The Ultimate Egoist, the first volume of The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon, contains the late author's earliest work, written from 1937 to 1940. Although Sturgeon's reach was limited to the lengths of the short story and novelette, his influence was strongly felt by even the most original science fiction stylists, including Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, and Gene Wolfe, each of whom contributes a laudatory foreword. The more than 40 stories here showcase Sturgeon's masterful knack with clever, O. Henry-ish plot twists, sparkling character development, and almost archetypal, why didn't I think of that? story ideas. Early Sturgeon masterpieces include "It," about the violence done by a creature spontaneously born from garbage and mud, and "Helix the Cat," about an inventor's bizarre encounter with a disembodied soul and the cat that saves it. Sturgeon's unique genius is timelessly entertaining. Table of Contents: Forewords by Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, and Gene Wolfe Stories: Heavy Insurance The Heart Cellmate Fluffy Alter Ego (prev unpub) Mailed Through a Porthole A Noose of Light (prev unpub) Strangers on a Train (prev unpub) Accidentally on Porpoise The Right Line (prev unpub) Golden Day Permit Me My Gesture Watch My Smoke The Other Cheek Extraordinary Seamen One Sick Kid His Good Angel Some People Forget A God in a Garden Fit for a King Ex-Bachelor Extract East is East Three People (prev unpub) Eyes of Blue Ether Breather Her Choice Cajun Providence Strike Three (prev unpub) Contact! The Call Helix the Cat To Shorten Sale Thanksgiving Again (prev unpub) Bianca's Hands Derm Fool He Shuttles Turkish Delight Niobe The Long Arm The Man on the Steps Punctuational Advice A Place of Honor The Ultimate Egoist It Butyl and the Breather Look Around You (poem) Mahout