Although some of the stories here show their age in terms of characterisation - especially the occasionally dismissive attitude to women and 'wives' - and the stifled prose, they are from a writer with such a remarkable gift for conveying the exciting and far reaching implications of science that any shortcomings soon pale alongside. Arthur C Clarke had a talent, along with Asimov and Heinlein, for uniting enquiring minds in the joyousness of science fiction and that was why he was one of the big three. In novel length the quality of Clarke's story writing can become obtrusive but this collection, although small, is a perfect showcase for his talent with the shorter form as almost every story here will lift the mind and engage the brain in less than 20 pages. ( )

A collection of Clarke's stories from 1947 to 1957. It includes what I consider his two best stories, both with a religious theme: "The Nine Billion Names of God", and the heartbreaking "The Star". Other noteworthy stories here are "No Morning After", "All the Time in the World", "Out of the Sun" and "The Songs of Distant Earth". Many of these stories show one of Clarke's strengths, the true "twist ending". A fine collection by a master. ( )