SF '59: The Year's Greatest Science Fiction and Fantasy

SF '59 is the fourth volume in Judith Merril's annual anthology series, collecting notable science fiction and fantasy works from 1959. This edition features 15 short stories from prominent authors including Isaac Asimov, Theodore Sturgeon, and John Steinbeck, along with several non-fiction articles about space exploration and scientific advancement. The anthology draws from a diverse range of publications, from established science fiction magazines like Astounding and Galaxy to mainstream periodicals such as The New Yorker and The Saturday Evening Post. The stories cover topics from space travel and alien contact to psychological studies and technological innovation. Articles in the collection examine the growing reality of human space exploration, including Daniel Lang's "Man in Space" and Merril's own "Rockets to Where?" The volume concludes with Merril's annual summary of the field and recognition of other notable works from the year. The collection captures a pivotal moment in science fiction history, as the genre began to transition from pure speculation to engagement with imminent technological possibilities and their social implications. Through both its fiction and non-fiction selections, the anthology reflects the growing intersection between science fiction imagination and real-world scientific progress.

Readers value this anthology for preserving distinctive science fiction stories from 1959, though many note it feels dated by modern standards. Several reviews mention Theodore Sturgeon's "The Man Who Lost the Sea" as a standout piece. Positives: - Strong literary focus compared to other 1950s SF collections - Mix of established authors and lesser-known writers - Merril's commentary provides historical context Negatives: - Some stories feel slow-paced by contemporary standards - Heavy focus on "soft" sci-fi over technical/hard science stories - Several reviewers note formulaic Cold War themes Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (21 ratings) ISFDB: No rating available No Amazon or other major platform ratings found One reader on Goodreads notes: "Interesting as a time capsule of late-50s sci-fi, but many stories rely on dated social assumptions." Another comments: "Merril had good taste in selecting stories that pushed beyond typical pulp conventions."

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🔮 Judith Merril was one of the first women to be highly influential in science fiction editing and criticism, earning the nickname "The Little Mother of Science Fiction" for her pioneering anthology work. 📚 The anthology included John Steinbeck's "The Short-Short Story of Mankind," marking a rare venture into science fiction by the Nobel Prize-winning author. 🚀 1959 was a significant year for science fiction, coinciding with the Soviet Luna 2 becoming the first spacecraft to reach the Moon, which influenced many of the space-themed stories in the collection. 📖 The series was groundbreaking for including works from mainstream literary magazines alongside genre publications, helping bridge the gap between "literary" and "genre" fiction. 🌟 Theodore Sturgeon, one of the featured authors, was known for "Sturgeon's Law" which states that "90% of everything is crud" - a principle he developed while defending science fiction against critics who claimed the genre was largely worthless.