by Gideon Marcus

At long last, it's holiday season again—and that means offering up our choices for the best science fiction of 1968. 

These recommendations represent the culmination of a year's work: reading virtually every English-language (and some translated) work of science fiction and fantasy, regardless of where it's published; reviewing them; rating them; nominating them; and finally, assembling this article.
In many ways, 1968 has been a banner year, with plenty to enjoy from a variety of subgenres and moods.  You could spend a good many weeks just enjoying the best of what this rather fraught year had to offer.

And after the last 363 days you've had to endure, haven't you earned a break?

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Best Poetry
——

Report On A Supermarket, by Michael Hamburger

Dance Music for a Gone Planet, by Sonya Dorman

Two Voices, by D. M. Thomas

Instructions for Visiting Earth, by Christopher Logue

–

Poetry is the most subjective of the literary arts, so we won't offer a "Best".  Instead, here is a nice cross-section of pieces we found moving. And remember that a lot of the best stuff can be found in the fanzines, so don't restrict yourself to the pros!

——
Best Vignettes (1-8 pages)
——

Sublimation World, by John Sladek

If you're a fan (or not a fan) of J. G. Ballard, then you must read "Sublimation World".  It's an in joke, but one whose time has come.
ㅤ
Crazy Annaoj, by Fritz Leiber

A galaxy-spanning romance that you will fall in love with.

I Have My Vigil, by Harry Harrison

A poignant who, or what, am I story.

Segregationist, by Isaac Asimov

Organ transplants and artificial organs are the topic of the day, and this story explores the concept most fully.

Honorable Mention

The Deceivers, by Larry Niven

The Moving Finger Types, by Henry Slesar

The Tell-Tale Heart-Machine, by Brian W. Aldiss

Lib, by Carol Emshwiller

The Story to End All Stories for Harlan Ellison's Anthology Dangerous Visions, by Philip K. Dick

—

From hellish to hilarity, this year's crop of short shorts does not disappoint. 

——
Best Short Stories (9-19 pages)
——

Wednesday, Noon, by Ted White

The Rapture comes to New York—time for dancing in the streets.
ㅤ
The Two Best Thieves in Lankhmar, by Fritz Leiber

Fahfrd and The Gray Mouser cross paths with Joanna Russ' Alyx in this sword and sorcererial adventure.  What's not to love?

Shattered Like a Glass Goblin, by Harlan Ellison

Harlan's anti-drug polemic, done in horrific, uniquely Harlan style.

Honorable Mention

The Ajeri Diary, by Miriam Allen deFord

The Eye of the Lens, by Langdon Jones

The People Trap, by Robert Sheckley

All the Myriad Ways, by Larry Niven

The Meddler, by Larry Niven

Kyrie, by Poul Anderson

The Dance of the Changer and the Three, by Terry Carr

The Ferryman on the River, by David A. Kyle

One Station of the Way, by Fritz Leiber

The Dead Astronaut, by J. G. Ballard

Here Comes John Henry!, by Ray Russell

–

When you've got a three-way tie for a category, you know it's a good year.  Even better when there are ten tales that get Honorable Mention, too.  The subject matter is more serious, on the whole, than the vignettes, though the Niven, the Sheckley, and the deFord are not without their amusing qualities.

——
Best Novelettes (20-40 pages)
——

Time Considered As a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones, by Samuel R. Delany

A tale of art, crime, and hepcats in 21st Century New York—a quintessential Chip Delany story.
ㅤ
Total Environment, by Brian W. Aldiss

Inside an Indian city-skyscraper, but it's not the overpopulated Earth story you think it will be…

High Weir, by Samuel R. Delany

The Martians had an unique way of recording history—but unlocking it can destroy the unstable mind…

Honorable Mention

The Wall to End The World, by Vincent King

I See a Man Sitting on a Chair, and the Chair Is Biting His Leg, by Harlan Ellison and Robert Sheckley

There is a Tide, by R. C. FitzPatrick and Leigh Richmond

The Egg of the Glak , by Harvey Jacobs

The Barbarian, by Joanna Russ

Eeeetz Ch, by H. H. Hollis

The Sharing of Flesh, by Poul Anderson

–

A good suite of stuff, although I think the novelette category is not as strong as it has been in previous years.  Also, how much you like our picks is strongly dependent on how much you enjoy Delany, who has a distinct flavor (although "High Weir" is the least Delany-ish story I've read by him in a while.)

——
Best Novella (40+ pages)
——

Lines of Power, by Samuel R. Delany

A "Wichita Lineman" of the future tries electrifying a gang of Canadian Luddite hippies.  Culture clash ensures.
ㅤ
A Tragedy of Errors, by Poul Anderson

On an imperial planet reverted to savagery, the crew of a crashed starship attempt to effect repairs.

Grimm's Story, by Vernor Vinge

The world of Tu is another world that has become an interstellar backwater, but it is slowly clawing its way back to industrialization—in no small part thanks to Fantastique, the magazine of "contrivance fiction".  When an astronomer with a psionic cat is tapped to rescue the one complete set of the magazine from destruction, it turns out far more is at stake.

The Consciousness Machine, by Josephine Saxton

WAWWAR, a psychotherapy machine, heals the mind by providing hallucinatory trips.  But in this tale, just who is being healed, and how is the human therapist, who controls WAWAR, involved?

Honorable Mention

Hawk Among the Sparrows, by Dean McLaughlin

Perris Way, by Robert Silverberg

The Custodians, by James H. Schmitz

Grendel, by Larry Niven

I just discovered this terrific story in Niven's Neutron Star, a collection of Known Space stories.  This one features Bey Schaeffer, a retired hyperspace pilot who gets entangled in a kidnapping plot.  I'm not sure why it didn't get published in a magazine, but it's well worth your time.

–

In contrast to novelettes, the novella category is quite healthy, in part thanks to the rise of the paperback anthology.  Lots of hard choices here, and some really excellent work across a range of genres.  I'd say the novellas are the most universally SFnal of the pieces this year.

——
Best Novel/Serial
——

Stand on Zanzibar, by John Brunner

An overcrowded, 21st Century Earth depicted with New Wave, psychedelic sensibilities.  A huge, unprecedented work.

Picnic on Paradise, by Joanna Russ

Ancient Mediterranean swashbuckler Alyx is now part of a far-future team of troubleshooting adventurers.  Somehow, it works.
ㅤ
Rite of Passage, by Alexei Panshin

Young Mia Havero, who lives on a galaxy-faring trade ship, finds herself on a hide-bound, hostile colony world. Can she survive her rite of passage—her trip to the planet?

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin

The fantastic adventures of Ged, young sorcerer, on LeGuin's island world that has been featured in several stories to date.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick

San Fran bounty hunter on a denuded Earth is tasked to kill five androids.  What does it mean to be human?  What does it meant to live a robotic life?

Honorable Mention

The Jewel in the Skull, by Michael Moorcock

The Swords of Lankhmar, by Fritz Leiber

Synthajoy, by D. G. Compton

The Two Timers, by Bob Shaw

Nova, by Samuel R. Delany

The Spawn of the Death Machine, by Ted White

—

Another great year for paperbacks.  In addition to the usual suspects (Delany, Dick, Leiber, Brunner), it's neat to see some newer names hit the charts: Russ, LeGuin, Shaw, White.  The field is only getting bigger and better!

——
Best Science Fact
——

Heinlein in Dimension, by Alexei Panshin

The first more-or-less complete analysis of one of the titans of science fiction.
ㅤ
Into the Media Web, by Michael Moorcock

For Your Information: My Friend, the Nautilus, by Willy Ley

Andy Warhol: Portraits, Still Lifes, Events, by Andrew Lugg

Honorable Mention

The Seventh Metal, by Isaac Asimov

Barbarella and the Anxious Frenchman, by Michael Moorcock and Charles Platt

For Your Information: Mission to a Comet, by Willy Ley

If … and When, by Lester del Rey

—

It's nice to see Willy Ley's name ascendant again, and of course, Lexy Panshin earned his Best Fan Writer Hugo this year largely on the strength of his book on Heinlein (originally published serially in fanzines).  If the appearance of a piece on Warhol surprises you, read it—after all, why shouldn't art be a cutting edge technology, too?

——
Best Magazine/Collection
——

The Farthest Reaches: 3.40 stars, 2 Star nominees (just one anthology)

Galaxy: 3.22 stars, 12 Star nominees (nine 1.5x size issues)

New Writings 11-13: 3.08 stars, 2 Star nominees, (three anthologies)

F&SF: 3.06 stars, 10 Star nominees (12 issues)

IF: 2.96 stars, 2 Star nominees (12 issues)

New Worlds: 2.90 stars, 5 Star nominees (seven issues)

Famous Science Fiction 2.889 stars, 0 Star nominees (four issues)

Analog: 2.75 stars, 3 Star nominees (12 issues)

Amazing: 2.60 stars, 1 Star nominee (six issues)

Orbit 3 and 4: 2.50 stars, 3 Star nominees, (two anthologies)

Fantastic: 2.44 stars, 1 Star nominee (six issues)

Worlds of Fantasy: 2.32 stars, 0 Star nominees (one issue)

Beyond Infinity: 1.46 stars, 0 Star nominees (one issue)

—

Tallying things this way, it looks like Galaxy remains the front-runner.  It's certainly the magazine I look forward to the most.  Fan favorite and subscription juggernaut Analog is near the bottom of the back, and the Orbits, while they provide some excellent stuff, fare even worse.  A bit surprising.

——
Best Publisher
——

Ace: 3 Star nominees

Doubleday: 3 Star nominees

Lancer 1 Star nominees

Paperback Library 1 Star nominees

Parnassus Press 1 Star nominees

---

No surprises here.  Ace puts out 24 books a year just in the Doubles format, not to mention all its single titles.  Still, Doubleday brings the goods when it comes to "serious" SF.

——
Best Artist
——

Jeff Jones

Kelly Freas

Leo and Diane Dillon

Honorable Mention

Frank Frazetta

Gray Morrow

Russell Fitzgerald

Virgil Finlay

–

Lots of familiar names on the list, but also some new ones, and the first time a woman has been prominent in a while.

——
Best Dramatic Presentation
——

2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrik, director

Planet of the Apes, Franklin J. Schaffner, director

Doctor Who: The Enemy of the World, by David Whitaker

Star Trek: The Tholian Web, by Judy Burns and Chet Richards

Honorable Mention

Hour of the Wolf, by Ingmar Bergman

The Prisoner: Hammer into Anvil, by Roger Woddis

Rosemary's Baby, Roman Polanski, director

Star Trek:Is There in Truth no Beauty?, by Jean Lisette Aroeste

Star Trek: "The Trouble with Tribbles"

Theatre 625: The Year of the Sex Olympics, by Nigel Kneale

Wild in the Streets, Robert Thom, writer; Barry Shear, director

The Witchfinder General, Michael Reeves, director

–

With so much to choose from, the Hugos next year are going to be a mess.  The Trek episodes, with the exception of "Tribbles", will be rerun this summer, and most of these movies are still in the cinema.  In short, you still have time to appreciate these instant classics!

——
Best Comic Book
——

Deadman

The Trigan Empire

Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD

Honorable Mention

The Incredible Hulk

The Silver Surfer

Valerian et Laureline

–

Deadman doesn't have a book of his own, but ever since his introduction last year, he has been a National (DC) fan favorite.  Or, as fellow traveler Kris puts it:

Deadman is so great. It is like Arnold Drake went:

"So this comic is like The Fugitive…"

"Great"

"…except he's a trapeze artist…"

"Sure"

"…and dead…"

"Erm"

"…well a ghost who can possess people's bodies…"

"what?"

"….where the murderer is trying to get inducted into a Society of Assassins run by an ancient martial artist."

"…….."

——
Best Fanzine
——

Algol
Trumpet
Riverside Quarterly
Science Fiction Times
Amra

–

The winning entry speaks for itself.  Trumpet has terrific production values with its pro-style offset printing, but only one issue came out this year.  Riverside Quarterly continues to be scholarly and excellent.  The new incarnation of Science Fiction Times is the best way to keep up to date on the goings on in the fan world.

——
Best Fan Writer
——

Ruth Berman (on the right)

There are lots of terrific fan writers out there maintaining a myriad of 'zines for our enjoyment.  It's difficult to pick just one, so I'm just going to play favorites.  I met Ruth this year.  She is big in Star Trek fandom, editing the 'zine Inside Star Trek.  She also covers conventions, is incredibly literate and sharp, conducting interviews of various luminaries in addition to her writing, and is an all around superfan.  I would not be surprised if she has a big pro career ahead of her.

She was also a nominee for Best Fan Writer Hugo this year, so I'm not the only one who loves her!

---

Whew!  That's some list.  And no rest for the wicked—we're already reading 1969's offerings.  But with entries like those above, there's plenty of wind in our sails.  Sure, we run into shoals every so often (ahem Piers Anthony, John Norman, Lin Carter) but the great discoveries keep our momentum going.

So enjoy…and let us know which of these you particularly liked!

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by Gideon Marcus

Happy holidays everyone! This is my favorite time of the year–not because presents are exchanged or because the days are finally getting longer again, but because I get to present to you the very best science fiction published in the last twelve months. Even better, since I can't possibly consume it all myself, I get to read all the recommendations of my esteemed colleagues, the better to distill it down to a few sure picks.

Sure, there are other "must-read" lists. The Hugos. The Nebulas. But no other list is as comprehensive, so thoroughly vetted, so absolutely certain to be filled with excellent material than the Galactic Stars.

Thus, without further ado, here are the Galactic Stars for 1967! Results are in order of voting for the winners, alphabetical order by author for the honorable mentions.

——
Best Poetry
——

There seems to be less and less professionally published SF poetry every year. Luckily, the fanzines are picking up the slack–particularly the new Trekzines! These are the three poems that caught our eye:

The Territory of Rigel, by Spock (Dorothy Jones)

Where Are the Worlds of Yesteryear?, by L. Sprague de Camp

Matrix Goose , by Jack Sharkey

——
Best Vignettes (1-8 pages)
——

Moondust, the Smell of Hay, and Dialectical Materialism , by Thomas M. Disch

The short story of the first man on the moon.

Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird , by Sonya Dorman

After the Bomb, a mother goes for a run.

Carcinoma Angels, by Norman Spinrad

Sometimes the answer to beating cancer is inside yourself.

Answering Service, by Fritz Leiber

Keep an old dying woman company–it's the least you can do.
ㅤ

Honorable Mention:

Family Loyalty , by Stan Elliott

The Forest of Zil , by Kris Neville

Sisohpromatem , by Kit Reed

—

Two stories by Larry Niven and one by John Brunner made the long list but didn't get nominations.

——
Best Short Stories (9-19 pages)
——

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, by Harlan Ellison

The last five humans…and the computer who hates them.

Aye, and Gomorrah… , by Samuel R. Delany

A look at the sex lives of the astronauts who, by their very nature, cannot have sex.

Driftglass, by Samuel R. Delany

The sad, dangerous life of a lonely merman in Brazil.

The Heat Death of the Universe, by P. A. Zoline

Entropy, and a housewife's descent into madness. Gripping and innovatively presented.

Black Corridor , by Fritz Leiber

A series of yes/noes determines your survival.
ㅤ

Honorable Mention

The Baron's Dog , by L. J. T. Biese

Problems of Creativeness, by Thomas M. Disch

The Food Farm, by Kit Reed

The Vine, by Kit Reed

Baby, You Were Great!, by Kate Wilhelm

An excellent line-up this year, and a sign that science fiction is becoming an equal opportunity employer. An additional 16 stories made the longlist, and nominating was a tough choice this year!

——
Best Novelettes (20-40 pages)
——

Gonna Roll the Bones, by Fritz Leiber

Modern folk tale in which a gambler faces off with death.

The Hall of the Dead , by L. Sprague de Camp and Robert E. Howard

The newest Conan story featuring a fast friendship and a sorcery-ravaged ruin.

The Singing Citadel, by Michael Moorcock

The latest fantasy adventure of Elric, dispatched to aid Queen Yishana against Balo the Jester, disgraced servant of Chaos.

The Adventuress, by Joanna Russ

Alyx is a most unusual swashbuckler, and a welcome addition to the prehistorical fantasy pantheon.
ㅤ

Honorable Mention

The Little Victims, by Hilary Bailey

Faith of Our Fathers , by Philip K. Dick

Fiddler's Green, by Richard McKenna

Home the Hard Way, by Richard McKenna

The Ethics of Madness, by Larry Niven

Handicap, by Larry Niven

Coranda, by Keith Roberts

The Narrow Land, by Jack Vance

This Mortal Mountain, by Roger Zelazny

Dawn, by Roger Zelazny

Two things of note: sword and sorcery appears to be on an upswing (no pun intended), and Richard McKenna may attain more success posthumously than while he was alive.

Only nine stories from the longlist didn't make the nominations, including a piece by the promising David Redd.

——
Best Novella (40+ pages)
——

Hawksbill Station, by Robert Silverberg

Half a billion years ago, a penal colony struggles for survival.

The Star-Pit, by Samuel R. Delany

A journey beyond the galaxy in Delany's inimitable sublime fashion,
ㅤ
Death and the Executioner, by Roger Zelazny

The future incarnation of the Buddha takes on the venal would-be Gods on a faraway planet.

Flatlander, by Larry Niven

In search of the most interesting planet in the galaxy…but may the explorer beware!

Honorable Mention

Report on Probability A, by Brian W. Aldiss

To Love Another, by James Blish and Norman L. Knight

Weyr Search, by Anne McCaffrey

The Adults, by Larry Niven

If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister?, by Theodore Sturgeon

—

Once again, we have a lot of novellas (and Niven's The Soft Weapon barely missed making it off the longlist). It's nice to see this length getting more love.

——
Best Novel/Serial
——

The Einstein Intersection , by Samuel R. Delany

Delany yet again clinches the top spot, although it was a much nearer thing this year. A tale of a far-future Earth, bereft of humans and lapsed (evolved) into mythology.
ㅤ
Camp Concentration, by Thomas M. Disch

Tom Disch is right behind Chip Delany with this four-part serial. The inmates of Camp Archimedes are given a deadly disease that boosts intelligence. Intellectual. Provactive. Weird.

The Jewels of Elsewhen , by Ted White

Across the lattice of parallel universes in search of the master of them all!

Honorable Mention

The Revolving Boy, by Gertrude Friedberg

Moon of Three Rings, by Andre Norton

Thorns, by Robert Silverberg

The Dolphins of Altair, by Margaret St. Clair

Why call them Back from Heaven, by Clifford Simak

The Winds of Gath, by E.C. Tubb

—

This year's crop is a nice mix of New Wave and more conventional (but no less modern) tales. Seven longlist novels didn't make the final cut. Again, hard decisions had to be made. Interestingly, a full third of the nominees (and the longlisters) were women. It used to be that women did well at the shorter lengths but petered out as the stories lengthened, but this trend appears to be reversing.

——
Best Science Fact
——

Applied Science Fiction, by Will F. Jenkins

Did you know that Jenkins (aka famed SF author Murray Leinster) invented front projection? It's true, and this amazing article tells all about it.
ㅤ
A New Look at Vision, by Dr. Christopher Evans

Honorable Mention

Knock Plastic!, by Isaac Asimov

Sleep, Dreams and Computers, by Dr. Christopher Evans

Language Mechanisms, by Christopher Finch

The Misers, by William T. Powers

—

Once again, Asimov doesn't take the top spot. He did get five of the 17 longlist entries, however. There was one lone woman on the longlist: Margaret L. Silbar for The Quark Story.

——
Best Magazine/Collection
——

New Worlds: 3.28 stars, 5 Star nominees (nine issues)

The Devil His Due: 3.23 stars, 1 Star nominee, (anthology)

F&SF: 2.98 stars, 9 Star nominees (12 issues)

Science Fantasy/Impulse: 2.97 stars, 0 Star nominees (only three issues before folding)

Orbit 2: 2.92 stars, 3 Star nominees, (anthology)

Fantastic: 2.92 stars, 1 Star nominee (six issues)

New Writings 10: 2.28 stars, 1 Star nominee, (anthology)

IF: 2.9 stars, 8 Star nominees (12 issues)

Analog: 2.89 stars, 4 Star nominees (12 issues)

Famous Science Fiction 2.84 stars, 0 Star nomineees (three issues)

Galaxy: 2.82 stars, 5 Star nominees (six 1.5x size issues)

Amazing: 2.50 stars, 1 Star nominee (six issues)

Worlds of Tomorrow: 2.48 stars, 1 Star nominee (only two issues before folding)

—

We lost two magazines this year: Worlds of Tomorrow and Science Fantasy. On the other hand, this seems to be the last year Fantastic and Amazing will be composed mostly of reprints as Harry Harrison took over this month. New Worlds and F&SF remain Journey favorites, which marks us as Commie Pinko New Wavists, I suppose.

——
Best Artist
——

John Schoenherr

Kelly Freas

Virgil Finlay

Honorable Mention

Frank Frazetta

Mel Hunter

Gray Morrow

——
Best Dramatic Presentation
——

Star Trek: "Mirror, Mirror"
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
Quatermass and the Pit

Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons: "The Mysterons"

The Prisoner: "Schizoid Man"

Star Trek: "Journey to Babel"

Honorable Mention

Out of the Unknown: "The Prophet"

Star Trek: "Amok Time"

Star Trek: "The Doomsday Machine"

Star Trek: "This Side of Paradise"

The Face of Another

La Jetée (American re-release)

The End of August at the Hotel Ozone (a Czech film)

No Dr. Who this year, which is a shame. I blame it on Jessica's TV, which is always on the fritz.

——
Best Comic Book
——

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire, Look and Learn magazine

The Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel Comics

X-Men, Marvel Comics

Fantastic Four, Marvel Comics

Thor, Marvel Comics

"Legion of Super-Heroes" in Adventure Comics, National Comics

Flash, National Comics

Blue Beetle, Charlton Comics

Creepy and Eerie, Warren Publishing

Sword of the Sea Wolves (Karl the Viking)

The Angels, City Magazines/Century 21 Publishing Ltd.

——
Best Fanzine
——

Yandro
ㅤ
For a while, the genzine that the Coulsons built was starting to look like a trekzine. They've pulled it back some, of late.

Amra

Australian Science Fiction Review

The Crewman's Log (Trekzine)

Niekas

Riverside Quarterly

Science Fiction Times (news)

Tolkien Journal

Witzend (comic art)

Someone observed recently that it makes sense for Edgard Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard and L. Frank Baum to have dedicated societies with hundreds of members. But fer Chrissakes–Tolkien only wrote two books! (Okay, that's not strictly true, but you take the meaning).

The trekzines range from drekzines to charming. Spockanalia was a great effort–a prozine quality trekzine mentored by the Coulsons. But it's The Crewman's Log, with its charming stories, that won me over.

——
Best Author
——

Samuel R. Delany

Surprise, surprise…

Honorable Mention

Larry Niven

Fritz Leiber

The winner is the prince of the New Wave, while the runner ups include a scion of the new hard sf and a distinguished gentleman of the genre. A nice balance, I think!

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I'd say 1967 was even better than 1966 in terms of content. Some months, we were hard pressed to keep up, what with all the books, the magazines, the anthologies, the shows, and the movies (this last, the one anemic medium for SF). But it was worth every minute! We hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Happy new year!

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by Gideon Marcus

There are many outlets that cover new releases in science fiction and fantasy.  But to my knowledge, only one attempts to review every English language publication in the world (not to mention stuff published beyond the U.S. and U.K.!) We are proud of the coverage we provide.

And this is the time of year when the bounty is tallied.  From all the books, magazines, comic strips, movies, tv shows, we separate the wheat from the chaff, and then sift again until only the very best is left.

These, then, are the Galactic Stars for 1966!

We have tried to keep the winners to a manageable three winners, but as you'll see, the honorable mentions rather got away from themselves.  That's because there was simply more fiction produced this year, what with the three British mags and all.  This is a fine problem to have, too much good stuff.

Results are in order of voting for the winners, alphabetical order by author for the honorable mentions.

——
Best Poetry
——

Poetry is always an underrepresented field within SF.  Rather than declare a winner in this category, we simply present the four pieces we liked the most this year.

The Gods, by L. Sprague de Camp

Memo to Secretary, by Pat de Graw

The Last Song Sung in Lorien, by Robert Foster

The Case, by Peter Redgrove

——
Best Vignettes (1-8 pages)
——

Day Million, by Frederik Pohl

Some writers take no chances when predicting the future.  Pohl is not among them…

Love Is an Imaginary Number, by Roger Zelazny

A modern spin on the Prometheus legend.

Breakaway House, by Ron Goulart

A Max Kearney, occult detective, story.  Genuinely funny.
ㅤ

Honorable Mention:

The Plot Sickens, by Brian W. Aldiss

You and Me and the Continuum, by J. G. Ballard

The Plot is the Thing, by Robert Bloch

But Soft, What Light … , by Carol Emshwiller

Mute Milton, by Harry Harrison

Mr. Wilde's Second Chance, by Joanna Russ

—

We had more vignettes to choose from this year, with the result that more made the list.  Their content ranged from frivolous fantasy to deadly serious social commentary.  It's always impressive when an author can say a lot with a little.

——
Best Short Stories (9-19 pages)
——

The Squirrel Cage, by Thomas M. Disch

Why is the man trapped in a room with only a typewriter and the newspaper for company?

ㅤ
Honorable Mention

No other story got more than one vote by a Journeyer, though virtually all got at least four stars.  So, instead of providing summaries or attempting ranks, the following will be listed by recommender.

By John Boston:

When I Was Miss Dow, by Sonya Dorman

At the Core, by Larry Niven

The Roaches, by Thomas M. Disch

By Cora Bulhert:

The Bells of Shoredan, by Roger Zelazny

High Treason, by Poul Anderson

Splice of Life, by Sonya Dorman

By David Levinson:

The Face of the Deep, by Fred Saberhagen

Halfway House, by Robert Silverberg

By Gideon Marcus:

Come Lady Death , by Peter S. Beagle

A Code for Sam, by Lester del Rey

Contact Man, by Harry Harrison

By Kris Vyas-Myall:

The Great Clock , by Langdon Jones

The Loolies Are Here, short story by Allison Rice

By Victoria Silverwolf:

Stars, Won't You Hide Me?, by Ben Bova

Light of Other Days, by Bob Shaw

The Worlds That Were, by Keith Roberts

——
Best Novelettes (20-40 pages)
——

Riverworld, by Philip José Farmer

All of humanity is ressurrected on the banks of the world-river.  Including Tom Mix and a certain carpenter from Nazareth…

For a Breath I Tarry, by Roger Zelazny

Two computer brains endeavor to know long-dead humanity.  Beautiful.  Powerful.

ㅤ
A Two-Timer, by David I. Masson

A 17th Century scholar sojourns for a time in Our Modern Times.  Delightful.

