50 in 50: Fifty stories for fifty years!
Well! Here's the definitive selection of the prolific and popular Harrison's short fiction. First, there is an autobiographical essay, but thereafter Harrison proffers one story for, if not necessarily from, each year of his career as a published writer. The topics are as wide-ranging as Harrison's interests and, in some cases, dislikes. "Rescue Operation" is an alien-contact classic. "Roommates" preaches on overpopulation and still tells a story. "The Man from P.I.G." and "Captain Honorario Harpplayer" display sardonic, even savage, humor. "The Robot Who Wanted to Know" gives us Harrison poaching in Asimov's territory. And so on across the gamut of Harrison's oeuvre. He has little use for the military and none for religion. His separate introductions to the stories can condescend to the major themes of sf, but this merely makes him the latest in the long list of those who write better fiction than nonfiction. Harrison has written well, even magnificently, and this volume contains some of his really good stuff.Roland GreenCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved