One thing that’s a bit lost in the world of science fiction are printed anthology series that aren’t the prennial “Best Of..” variety. Once upon a time annual or quarterly anthologies would appar in bookstores and spinners in stores around the country. Ballantine Books once had an excellent series called Star Science Fiction Stories, edited by legend Frederik Pohl. Running from 1950 to 1970, Phol publisehd stories by writers including Rab Bradbury, Lester del Rey, Philip K. Dick, and others. Here’s an explore Star Science Fiction Stories No. 3, from Science Fiction Ruminations:
Ballantine Books’ illustrious science fictional program started with a bang–Star Science Fiction Stories. According to Mike Ashley’s Transformations: The Story of Science-Fiction Magazines from 1950 to 1970 Frederik Pohl’s anthology series of original (mostly) stories was “intended as both a showcase of Ballantine’s authors and a lure to new writers.” Paying better rates than magazines, the Star series foreshadowed the explosion of original anthologies that would provide a sustained challenge to the eminence held in the 50s by the magazine.
I’ve selected the third volume of the six-volume series.1 It contains an illustrative cross-section of 50s science fiction. Philip K. Dick’s “Foster, You’re Dead” (1955), Richard Matheson’s “Dance of the Dead” (1955), and Jack Williamson’s “Guinevere for Everybody” (1955) are not to be missed.