Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, November 1950 by H.L. Gold

Richard Powers’ cover for Star Science Fiction Stories No.I’m probably in the minority in this view. I would have voted for Fritz Leiber’s masterpiece “Coming Attraction” (1950) from the list of nominees! That said, “To Serve Man” is an effective twist-ending story that plays with our expectations but doesn’t have the reflective or incisive impact of “The Enemy” (1958), “You’re Another” (1955), or even “Time Enough” (1960) in this collection. It won the 2001 Retro Hugo Award for Best Short Story. I don’t completely understand why “To Serve Man” is one of Knight’s best-known short fictions. And when someone finally figures it out, it will be too late. Soon there are no “more standing armies, no more shortages, and no unemployment” (7). They introduce fantastic power sources, anti-nuclear explosion shields, and technology to exponentially enhance agricultural productivity. The Kanama proclaim that they want “to bring you the peace and plenty which we ourselves enjoy, and which we have in the past brought to other races throughout the galaxy” (3). Their similarity to a human food animal creates a disquieting horror: “when a think with the countenance of a fiend comes from the stars and offers a gift, you are disinclined to accept” (1). The Kanamit, pig-like humanoid aliens, arrive on Earth with a promise to assist humanity that appears to have zero caveats. “To Serve Man” (1950), 3.5/5 (Good): First appeared in Galaxy Science Fiction, ed. Don Sibley’s cover for Galaxy Science Fiction, ed.I can add “The Enemy” (1958), “You’re Another” (1955), and “Cabin Boy” (1951) to my list of favorite Knight visions. With that in mind, I consumed my first collection of his short stories. I’ve enjoyed his short fiction, notably “Down There” (1973) and “I See You” (1976), immensely. I struggle to identify a masterpiece Knight novel. I can’t help but notice that his fiction, on the other hand, has faded a bit from popular knowledge. Knight also edited the Orbit series of anthologies, notable for their larger-than-average number of female science fiction authors and overall quality–I’ve reviewed Orbit 1 (1966), Orbit 3 (1968), Orbit 4 (1968), and Orbit 8 (1970) so far. He founded the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and co-founded two influential science fiction workshops (Milford and Clarion). Covers: L, Josh Kirby, 1963 R, Richard Powers, 1962ĭamon Knight’s impact on the science fiction field can be felt to this day.

Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine, November 1950 by H.L. Gold