It was mind-blowing to tour the collective imagination of science fiction writers in 1946.

This was before:
- The atomic bomb
- Space travel
- Computers
- Telecommunications
- Understanding DNA

The book's introduction praises "serious" science fiction, which it contrasts with "comic-book" stories. This is hilarious, because half the stories in the anthology are Zap Brannigan pulp. The book has aliens, more aliens, man-eating plants, man-eating blobs, utopias, dystopias, apocalyptic disasters, romance, bromance, racism, sexism, and batman. I'm talking about a man who has bat tissue transplanted into his ear, and gains the powers (and characteristics) of a bat.

There are also two stories by Heinlein and Asimov which stand apart. It's easy to tell why those guys had actual writing careers.
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This collection intelligently described science fiction has having three major subfields: scientific extrapolation, philosophical speculation and adventure. It includes good examples of all types, but its "selling point" seems to be scientific extrapolation, especially stories which predicted the atomic bomb or an equivalent superweapon. Although there are selections going back to the 19th century (Frank Stockton) the main focus is on American stories published in popular magazines in the 1930s and 40s, notably Astounding. Some stories are by writers who are still well-known, such as Robert Heinlein; others are more obscure. ( )

This is an excellent collection of classic early science fiction. Any fan of early sci-fi will not be disappointed. Great authors and forgotten short stories. Reading this book will turn you on to authors that you never would have thought about.