The Good Stuff

by Gardner Dozois (Editor), A.E. van Vogt (Contributor), Cordwainer Smith (Contributor)

An omnibus of two anthologies (The Good Old Stuff and The Good New Stuff).

Contents
1 • The Good Old Stuff: Adventure SF in the Grand Tradition • [Good Stuff • 1] • (1998) • anthology by Gardner Dozois
9 • Preface (The Good Old Stuff) • (1998) • essay by Gardner Dozois
19 • The Rull • [Rull] • (1948) • novelette by A. E. van Vogt
45 • The Second Night of Summer • (1950) • novelette by James H. Schmitz
70 • The Galton Whistle • [Viagens Interplanetarias] • (1951) • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp
93 • The New Prime • (1951) • novelette by Jack Vance
116 • That Share of Glory • (1952) • novelette by C. M. Kornbluth
145 • The Last Days of Shandakor • (1952) • novelette by Leigh Brackett
173 • Exploration Team • [Colonial Survey] • (1956) • novelette by Murray Leinster
215 • The Sky People • [Maurai] • (1959) • novelette by Poul Anderson
254 • The Man in the Mailbag • [Dilbia] • (1959) • novelette by Gordon R. Dickson
281 • Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons • [The Instrumentality of Mankind] • (1961) • novelette by Cordwainer Smith
302 • A Kind of Artistry • (1962) • novelette by Brian W. Aldiss
325 • Gunpowder God • [Kalvan] • (1964) • novella by H. Beam Piper
368 • Semley's Necklace • (1964) • shortstory by Ursula K. Le Guin (aka The Dowry of Angyar)
386 • Moon Duel • (1965) • shortstory by Fritz Leiber
397 • The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth • (1965) • novelette by Roger Zelazny
428 • Mother in the Sky With Diamonds • (1971) • novelette by James Tiptree, Jr.
453 • Recommended Reading (The Good Stuff) • essay by Gardner Dozois
457 • The Good New Stuff: Adventure SF in the Grand Tradition • [Good Stuff • 2] • (1999) • anthology by Gardner Dozois
463 • Preface (The Good New Stuff) • essay by Gardner Dozois
469 • Good-Bye, Robinson Crusoe • [Eight Worlds] • (1977) • novelette by John Varley
497 • The Way of Cross and Dragon • (1979) • novelette by George R. R. Martin
515 • Swarm • [Shaper/Mechanist] • (1982) • novelette by Bruce Sterling
540 • The Blind Minotaur • (1985) • shortstory by Michael Swanwick
556 • The Blabber • [Zones of Thought] • (1988) • novella by Vernor Vinge
611 • The Return of the Kangaroo Rex • [Mirabile] • (1989) • novelette by Janet Kagan
645 • Prayers on the Wind • (1991) • novella by Walter Jon Williams
686 • The Missionary's Child • (1992) • novelette by Maureen F. McHugh
710 • Poles Apart • [Trimus] • (1992) • novella by G. David Nordley
753 • Guest of Honor • (1993) • novelette by Robert Reed
783 • Flowering Mandrake • (1994) • novelette by George Turner
820 • Cilia-of-Gold • (1994) • novelette by Stephen Baxter
844 • Gone to Glory • (1995) • novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson
870 • A Dry, Quiet War • (1996) • novelette by Tony Daniel
891 • All Tomorrow's Parties • (1997) • shortstory by Paul J. McAuley
907 • Escape Route • [Confederation Universe Stories] • (1997) • novella by Peter F. Hamilton
956 • The Eye of God • (1998) • novelette by Mary Rosenblum

Genres: Science Fiction, Anthologies

982 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 2013

About the author

Gardner Raymond Dozois was an American science fiction author and editor. He was editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine from 1984 to 2004. He won multiple Hugo and Nebula awards, both as an editor and a writer of short fiction.
Wikipedia entry: Gardner Dozois

http://us.macmillan.com/author/gardne...

