Part of Pern
First published 1977
This collection brings together nine science fiction stories from various authors. Anne McCaffrey contributes "The Smallest Dragonboy," set in her Pern universe where young candidates hope to bond with dragons. L. Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp offer multiple tales, including "The Bear Who Saved the World" and "Dead Man's Chest." Howard Fast explores alien encounters in "The Large Ant." Kris Neville's "Old Man Henderson" and John Christopher's "Socrates" round out the fictional selections. The volume spans different eras of science fiction, featuring stories from 1951 through 1977. Each tale explores different aspects of speculative fiction, from dragon fantasy to alien contact. The collection concludes with an essay recommending additional science fiction reading. These stories showcase the diversity of the genre during its golden age and beyond.
Genres: science-fiction, anthologies, 20th-century, speculative-fiction, short-story-collection
Vibes: diverse, imaginative, nostalgic, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, ensemble-cast, first-contact
Setting: Pern
Period: 1951-1977
152 pages · Hardcover · Westminister Press