Dangerous Visions (SF Masterworks) Paperback – September 1, 2013

This was a very big deal when first published. I read it my second or third year in college. I have just re-read it and my reactions are mixed. Of thirty-three stories I only remembered one clearly "Riders of the Purple Wage". I remembered "Gonna Roll the Bones" semi clearly. By contrast during the same period I had a subscription to Galaxy where most of the Cordwainer Smith stories were published but after 50 years I bought the complete anthology of those stories and discovered that I remembered each one in significant detail. So it is established that I can hold 50 year memories if they are the right ones.In my judgement DV is important not for the quality of the stories, though some are quite good, but for it's influence on the "speculative fiction" publishing market and on the writers. Supposedly some of the stories were un-publishable at the time. Reasons for non-publishability can be put categories: the nature (including some weird possibilities ) and/or existence of God; will humans survive their own violent/perverse nature); unconventional sex (with whom/how/what); violence including nuclear apocalypse; atypical writing and story telling styles/techniques; and sheer intelligibility. I am not convinced that none of these could have been published back then but most could not have been. But not just because they were "dangerous". At least two or three could not be published then or now simply because they are unintelligible or just plain boring. One would likely not be written today because the probable adverse genetic consequences of incest are more clearly understood and documented. Nonetheless, most could be publish in 2021 with much controversy. Whether this book contributed to that or it was just the general change of cultural values is a question for historians.Does the term "speculative fiction" get used that much anymore? It is my impression that the distinction between science fiction, fantasy, related genre does not excite people like it did back then. I think today we can even use the term Sci-Fi without getting anyone's knickers in a twist. SF sometimes tries to predict the future but does not do it too well. This tome fails spectacularly: computers got way smaller rather than bigger, social media and the online community are not hinted at, the world is still here but the USSR is not - etc. Larry Niven's "Jigsaw Man" offered the one good prediction to which the inmates of Chinese re-education camps (Uhigars and Falun Gong practitioners) can attest.In addition to the 33 stories the book includes two "Introductions", three "Forwards", an intro/min-bio by Ellison of the author for each story and and afterword to each story by the author. All this takes up a sizable chunk of the 544 page total. I suspect the mini-bios are indirectly as much about Ellison as the authors of the stories. [Full disclosure: I very briefly met the guy back around 1971/2 and conclude that just as sausage fanciers had best not visit sausage factories fans of authors would do well not to meet the author.]

This alltime classic still stands tall in the sci-fi pantheon! I bought it to get Harlon Ellison's story, and the rest are icing on the cake. I do, however, highly recommend you skip the prefaces; of course you actually like Ellison's acerbic self-centered egotistical tirades! The story collection is still fantastic reading, hence the five stars.

Harlan Ellison collected these thirty-two stories to familiarize readers with the "new" voice in 1960's science fiction which broke taboos, flouted conventions, and challenged assumptions. He solicited stories which had something to say. "Each story is almost obstinately entertaining. But each one is filled with ideas as well. Not merely run-of-the-pulps ideas you've read a hundred times before, but fresh and daring ideas."Here are seven that seemed a little better than the others:- Frederik Pohl's "The Day After the Day the Martians Came" - When the Martians arrive there is worldwide excitement. Then the wonder wears off and everybody starts talking about them.- Miriam deFord's "The Malley System" - A new method of punishing violent criminals reduces the recidivism rate dramatically. But not the rehabilitation rate.- Larry Niven's "The Jigsaw Man" - In the future there is strong public support for an organ donation program integrated with the driving licensing process. What possible harm?- James Cross's "The Doll-House" - This is more of a three-wishes-from-a-genie fantasy story than it is science fiction. The moral: Treat your genie well.- John Brunner's "Judas" - This story reenacts an important New Testament lesson.- Norman Spinrad's "Carcinoma Angels" - A man who has achieved everything is diagnosed with cancer. He fights and wins his last battle. Alone.- Samuel Delany's "Aye, and Gomorrah..." - Explores relationships between asexual Spacers, who are neutered before puberty, and frelk, who are attracted to them.This anthology and its second volume, Again, Dangerous Visions, are important landmarks in science fiction history and contain some innovative and provocative ideas. There is a noticeable, but not off-putting air of adolescence about the way many of the stories jump in the reader's face. You can get a feel for this from two of the shorter stories. Henry Slesar's "Ersatz" delivers a sexual shock (to 1960's sensibilities) without having much else to say. Damon Knight's "Shall the Dust Praise Thee?" makes similar gratuitous use of a religious topic. It's a sixties thing.Nevertheless, there are some good stories that are worth reading.

In the prelude, Harlan Ellison describes "a 2nd Revolution", those science fiction writers that emerged out of the 60's and led SF into a new direction. This is their book, a testament to imaginations of the post-Golden Age thinkers and doers. With '33' compositions on everything under the sun, this work brings a broad spectrum of what-may-be thought and speculation to our view. As you can get a list of authors from the web I won't go into detail. But if you are looking for the very best in SF thought this a good stop. The stories are still on top 40 years into their future.

I was born in 1966 about the time this project started, so obviously it was many years until I read it. This is touted as a classic which for many people that means it's "Dated". This book is anything but. Oh there may be somethings talked about that is now fact or has been disproved. THAT DOESN'T MATTER! These stories fit into today just fine Thank You. No you won't like everyone or some may confuse you (re-read them) but there is not one story in here not worth reading.. Most of them are STILL dangerous. So yes it's definitely worth reading.