Angels Unawares, by Zenna Henderson

An early tale of The People.  Kin can be adopted as well as born.

ㅤ
Honorable Mention

An Ornament to His Profession, by Charles L. Harness

Pavane: Lords & Ladies, by Keith Roberts

The Disinherited, by Poul Anderson

The Keys to December, by Roger Zelazny

Defence Mechanism, by Vincent King

Wings of a Bat, by Paul Ash (Pauline Ashwell)

The Eyes of the Blind King, by Brian W. Aldiss

Be Merry, by Algis Budrys

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, by Philip K. Dick

The Phoenix and the Mirror, by Avram Davidson

——
Best Novella (40+ pages)
——

Behold the Man, by Michael Moorcock

If Jesus did not exist, it would be necessary for a time traveler to go back and invent him…

The Manor of Roses, by Thomas Burnett Swann

A lordlet and his peasant blood brother encounter Mandrakes on the way to the Crusades.

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The Last Castle , by Jack Vance

All the bastions of humanity have fallen to the aliens save one.  Vance at his most lyrical.

Pavane: Corfe Gate, by Keith Roberts

In an England that remained Catholic, Lady Eleanor leads a rebellion at Corfe Gate.  The capstone of the Pavane saga.
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Honorable Mention

The Suicide Express, by Philip José Farmer (another Riverworld tale)

Synth, by Keith Roberts (Is an android a person?)

Prisoners of the Sky, by C.C. McApp (saving the plateau world of Durrent from alien invaders)

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Good novellas are usually few and far between.  We raised a bumper crop this year!

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Best Novel/Serial
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Babel-17, by Samuel R. Delany

Hands down the winner.  Brilliant linguist Rydra Wong must decipher the secret of the alien's language before more traitors bring down humanity from within.  There's never been anything quite like this progressive masterpiece (though Purdom's I Want the Stars has hints of it).

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Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes

Charlie Gordon is a moron…until he's a genius.  What next?  An expansion of the brilliant novelette, garnering the Galactic Star in both incarnations.

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert A. Heinlein

The Moon is a revolting place.  Featuring the neatest synthetic character ever portrayed!

October the First is too Late, by Fred Hoyle

The world is fractured into a myriad of time zones, but why?

Sibyl Sue Blue, by Rosel George Brown

She's tiny, she's tough, and Sergeant Blue is going to crack the benzale murder case, even if she has to go to the stars to do it.

Make Room! Make Room!, by Harry Harrison

There is a critical density for humanity; Harrison's exploration of the Malthusian world is profoundly disturbing.

Honorable Mention

Sword of Lankor, by Howard Cory

Now Wait for Last Year, by Philip K. Dick

Earthworks, by Brian W. Aldiss

The Crystal World, by J.G. Ballard

Too Many Magicians, by Randall Garrett

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The New Wave is definitely upon us, with only the Heinlein truly "conventional" SF (but the best he's turned in yet!) I am pleased that women are represented in each of these categories, though still dismayed at the relative dearth of them.  This was a very lean year for woman-penned science fiction.

If there be a Hugo category for "Best Publisher" next year, we'll be surprised if Ace or Doubleday aren't among the nominees——they had, by far, the most outstanding books in 1966.

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Best Science Fact
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For Your Information: The Sound of the Meteors, by Willy Ley

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Drifting Continents, by Robert S. Dietz

H. P. Lovecraft: The House and the Shadows, by J. Vernon Shea

BB or Not BB, That Is the Question, by Isaac Asimov

Dimensions in Heinlein, by Alexei Panshin

The Economics of SF, by John Brunner

Dimensions, Anyone?, by John D. Clark, Ph.D.

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Asimov no longer dominates the field, in part because he's starting to struggle for material, and also because we're doing a better job of keeping up with the 'zines.  These are all great articles, though.  Accessible and interesting.

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Best Magazine/Collection
——

Orbit: 3.36 stars, 3 Star nominees

Science Fantasy/Impulse: 3.23 stars, 6 Star nominees

New Worlds: 3.21 stars, 7 Star nominees

Fantastic: 3.20 stars, 2 Star nominees

New Writings: 3.13 stars, 1 Star nominee

F&SF: 3.099 stars, 10 Star nominees

Galaxy: 3.097 stars, 3 Star nominees

Alien Worlds: 3 stars, 1 Star nominee

IF: 2.91 stars, 7 Star nominees

Analog: 2.89 stars, 5 Star nominees

Worlds of Tomorrow: 2.66 stars, 3 Star nominees

Amazing: 2.37 stars, 1 Star nominee

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This is always an apples and oranges category since collections are published much more rarely than magazines, some magazines are monthly while others are bi-monthly (or even quarterly), and both Fantastic and Amazing are composed mostly of reprints.  Nevertheless, the two UK mags definitely stood out this year, with New Worlds slightly more experimental, and thus variable, than Science Fantasy.  Galaxy is the more reliable, but also more stolid sister of IF.  Worlds of Tomorrow does not seem long for this world…

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Best Artist
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John Schoenherr
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Frank Frazetta

Kelly Freas

Gray Morrow

George Zeil

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Best Dramatic Presentation
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The War Game

A chilling documentary-style exploration of an atomic blast on England.
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Doctor Who: The War Machines

Seconds

Star Trek: "The Menagerie"

Raumpatrouille Orion: "The Space Trap"

Out of the Unknown: "The Midas Plague"

Flight of the Phoenix (unreviewed, but boy is it good!)

