This anthology of great science fiction writing ranges from epic tales of space travel to subtle evocations of future societies, exploring the enormous versatility of this popular form of fiction. Many of the great names, from the first acclaimed pioneer of the genre, H. G. Wells, to the modern masterds such as Arthur C. Clarke, Ursula K. Le Guin, J. G. Ballard and Poul Anderson, are represented, with stgories which bring the future vividly to life. The collection contains 25 tales ranging from the weird quasi-erotic world of Roger Zelazny's Nebula Award-winning story, The Engine at Hertspring's Centre, through to the stark and spine-shilling realism of Ray Bradbury's The Third Expedition. With its unique combination of humour, horror and fantasy, this anthology will delight both devotees and those new to the genre.