Three books in one: not only has the editor chosen "ten of the finest short stories in the history of science fiction", but he has added a short critical essay on the art and craft of writing each one and a short biographical memoir on each writer also. The stories are by Damon Knight, Alfred Bester, C.L.Moore, Henry Kuttner, Robert Sheckley, James Blish, Cordwainer Smith, Brian Aldiss, Jack Vance, Philip K.Dick, Kornbluth, Bob Shaw and Frederik Pohl.