Reviews

[Florin Constantinescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best reprint anthologies I have read so far (not counting "year's best of"s).
I picked it up thinking it'd recover my confidence in anthologies as an "environment" and maybe in Gardner Dozois as an editor, after reading several disastrous "year's best of"s, then ended up being my favorite.
The editor does state in the introduction that it should cover "core" adventure sci-fi and indeed adheres to the principle. A few slip-ups did happen, but at least there are no non-sci-fi stories here. Only some that I found unreadable.

I was originally unaware that it is actually an omnibus of "The Good Old Stuff" and "The Good New Stuff". This means that the stories are arranged in chronological order.
As it turns out, the first half is the one more balanced (fewer highs and lows).

Story breakdown:

• The Rull • (1948) • novelette by A. E. van Vogt: 3*
Passable story detailing a small fight between a human and an alien, both crash landed on a strange planet. Too bad it gets confusing towards the end. Didn't really get how it ended.

• The Second Night of Summer • (1950) • novelette by James H. Schmitz: 3*
A story pretty similar to the previous. A heroine specialized in combating alien invasions arrives on a remote human planet to do battle with some really bizarre alien whose shape or intent I failed to comprehend. Nice atmosphere, but again I lost the final plot twist.

• The Galton Whistle • (1951) • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp: 3*
This almost read like a sword-and-planet adventure story with the main character saving a damsel in distress from a cult of humans using some aliens as servants.

• The New Prime • (1951) • novelette by Jack Vance: 2*
A competition to determine the new galactic ruler is requires living through the lives of a few characters in various places in history. Good idea, but poor execution.

• That Share of Glory • (1952) • novelette by C. M. Kornbluth: 3*
Merchants appear in court after breaking a bizarre trade law on a remote planet. One of the first instances of Star Trek's "Prime Directive". The merchants were not supposed to trade-in iron.

• The Last Days of Shandakor • (1952) • novelette by Leigh Brackett: 4*
Lyrical discovery story set on Mars, with a human befriending a member of the Martian race which is now almost extinct because of human colonization.

• Exploration Team • (1956) • novelette by Murray Leinster: 4*
Mutant domesticated bears fight off aggressive aliens. Impressive pacing and good style.

• The Sky People • (1959) • novelette by Poul Anderson: 5*
In an alternate timeline America, airship-flying 'barbaric gringos' attack seafaring 'peace-loving Mexicans'. This has POV characters from both sides of the conflict and is excellently written.

• The Man in the Mailbag • (1959) • novelette by Gordon R. Dickson: 2*
Lots of talking between a human and some gigantic aliens.

• Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons • (1961) • novelette by Cordwainer Smith: 3
Another story involving telepathic abilities, this time it's minks! A famous thief attempts to steal the secret of immortality but is thwarted by the minks. The Instrumentality universe is captivating, and the set-up of the story is very 007'ish, but the finale is disappointing.

• A Kind of Artistry • (1962) • novelette by Brian W. Aldiss: 3*
Man meets asteroid-sized alien, and have a chat about something very relevant in today's world: works of art created by AI. Very ahead of its time, unfortunately plagued by a very difficult style.

• Gunpowder God • (1964) • novella by H. Beam Piper: 4*
Time cops inadvertently cause a mishap sending a human from an alternate world into another, where he starts to teach them about gunpowder. Difficult read, but quite rewarding in the end.

• Semley's Necklace • (1964) • short story by Ursula K. Le Guin: 5*
This is the very first story to occur in the Hainish universe. It also forms the start of LeGuin's first novel, Rocannon's World. It is very lyrical and nostalgic. Alien princess is searching for the said necklace on planet co-inhabited with two other races, only to have it returned from humans.

• Moon Duel • (1965) • short story by Fritz Leiber: 2*
The extra-detailed story telling really hurt this one. Every single step is described in excruciating detail. Some alien spider attacks a human on the moon and a small chase ensues. Nice plot twist at the end, but the style was very difficult.

