Dan Miller
Last Updated on June 7, 2022, by eNotes Editorial. Word Count: 150
In the pantheon of science fiction, Campbell ranks slightly higher than a deity, yet most readers new to SF know little of the basis for his reputation. This definitive collection of short fiction [The Best of John W. Campbell] is a partial remedy…. The anthology shows Campbell's growth from a writer of competent pot boilers into a mature craftsman of a sophistication and professionalism seldom found in early science fiction. Highlights include "Twilight," everybody's idea of an SF classic; "Forgetfulness," about the evolution of knowledge; and "Who Goes There?," a suspense-horror story considered one of the best SF novellas of all time. The celebration of Campbell's other achievements—as editor of Astounding and Analog magazines for 34 years until his death in 1971—requires a full-length biography. Meanwhile, this collection will be warmly received.
Dan Miller, in a review of "The Best of John W. Campbell," in Booklist, Vol. 73, No. 1, September 1, 1976, p. 23.
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