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Title: Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century Author: Orson Scott Card Rating: Not available Avg. Score: 4 Submit Comment Hits: 24

Review of Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century

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Comments for Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century

• Posted on 2008-01-27
  Solid and Diverse Sci Fi Collection
  
  This collection of 27 stories, edited by Orson Scott Card, a science fiction writer of acclaim in his own right, is divided into three sections: "The Golden Age", "The New Wave", and "The Media Generation". Many of the giants of the genre are represented here. Mr Card provides a useful general inroduction to the volume and separate introductions for each story. Story selection is good, for the most part. I personally enjoy "concept driven" or "character driven", as opposed to "technology driven", Sci Fi and these stories fit that description. Some of the selections, especially in the first section, have been frequently anthologized and may be familiar to a well-read Sci Fi fan. However, many stories are not so well-known, especially in the two later sections. There is a fairly high proportion of "gems", worthy of multiple reads, in this volume. (To be fair, there are also a few duds, in my opinion.) Overall, for the money, a great buy.
  Score: 4
• Posted on 2007-12-10
  blech
  
  The lead review by McDorman really set the tone. I was grievously unpleased by this putative collection of masterpieces. Some of the stories were good, most were poor, but, overall, very few stood out as obvious examples of science fiction. Frankly, some of my more creative sci-fi-oriented dreams--turned into a few pages of prose--could stand honorably aside many of these "masterpiece" entrants. I can scarcely believe that Orson Scott Card couldn't find better alternatives for one or two (or fifteen?!) of these selections; I wonder whether he was "on the take" from moribund authors or publishers, or who knows what.
  
  The more anthologies one buys, the more disappointed one finds oneself. Honestly, even the best collections of anthologies suffer from a solid 20% "dud factor."
  Score: 2
• Posted on 2004-11-06
  How could I be disappointed?
  
  Look at the names on that list. Each is like revisiting an old friend. I recommend this collection for anybody seeking a book to introduce another to really good science fiction.
  Score: 5
• Posted on 2003-06-27
  Perhaps "Fine Pieces" Rather Than "Masterpieces"
  
  This is a much better than average Ace anthology. Typically Ace, it doesn't quite live up to its hype. The twenty six stories collected here are not the "Best Science Fiction of the Century" by anybody's count, even Orson Scott Card's own. Card himself describes his selection process in the Introduction: these are stories he loved at the first reading, enjoys on repeat readings, and "[a]bove all, these are stories that I cannot forget."

  I, however, *can* forget several of these stories - and already have, a mere few days after reading them. Most of the forgettable stories are the more recent ones, which is probably not a coincidence. Early science fiction (pre-1960s, let's say) is almost inherently more worthwhile than most later science fiction, and the stories selected here are cases in point. Terry Bisson's "Bears Discover Fire" is a meandering inanity. "Dog Fight" by William Gibson and Michael Swanwick is a drugs and sex tale, "appealing" only in the way that Trainspotting was "appealing." "Rat" by James Patrick Kelly is similar.

  There are, however, some truly, truly great stories here, which more than merit four stars. "The Tunnel Under the World" by Frederick Pohl, for example, ends with a revelation worth the price of admission. "Inconstant Moon" by Larry Niven is full of emotional impact as two individuals adjust to the thought of the sun going nova. George R. R. Martin's "Sandkings", despite being relatively recent, is a story that would might expect from Stephen King at the top of his game. Heinlein's "All You Zombies-" is a time-travel story to make the head spin. James Blish's "A Work of Art" puts Richard Strauss into the 22d century. Perhaps the most enjoyable of all is "Tunesmith" by Lloyd Biggle, Jr. Biggle, writing in 1957, the dawn of the television age, predicts a society where commercials have subsumed all other forms of art, until a gifted musician appears to save society. A surprisingly moving story, and finely crafted, skilfully bringing the reader full circle without the reader ever suspecting that he was moving.

  ...if you truly want "masterpieces," you should pick up Silverberg's Science Fiction Hall of Fame, volume one, or even the Best of the Nebulas edited by Ben Bova. But if you want several excellent stories by talented writers, you would do much worse than this collection of Card's favorites.
  Score: 4

• Posted on 2003-03-24
  A few masterpieces.
  
  This title of the book is wrongly chosen, which I don't believe, or some people wanted to betray other people.
  It's of course a tricky business to choose _the_ masterpieces of the century. I think that Card could/should have invested more time in seeking pieces that actually deserve the title best.
  I have nothing against Card, but I hope that some editor will soon make a defining best of anthology.
  Still three stars. Why? Let me explain. This isn't all mediocre.
  The good: Call me Joe, All You Zombies, Nine Billion Names, Repent, Eurema's Dam, Passengers, Who Can Replace, Le Guin story, Niven story, SANDKINGS, dogfight and Snow of Crowley.
  That's a lot of good stories. I didn't like the recent ones.
  Most others were very readable. If this anthology wouldn't have featured such a title it would get four stars.
  If somebody would lower the price and remove some stories from this book it would get five stars.
  Now, if I would create an anthology bearing this name your eyes would roll out of their sockets. It would include Cordwainer Smith, Henry Kuttner, Kornbluth, brown etc. My reference book will therefore remain The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, vol. one, ed. by Silverberg. For now.
  If you really want to own these stories then by all means buy this book. But remember its setup. The editor and publisher lured you to buy this book. Don't stink into it. Look beyond the sausage and go hunt some other best of....
  Just my thoughts. Hey, just to keep things straight: I didn't buy this book. I know its contents.
  Score: 3