Final Stage: The Ultimate Science Fiction Anthology edited by Ed Ferman and Barry Malzberg is a classic anthology with a troubled history. The book contains 13 pieces of short fiction “that carry [science fiction's] basic themes as far as possible given the current state of the art”. Each story includes an afterword written by that story’s author. Its not quite an original anthology; the Asimov story is a reprint.

Why is its history troubled?
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Filmmaker Eric Solstein has uploaded the first two parts of a larger tribute to Science Fiction’s Grand Masters presented at the 2000 SFWA Nebula banquet at the installation of Brian Aldiss. There’s wonderful footage of so many SF legends, including Jack Williamson, Frederik Pohl, Isaac Asimov, James Gunn, William Tenn, Clifford D. Simak, Joe Haldeman, Philip Jos@eacute; Farmer, Norman Spinrad, Damon Knight (for whom the Grand Master Award is now named), Julie Schwartz, Gene Wolfe, Hal Clement, Poul Anderson, Samuel R. Delany, Barry Malzberg and Brian Aldiss.

There’s a longer follow-up video after the break…

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