Best of
Speculative-Fiction

1964

The Invincible


Stanisław Lem - 1964
    The Invincible originally appeared as the title story in Lem's collection Niezwyciężony i inne opowiadania ("The Invincible and Other Stories"). A translation into German was published in 1967; an English translation by Wendayne Ackerman, based on the German one, was published in 1973. An interstellar 2nd-class cruiser called Invincible, lands on Regis III, a planet that seems bleakly uninhabited. Invincible, and crew, are there to investigate the loss of sister ship, Condor.While maintaining the highest security measures, the crew begins searching for the lost Condor. Meanwhile, scientists start researching the planet, trying to identify sources of potential danger. During the search for the lost ship unknown structures are discovered, probably forming the equivalent of an Earth city. While a group of explorers scouts out the ruins, the Condor is found three hundred kilometers away (roughly 186 miles away).

The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth


Roger Zelazny - 1964
    In Doors of His Face, The Lamps of His Mouth, Zelazny's rare ability to mix the dream-like, disturbing imagery of fantasy with the real-life hardware of science fiction is on full display. His vivid imagination and fine prose made him one of the most highly acclaimed writers in his field.Contents:· The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth · nv F&SF Mar ’65 · The Keys to December · nv New Worlds Aug ’66 · Devil Car [Sam Nurdock] · ss Galaxy Jun ’65 · A Rose for Ecclesiastes · nv F&SF Nov ’63 · The Monster and the Maiden · vi Galaxy Dec ’64 · Collector’s Fever · vi Galaxy Jun ’64 · This Mortal Mountain · nv If Mar ’67 · This Moment of the Storm · nv F&SF Jun ’66 · The Great Slow Kings · ss Worlds of Tomorrow Dec ’63 · A Museum Piece · ss Fantastic Jun ’63 · Divine Madness · ss Magazine of Horror Sum ’66 · Corrida · ss Anubis v1 #3 ’68 · Love Is an Imaginary Number · ss New Worlds Jan ’66 · The Man Who Loved the Faioli · ss Galaxy Jun ’67 · Lucifer · ss Worlds of Tomorrow Jun ’64

Phantastes and Lilith


George MacDonald - 1964
    Imagine overcoming these dangers, going from villain to hero and beyond, loving and being deceived, helping and being helpless. Imagine waking up and everybody saying you’re gone for 21 days, though it felt like 21 years. How would you change your life?

The Bloody Sun (Darkover)


Marion Zimmer Bradley - 1964
    Yet, he was to be terribly disappointed when he finally returned. First he learned that there were no records of any kind of either his birth or childhood on Darkover. And then, after he renounced his Terran allegiance and joined the natives attempting to free Darkover from Earth's control, the Darkovans accused him of being a spy. Someone was betraying them. Had Jeff been conditioned on Earth for Just that purpose? Jeff Kerwin began to wonder just who, and what, he really was.

The Universe Against Her


James H. Schmitz - 1964
    She could read, as well as change, human minds! In part I, she enjoys an extraordinary telepathic rapport with a feline non-human.Then her dreams become nightmares dominated by a weird "psionic traffic cop," and she realizes that further exercise of her powers could lead to trouble. Somehow, the interstellar government had found out about her, and had planted that "cop" in her mind to destroy her.Expansion of 2 previously published stories - "Novice" (1962) and "Undercurrents" (1964).

The Kelpie's Pearls


Mollie Hunter - 1964
    Everyone thinks she is a witch because of the strange things that have happened since she went to see the monster rise. Everyone believes it was she who managed to raise Nessie. Only Torquil, who lives behind Morag's cottage, knows better.

The Underpeople


Cordwainer Smith - 1964
    They often have strange powers. Now their ally is the planet owner. Rod McBan is from planet Norstrilia, source of immortality drug Stroon. On Earth, Rod joins C'Mell and Underpeople to bring back freedom. First half of "Norstrilia".

Weird Tales


Leo Margulies - 1964
    The Man Who Returned · Edmond Hamilton · Weird Tales Feb ’34 2. Spider Mansion · Fritz Leiber · Weird Tales Sep ’42 3. A Question of Etiquette · Robert Bloch · Weird Tales Sep ’42 4. The Sea Witch · Nictzin Dyalhis · Weird Tales Dec ’37 5. The Strange High House in the Mist · H. P. Lovecraft · Weird Tales Oct ’31 6. The Drifting Snow · August Derleth · Weird Tales Feb ’39 7. The Body-Masters · Frank Belknap Long · Weird Tales Feb ’35 8. Pigeons from Hell · Robert E. Howard · Weird Tales May ’38

The Treasure of the Great Reef


Arthur C. Clarke - 1964
    These unimpressive-looking lumps were masses of coins-hundreds of them, cemented together " Famous science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke and his partner, Mike Wilson, tell the true, exciting story of how they recovered treasure lost in the sea for more than 250 years.

The Unknown Five


Donald R. Bensen - 1964
    Contents:• Author! Author! by Isaac Asimov• The Bargain by Cleve Cartmill• The Hag Séleen by Theodore Sturgeon]• Hell Is Forever by Alfred Bester• The Crest of the Wave by Jane Rice