An interesting list of typical sci-fi stories from 1903 to1990; from H.G.Wells to David Brin; from the future of war to cyber-punk. Some of the stories are even good. ( )

I absolutely loved it! The editor had it in his mind to include stories for timid science fiction readers, so there're some old favorites. But the newer stuff, from authors I've never read, turned me on to a few authors that I want to read. ( )

Some odd choices here. ( )

Not the best collection of stories per se, but a fair representation over time from 1903 to 1990. Most of the major authors are represented (although some of the highly-anthologized writers and works are NOT included). I recognized all but a few author's names from back in the day, but did not know some were pseudonyms.
My prior reads included only a few of the stories, and my opinion of them hasn't changed much in 40 years: A Martian Odyssey (not as interesting as a visit to Oz), Second Night of Summer (loved the characters), Lost C'mell (didn't speak to me); Semley (great use of time relativity, most writers of space opera have given it up).
New favorites are by: Wells, Kipling, Simak (I like most of his anyway), Pohl, Ballard, McAuley.
Some of the others were okay, but not my favorites of that author. ( )

SF is divided by Shippey into 'pastoral' and 'Fabril': Fabril literuatre (of which science fiction is the most prominent genre) is overwhelmingly urban, disruptive, future-oriented, eager for novelty; its central image is the 'faber', the smith or blacksmith in the older usage, as the creator of artefacts in general - metallic, crystalline, genetic, electronic, or even social.
by contrast 'pastoral', its opposite, is rural, nostalgic, conservative. It idealizes the past and tends to convert complexities into simplicity; its central image is the 'shepherd'.
Shippley (Introduction to text) credits Dr. James Bradley, U of British Columbia, who coined word and concept in his study of early Germanic smithcraft.