The Fantasy Hall of Fame: The Definitive Collection of the Best Modern Fantasy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
edited by Robert Silverberg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HarperPrism Books, 562 pages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A review by Todd Ruthman
The introduction, in which Silverberg describes the selection process,
is well worth reading. Silverberg discusses the difficulties in
distinguishing fantasy from science fiction. Three of the nominated
stories were in fact disqualified because they'd already been published
in the older science fiction Hall of Fame books.
The stories could be no longer than 17,500 words, and must have been
published between 1939 and 1990. 1939, Silverberg explains, marks "the
beginning of the launching of the modern fantasy movement in the United
States with the founding of John Campbell's magazine Unknown." He did
not explain why 1990 was chosen as the upper limit, but presumably it
gave sufficient time for the most recent nominees to attain "classic"
status . The nominations resulted in a ballot of 71 stories by 49
authors.
Members of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America then voted
on these stories over a six-month period. If a particular author had
more than one story on the ballot, the members could only vote for one.
To spare these authors from competing with themselves, all votes an
author received were added to the total for their most popular story.
Only one story per author would be published.
It was well worth the effort. The thirty stories represent a wonderful
cross-section of themes, techniques and talent. Martin H. Greenberg
introduces each story with brief but informative reflection on the
author's contribution to the genre. Some of the authors are better
known for their work in science fiction or contributions in publishing
or editing, but all the stories are treasures.
A few of my favorites are Ted Chiang's "Tower of Babylon", Roger
Zelazny's "Unicorn Variations", Robert Bloch's "That Hell-Bound Train"
and H.L. Gold's "Trouble with Water." However, I could have easily
picked a dozen more.
Todd Ruthman is the SF Site Poetry Editor. |
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