Following the tremendous success of the science fiction "best of" series, we add another star-studded name to our distinguished roster of great authors -- Cordwainer Smith. First appearing in a short-lived 1950 pulp magazine with "Scanners Live in Vain," Smith continued writing extensively in the field. Luckily for the genre he did. In the intervening years he created a rich legacy of stories ... an entire history of man in the universe, stretching centuries into the future. Twelve of his best tales are included in this collector's anthology. Here's just a sample of the fantastic world he envisioned:
The Lady Who Sailed the Soul -- Few men wanted to become space sailors -- it took a hearty breed to give up forty years of life to travel through the lonely reaches of space. That's why everyone was shocked when Helen America, a most quiet and reserved young woman, qualified to sail the space lanes. There had to be a driving reason for her to give up youth and beauty and spend four decades sealed in a self-sustaining iron tomb. Some thought it was the fame, others believed it was wealth or power. But Helen's astonishing reason would awe the civilized universe ...
Golden the Ship Was, Oh! Oh! Oh! -- Soon after the Earth went to war with the dictator Raumsog, the wild, old tales about the Golden Ship began to circulate. Legend had it that in times of battle, the Lords of Earth would unleash the ultimate weapon: a ninety million mile space ship powerful enough to engulf an entire planet system. The story was true save for one minor detail -- except for the control deck, the ship was made of nothing but cheap foam and wire. The rocket was the largest scarecrow ever conceived by the human mind. But would it be enough to frighten off Raumsog's advancing forces ...?
The Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal -- Most space balladeers never recount the weird story of Commander Suzdal and his trip to the incredible planet Arachosia. They claim it is too strange and disturbing, nothing more than evil lies blown way out of proportion. But it did happen. Commander Suzdal responded to the distress call sent from that godforsaken planet that had once been a paradise. He did touch down and see first-hand the loathsome creatures who had once been colonists. But how he saved himself and the rest of the galaxy from the Arachosian fate was something so frightful that the Earth never forgave him.
Nine other tales round out this wondrous, though-provoking collection, a volume honoring one of science fiction's most original masters.