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Best Comic Book
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Spiderman

X-Men

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Asterix in Britain

Blazing Combat

Doom Patrol

Fantastic Four

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire

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Marvel Comics is now in a dominating position, putting out some of the most dynamic, popular mags.  National (DC) is barely keeping a toehold in with their FF-derived Doom Patrol.  Beyond the Big Two, Blazing Combat, by Warren Publications, offers a much more nuanced, even anti-war alternative to Sgt. Rock and Sgt. Fury.  France is represented with the Gaul-era Asterix in Britain, while Britain's Trigan Empire, appearing in Ranger and Look and Learn (sequentially) gets the Star for that nation.

Sadly, I've not been back to Japan since '64, which means I'm missing out on loads of terrific manga.  Well, maybe next year…

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Best Fanzine
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Riverside Quarterly

Yandro
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Amra

Australian Science Fiction Review

Lighthouse (annual pros' fanzine)

Nikeas

Ratatosk (news)

Science Fiction Times (news)

Tolkien Journal

Zenith

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Riverside Quarterly, with its scholarly pieces, and Juanita Coulson's Yandro, one of the most balanced of 'zines, continue to impress.  This will probably be the last year SFT makes it on the ballot given its reduced schedule.  But with the recent republishing of LoTR, I expect Tolkien Journal to be with us a long time.

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And so, another year's crop is harvested.  I think, on the main, 1966 yielded superior fruit than '65.  Women continue to be underrepresented, but also consistently produce some of the best material.  Imagine what the field would be like with equal participation!

One big change is that science fiction is no longer entirely the province of the written word.  With the arrival of Star Trek, Space Patrol Orion, and more SF themed shows in general, not to mention the flourishing of comic books, SF is diversifying, infiltrating the mainstream.  What long-term effects this has remain to be seen: will science fiction dilute itself into pap?  Or will it explode as the audience grows?

Stay tuned next year!  Until then, keep watching the Stars…

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by Gideon Marcus

[Time is running out to get your Worldcon membership!  Register here to be able to vote for the Hugos next year.]

Joyeux Noël

Another year has gone by, and what fun it has been to continue our annual tradition of offering up the very best science fiction.  This is the real payoff of the Journey, I think.  When we can take all of the year's harvest, throw it into the thresher and get rid of all the chaff.  What's left is nothing but good SF, from start to finish.

And what better time to offer this bounty than right before Christmas?  So grab yourself a mug of your favorite warm beverage (unless you're antipodal, in which case I recommend a Dacquiri, iced punch, or pop) and get ready to enjoy weeks' worth of fine entertainment — and learn why this edition of the Stars has its unusual title!

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The 1965 Galactic Stars

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Best Poetry
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Nabodinus, by L. Sprague de Camp

There were very few poems to choose from this year, but this one, in which an archaeologist meets a ghostly colleague of ancient vintage, is good.

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Best Vignette (1-9 pages):
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Everyone's Home Town is Guernica, by Willard Marsh

In which a kitten becomes the emblem of a starving artist's soul.

Girl with Robot and Flowers, by Brian Aldss

A beautifully metatextual piece about the science fiction story creation process.

The Switch, by Calvin Demmon

Sometimes it's best to let sleeping professors lie!

Thelinde's Song, by Roger Zelazny

Do not speak the name of Jelerak, the young sorceress sings…

Honorable Mention:

The Walking Talking I-Don't-Care Man, by David R. Bunch

Eyes do More than See, by Isaac Asimov

In One Sad Day, by George Collyn

The Music Makers, by Langdon Jones

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There were no 5-star vignettes this year, but many good ones for many different tastes spread across a wide number of magazines.

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Best Short Story (10-19 pages):
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"Repent, Harlequin!" said the Ticktockman , by Harlan Ellison

Time is not on your side…

Balanced Ecology , by James H. Schmitz

Conservationists take heart: sometimes the kids get a little help from their planet.

Over the River and Through the Woods , by Clifford D. Simak

The strange young visitors seem lost in the 19th Century, but they sure do feel like family.

Honorable Mention:

The Wall, by Josephine Saxton

The Liberators, by Lee Harding

Test in Orbit, by Ben Bova

Come to Venus Melancholy, by Thomas M. Disch

The Life of Your Time, by Michael Karageorge (Poul Anderson)

Traveller's Rest , by David Masson

Becalmed in Hell, by Larry Niven

Jabez O'Brien and Davy Jones' Locker , by Robert Arthur

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, by Fredric Brown and Carl Onspaugh

Bright Eyes, by Harlan Ellison

Wrong-Way Street, by Larry Niven

The Sixth Palace, by Robert Silverberg

On the River , by Robert F. Young

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Another torrent of short stories, and I didn't have the heart to prune it much since tastes vary so widely among the recommenders.  But all of them are good.  Sadly, you can really see the paucity of women-penned publications this year.

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Best Novelette (20-45 pages)
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No Different Flesh, by Zenna Henderson

A virtually unanimous Journey choice — the best story of The People yet (and that's saying something!)

Shall We Have a Little Talk?, by Robert Sheckley

Subjugating the natives starts with learning the language — lots of luck, pal!

The Overworld, by Jack Vance

To the ends of a Dying Earth in search of a dream-inducing artifact.

Honorable Mention:

Greenslaves, by Frank Herbert

Man in His Time, by Brian Aldiss

Four Ghosts in Hamlet, by Fritz Leiber

The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth, by Roger Zelazny

Three to a Given Star, by Cordwainer Smith

Escape from the Evening, by Michael Moorcock

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The winners are all veterans who burst on the scene ~1950, but the honorable mentions are split 50/50 with the subsequent wave.

