Three cheers for Tor Books! The SFWA Grand Masters, Volume One, is a terrific idea: a collection of stories by the Golden Age writers (in this volume, Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, Clifford D. Simak, Fritz Leiber, and L. Sprague de Camp) who established the fundamentals of the science fiction genre ... the writers who first dazzled the world with their brilliant ideas and sent our imaginations zooming into the future. Representative short stories from each of the writers--such as a tale of the ever rich and strange world of Nehwon from Leiber--are accompanied by a sample of each writer's nonfiction, an overview of their life and career by Pohl--who knew them all--and a recommended reading list. All together, this volume is both the perfect way to introduce someone just discovering science fiction to the classic writers of the field, and ideal for veteran science fiction readers to remind themselves just why they love the genre so much. "With Folded Hands," anyone? --Blaise Selby


From Library Journal
This is the beginning of a three-volume anthology of selected works by the first 15 recipients of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Associations Grand Master award, which recognizes a lifetime body of work, of a quality that helped to shape the entire course of science fiction writing. Pohl, himself a Grand Master, has selected four to five works, mostly short stories, from the first five recipients: Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, Clifford D. Simak, L. Sprague de Camp, and Fritz Leiber. He introduces each group with a short history of the writers career and anecdotes from Pohls personal acquaintance with him. The short stories, while not always the authors best works, are representative of their styles and motifs and the early days of sf writing. Pohl has also included some extracts from novels, autobiographies, and essays, which, unfortunately, feel fragmented. Still, this is a good choice for sf collections.Devon Thomas, Highland Twp. Lib., MICopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
The Grand Master Nebula award, established by the Science Fiction Writers of America to honor outstanding lifetime achievement, has been awarded 15 times. In this volume, editor Pohl, himself a highly likely candidate for the award, presents the first five Grand Master designees: Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, Clifford D. Simak, Fritz Leiber, and L. Sprague de Camp. Each is the subject of a biographical sketch that precedes a sampling of his short fiction, plus autobiographical pieces by Heinlein and Williamson and an essay by de Camp, and a list of five stories or novels recommended for further reading. Introductory is the key word to describe this volume's value. Big sf and fantasy collections will probably include its contents already, and experienced, knowledgeable readers will probably know everything about these authors already. But less-experienced fans--a continually expanding number--who want grounding in the genres' classics and their authors would be hard put to find better books to start with than this one. Roland Green


From Kirkus Reviews
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America occasionally bestows Grand Master Awards to deserving, living authors for lifetime achievement. So far fifteen have been awarded; the first five recipients are showcased here, with two further volumes projected. The famous, not so famous, and neglected stories were judiciously selected by editor Pohl, and since he naturally knows/knew all the writers, he also provides informative introductions, biographical notes, and personal reminiscences. The first recipient, Robert A. Heinlein (190788) has five entries, two of them well-known stories about duty and honor, ``The Roads Must Roll'' and ``The Long Watch.'' Jack Williamson has four entries; ``With Folded Hands'' inaugurated his celebrated novel The Humanoids. Clifford D. Simak (190488), noted for his poignancy, folksy charm, and love of robots, weighs in with three tales, including ``Desertion'' and ``Grotto of the Dancing Deer.'' The brilliant Fritz Leiber (191092) has three obscure entries. And L. Sprague de Camp, known for his impish fantasy series The Incompleat Enchanter (with Fletcher Pratt), presents ``A Gun for Dinosaur'' and two others. Should induce today's readers to investigate these splendid writers, and it's a nostalgia trip for long-time fans. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Lester Del Rey, Frederik Pohl, Damon Knight, A. E. Van Vogt, Jack Vance

The Nebula Awards are voted on, and presented, by active members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. The Grand Master Award is given to a living author for a lifetime's achievement in science fiction and/or fantasy.

Frederik Pohl, an eminent figure in science fiction, has been authorized by the SFWA to edit an anthology in three big volumes featuring substantial selections of the work of all the first fifteen Grand Masters. These are the seminal writers of the modern SF field, whose works are of dominant importance and influence. This series of collections is a permanent record of greatness in SF.

Volume Three, presenting the last five writers to receive the Grand Master award, features the fiction of Lester Del Rey, Frederik Pohl, Damon Knight, A. E. Van Vogt, Jack Vance

FROM THE CRITICS

Science Fiction Weekly

If anything, The SFWA Grand Masters: Volume 2 is even stronger than its predecessor, which was a very good book. Pohl is doing a wonderful job assembling a series that's long overdue.

Locus

On the basis of the...pieces...one can conclude that [some of the authors] were having a degree of sheer imaginative fun that may no longer be available to SF writers in today's market.

KLIATT

The Grand Master award is given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to a living author for a lifetime's achievement in science fiction and/or fantasy. This is the second in a series of three big volumes to anthologize the work of the first 15 Grand Master award winners. Included here are: Andre Norton; Arthur C. Clarke; Isaac Asimov; Alfred Bester; and Ray Bradbury. (Actually, Alfred Bester received his award posthumously, as is noted in Pohl's introduction to his works here.) As in the first volume, for each author there is an introduction by Pohl, at least four stories, and a short list of recommended reading. The copyrights span from 1946-1989. This represents a major undertaking and another priceless volume. While Asimov's "Robbie" robot story is missing here, the others chosen are equally brilliant and not as well known. This will serve as a solid introduction to these classic writers and hopefully open doors for a new readership. KLIATT Codes: JSA—Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2000, Tor, 432p., $15.95. Ages 13 to adult. Reviewer: Sherry S. Hoy; Libn., Tuscarora Jr. H.S., Mifflintown, PA , September 2001 (Vol. 35 No. 5)

Library Journal

This is the beginning of a three-volume anthology of selected works by the first 15 recipients of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Associations Grand Master award, which recognizes a lifetime body of work, of a quality that helped to shape the entire course of science fiction writing. Pohl, himself a Grand Master, has selected four to five works, mostly short stories, from the first five recipients: Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, Clifford D. Simak, L. Sprague de Camp, and Fritz Leiber. He introduces each group with a short history of the writers career and anecdotes from Pohls personal acquaintance with him. The short stories, while not always the authors best works, are representative of their styles and motifs and the early days of sf writing. Pohl has also included some extracts from novels, autobiographies, and essays, which, unfortunately, feel fragmented. Still, this is a good choice for sf collections.Devon Thomas, Highland Twp. Lib., MI

Locus