More than three dozen of the best and most popular stories by the acknowledged master of the short science fiction story. The thirty-nine works contained in this volume—twenty-six from the author's ten other Open Road collections, plus thirteen additional pieces unique to this volume—include these vintage Sheckley stories: "The Eye of Reality," "The Language of Love," "The Accountant," "A Wind Is Rising," "The Robot Who Looked Like Me," "The Mnemone," "Warm," "The Native Problem," "Fishing...

A collection of witty science fiction including a Nebula Award–nominated story.In "Diplomatic Immunity," what happens when an alien ambassador arrives, telling the residents of Earth that they will be joining a galactic union whether they like it or not—and the ambassador is unkillable?The thirteen other stories in this collection are "The People Trap," "The Victim from Space," "Shall We Have a Little Talk?", "Restricted Area," "The Odor of Thought," "The Nec...

Will Barrent had no memory of his crime... but he found himself shipped across space to a brutal prison-planet. On Omega, his only chance to advance himself - and stay alive - is to commit an endless series of violent crimes. The average inmate's life expectancy from time of arrival is three years. Can Barrett survive, escape, and return to Earth to clear his name?

An NYRB Classics OriginalRobert Sheckley was an eccentric master of the American short story, and his tales, whether set in dystopic cityscapes, ultramodern advertising agencies, or aboard spaceships lighting out for hostile planets, are among the most startlingly original of the twentieth century. Today, as the new worlds, alternate universes, and synthetic pleasures Sheckley foretold become our reality, his vision begins to look less absurdist and more prophetic. This retrospecti...

In "The Prize of Peril," everyone lives on . . . because when someone is about to die, the emergency squad is always there to bring that person back—whether he or she wants it or not.The seven other stories in this collection are "The Humours," "Triplication," "The Minimum Man," "If the Red Slayer," "The Store of the Worlds," "The Gun Without a Bang," and "The Deaths of Ben Baxter."From the very beginning of his career, Robert Sheckley was recognized by fans, reviewers, and f...

Crompton Divided was also published in the United Kingdom under the title The Alchemical Marriage of Alistair Crompton.Alistair Crompton, skilled nosologist at Psychosmell, Inc., sniffs out something he's been missing his whole life: his other selves. His disturbed psyche was divided into three parts and the other two were implanted in other bodies on other planets. His obsession to reunite himself leads to disturbing discoveries about the underpi...

Science fiction tales from "one of the genre's leading humorists" ( The New York Times Book Review).In "Pilgrimage to Earth," on a long-desired trip to the home planet, a young man finds a perfectly developed society and, finally, deep, true love—which, sadly, only lasts for a very limited time before the reset button removes all trace of it.The fourteen other stories in this collection are "All the Things You Are," "Trap," "The Body," "Ear...

All secret agents need to look out for William Nye, now known as Agent X. His recruitment was simple and his legend is brilliant but unearned. Somehow, he thinks he's the best there is, and we all know how pride goeth before a fall. The master of SF hilarity and biting social satire creates a spy world that has gathered praise from the greats of the genre.From the very beginning of his career, Robert Sheckley was recognized by fans, reviewers, and fellow authors as a master storyte...

The classic sci-fi story collection features eleven tales of outer space adventure from one of the genre's greatest talents—"a precursor to Douglas Adams" ( The New York Times).In "Fool's Mate," a stalemate in deep space is broken by a crazy man and a set of fake orders. A new longevity drug may lead to an untimely end for its inventor in "Forever." And in "Prospector's Special," a lone explorer searches the deserts of Venus in search of unfathomable treas...

"If the Marx Brothers had been literary fantasists, they would have been Robert Sheckley." —Harlan EllisonIn "The Robot Who Looked Like Me," a busy man and a busy woman find a way to carve out time to romance each other—by having look-alike robots made to do the job—who then run away together.The twelve other stories in this collection are "Slaves of Time," "Voices," "A Supplicant in Space," "Sneak Previews," "Zirn Left Unguarded, the Jenghik Palace in Flame...

Includes an active table of contents so you can easily navigate to each book.ContentsAsk a Foolish Question (1953)The Status Civilization (1960)Cost of Living (1952)Diplomatic Immunity (1953)Warm (1953)Keep Your Shape (1953)Warrior Race (1952)Death Wish (1956)The Hour of Battle (1953)One Man's Poison (1953)Beside Still Waters (1953)Forever (1959)The Leech (1952)Watchbird (1953)-...

A treasury of fiction from " one of SF's all-time masters of the humorous or satirical short story" ( Booklist).In "The Cruel Equations," a planetary explorer finds out how lethal it can be when a robot guard has been designed to do too perfect a job.The fifteen other stories in this collection are "Can You Feel Anything When I Do This?", "Cordle to Onion to Carrot," "The Petrified World," "Game: First Schematic," "Doctor Zombie and...