Joseph D. Olander

The Hothouse Series - essay by Brian W. Aldiss Hothouse - novelette by Brian W. Aldiss The Nicholas van Rijn Series - essay by Poul Anderson A Little Knowledge - novelette by Poul Anderson The Wendell Urth Series - essay by Isaac Asimov The Talking Stone - short story by Isaac Asimov The Vermilion Sands Series - essay by J. G. Ballard The Cloud-Sculptors of Coral D - short story by J. G. Ballard Introduction to "Bridge" - essay by James Blish and J. A. Lawrence [as by James Blish and Judith Blish] The Cities in Flight Series - essay by James Blish and J. A. Lawrence [as by James Blish and Judith Blish] Bridge - novelette by James Blish Introduction to "Surface Tension" - essay by James Blish and J. A. Lawrence [as by James Blish and Judith Blish] The Pantropy Series - essay by James Blish and J. A. Lawrence [as by James Blish and Judith Blish] Surface Tension - novelette by James Blish The Feghoot Series - essay by Reginald Bretnor [as by Grendel Briarton] Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot - short story by Reginald Bretnor (variant of Feghoot XCVII) [as by Grendel Briarton] The White Hart Series - essay by Arthur C. Clarke The Reluctant Orchid - short story by Arthur C. Clarke Introduction to "The Ancestral Amethyst" - essay by L. Sprague de Camp Tales from Gavagan's Bar Series - essay by L. Sprague de Camp The Ancestral Amethyst - short story by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt The People Series - essay by Zenna Henderson Ararat - novelette by Zenna Henderson The Retief Series - essay by Keith Laumer Ballots and Bandits - novelette by Keith Laumer The Change War Series - essay by Fritz Leiber No Great Magic - novella by Fritz Leiber The Dragon Series - essay by Anne McCaffrey The Smallest Dragonboy - short story by Anne McCaffrey The Helva Series - essay by Anne McCaffrey The Ship Who Sang - novelette by Anne McCaffrey The Known Space Series - essay by Larry Niven A Relic of the Empire - novelette by Larry Niven The Berserker Series - essay by Fred Saberhagen Sign of the Wolf - short story by Fred Saberhagen The Slow Glass Series - essay by Bob Shaw Burden of Proof - short story by Bob Shaw The AAA Ace Series - essay by Robert Sheckley The Lifeboat Mutiny - short story by Robert Sheckley The In Hiding Series - essay by Wilmar H. Shiras Opening Doors - novelette by Wilmar H. Shiras The City Series - essay by Clifford D. Simak Aesop - novelette by Clifford D. Simak The Instrumentality Series - essay by John J. Pierce The Game of Rat and Dragon - short story by Cordwainer Smith Introduction to "The Game of Rat and Dragon" - essay by John J. Pierce Notes on Contributors (The Great Science Fiction Series) - essay by uncredited

Charmingly insidious and satisfyingly devious, these 100 baffling little mysteries—selected by such prominent authors as Isaac Asimov—are just the thing to suit your most malevolent mood. These tales come from the pen of many well-known writers in the field, including Michael Gilbert, Edward Wellen, Edward D. Hack, Bill Bronzini, Lawrence Treat, and Francis Nevins, Jr. Whether it’s “The Unfriendly Neighbor,” or a “Class Reunion,” “A Recipe for Revenge,” or “An Exercise in Insurance,” these stories are sure to keep you up all night, puzzling over their possible solutions. Each one has its own particular and irresistible appeal: an unexpected twist, a delectable puzzle, a devastating revelation, or perhaps even a refreshing display of pernicious spit Six words / Lew Gillis Little things / Isaac Asimov Matter of life and death / Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg Perfect pigeon / Carroll Mayers Cop who loved flowers / Henry Slesar Trick or treat / Judith Garner Twice around the block / Lawrence Treat Easy score / Al Nussbaum Good Lord will provide / Lawrence Treat and Charles M. Plotz Boomerang / Harold Q. Masur Way it's supposed to be / Elsin Ann Graffam Thank you, Mr. Thurston / Ed Dumonte Funeral music / Francis M. Nevins, Jr. Murder will out / Edward Wellen Insignificant crime / Maxine O'Callaghan Stray bullet / Gary Brandner Night out with the boys / Elsin Ann Graffam Office party / Mary Bradford Comes the dawn / Michael Kurland Acting job / Richard Deming Last smile / Henry Slesar Grief counselor / Julie Smith Best place / A.F. Oreshnik Dead end / Alvin S. Fick Pure Rotten / John Lutz Grounds for divorce / James Holding Inside out / Barry N. Malzberg Bell / Isak Romun Box / Isak Romun Physician and the opium fiend / R.L. Stevens Over the borderline / Jeff Sweet It could happen to you / John Lutz Class reunion / Charles Boeckman Way it is now / Elaine Slater Hot rock / James McKimmey Puff of orange smoke / Lael J. Littke Chicken player / Joe L. Hensley Nothing but bad news / Henry Slesar Quick and the dead / Helen McCloy Exercise in insurance / James Holding Old heap / Alvin S. Fick As the wheel turns / Jane Speed Knit one, purl two... / Thomasina Weber Paternal instinct / Al Nussbaum What kind of person are you? / Bill Pronzini and Barry N. Malzberg Shatter proof / Jack Ritchie Out of order / Carl Henry Rathjen Handy man / Marion M. Markham Nightmare / Elaine Slater Recipe for revenge / Jane Speed Sweet fever / Bill Pronzini Magnum / Jack Ritchie Two postludes / Isak Romun Deal in diamonds / Edward D. Hoch Last Day of Shooting / Dion Henderson Blisters in May / Jack Ritchie Collector / Patricia A. Mathews House call / Elsin Ann Graffam Adventure of the blind alley / Edward Wellen Unfriendly neighbor / Al Nussbaum Feline felony / Lael J. Littke Don't I know you? / Henry Slesar Meet Mr. Murder / Morris Hershman Co-Incidence / Edward D. Hoch Alma / Al Nussbaum Grand exit / Leo R. Ellis Hunting ground / A.F. Oreshnik Big trip / Elsin Ann Graffam Dutch / William F. Nolan Loaded quest / Thomasina Weber Hand in glove / James Holding Slantwise scales of justice / Phyllis Ann Karr Child on a journey / Fred S. Tobey Witches in the closet / Anne Chamberlain Setup / Jack Ritchie Very rare disease / Henry Slesar Two small vials / Elsin Ann Graffam Sweet remembrance / Betty Ren Wright Dip in the poole / Bill Pronzini Doctor's orders / John F. Suter Mrs. Twiller takes a trip / Lael J. Littke Such a lovely day / Penelope Wallace Matinee / Ruth Wissmann Big mouth / Robert Edmond Alter Weathered board / Alvin S. Fick Lot 721/XY258 / R.L. Stevens Thirteen / Edward D. Hoch Operative 375 / Gary Brandner He'll kill you / Richard Deming Caveat Emptor / Kay Nolte Smith Facsimile shop / Bill Pronzini and Jeffrey Wallman Corner of the cellar / Michael Gilbert Every fifth man / Edward D. Hoch Pro / Robert H. Curtis Nobody, that's who / William F. Nolan Pigeon / William F. Nolan Prisoner / Edward Wellen Sooey pill / Elaine Slater Backing up / Barry N. Malzberg Wide O— / Elsin Ann Graffam

The veldt. -- Let's play poison. -- Fever dream. -- Zero hour. -- The Foghorn. -- A sound of thunder. -- The wind. -- The scythe. -- Marionettes Inc. -- The other foot. -- The pedestrian. -- The trolley. -- The smile. -- The gift. -- The last night of the world.

