First published in 1991 by editors Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg. This Genre Anthology contains thirteen Science Fiction stories that were first published in 1961, ranging in length from Short Story to Novelette. The introduction describes "the world outside reality" first, marking significant historical events, sports trivia, and literary publications. The "real world" is the science fiction and fantasy pop culture, as the New Wave of Science Fiction begins.
Works in this anthology:
- "The Highest Treason", by Randall Garrett
- "Hothouse", by Brian W. Aldiss
- "Hiding Place", by Poul Anderson
- "What Is This Thing Called Love?", by Isaac Asimov
- "A Prize For Edie", by JF Bone
- "The Ship Who Sang", by Anne McCaffrey
- "Death And The Senator", by Arthur C. Clarke
- "The Quaker Cannon", by Cyril M. Kornbluth and Frederik Pohl
- "The Moon Moth", by Jack Vance
- "A Planet Named Shayol", by Cordwainer Smith
- "Rainbird", by R. A. Lafferty
- "Wall Of Crystal Eye Of Night", by Algis Budrys
- "Remember The Alamo!", by RR Fehrenbach
Isaac Asimov Presents: The Great Science Fiction Stories, Volume 23 (1961) provides examples of:
- Biography: Each story is prefaced by a short description of why this story (from this author) was chosen to represent one of the thirteen best stories of the year along with a paragraph from Isaac Asimov's perspective.
- Gilded Cage: Randall Garrett's "The Highest Treason": Sebastian MacMaine is a prisoner of war from Earth, in their fight against the Kerothi. He's held in what amounts to a reasonably nice hotel room (the aliens compare it to the rooms of a general), the illusion of privacy, and perfect room service. He's been trying for nearly an Earth year to offer his services as a general for the Kerothi military.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: Poul Anderson's "Hiding Place": One Captain Torrance has sent away the messenger, he pours himself a triple whiskey. His ship is in danger of breaking down, getting caught by the enemy, or searching the nearby stars for an industrial age civilization. None of which are likely to be good fortune.
- Klingon Promotion: Randall Garrett's "The Highest Treason": The narration briefly exposits that Kerothi society is entirely military, with a rank structure that allows for merit-based promotions, which includes personally assassinating your superior officer.
- The Namesake: Poul Anderson's "Hiding Place": After the Hebe G.B. captures the alien ship, they disvover that the crew have hidden themselves amoung the animals they're taking home for study. Now they have to figure out which race of nonhumanoids are intelligent and convince them to help before the Adderkops catch up and kill both crews.
- Names Given to Computers: JF Bone's "A Prize For Edie": The titular Edie is a nickname "C. Edie", for a computer named "Computer, Extrapolating, Discriminatory". The analysis published by the computer never mentions its status as an artificial intelligence, so the committee that awards the Nobel Prize in Medicine before they realize that "Edie" isn't human.
- Naming Your Colony World: In "The Ship Who Sang", by Anne McCaffrey (the original short story that became the first section of the novel), the climax takes place in the Ravel star system, with its two colony worlds Daphnis and Chloe
. - One-Man Industrial Revolution: The protagonist of "Rainbird", who lives between the 18th and 19th century, invents everything from the lightbulb to space travel with the help of his time-travelling future self.
- One-Word Title: R. A. Lafferty's "Rainbird"
- Poirot Speak: Poul Anderson's "Hiding Place": Nicholas van Rijn is steward aboard ship, and speaks with a heavy germanic-derived accent. His grammar is out of typical English order, and he peppers his sentences with the occasional "hokay", "ja", and "nie".
- Punny Name: Poul Anderson's "Hiding Place": The ship is named the Hebe G.B., or "heebie-jeebies", slang for a state of nervousness or general fear.
- Real Award, Fictional Character: JF Bone's "A Prize For Edie": The steering committee of the Nobel Prize has realized, too late, that they've offered the award in Medicine to a computer (C.E.D.--Computer, Extrapolating, Discriminatory--C Edie).
- Shout-Out: In the introduction, multiple works are mentioned as being first published or becoming hits in 1961:
- The Absent-Minded Professor is (jokingly) mentioned as being editor Greenberg's Biopic.
- Analog was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Professional Magazine.
- Atlantis The Lost Continent
- The introduction mentions America's disastrous attempt to overthrow Castro in the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
- '’The Beast of Yucca Flats''
- A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M Miller, was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novel.
- The Caretaker, by Harold Pinter, began performances.
- Catch-22 was a popular novel published by Joseph Heller in 1961.
- Dark Universe, by Daniel F Galouye, was the best novel of the year.
- '’The Day the Earth Caught Fire''
- Ed Emshwiller was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist.
- The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (from Checholovakia)
- Galaxy editor HL Gold retired from his job as Managing Editor, replaced by Frederik Pohl.
- The Guns of Navarone, for being a hit movie in America and Clark Gable's last film.
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, by Frank Loesser, began performances.
- "Join Our Gang" was Sterling E Lanier's first published Speculative Fiction story.
- Konga
- "The Longest Voyage", by Poul Anderson, was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Short Fiction.
- '’Master of the World'', based on Jules Verne's novel
- '’Most Dangerous Man Alive''
- '’Mysterious Island'', based on Jules Verne's novel
- A Nation Of Sheep was published by William Lederer
- The Night Of The Iguana, by Tennessee Williams, began performances.
- One-Eyed Jacks, with Marlon Brando starring and directing, was a hit film in this year.
- Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein, was one of the two most important novels of the year, according to this anthology's introduction.
- To Kill a Mockingbird was a popular novel published by Harper Lee in 1961.
- The Tropic Of Cancer, by Theodore H White
- The Twilight Zone (1959) was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
- "Volume Paa-Pyx" was Fred Saberhagen's first published Speculative Fiction story.
- '’Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea''
- Wagon Train was still one of the most popular television programs
- West Side Story (1961) was a hit movie in 1961 and earned the Oscar for Best Picture.
