by Isaac Asimov
First published 1988
Isaac Asimov assembles fourteen science fiction stories that examine humanity's moral compass through speculative scenarios. The collection divides into two sections: tales exploring the seven deadly sins of Sloth, Lust, Envy, Pride, Anger, Gluttony, and Avarice, followed by stories illuminating the cardinal virtues of Temperance, Justice, Faith, Prudence, Fortitude, Hope, and Charity. Authors including Jack Vance, Roger Zelazny, Poul Anderson, and Frederick Pohl contribute works that use futuristic settings and technological possibilities to probe ancient questions about human nature. Each story demonstrates how science fiction serves as a laboratory for moral experimentation, placing characters in situations where their fundamental values face extreme tests. The anthology reveals how genre fiction can illuminate timeless ethical dilemmas through the lens of imagined futures and alien worlds.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, philosophical, thought-provoking
Tropes: ethical-quandaries, moral-experimentation
350 pages · Hardcover · Random House Value Publishing