The Nature of the Title - essay by Isaac Asimov What's It Like Out There? - novelette by Edmond Hamilton Who Can Replace a Man? - short story by Brian W. Aldiss What Have I Done? - short story by Mark Clifton Who's There? - short story by Arthur C. Clarke Can You Feel Anything When I Do This? - short story by Robert Sheckley Why? - short story by Robert Silverberg What's Become of Screwloose? - short story by Ron Goulart Houston, Houston, Do You Read? - novella by James Tiptree, Jr. Where Have You Been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? - short story by Kate Wilhelm If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? - novella by Theodore Sturgeon Will You Wait? - short story by Alfred Bester Who Goes There? - novella by John W. Campbell, Jr. An Eye for a What? - novelette by Damon Knight I Plinglot, Who You? - novelette by Frederik Pohl (variant of I Plinglot — Who You?) Will You Walk a Little Faster? - short story by William Tenn (variant of "Will You Walk a Little Faster") Who's in Charge Here? - short story by James Blish The Last Question - short story by Isaac Asimov

A loint of paw / Isaac Asimov -- The advent on Channel Twelve / C.M. Kornbluth -- Plaything / Larry Niven -- The misfortune cookie / Charles E. Fritch -- I wish I may, I wish I might / Bill Pronzini -- FTA / George R.R. Martin -- Trace / Jerome Bixby -- The ingenious patriot / Ambrose Bierce -- Zoo / Edward D. Hoch -- The destiny of Milton Gomrath / Alexei Panshin -- The devil and the trombone / Martin Gardner -- Upstart / Steven Utley -- How it all went / Gregory Benford -- Harry Protagonist, brain-drainer / Richard Wilson -- Peeping Tommy / Robert F. Young -- Starting from scratch / Robert Sheckley -- Corrida / Roger Zelazny -- Shall the dust praise thee? / Damon Knight -- Bug-getter / R. Bretnor -- The deadly mission of Phineas Snodgrass / Frederik Pohl -- Fire sale / Laurence M. Janifer -- Safe at any speed / Larry Niven -- The masks / James Blish -- Innocence / Joanna Russ -- Kin / Richard Wilson -- The long night / Ray Russell -- Sanity clause / Edward Wellen -- If at first you don't succeed, to hell with it! / Charles E. Fritch -- The question / Laurence M. Janifer and Donald E. Westlake -- The perfect woman / Robert Sheckley -- The system / Ben Bova -- Exile to hell / Isaac Asimov -- Inaugural / Barry N. Malzberg and Bill Pronzini -- Martha / Fred Saberhagen -- Kindergarten / Fritz Leiber -- Landscape with sphinxes / Karen Anderson -- The happiest day of your life / Bob Shaw -- The worlds of Monty Willson / William F. Nolan -- Punch / Frederik Pohl -- Doctor / Henry Slesar -- The man from when / Dannie Plachta -- Crying willow / Edward Rager -- January 1975 / Barry N. Malzberg -- Mail supremacy / Hayford Peirce -- Mistake / Larry Niven -- Half-baked publisher's delight / Jeffrey S. Hudson and Issac Asimov -- Far from home / Walter S. Tevis Swords of Ifthan / James Sutherland -- Argent blood / Joe L. Hensley -- Collector's fever / Roger Zelazny -- Sign at the end of the universe / Duane Ackerson -- Stubborn / Stephen Goldin -- The re-creation / Robert E. Toomey, Jr. -- The better man / Ray Russell -- Oom / Martin Gardner -- Merchant / Henry Slesar -- Don't fence me in / Richard Wilson -- The die-hard / Alfred Bester -- The first / Anthony Boucher -- Eripmav / Damon Knight -- Feeding time / Robert Sheckley -- The voice from the curious cube / Nelson Bond -- I'm going to get you / F.M. Busby -- The room / Ray Russell -- Dry spell / Bill Pronzini -- Bohassian learns / William Rotsler -- Star bride / Anthony Boucher -- Latest feature / Maggie Nadler -- Chief / Henry Slesar -- After you've stood on the log at the centre of the universe, what