by Mark Clifton
First published 2017
This anthology gathers memorable tales from Worlds of If, the science fiction magazine that claimed three Hugo Awards and launched careers of writers who later shaped the genre. The collection spans thirty-eight stories from contributors including Keith Laumer, Mari Wolf, R.A. Lafferty, and James Blish. Readers encounter alien diplomacy in "The Yillian Way," explore evolutionary themes in "Homo Inferior," and follow time manipulation adventures in "The Six Fingers of Time." The stories range from first contact scenarios to dystopian futures, from corporate boardroom politics to interstellar travel gone wrong. Each tale reflects the magazine's commitment to discovering fresh voices while delivering the imaginative scope that made Worlds of If a cornerstone publication. The anthology preserves the spirit of discovery that defined the magazine's run, offering both classic science fiction concepts and innovative approaches to familiar themes.
Genres: short-stories, science-fiction, speculative-fiction
Vibes: imaginative, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, fresh-voices
Period: 20th-century
774 pages · Kindle Edition · Positronic Publishing