Review: Classic Old Science Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 1, 2011
These 25 science fiction stories are from the early years of the genre's development and some show their age in plot clichés and out-of-date science.  It's worth looking beneath the surface to appreciate creative stories that were innovative in their time.  The collection suffers from the absence of an overall introduction and omission of introductions to the individual stories.  Many of these stories have influenced later science fiction--it would be interesting to see this spelled out.Five of the better stories--Frederic Brown's "Arena" was made into a Star Trek episode which pitted William Shatner against an unknown stunt man in a rubber reptile suit.  This original story of a human versus a well-rounded alien in a fight to the death is better.C. M. Kornbluth's "The Little Black Bag" hints at a future where many people aren't too bright.  One of them loses a bag of medical instruments all the way into the past. And somebody finds it.Frederic Brown's "Earthmen Bearing Gifts" could have been a Ray Bradbury story about human exploration of Mars.  Brown's Martians have not yet revealed their existence and wait for Earth's first contact with their planet.  Location, location, location.Peter Baily's "Accidental Death" is the survivor's account of a mission to an alien planet where nearly everything goes badly.  Fortunately he has made it back to Earth with his insights about why.Lester Del Ray's "Dead Ringer" follows Dane Phillips as he tries to prove the existence of hidden aliens among us with amazing powers of physical regeneration.  If he only had proof...Two get honorable mentions:  Arthur Burks' "Monsters of Moyen" exhibits nearly every cliché of old-school science fiction.  It's so hokey that it achieves greatness--like thoseold Flash Gordon episodes from the 1950's.  Read it for the experience.  And read the short-short "Final Call" by John Gregory Betancourt.  It's... oh, just read it.  It won't take long.The collection is highly recommended.  Good, old stuff--like a day at the Smithsonian.