Robert Silverberg : Alpha and Others


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Australian SF <— Anthologies —> Silverberg: Originals

After launching a series of hardcover anthologies on various science fictional themes in 1966 (with Earthmen and Strangers) for the library market, Silverberg published several anthologies with more literary focuses beginning with Dark Stars in 1969 ("a book of dark dreams for a dark time") and Great Short Novels of Science Fiction in 1970 (composed of long stories that were typically difficult to include in anthologies). Then followed Alpha One in 1970, the first of a series of anthologies intended to "center on no particular theme except that of literary quality." Subsequent volumes appeared at roughly yearly intervals, switching from Ballantine to Berkley with volume 6, and lasting through volume 9. The hardcover Galactic Dreamers is similar in that its focus is on "science fiction as visionary literature" and thus is included in this group.

Most reprinted authors in this group: C.M. Kornbluth (6); James Blish, R.A. Lafferty, and Jack Vance (5 each); J.G. Ballard, Philip K. dick, Fritz Leiber (4 each).

  • Dark Stars, (Ballantine, 1969) [isfdb]
  • Great Short Novels of Science Fiction, (Ballantine, 1970) [isfdb]
  • Alpha One, (Ballantine, 1970) [isfdb]
  • Alpha Two, (Ballantine, 1971) [isfdb]
  • Alpha Three, (Ballantine, 1972) [isfdb]
  • Alpha 4, (Ballantine, 1973) [isfdb]
  • Alpha 5, (Ballantine, 1974) [isfdb]
  • Alpha 6, (Berkley, 1976) [isfdb]
  • Alpha 7, (Berkley, 1977) [isfdb]
  • Galactic Dreamers, (Random House, 1977) [isfdb]
  • Alpha 8, (Berkley, 1977) [isfdb]
  • Alpha 9, (Berkley, 1978) [isfdb]


