Review: Best Collection Yet!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 21, 2013
To begin with, I have downloaded and read the previous five collections in this series of anthologies.  As I have stated in my other reviews, I started with the Third Science Fiction Megapack and upon finishing it, and of course enjoying it immensely, I moved on to the first book in the series, The Science Fiction Megapack.  This book I hated and for a moment, I was ready to drop the series.  Fortunately, I didn't.  I read the Second, Fourth, and Fifth volumes of this series, enjoying some more than others and disliking a couple of the stories; however, overall I enjoyed the books.  Now I am finishing up the Sixth Science Fiction Megapack and I have to say that it is the best collection of short stories to date compiled in the Megapack format.I found many authors who I had been introduced to in the previous volumes, whose writing I had really enjoyed and I was pleased to have a chance to read more of their work.  In particular, I enjoyed  THE SYNDIC, by C.M. Kornbluth.  This story is presented in two parts, each with several chapters.  The story is a very creative look at a future Earth where North America is split between crime syndicate and the Mob and the Federal Government has been driven out of the country to prowl the seas as pirates.  It is totally difference from his other work that has been highlighted in previous volumes of the Megapack series, works including Walking Morons, Time Bum, and The Little Black Bag, however it is just as good and I really enjoyed it.Overall, this collection is a mix of old and relatively new authors.  The stories a mostly up beat and positive, with some such as MAYBE JUST A LITTLE ONE, by Reginald Bretnor, being quite humorous.  One of my favourites in the collection is HILLARY ORBITS VENUS, by Pamela Sargent, which is a delightful alternate history based on the fact that Hillary Rodham (Clinton) once wrote NASA as a young girl asking what a girl needed to study to become an astronaut.  This is a great story, filled with humour, excellent character development, and a little tongue in cheek that puts a smile on your face when you read it.Usually I rattle off four or five of the stories in the collection that stand out for me and that I hope others will enjoy, so on top of the stories mentioned above, give these ones a read -THE HANGING STRANGER, by Philip K. DickWALKING JOHN AND BIRD, by Neal AsherTHE ULTROOM ERROR, by Jerry SohlTHE ASTRONAUT FROM WYOMING, by Adam-Troy Castro & Jerry OltionCAT AND MOUSE, by Ralph WilliamsOverall, this is a great collection and well worth the time to read.  Enjoy!