Nebula Award Stories Eight
Nebula Award Stories Eight, edited by Isaac Asimov, is a formidable anthology featuring eight diverse 1972 Nebula Award-winning and runner-up science fiction stories, enhanced by Asimov's insights.
Nebula Award Stories Eight, edited by Isaac Asimov, is the eighth volume in a prestigious series that showcases award-winning and runner-up science fiction stories from the year 1972. This formidable anthology includes eight stories in total, featuring a general introduction by editor Asimov, as well as his specific introductions to each story, and a listing of Nebula and Hugo award-winners since 1965.
Isaac Asimov, a prominent figure in science fiction, uses his introduction to articulate his views on the genre's enduring importance and relevance. He argues that science fiction distinguishes itself from other forms of literature by primarily focusing on change, particularly social change. Asimov posits that science fiction routinely sets its narratives against the backdrop of vastly different societies, such as a Moon colony or a post-holocaust Earth, and explores "alternate futures" across varying degrees of probability. This focus, he asserts, fosters "a wonder and a thoughtful contemplation of what earth and man and the reader himself is coming to," making science fiction uniquely relevant to the present moment. He controversially suggests that ordinary fiction, by largely ignoring change, is becoming increasingly irrelevant, pointing to the decline of general-interest fiction markets while science fiction continues to flourish.
Asimov further elaborates on the nature of "good science fiction," distinguishing it from what he terms "illiteracies" seen in some media. He believes that science fiction appeals particularly to "intelligent, thoughtful, and articulate" readers who value ideas and find pleasure in considering them. While these readers may be a minority, their dedication and enthusiasm, even leading to phenomena like "Star Trek" conventions, are "unparalleled of its kind". Despite this fervent readership, science fiction writers, as a class, do not often become rich, a fact Asimov attributes to the relatively small number of readers compared to other media. He also emphasizes the inherent difficulty of writing science fiction, stating it is "perhaps the most difficult there is," due to the necessity of building and explaining entirely unfamiliar backgrounds without detracting from the foreground action. Asimov, drawing from his own extensive career which includes mysteries, nonfiction, history, and more, affirms that science fiction remains "by far the hardest thing to do".
The collection itself exemplifies the breadth and quality Asimov advocates. The 1972 Nebula Award winners featured in this volume include:
- Arthur C. Clarke’s novella, A Meeting with Medusa: Asimov introduces this as a prime example of "hard science fiction," a genre he himself champions, noting Clarke's thorough scientific knowledge and imaginative ability. The story follows Captain Howard Falcon on an ambitious journey to Jupiter, an alien world of immense pressures and temperatures. The narrative delves into themes of exploration, transformation, and first contact, challenging human assumptions about life and identity [previous conversation]. Clarke's clarity and scientific rigor make the incredible feel real, raising profound questions about humanity's place in the universe [previous conversation].
- Poul Anderson’s novelette, Goat Song: This story is presented as a powerful blend of science fiction and fantasy, with Anderson defying Asimov’s general rule that writers rarely excel in both. It delves into themes of human nature and the unchanging "human condition" even amidst a highly mechanized future controlled by a powerful entity called SUM.
- Joanna Russ’s short story, When It Changed: Asimov highlights this piece for its groundbreaking exploration of a society that is "entirely female". The story bravely tackles the return of men to this established society, using the genre's freedom to explore themes of gender, identity, and the potential impact of imposed change.
The volume also includes five runners-up, further demonstrating the diverse landscape of science fiction in 1972:
- Frederik Pohl’s Shaffery Among the Immortals: Described by Asimov as a social satire combining "hard science and light heart," this story follows Jeremy Shaffery, a scientist perpetually striving for recognition and often failing, leading to unforeseen and tragic consequences for humanity.
- William Rotsler’s Patron of the Arts: This story is noted for raising "new and fascinating questions about human emotion" through the lens of art and patronage in a technologically advanced society.
- Harlan Ellison's On the Downhill Side: While Asimov generally distinguishes science fiction from fantasy, he highlights Ellison's ability to create something "tantalizingly lovely" in this fantasy piece, acknowledging the close alliance between the two genres and the emotional depth Ellison brings.
- Gene Wolfe’s The Fifth Head of Cerberus: This novella is presented as an "intimately biological" story, exploring complex themes of cloning, identity, and memory through a narrative set on an alien planet with a unique social structure.
- Robert Silverberg’s When We Went to See the End of the World: Asimov identifies this as an "intensely bitter story written in anger" that satirizes aspects of human nature and even science fiction itself, leaving the reader with a shared sense of indignation.
In addition to the stories, Nebula Award Stories Eight also provides a valuable listing of the winners of both the Nebula Awards and the Hugo Awards from 1965 to 1972, serving as a historical record of significant achievements in the genre during that period. The Nebula Awards are chosen by the members of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA), with categories for Best Novel, Novella, Novelette, and Short Story. The Hugo Awards, on the other hand, are determined by popular vote, named after Hugo Gernsback, and include awards for amateur as well as professional achievement.
Overall, Nebula Award Stories Eight stands as a comprehensive and intellectually stimulating anthology. It not only collects some of the finest science fiction writing from 1972, but through Isaac Asimov's insightful commentary, it also offers a profound reflection on the nature, purpose, and evolving landscape of the science fiction genre itself. The selected stories, in their diverse approaches to themes of change, human identity, exploration, and societal commentary, collectively affirm Asimov's belief in science fiction's capacity to enlighten and provoke thought, making it a relevant and essential form of literature.