is there left to do? / Grant Carrington -- Maid to measure / Damon Knight -- Eyes do more than see / Isaac Asimov -- Thang / Martin Gardner -- How now purple cow / Bill Pronzini -- Revival meeting / Dannie Plachta -- Prototaph / Keith Laumer -- The rocket of 1955 / C.M. Kornbluth -- Science fiction for telepaths / E. Michael Blake -- Kindergarten / James E. Gunn -- A little knowledge / Paul Dellinger -- A cup of hemlock / Lee Killough -- Present perfect / Thomas F. Monteleone -- A lot to learn / Robert T. Kurosaka -- The amphibious cavalry gap / James E. Thompson -- Not counting bridges / Robert L. Fish -- The man inside / Bruce McAllister -- The Mars stone / Paul Bond -- Source material / Mildred Downey Broxon -- The compleat consummators / Alan E. Nourse -- Examination day / Henry Slesar -- The sky's an oyster; the stars are pearls / Dave Bischoff -- The man who could turn back the clock / Ralph Milne Farley -- Patent rights / Daniel A. Darlington -- Alien cornucopia / Walt Liebscher -- The last paradox / Edward D. Hoch -- Course of empire / Richard Wilson -- Synchronicity / James E. Thompson -- Sweet dreams, Melissa / Stephen Goldin -- The man on top / R. Bretnor -- Rejection slip / K.W. MacAnn.

Omnibus of anthologies The Future in Question and Space Mail The Future in Question The Nature of the Title - essay by Isaac Asimov What's It Like Out There? - novelette by Edmond Hamilton Who Can Replace a Man? - short story by Brian W. Aldiss What Have I Done? - short story by Mark Clifton Who's There? - short story by Arthur C. Clarke Can You Feel Anything When I Do This? - short story by Robert Sheckley Why? - short story by Robert Silverberg What's Become of Screwloose? - short story by Ron Goulart Houston, Houston, Do You Read? - novella by James Tiptree, Jr. Where Have You Been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? - short story by Kate Wilhelm If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? - novella by Theodore Sturgeon Will You Wait? - short story by Alfred Bester Who Goes There? - novella by John W. Campbell, Jr. An Eye for a What? - novelette by Damon Knight I Plinglot, Who You? - novelette by Frederik Pohl (variant of I Plinglot — Who You?) Will You Walk a Little Faster? - short story by William Tenn (variant of "Will You Walk a Little Faster") Who's in Charge Here? - short story by James Blish The Last Question - short story by Isaac Asimov Space Mail Introduction (Space Mail) - essay by Isaac Asimov I Never Ast No Favors - short story by C. M. Kornbluth Letter to Ellen - short story by Chan Davis One Rejection Too Many - short story by Patricia Nurse Space Opera - short story by Ray Russell The Invasion of the Terrible Titans - short story by William Sambrot (variant of Football Majors at Pacific U.) That Only a Mother - short story by Judith Merril Itch on the Bull Run - short story by Sharon Webb Letter to a Phoenix - short story by Fredric Brown Who's Cribbing? - short story by Jack Lewis Computers Don't Argue - short story by Gordon R. Dickson Letters from Laura - short story by Mildred Clingerman Dear Pen Pal - short story by A. E. van Vogt Damn Shame - short story by Dean R. Lambe The Trap - novelette by Howard Fast (variant of The First Men) Flowers for Algernon - novelette by Daniel Keyes The Second Kind of Loneliness - short story by George R. R. Martin The Lonely - short story by Judith Merril Secret Unattainable - novella by A. E. van Vogt After the Great Space War - short story by Barry N. Malzberg The Prisoner - novelette by Christopher Anvil Request for Proposal - short story by Anthony R. Lewis He Walked Around the Horses - novelette by H. Beam Piper The Power - short story by Murray Leinster