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Best Novella (46+ pages)
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Vashti, by Thomas Burnett Swann

Of Xerxes' queen Vashti, and the Greek Ianiskos who follows her into exile…

Stardock, by Fritz Leiber

Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser brave the frozen wastes to find a treasure.

World of Ptavvs, by Larry Niven

To defeat a billion year old telepath, a Earthman must become the alien.

Honorable Mention:

On the Storm Planet, by Cordwainer Smith

The Saliva Tree, by Brian Aldiss

The Inner Wheel, by Keith Roberts

Mindswap, by Robert Sheckley

Lone Zone, by Charles Platt

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This is always a tough category as many novellas are truncated novels (I understand an expanded Ptavvs will be released next year).  That said, Vashti was pretty universally praised. and it's hard to argue with Fahfrd and the Gray Mouser if you like fantasy…

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Best Novel/Serial
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…And Call me Conrad, by Roger Zelazny

Hemmingway-esque tale of an immortal fighting a guerrila war for the soul of a post-atomic humanity.

The Sundered Worlds, by Michael Moorcock

The psychic Renark to seek out the problem must go to the Sundered Worlds outside the normal rule of time and space to save humanity — and the whole of reality!

The Blue Monkeys, by Thomas Burnett Swann

Ajax against the Minotaur — another myth come to life by the inimitable Swann.

Honorable Mention:

Of Godlike Power, by Mack Reynolds

The Weirwoods, by Thomas Burnett Swann

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch , by Phillip K. Dick

The Rithian Terror, by Damon Knight

The Ballad of Beta-2, by Samuel R. Delany

Dr. Bloodmoney, or How We Got Along After the Bomb , by Phillip K. Dick

Bill, the Galactic Hero , by Harry Harrison

Stormbringer, by Michael Moorcock

The Genocides, by Thomas M. Disch

The Squares of the City, by John Brunner

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Swann is definitely a winner with his myth-inspired tales, Zelazny is hit or miss, but he hit it with Conrad, and Moorcock is a rising star to watch!

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Science Fact
——

The Man who Discovered Atlantis, by Robert Silverberg

Paul Schliemann was so desperate to live up to the Schielmann name that he hoaxed finding the Lost Continent.

Death in the Laboratory, by Isaac Asimov

Fluorine is a killer…

The Land of Mu, by Isaac Asimov

The subatomic world keeps getting weirder and weirder.

Honorable Mention:

The Space Technology of a Track Meet , by Robert S. Richardson

With a Piece of Twisted Wire… , by Harry Harrison

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The Harrison is from a fanzine, SF Horizons.  Silverberg makes his first appearance in this category this year, and Asimov is a perennial.  Richardson is always a highlight when he appears in Analog.

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Best Magazine
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New Writings in Science Fiction 3.25 stars, 2 Star nominees
F&SF 3.1 stars, 15 Star nominees
Fantasy 3.07 stars, 2 Star nominees
Worlds of Tomorrow 3.05 stars, 2 Star nominees
Science Fantasy 3.03 stars, 5 Star nominees
New Worlds 3.02 stars, 6 Star nominees
Galaxy 2.83 stars, 7 Star nominees
Analog 2.76 stars, 4 Star nominees
Amazing 2.61 stars, 2 Star nominees
IF 2.57 stars, 0 Star nominees
Gamma 1.7 stars, 0 Star nominees

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F&SF shows strong now that Davidson is gone.  Sadly, this may be the last time we see Fantasy so high up with departure of Cele Lalli.  Amazing will suffer, too.  The British magazines are all mid-to-upper tier this year while Pohl's triplets are dependable if not extraordinary.

And then there's Gamma, which blessedly ended its short run this year.

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Best author(s)
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Thomas Burnett Swann

Turning fable into fantasy, Swann has definitely made his biggest impact so far this year.  Runners up for best author include Roger Zelazny, Phillip K. Dick, and Larry Niven.

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Best Artist
——

John Schoenherr

John Schoenherr continues to impress with his starkly beautiful work, singlehandedly elevating the otherwise mediocre Dune.  This is another unanimous Journey decision.

Honorable Mention:

Gray Morrow

Kelly Freas

Richard Powers

Johnny Bruck

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Best Dramatic Presentation
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Alphaville

A spy thriller set in the galactic capital.

Doctor Who

Maybe it's just Jessica's reviews that sell it, but I'm enjoying what I get to see of this show.

Honorable Mention:

The 10th Victim

Incubus (starring William Shatner and entirely in Esperanto!)

Repulsion

Out of the Unknown

The Saragossa Manuscript

and, of course,

The Journey Show.  The best fifteen hours in science fiction television, I think!  I hope it gets the nod for a Hugo next year…

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Best Fanzine
——

Zenith

A nice mix of articles and stories by pros, semi-pros, and fen.

Honorable Mention:

Amra

Tolkien Journal

Vector

And, of course, three time Hugo Finalist Galactic Journey. Perhaps this will be the year we finally appear on the official ballot.  With your help, anything is possible…

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That's a wrap!  All in all, I think 1965 was not quite as strong as last year, and the dearth of women is really quite alarming.  I'd like to think this is a statistical blip, like the solar 11 year cycle, and that things will improve from here on out.

In any event, even a weak year yields a lot of stuff that breaks the Sturgeon barrier.  As you catch up on your back reading, do feel free to drop us a line and tell us what you think of each piece.  It's the community that really makes the Journey (and the Stars) shine!

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