Combined Contents by Author and Title


Brian W. Aldiss
  • Heresies of the Huge God (Galaxy Aug 1966) -- Dark Stars
  • Incentive (New Worlds Dec 1958) -- Galactic Dreamers
  • Judas Danced (Star Science Fiction Magazine Jan 1958) -- Alpha 4
  • Poor Little Warrior! (F&SF Apr 1958) -- Alpha One
  • Total Environment (Galaxy Feb 1968) -- Alpha Three
    • Poul Anderson
  • Call Me Joe (Astounding Apr 1957) -- Alpha Two
  • Journeys End (F&SF Feb 1957) -- Dark Stars
  • The Man Who Came Early (F&SF Jun 1956) -- Alpha One
    • J. G. Ballard
  • The Cage of Sand (New Worlds Jun 1962) -- Dark Stars
  • The Terminal Beach (New Worlds Mar 1964) -- Alpha One
  • The Voices of Time (New Worlds Oct 1960) -- Alpha Two
  • The Waiting Grounds (New Worlds Nov 1959) -- Galactic Dreamers
    • Raymond E. Banks
  • The Short Ones (F&SF Mar 1955) -- Alpha 8
    • Alfred Bester
  • 5,271,009 (F&SF Mar 1954) -- Alpha 4
  • The Pi Man (Star Light, Star Bright, 1959) -- Alpha One
    • James Blish
  • Common Time (Science Fiction Quarterly Aug 1953) -- Galactic Dreamers
  • A Dusk of Idols (Amazing Mar 1961) -- Alpha 8
  • On the Wall of the Lodge (by JB & Virginia Kidd) (Galaxy Jun 1962) -- Dark Stars
  • Testament of Andros (Future Jan 1953) -- Alpha One
  • We All Die Naked (Three for Tomorrow, 1969) -- Alpha 4
    • Anthony Boucher
  • Transfer Point (Galaxy Nov 1950) -- Alpha 7
    • John Brunner
  • The Totally Rich (Worlds of Tomorrow Jun 1963) -- Dark Stars
    • Algis Budrys
  • For Love (Galaxy Jun 1962) -- Alpha 7
  • Wall of Crystal, Eye of Night (Galaxy Dec 1961) -- Alpha Two
    • John W. Campbell, Jr.
  • Night (Astounding Oct 1935) -- Galactic Dreamers
    • Terry Carr
  • Brown Robert (F&SF Jul 1962) -- Alpha 6
  • In His Image (Amazing Nov 1971) -- Alpha 4
  • Rejoice, Rejoice, We Have No Choice (Future Kin, 1974) -- Alpha 7
    • A. Bertram Chandler
  • Giant Killer (Astounding Oct 1945) -- Great Short Novels of Science Fiction
    • Arthur C. Clarke
  • Rescue Party (Astounding May 1946) -- Alpha Three
    • John Clute
  • A Man Must Die (New Worlds Nov 1966) -- Alpha 5
    • L. Sprague de Camp
  • Aristotle and the Gun (Astounding Feb 1958) -- Alpha Three
    • Charles V. De Vet
  • Second Game (by CVDV & Katherine MacLean) (Astounding Mar 1958) -- Great Short Novels of Science Fiction
    • Lester del Rey
  • Keepers of the House (Fantastic Universe Jan 1956) -- Dark Stars
    • Samuel R. Delany
  • The Star Pit (Worlds of Tomorrow Feb 1967) -- Alpha 5
    • Philip K. Dick
  • Beyond Lies the Wub (Planet Stories Jul 1952) -- Alpha Three
  • Faith of Our Fathers (Dangerous Visions, 1967) -- Alpha Two
  • Impostor (Astounding Jun 1953) -- Dark Stars
  • We Can Remember It for You Wholesale (F&SF Apr 1966) -- Alpha 5
    • Gordon R. Dickson
  • An Honorable Death (Galaxy Feb 1961) -- Alpha 6
    • Thomas M. Disch
  • Casablanca (Stories That Scared Even Me, 1967) -- Alpha 4
  • Come to Venus Melancholy (F&SF Nov 1965) -- Alpha Three
    • Gardner Dozois
  • A Special Kind of Morning (New Dimensions I, 1971) -- Alpha 5
    • George Alec Effinger
  • Live, from Berchtesgaden (Orbit 10, 1972) -- Alpha 5
  • World War Two (Vertex Oct 1973) -- Alpha 7
    • Larry Eisenberg
  • The Time of His Life (F&SF Apr 1968) -- Alpha One
    • Harlan Ellison
  • The Beast That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World (Galaxy Jun 1968) -- Dark Stars
  • The Human Operators (by HE & A. E. van Vogt) (F&SF Jan 1971) -- Alpha 8
    • Philip José Farmer
  • Mother (Thrilling Wonder Stories Apr 1953) -- Alpha 4
  • The Shadow of Space (If Nov 1967) -- Alpha Three
  • The Sliced-Crosswise Only-On-Tuesday World (New Dimensions I, 1971) -- Alpha 9
    • H. L. Gold
  • Man of Parts (9 Tales of Space and Time, 1954) -- Alpha 6
    • Wyman Guin
  • Beyond Bedlam (Galaxy Aug 1951) -- Great Short Novels of Science Fiction
  • A Man of the Renaissance (Galaxy Dec 1964) -- Alpha Two
    • Charles L. Harness
  • The New Reality (Thrilling Wonder Stories Dec 1950) -- Alpha 8
  • Time Trap (Astounding Aug 1948) -- Alpha One
    • Harry Harrison
  • The Streets of Ashkelon (New Worlds Sep 1962) -- Dark Stars
    • Gerald Jonas
  • The Shaker Revival (Galaxy Feb 1970) -- Alpha Two
    • A. K. Jorgensson
  • Coming-of-Age Day (Science-Fantasy #76 1965) -- Dark Stars
    • Virginia Kidd
  • On the Wall of the Lodge (by James Blish & VK) (Galaxy Jun 1962) -- Dark Stars
    • Damon Knight
  • Dio (Infinity Science Fiction Sep 1957) -- Alpha 4
  • Masks (Playboy Jul 1968) -- Dark Stars
