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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780915368600
ISBN number: 0915368609
Label: Nesfa Press
Manufacturer: Nesfa Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 670
Printing Date: 1997-04
Publishing house: Nesfa Press
Sale Popularity Level: 239723
Studio: Nesfa Press
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Product Description:
His Share of Glory contains all the short science fiction written solely by C. M. Kornbluth. Many of the stories are SF 'classics', such as 'The Marching Morons,' 'The Little Black Bag,' 'Two Dooms,' 'The Mindworm,' 'Thirteen O'Clock,' and, of course, 'That Share of Glory'. His Share of Glory includes all of Kornbluth's solo short science fiction, fifty-six works of short SF in all, with the original bibliographic details including pseudonymous by-line. The introduction is by noted SF writer and life-long friend and collaborator of C. M. Kornbluth-Frederik Pohl. Hardbound with cover art by Richard Powers.
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Rated by buyers 
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I tend to think of collections like these as a public service, an archive of sorts, gathering together all of the writer's stories in one place to save interested parties the trouble of an Indiana Jones-like foray through libraries and used bookstores hunting down anthology and magazine appearances. Speaking for myself, I had only had previous encounters with a couple of these stories, and the most famous of them, "The Marching Morons," I had, by some mischance, never read at all. It seems likely that many readers be in roughly the same situation as me, with the majority of your familiarity with Kornbluth's work coming in the form of his collaborations, most notably with Frederik Pohl.
My very first observation: there are a lot of stories here. My second observation: there are a lot of stories here, written over a very few years, all the more impressive considering how much other work Kornbluth, working with others, produced during his short career that isn't even included here. Most of them lack the sort of timeless quality present in stories of a similar vintage by, say, Ray Bradbury; that is to say, they read like SF stories from the 1940s and 1950s, which is what they are, and no shame in that. The sophisticated reader of SF will judge them on their own merits anyway.
An overview (there are entirely too many stories here to evaluate each one individually): "The Marching Morons" is here, of course; those of you haven't read it probably think you know what it's about, but I'll wager that you'll find it's nothing like you imagined. "MS Found in a Chinese Fortune Cookie" is that rarest of gems, a story about science-fiction writing that isn't too inside or too cute for its own good (and its use of the epistlary form is inventive as well). "Thirteen O'Clock" is notable as an early example of the story wherein a person from our mundane world is transported into a parallel world of magic, faries, trolls, and so forth. "The Words of Guru" is simply disturbing, and there is no other word for it. When you read "The Luckiest Man in Denv," you'll think the premise is obvious, and that the twist ending is telegraphed; you're wrong. "Shark Ship" is probably one of the most unique stories I've ever read, taking two original ideas and jamming them together in a manner that took my breath away. And the opening story, "That Share of Glory," is a minor masterpiece of extrapolation and conjecture, wonderfully inventive. There is an appendix of stories that most people would consider hackwork, stories written in a hurry under psudonyms to fill space in magazines. Read these; it's true, they aren't up to snuff (I found "The Core" practically incomprehensible), but there are many interesting ideas here, nonetheless.
His Share of Glory is equal parts hopeful and pessimistic. Many of Kornbluth's futures are, indeed, glorious. But other stories mitigate humanity's technological development with a corresponding cultural and intellectual backslide, and Kornbluth often projects a future in which people have degenerated to the point of imbecility except for a very few who frantically try to keep civilization afloat on their own. In any case, this is a book that may overwhelm you if you try to read it straight through; perhaps it is best appreciated over several readings. But this isn't something you'll want to have just so you can read it through and put it aside anyway; it's not that kind of book, and it serves a greater purpose than that. Kudos to NESFA Press for making this resource available.
Rated by buyers 
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Kornbluth came out of that New York science fiction circle that produced Isaac Asimov and Fred Pohl, among many others. He died in his mid thirties or he would likely have been as familiar as these others to today's readers. Some of the finest moments in mid-Twentieth Century short science fiction are found here, including the award-winning "The Marching Morons." And some very interesting if quirky stuff. Kornbluth was prone to experiment, not content to mine the "mainstream." If you haven't read any Kornbluth, you may want to start elsewhere. His Share of Glory is a treat for the addicted, a newcomer to this author may want to try a lesser dose.
Rated by buyers -
This may be the best collection of stories ever published, science fiction or not. Even anthologies that pluck the classic short stories of an entire decade would have trouble matching the works collected here.
Cyril is cynical, at least he appears so, but he was also brilliant and entertaining. There is not a weak story in the collection and many are superb. The work is so good it is difficult to be dispassionately critical rather than gush with praise.
We see many of the tropes of science fiction, common then and now used by Kornbluth, however they will appear new and brilliant even to the most well-read and jaded reader.
The book may not make you feel good about humanity, but it will make you feel good about buying and reading it. It is one of the most entertaining, well written collections of short fiction I have come across and I am a big fan of short fiction.
NESFA has done a huge service by collecting and publishing this volume, as well as other collections.
Also pick up "Not this August" by Kornbluth, as well as "The Space Merchants" by Pohl and Kornbluth.
Rated by buyers -
Cyril Kornbluth died almost a half century ago, leaving behind many great stories written in SF's golden age. The short stories have been conveniently collected into one hardcover.
Kornbluth's stories are not sweetness and light, he writes of the darkness in the human spirit, even in the point of view characters in the books. "The Little Black Bag" is an example of how the urge to do good can fall to evil. "That Share of Glory," perhaps his greatest work, is the tale of a young man of the future who learns that even our urge to violence, that we endeavor to keep hidden, is very much a necessary part of the human spirit.
Every story is a gem. While some are written in a style which now seems somwhat dated, it is easy to get past that and recognize the genius who wrote them.
Rated by buyers -
OK, I've read most of these stories already. And I already knew that Kornbluth was a great writer. But reading this volume all the way through -- and in pretty short order because I couldn't stop -- just reminded me how great a writer he was.
If you have only dim memories of these stories, I guarantee that upon rereading them you'll be amazed at how much *better* they are than you remember. (Not all science fiction of that era holds up so well). If you've never read these stories, prepare to be amazed. This is a book that every lover of science fiction -- or just good writing -- should own, and read.
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