What Strange Stars and Skies

What Strange Stars and Skies is a 1965 collection of fourteen science fiction and fantasy short stories by Avram Davidson. Two of the stories were written in collaboration with other authors - Laura Goforth and Sidney Klein. The collection spans multiple genres and styles, from straightforward science fiction to supernatural fantasy. The stories originally appeared in various magazines before being compiled into this volume, which includes an introduction by Davidson himself. This book represents Davidson's ability to blend elements of both science fiction and fantasy while maintaining distinct narrative voices. The themes explore human nature, unexplained phenomena, and the intersection of the mundane with the extraordinary.

This 1965 short story collection draws minimal reader reviews online, making it difficult to gauge consensus opinion. The few available reviews come from vintage science fiction fans and Davidson completists. Readers highlighted the mythological elements, literary references, and Davidson's distinctive writing style that blends fantasy with historical settings. Multiple readers noted the stories have aged better than other 1960s sci-fi, though the dense prose and meandering plots challenged some readers. Common criticisms include slow pacing and abrupt story endings that left readers unsatisfied. Several reviewers mentioned difficulty following some of the more experimental narratives. Available Ratings: Goodreads: 3.79/5 (14 ratings, 2 written reviews) Amazon: No reviews available LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (2 ratings, 0 written reviews) The limited review data makes it hard to identify clear patterns in reader response. Most online discussion appears in brief mentions within broader Davidson retrospectives rather than direct reviews of this collection.

The City & the City by China Miéville Two cities occupy the same physical space but remain separate through cultural and psychological barriers, creating a similar blend of mundane reality and fantastical premise found in Davidson's work.

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang The collection merges scientific concepts with human experiences while crossing genre boundaries between science fiction and metaphysical speculation.

The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu These stories move between science fiction and fantasy while examining the intersection of traditional culture with futuristic elements.

Feeling Very Strange: The Slipstream Anthology edited by James Patrick Kelly The anthology contains stories that exist in the space between mainstream literature and speculative fiction, mixing realistic settings with supernatural elements.

Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link The stories shift between reality and fantasy with an emphasis on unexplained phenomena and the peculiar existing within ordinary circumstances.

✦ Avram Davidson served as editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction from 1962 to 1964, shaping the direction of speculative fiction during a crucial period of its development. ✦ The author won multiple prestigious awards in his career, including the Hugo Award for his short story "Or All the Seas with Oysters" (1958) and the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement (1986). ✦ Mid-1960s science fiction was heavily influenced by the Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union, which provided rich material for authors to explore themes of exploration and technological advancement. ✦ Davidson's unique writing style was informed by his diverse life experiences, including service in the Israeli army and work as a Turkish bath attendant, woodcutter, and teacher. ✦ The fluid boundaries between science fiction and fantasy in the 1960s gave rise to the "New Wave" movement in speculative fiction, which emphasized literary experimentation and psychological depth over traditional space opera narratives.