Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century

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A collection of the best science fiction short stories of the 20th century as selected and evaluated by critically-acclaimed author Orson Scott Card.

Featuring stories from the genre’s greatest authors: Isaac Asimov • Arthur C. Clarke • Robert A. Heinlein • Ursula K. Le Guin • Ray Bradbury • Frederik Pohl • Harlan Ellison • George Alec Effinger • Brian W. Aldiss • William Gibson & Michael Swanwick • Theodore Sturgeon • Larry Niven • Robert Silverberg • Harry Turtledove • James Blish • George R. R. Martin • James Patrick Kelly • Karen Joy Fowler • Lloyd Biggle, Jr. • Terry Bisson • Poul Anderson • John Kessel • R.A. Lafferty • C.J. Cherryh • Lisa Goldstein • Edmond Hamilton

In much of the science fiction of the past, the twenty-first century existed only in the writers’ imaginations. Now that it’s here, it’s time to take a look back at the last one hundred years in science fiction through the works of the most celebrated and acclaimed authors of the century—to see where we’ve been and just how far we’ve come.
 
Along with a critical essay by Orson Scott Card reassessing science fiction in the twentieth century, Masterpieces includes short fiction by writers who have forged a permanent place for science fiction in the popular culture of today…and tomorrow. It offers a glimpse of the greatest works that mixed science with fiction in trying to figure out humanity’s place in the universe. Featuring bold, brave, and breathtaking stories, this definitive collection will stand the test of time in both this century and those to come.

Our Top Reviews

Reviewer: John M. Ford
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Orson Scott Card’s Favorite Science Fiction Stories
Review: These twenty-seven science fiction stories are those Orson Scott Card found memorable, enjoyable and influential. Card stratifies his collection by three eras of twentieth century science fiction: The Golden Age (beginning of the century to the mid-1960s); The New Wave (mid-1960s to mid-1970s); and The Media Generation (mid-1970s and onward). Readers interested in the genre’s history might consult Adam Roberts’ History of Science Fiction for a definition of these eras–and pre-twentieth-century periods that Card omits from consideration.The Golden Age “includes the writers and stories that created science fiction as we know it.” Of Card’s nine stories, two stand out. Poul Anderson’s “Call Me Joe” explores the psychological connection between a biologically-engineered “remote” on Jupiter’s surface and its human operator in orbit above. The still-current topic contrasts with a retro feel from “tubes and circuits” technology. Robert Heinlein’s “All You Zombies–” guides us through the now-familiar scenario of a time-traveling police force that guards the timelines and recruits from various eras. The story’s recruitment is undertaken with a close-knit cast of characters.New Wave stories are drawn from a period when science fiction was moving beyond the common story structures of the Golden Age. I have two favorites of Card’s seven. Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” reminds us that we pay an almost-hidden price for our happy lives. After reading her story, we cannot claim to have no choice. Larry Niven’s “Inconstant Moon” paces through the long, sleepless night after its protagonist figures out the puzzle of the evening sky’s too-bright moon.Media Generation stories come from a less well-defined era, produced by writers who grew up watching science fiction movies and television shows. Here are the best two of Card’s eleven. George Martin’s “Sandkings” features a wealthy man who is self-centered, vain and cruel. And yet his alien pets worship him. Terry Bisson’s “Bear’s Discover Fire” explores the implications of a slight intelligence increase in a familiar mammal. It is understated, clever, and emotionally rich.The collection is highly recommended, both to experienced fans and to those needing an introduction to this century’s science fiction. As Card admits, there are many good stories left out, many important authors not represented. Read for what is here. And enjoy.