    • C. M. Kornbluth
  • The Last Man Left in the Bar (Infinity Science Fiction Oct 1957) -- Alpha One
  • The Luckiest Man in Denv (Galaxy Jun 1952) -- Alpha 7
  • Shark Ship (Vanguard Jun 1958) -- Dark Stars
  • That Share of Glory (Astounding Jan 1952) -- Alpha Two
  • Two Dooms (Venture Jul 1958) -- Great Short Novels of Science Fiction
  • With These Hands (Galaxy Dec 1951) -- Alpha 6
    • Michael Kurland
  • Think Only This of Me (Galaxy Nov 1973) -- Alpha 8
    • R. A. Lafferty
  • All Pieces of a River Shore (Orbit 8, 1970) -- Alpha 4
  • Nine Hundred Grandmothers (If Feb 1966) -- Alpha Three
  • Polity and Custom of the Camiroi (Galaxy Jun 1967) -- Dark Stars
  • Sky (New Dimensions I, 1971) -- Galactic Dreamers
  • Thus We Frustrate Charlemagne (Galaxy Feb 1967) -- Alpha One
    • Fritz Leiber
  • A Deskful of Girls (F&SF Apr 1958) -- Dark Stars
  • Game for Motel Room (F&SF Mar 1963) -- Alpha One
  • When the Change-Winds Blow (F&SF Aug 1964) -- Alpha 8
  • Yesterday House (Galaxy Aug 1952) -- Alpha 5
    • Katherine MacLean
  • Second Game (by Charles V. De Vet & KM) (Astounding Mar 1958) -- Great Short Novels of Science Fiction
    • Barry N. Malzberg
  • A Galaxy Called Rome (F&SF Jul 1975) -- Alpha 7
  • A Triptych (F&SF Jul 1969) -- Alpha One
    • David I. Masson
  • Psychosmosis (New Worlds Mar 1966) -- Dark Stars
    • Julian May
  • Dune Roller (Astounding Dec 1951) -- Alpha 7
    • Richard McKenna
  • The Night of Hoggy Darn (If Dec 1958) -- Alpha 7
    • P. Schuyler Miller
  • As Never Was (Astounding Jan 1944) -- Alpha 5
    • Walter M. Miller, Jr.
  • Dumb Waiter (Astounding Apr 1952) -- Alpha 9
    • Larry Niven
  • One Face (Galaxy Jun 1965) -- Alpha 8
    • Edgar Pangborn
  • Angel's Egg (Galaxy Jun 1951) -- Alpha 4
    • Frederik Pohl
  • Day Million (Rogue Feb/Mar 1966) -- Alpha Three
    • Kit Reed
  • The Food Farm (Orbit 2, 1967) -- Alpha 6
    • Michael Rogers
  • Klysterman's Silent Violin (Analog Jun 1972) -- Alpha 8
    • Joanna Russ
  • Nobody's Home (New Dimensions II, 1972) -- Alpha 9
    • Fred Saberhagen
  • Goodlife (Worlds of Tomorrow Dec 1963) -- Alpha 9
    • Michael Shaara
  • The Book (Galaxy Nov 1953) -- Alpha 9
  • Orphans of the Void (Galaxy Jun 1952) -- Alpha 7
    • Bob Shaw
  • Light of Other Days (Analog Aug 1966) -- Alpha 6
    • Robert Sheckley
  • The Monsters (F&SF Mar 1953) -- Alpha 9
  • Shape (Galaxy Nov 1953) -- Alpha 7
  • Warm (Galaxy Jun 1953) -- Alpha 8
    • Wilma Shore
  • Goodbye Amanda Jean (Galaxy Jul 1970) -- Alpha Two
    • Robert Silverberg
  • Breckenridge and the Continuum (Showcase, 1973) -- Galactic Dreamers
  • Road to Nightfall (Fantastic Universe Jul 1958) -- Dark Stars
    • Clifford D. Simak
  • Dusty Zebra (Galaxy Sep 1954) -- Alpha 9
    • John Sladek
  • The Secret of the Old Custard (If Nov 1966) -- Alpha 6
    • Cordwainer Smith
  • The Burning of the Brain (If Oct 1958) -- Alpha Two
  • The Dead Lady of Clown Town (Galaxy Aug 1964) -- Galactic Dreamers
  • Under Old Earth (Galaxy Feb 1966) -- Alpha Three
    • Norman Spinrad
  • Carcinoma Angels (Dangerous Visions, 1967) -- Alpha 4
  • The Lost Continent (Science Against Man, 1970) -- Alpha 6
    • Margaret St. Clair
  • Short in the Chest (Fantastic Universe Jul 1954) -- Alpha 6 as by Idris Seabright
    • Theodore Sturgeon
  • The Man Who Lost the Sea (F&SF Oct 1959) -- Alpha 8
  • The Skills of Xanadu (Galaxy Jul 1956) -- Alpha 5
    • William Tenn
  • Down Among the Dead Men (Galaxy Jun 1954) -- Alpha 6
  • Eastward Ho! (F&SF Oct 1958) -- Alpha 4
    • Theodore Thomas
  • The Doctor (Orbit 2, 1967) -- Alpha One
    • James Tiptree, Jr.
  • Painwise (F&SF Feb 1972) -- Alpha 6
    • A. E. van Vogt
  • The Human Operators (by Harlan Ellison & AEvV) (F&SF Jan 1971) -- Alpha 8
    • Jack Vance
  • The Gift of Gab (Astounding Sep 1955) -- Alpha Three
  • The Men Return (Infinity Science Fiction Jul 1957) -- Alpha Two
  • The Moon Moth (Galaxy Aug 1961) -- Alpha One
  • The New Prime (Worlds Beyond Feb 1951) -- Galactic Dreamers
  • Telek (Astounding Jan 1952) -- Great Short Novels of Science Fiction
    • Kate Wilhelm
  • Baby, You Were Great (Orbit 2, 1967) -- Alpha 5
  • The Funeral (Again, Dangerous Visions, 1972) -- Alpha 9
    • Jack Williamson
  • The Happiest Creature (Star Science Fiction Stories, 1953) -- Alpha 8
    • Roger Zelazny
  • For a Breath I Tarry (New Worlds Mar 1966) -- Alpha One
  • The Graveyard Heart (Fantastic Mar 1964) -- Great Short Novels of Science Fiction

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