The Best of Hal Clement explained

The Best of Hal Clement
Author:	Hal Clement
Cover Artist:	H. R. Van Dongen
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Series:	Ballantine's Classic Library of Science Fiction
Genre:	Science fiction
Publisher:	Del Rey/Ballantine
Release Date:	1979
Media Type:	Print (paperback)
Pages:	xvii, 379
Isbn:	0-345-27689-2
Preceded By:	The Best of Eric Frank Russell
Followed By:	The Best of James Blish

The Best of Hal Clement is a collection of science fiction short stories by American author Hal Clement, edited by Lester del Rey. It was first published in paperback by Del Rey/Ballantine in June 1979 as a volume in its Classic Library of Science Fiction. It was reissued in ebook by Gateway/Orion in May 2013, and in trade paperback and ebook by Phoenix Pick in December 2014.

Summary

The book contains ten short works of fiction and an afterword by the author, together with an introduction by editor Lester del Rey.

Contents

• "Hal Clement: Rationalist" [introduction] (Lester del Rey)
• "Impediment" (from Astounding Science-Fiction, Aug. 1942)
• "Technical Error" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Jan. 1944)
• "Uncommon Sense" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Sep. 1945)
• "Assumption Unjustified" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Oct. 1946)
• "Answer" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Apr. 1947)
• "Dust Rag" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Sep. 1956)
• "Bulge" (from If, Sep. 1968)
• "Mistaken for Granted" (from Worlds of If, Jan./Feb. 1974)
• "A Question of Guilt" (from The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series IV, Nov. 1976)
• "Stuck with It" (from Stellar #2, Feb. 1976)
• "Author's Afterword"

Reception

The book was reviewed by Stephen W. Potts in Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review, Nov. 1979.

Awards

The book placed tenth in the 1980 Locus Poll Award for Best Single Author Collection. "Uncommon Sense" won the 1946 Retro Hugo Award for Best Short Story, awarded in 1996.