Reviewer: Megan
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A small collection of mostly good stories
Review: This is a small collection of what Card finds to be some of the most influential sci fi across the ages (Golden, New Wave, Media Generation). The book, if you factor out the essays, is probably about 350 pages long, so a fairly quick read for a decent price.Most of the stories were amazing in some way, although there are a few that are so bad that it scratches my head that I can’t imagine why Card would include them, such as Ellison’s “Repent, Harlequin!” I suppose not all experimental stories are good ones. But then, how do you explain the inclusion of Niven’s “Inconstant Moon”?As with all such anthologies, it comes down to your personal opinion. If you happen to like Card’s work, you’ll probably like a good number of the stories here, since the things a writer reads influences what they write. If you’re going in blind and don’t happen to like experimental fiction much, a lot of the New Wave stories will fall flat. The “quality” of experimental stories (that survive long enough to make it into anthologies) are often dependent on the temperament of the reader.The rest of the stories are amazing, though, and worth it.You’ll just have to read for yourself.

Reviewer: Jane Ryder
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Classics old and new
Review: This is a great collection of stories, both classics I’ve read before and some more recent authors I hadn’t encountered. I’d have to say all of the stories are good, but some of them stand out as exceptional, including “Sandkings” by George R.R. Martin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. LeGuin, and the goofy but strangely affecting “Bears Discover Fire” byTerry Bisson.This is a collection by true masters of the genre and covers all types of SF, from soft and hard science to almost-horror, ethical explorations to straight-up space opera, so whatever your preferences you’ll find something to enjoy. I’ve encountered quite a few of these in other collections, like the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, but that’s not a failing on the part of Orson Scott Card — the stories deserve to be included in a collection called “Masterpieces.” I do wish Card would have talked about why he chose each piece, rather than simply introducing each story with the author’s publishing history, but that’s a small quibble for such a great anthology.

Reviewer: RedCrow97
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Quality Sci-Fi stories
Review: I have not read the book yet; This, like the other Sci-Fi books I had ordered as used books at very decent prices; include many wonderful stories by a number of classic Science Fiction authors. Included among these books, some stories written hundreds of years ago. I have a bit more time available these days, and can spend more time reading. With many familiar classic authors and some new ones, this book and the others I ordered around the same time will no doubt be quite enjoyable.

Reviewer: Larry Schweinhart
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A couple of gems, the rest ho-hum
Review: The best science fiction of the century ought to be better than this. A few were good, most were not. The book did include my favorite sci-fi short story about bears discovering fire, actually about people discovering bears discovering fire.

Reviewer: ghostwriter
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent damaged book
Review: The book was cheap but it was in poor condition. If you like science fiction, some of the stories are not so great, but some of them are excellent!

Reviewer: Shabkar
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: I learned something new
Review: I read Science Fiction my whole long life, but in this book I was exposed to authors that I had never heard of or that I did not know had written Science Fiction.

Reviewer: Real Name – Real Name
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great Anthology!
Review: Very impressed! I’m new to science fiction and I have discovered some great writers in this collection. 100 Stars!

Reviewer: A. K.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: excellent

Reviewer: tom w. keep
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: All my old favourites a great read

Reviewer: Eduardo Ángeles
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Excelentes autores, calidad de impresión y precio. Si eres fan de la ciencia ficción debes tenerlo.

Reviewer: Robert Lee
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Books like this always great holiday reading. This is a choice selection from some of the biggest names in sci-fi writing. Good stuff!!😎

Reviewer: Perceptive Reader
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This hefty tome is indeed a wonderful representative of science fiction as practised by authors of the last century. It contained stories from almost every major writer. In its own way it also acted as a mirror of issues that used to concern writers of that bygone era.There are several memorable and evergreen stories here. Unfortunately, the stories also suffered from issues typical of that era, namely~1. Very few women writers have been selected, with Ursula Guin getting a very drab piece of her included, while neither Moore nor Brackett finding a place.2. In the stories, women, LGBTQ, people other than WASP are hardly present.3. The alien is anthropomorphic caricature of the ‘others’ rather than being truly alien as we see now.Also, there were few issues pertaining to the selection itself, where~1) While Heinlein has been represented by his best story, for the others stories have been chosen that don’t do justice to their name and fame.2) Stories with humour and action have been avoided, due to reasons best known to the editor.Nevertheless, it is a solid collection that’s bound to entertain you for several days. However, to call it ‘masterpieces’ would be a real stretch.

Price effective as of Jun 23, 2025 01:15:52 UTC

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