It took me forever to finish this book; well, con razón, since I was reading many other books at the same time.

There was one story that particularly moved me, and not in a positive way: "The Sharing of Flesh," by Poul Anderson. If you know that I am an ethical vegan, and you read this story, then you will understand. ( )

This is the one you HAD to get when you joined the Science Fiction Book Club back in the day (remember them? you got, I think four books for a buck plus shipping.) I sent in the little card from inside an Ace Double (or maybe a Perry Rhodan novel, I forget) and lo, a couple of months later the box arrived...I was big into Asimov back then and I got his "Buy Jupiter and Other Stories", "The Gods Themselves" (awesome book!), The Foundation Trilogy (in one volume, excellent!) and...this one, the piece d'resistance.

There's not a lemon in the carload. They're ALL good. No, not all of them will be stories you'll necessarily enjoy. I'll admit I'm not fond of McCaffrey. But that's personal taste, and I bet she wouldn't like my stuff either. But what you will find are all the award winners and Isaac's ever-thoughtful comments on each one. I still have a copy of the old SFBC volume, and I won't part with it, even though it's second hand and lacks a dust jacket. The stories are so good and there's so many of them, stories you will want to come back to and read over and over, stories that will introduce you to writers who will become your favorites.

I've left the Science Fiction Book Club behind, but this book remains, and I suspect it ever shall. A true Book Of Wonders, it belongs on every readers' shelf. ( )

A terrific collection of short stories, literally each one a classic. Highlights (although most of the stories are great) include 'Flowers for Algernon' by Keyes, the 'Star' by Clarke, 'I have no mouth and must Scream' by Ellison, 'Nightwings' by Silverberg, 'Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones'by Delany and possibly my favorite 'The Darfsteller' by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

I read these stories when I was a boy, many years later they haven't lost their impact. I could rave on and on about the quality of the stories contained within this book, it is amazing the quality of the Science Fiction short story during this time period. Pick the book up and read. ( )

Some of these stories are better than others - at least you can expect that in an anthology, but one is left wondering whether that "better" has more do with the reader's own likes and dislikes. Because this collection is definitely excellent, representing some of the best authors in sci-fi. Asimov's brief introductions are silly but personal in nature - introducing the authors as people he knows or has met. Each story has its key, its mystery and its appeal that draws you in...[in process] ( )

Fourteen of the Hugo Short Story winners are found in Volume two:
1963: The Dragon Masters, by Jack Vance (short story)
1964: No Truce With Kings, by Poul Anderson (short story)
1965: Soldier, Ask Not, by Gordon R. Dickson (short story)
1966:"Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman, by Harlan Ellison (short story)
1967:The Last Castle, by Jack Vance (novelette)
Neutron Star, by Larry Niven (short story)
1968: –Weyr Search by Anne McCaffrey (novella)
Riders of the Purple Wage by Philip José Farmer (novella)
Gonna Roll the Bones by Fritz Leiber (novelette)
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison (short story)
1969:Nightwings by Robert Silverberg (novella)
12–The Sharing of Flesh by Poul Anderson (novelette)
13–The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World by Harlan Ellison (short story)
1970: Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones by Samuel R. Delany (short story)
And that's what you get! ( )