Starlight - Alfred Bester - cover artist Jack Woolhiser
Doubleday hardbound - SFBC edition - printed 1976
comments by CR:
Starlight - Alfred Bester - [634 - Anthology - SF - 10-09-2015]
"Starlight" is an anthology of stories written by Alfred Bester (1913-87). All 16 stories were first published 1941-74 in science-fiction magazines - mostly "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction" and a few in "Astounding". The book also includes two non-fiction selections. One is a short appreciation of Isaac Asimov (1920-92). The other item is a lengthy essay by Bester titled "My Affair with Science Fiction". For fans and those just curious this essay is cause sufficient to pick up this anthology. Each story has a perceptive introduction by the author, which this reader found very informative. In fact these introductions are almost as interesting as the stories insofar as we are given Bester's mental ruminations concerning how he came up with his ideas.
Before I comment of the stories the actual book "Starlight" Nelson Doubleday, copyright 1976, 409 pages is a merging of two other Alfred Bester anthologies: "Star Light Star Bright" and "The Light Fantastic".
THE LIGHT FANTASTIC:
"5,271,009" - 36 pgs. - This is the smartest talking devil-wise guy you will ever encounter in fiction.
"Ms. Found in a Champagne Bottle" - 4 pgs. - When the machines take over and last rich man expires we can a breath a sage of relief.
"Fondly Fahrenheit" - 21 pgs. - An overlong take on a deranged robot that goes rogue when it get steamy hot.
"The Four-Hour Fugue" - 19 pgs. - A scientist was concocts exotic perfumes has a strange hobby after hours.
"The Man who Murdered Mohammed" - 14 pgs. - An above average time travel story.
"Disappearing Act" - 19 pgs. - War is madness and combined with time travel it really gets out of hand.
"Hell is Forever" - 76 pgs. - The longest story in the book and the only one I gave up on - much too long in my opinion - the author sure liked it he gave it a 5 pages introduction.
STAR LIGHT - STAR BRIGHT
"Adam and No Eve" - 14 pgs. - A gimmick story that probably was must better in 1941 when it was first published.
"Time is the Traitor" - 23 pgs. - Obsession of the manic wealthy and love lost.
"Oddy and Id" - 18 pgs. - A man who can manipulate events is beyond the control on mere mortals.
"Hobson's Choice" - 16 pgs. - A ho-hum time-travel story.
"Star Light Star Bright" - 18 pgs. - Stuart Buchanan was an above average 5th grader who disappeared when his vacation essay drew the interest of some low-life lawyers.
"They Don't Make Life Like they Used To" - 44 pgs. - The last man and women eventually conclude they are the new Adam and Eve.
"Of Time and Third Avenue" - 10 pgs. - The "oh yes" moment is the last sentence of this excellent story.
"Isaac Asimov" - 5 pgs. - A non-fiction tribute to the good doctor.
"The Pi Man" - 20 pgs. - Any story that makes charts out of words turns me off - like this one did.
"Something Up There Likes Me" - 25 pgs. - A NASA satellite becomes, well, super intelligent is this piece of dated fluff.
"My Affair With Science Fiction" - 22pgs A candid semi-biography of the author's love-hate relationship with science-fiction
Starlight - Alfred Bester - cover artist Jack Woolhiser
Doubleday hardbound - SFBC edition - printed 1976
comments by CR:
Starlight - Alfred Bester - [634 - Anthology - SF - 10-09-2015]
"Starlight" is an anthology of stories written by Alfred Bester (1913-87). All 16 stories were first published 1941-74 in science-fiction magazines - mostly "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction" and a few in "Astounding". The book also includes two non-fiction selections. One is a short appreciation of Isaac Asimov (1920-92). The other item is a lengthy essay by Bester titled "My Affair with Science Fiction". For fans and those just curious this essay is cause sufficient to pick up this anthology. Each story has a perceptive introduction by the author, which this reader found very informative. In fact these introductions are almost as interesting as the stories insofar as we are given Bester's mental ruminations concerning how he came up with his ideas.
Before I comment of the stories the actual book "Starlight" Nelson Doubleday, copyright 1976, 409 pages is a merging of two other Alfred Bester anthologies: "Star Light Star Bright" and "The Light Fantastic".
THE LIGHT FANTASTIC:
"5,271,009" - 36 pgs. - This is the smartest talking devil-wise guy you will ever encounter in fiction.
"Ms. Found in a Champagne Bottle" - 4 pgs. - When the machines take over and last rich man expires we can a breath a sage of relief.
"Fondly Fahrenheit" - 21 pgs. - An overlong take on a deranged robot that goes rogue when it get steamy hot.
"The Four-Hour Fugue" - 19 pgs. - A scientist was concocts exotic perfumes has a strange hobby after hours.
"The Man who Murdered Mohammed" - 14 pgs. - An above average time travel story.
"Disappearing Act" - 19 pgs. - War is madness and combined with time travel it really gets out of hand.
"Hell is Forever" - 76 pgs. - The longest story in the book and the only one I gave up on - much too long in my opinion - the author sure liked it he gave it a 5 pages introduction.
STAR LIGHT - STAR BRIGHT
"Adam and No Eve" - 14 pgs. - A gimmick story that probably was must better in 1941 when it was first published.
"Time is the Traitor" - 23 pgs. - Obsession of the manic wealthy and love lost.
"Oddy and Id" - 18 pgs. - A man who can manipulate events is beyond the control on mere mortals.
"Hobson's Choice" - 16 pgs. - A ho-hum time-travel story.
"Star Light Star Bright" - 18 pgs. - Stuart Buchanan was an above average 5th grader who disappeared when his vacation essay drew the interest of some low-life lawyers.
"They Don't Make Life Like they Used To" - 44 pgs. - The last man and women eventually conclude they are the new Adam and Eve.
"Of Time and Third Avenue" - 10 pgs. - The "oh yes" moment is the last sentence of this excellent story.
"Isaac Asimov" - 5 pgs. - A non-fiction tribute to the good doctor.
"The Pi Man" - 20 pgs. - Any story that makes charts out of words turns me off - like this one did.
"Something Up There Likes Me" - 25 pgs. - A NASA satellite becomes, well, super intelligent is this piece of dated fluff.
"My Affair With Science Fiction" - 22pgs A candid semi-biography of the author's love-hate relationship with science-fiction