos • (1929) • shortstory by Frank Belknap Long242 • The Angel of Violence • (1978) • shortstory by Adam Wisniewski-Snerg252 • Nobody Bothers Gus • [Gus] • (1955) • shortstory by Algis Budrys261 • The Time Machine • (1954) • shortstory by Dino Buzzati265 • Mother • (1953) • novelette by Philip José Farmer285 • As Easy as A.B.C. • (1912) • novelette by Rudyard Kipling304 • Ginungagap • (1980) • novelette by Michael Swanwick327 • Minister Without Portfolio • (1952) • shortstory by Mildred Clingerman333 • Time in Advance • (1956) • novelette by William Tenn352 • Good Night, Sophie • (1973) • novelette by Lino Aldani (aka Buonanotte Sofia 1963 )369 • Veritas • (1987) • novelette by James Morrow382 • Enchanted Village • (1950) • shortstory by A. E. van Vogt393 • The King and the Dollmaker • (1970) • novella by Wolfgang Jeschke (aka Der König und der Puppenmacher 1961 )435 • Fire Watch • [Time Travel] • (1982) • novelette by Connie Willis462 • Goat Song • (1972) • novelette by Poul Anderson486 • The Scarlet Plague • (1912) • novella by Jack London518 • Drunkboat • [The Instrumentality of Mankind] • (1963) • novelette by Cordwainer Smith539 • Another World • (1962) • novelette by J. H. Rosny aîné (aka Un Autre Monde 1895 )558 • If the Stars Are Gods • [Bradley Reynolds] • (1974) • novelette by Gordon Eklund and Gregory Benford585 • I Still Call Australia Home • (1990) • shortstory by George Turner598 • Liquid Sunshine • (1982) • novelette by Alexander Kuprin (aka Zhidkoe solntse 1913 )632 • Great Work of Time • (1989) • novella by John Crowley683 • Sundance • (1969) • shortstory by Robert Silverberg694 • Greenslaves • (1965) • novelette by Frank Herbert716 • Rumfuddle • (1973) • novella by Jack Vance754 • The Dimple in Draco • (1967) • shortstory by R. S. Richardson [as by Philip Latham ]765 • Consider Her Ways • (1956) • novella by John Wyndham805 • Something Ending • (1973) • shortstory by Eddy C. Bertin812 • He Who Shapes • (1965) • novella by Roger Zelazny869 • Swarm • [Shaper/Mechanist] • (1982) • novelette by Bruce Sterling886 • Beggars in Spain • [Sleepless] • (1991) • novella by Nancy Kress939 • Johnny Mnemonic • (1981) • shortstory by William Gibson952 • "Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman • (1965) • shortstory by Harlan Ellison961 • Blood's a Rover • (1952) • novella by Chad Oliver993 • Sail the Tide of Mourning • [Bentfin Boomers] • (1975) • shortstory by Richard A. Lupoff

The story The Angel of Violence by Adam_Wiśniewski-Snerg was translated from Polish to English by Thomasz Mirkowicz for this anthology.The story Good Night, Sophie by Lino Aldani was translated from Italian to English by L. K. Conrad.The story Liquid Sunshine by Alexander Kuprin was translated from Russian to English by Leland Fetzer.