• The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth • (1965) • novelette by Roger Zelazny: 2*
We're on the seas of Venus, hunting for some Moby-Dick-like creature. Too many nautical terms clutter up a boring adventure.

• Mother in the Sky with Diamonds • (1971) • novelette by James Tiptree, Jr.: 2*
Density of words in capital and switches of point of view made this one very difficult to follow. Something about the changes that humans have to go through in order to survive an alien world.

• Good-Bye, Robinson Crusoe • (1977) • novelette by John Varley: 4*
Humans have been forcefully relocated to other planets in the solar system where aliens have built habitats for them. We are now following a rejuvenated couple who survive the crash of an aquatic habitat on Pluto. Writing style kinda hurt the story.

• The Way of Cross and Dragon • (1979) • short story by George R. R. Martin: 5*
In a future where the Catholic Church is co-ruled with some aliens, an inquisitor is sent to a remote planet to quell a heretic sect and finds himself challenged to a philosophical/theological discussion with its leader. Beautiful setting and writing.

• Swarm • (1982) • novelette by Bruce Sterling: 5*
Another 'first in a universe' story. This time it's the Shaper/Machinist universe. While certain later stories were not to my liking due to the difficult style, this one not only is it accessible, but is quite stunning. Enhanced (and arrogant) human arrives on an asteroid inhabited by the aforementioned 'Swarm' intent on conquering it. Turns out the conquering went the other way around.

• The Blind Minotaur • (1985) • short story by Michael Swanwick: 1*
No idea what this story is doing here. No idea whether the titled minotaur is actually that or some kind of metaphor. At most you can claim this story to fall in the magical realism genre. A lot of useless talking with a total lack of set-up.

• The Blabber • (1988) • novella by Vernor Vinge: 4*
This is the first story set in Vinge's "Zones of Thoughts" universe, and, in spite of clunky over-descriptive writing sometimes, still packs a punch due to the environment. We are following a human who wants to leave his planet inside "the slow zone" by hijacking an alien ship.

• The Return of the Kangaroo Rex • (1989) • novelette by Janet Kagan: 2*
One of the most annoying things ever. The word 'kangaroo' appears in every single paragraph. Of course, it has to do with genetic engineering on a distant planet, and how the aforementioned animal adapted.

• Prayers on the Wind • (1991) • novella by Walter Jon Williams: 5*
This is set on a planet where Buddhist humans are searching for their next Dalai Lama and come into conflict with some aliens. Superb craftsmanship!

• The Missionary's Child • (1992) • novelette by Maureen F. McHugh: 3*
Nice setting with a planet inhabited by future humans where the ability to keep maps is lost. Some dude is hired as security guard for a meeting then escapes with the map maker and it gets really boring afterwards.

• Poles Apart • (1992) • novella by G. David Nordley: 4*
Interesting set up. On a planet with 3 pairs of poles and inhabited by enhanced humans and 2 types of aliens, a mixed pair is investigating a series of crimes. Nice setup and dialogue. Minus one star for the muddled ending.

• Guest of Honor • (1991) • novelette by Robert Reed: 1*
Simply unreadable. Some clones are discussing something...

• Flowering Mandrake • (1994) • novelette by George Turner: 5*
First contact situation between humans who are inhabiting the Asteroid Belt and an alien plant life form. Beautifully told, from both sides of the meeting.

• Cilia-of-Gold • (1994) • novelette by Stephen Baxter: 5*
Humans discover three alien species and an ancient spaceship on Mercury. Top-notch sci-fi!

• Gone to Glory • (1995) • novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson: 3*
On a partially terraformed planet where Neanderthals are being bred for menial labor, a human must travel to save another who has been captured by a group of 'thals'. Alright, I guess.

• A Dry, Quiet War • (1996) • novelette by Tony Daniel: 2*
Enhanced human soldier returns to home planet where a longer time has passed due to relativistic effects and needs to save a town from 'cyborg bandits'. Nice setting, but I didn't care for the style.

• All Tomorrow's Parties • (1997) • short story by Paul J. McAuley: 4*
In the deep future, evolved trans-humans are challenged by mortals to a philosophical debate.

• Escape Route • (1997) • novella by Peter F. Hamilton: 4*
A human expedition explores an alien object which turns out to be a spaceship. Minus one star for being overly descriptive of every single step characters take.

• The Eye of God • (1998) • novelette by Mary Rosenblum: 2*
On a remote planet, a human with some mind powers attempts to rescue an alien from a precipice. Interesting enough set-up, but poor execution.

Weighted average: 3.42.
I decided to round up to a 4 seeing how few unreadables and how few non-sci-fi stories I found, compared to other anthologies (even Dozois').

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best anthologies I've ever read, this massive tome is an omnibus of two separate anthologies (The Good Old Stuff, and The Good New Stuff, both edited by Gardner R. Dozois).

I've read this sporadically over the past couple years, picking it up now and then to read a story or two, just enough when I needed a break from other novels that I was reading. For this reason, I don't remember some stories as much as others, but I do recall that other than a few exceptions, nearly every story in this book was fantastic, easily worth 4 or 5 stars on their own.

Here are some standouts:

"The Rull" by A.E. van Vogt
"The Galton Whistle" by L. Sprague de Camp
"That Share of Glory" by C.M. Kornbluth
"The Sky People" by Poul Anderson
"The Man in the Mailbag" by Gordon R. Dickson
"Moon Duel" by Fritz Leiber
"The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth" by Roger Zelazny
"Goodbye, Robinson Crusoe" by John Varley
"The Blabber" by Vernor Vinge
"The Return of the Kangaroo Rex" by Janet Kagan
"Poles Apart" by G. David Nordley
"Flowering Mandrake" by George Turner
"Cilia-of-Gold" by Stephen Baxter
"A Dry, Quiet War" by Tony Daniel
"Escape Route" by Peter F. Hamilton

Highly recommended - not all of the stories will resonate with each reader, but there's enough top-calibre fiction here to appeal to any SF fan.

[Andrew Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

a 1000 pages of week written space opera; what's not to like?
This is an omnibus of two anthologies by Gardner Dozois, the first covering classic Space Opera from the 1950s & 1960s, the second Space Opera of the new era, 1980s & 1990s.
I must admit you not being impressed by the Good Old Stuff, finding only a couple of the stories palatable. The majority of them I felt were overly simplistic, careless of plot error (and that during a period when real editing was generally at work!), and in some cases not even the S.O. it was supposed to be!
The second half, the Good New Stuff, is almost entirely that: top drawer stories, a number of which I was already familiar with from various Year's Best, Nebula Award, & Hugo Award anthologies. My only gripe in this section is the RR Martin selection. In a choice between The Way of Cross & Dragon or Sandkings, Dozois chose 'The Way...', which is more of a fantasy than SF/Space Opera, where I see Sandkings as both a better story & a better example of the Space Opera type.

[Jim Mcclanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A combination of two books into an omnibus. The Good Old Stuff and The Good New Stuff put together for an amazing survey of space adventure tales that spans decades. And, because many of the authors are not well known, the editor's introductory remarks about each author for each story are invaluable (the reason for the fifth star) and make this big book one to keep as a reference. But there are many SF icons included as well, e.g., A. E. Van Vogt, Fritz Leiber, Brian Aldiss, Michael Swanwick, Vernor Vinge, etc. A great compilation by a man noted for editorial prowess. Very enjoyable.

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good collection of Space Opera type stories, spanning from the 1940s to the 1990s. In a lot of ways it's a best-of album, unsurprisingly from the title, and as a result it's pretty good. But it has some stinkers in it, too, so there's that. Not a bad read, though. Recommended.