The series has long been a hallmark of popular fiction but nowhere has it been of more importance than in the field of science fiction. Ever since the time of Edgar Rice Burroughs and his John Carter of Mars series, the science fiction series has become synonymous with the development, style and range of science fiction itself.This giant volume contains the biggest post-World War II names in science fiction and selections from the twenty-two series that in most cases made them famous. Also included are headnotes in which the authors themselves discuss how the series came into being, what it meant to the authors' careers, plus glimpses into behind-the-scenes stories of the time.----THE HOTHOUSE SERIES / Brian W. Aldiss - HOTHOUSETHE NICHOLAS VAN RIJN SERIES / Poul Anderson - A LITTLE KNOWLEDGETHE WENDELL URTH SERIES / Isaac Asimov - THE TALKING STONETHE VERMILION SANDS SERIES / J. G. Ballard - THE CLOUD-SCULPTORS OF CORAL DTHE CITIES IN FLIGHT SERIES / James Blish - BRIDGETHE PANTROPY SERIES / James Blish - SURFACE TENSIONTHE FEGHOOT SERIES / Grendel Briarton (R. Bretnor) - THROUGH TIME AND SPACE WITH FERDINAND FEGHOOTTHE WHITE HART SERIES / Arthur C. Clarke - THE RELUCTANT ORCHIDTALES FROM GAVAGAN'S BAR SERIES / L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt - THE ANCESTRAL AMETHYSTTHE PEOPLE SERIES / Zenna Henderson - ARARATTHE RETIEF SERIES / Keith Laumer - BALLOTS AND BANDITSTHE CHANGE WAR SERIES / Fritz Leiber - NO GREAT MAGICTHE DRAGON SERIES / Anne McCaffrey - THE SMALLEST DRAGONBOYTHE HELVA SERIES / Anne McCaffrey - THE SHIP WHO SANGTHE KNOWN SPACE SERIES / Larry Niven - A RELIC OF EMPIRETHE BERSERKER SERIES / Fred Saberhagen - SIGN OF THE WOLFTHE SLOW GLASS SERIES / Bob Shaw - BURDEN OF PROOFTHE AAA ACE SERIES / Robert Sheckley - THE LIFEBOAT MUTINYTHE IN HIDING SERIES / Wilmar H. Shiras - OPENING DOORSTHE CITY SERIES / Clifford D. Simak - AESOPTHE INSTRUMENTALITY SERIES / Cordwainer Smith - THE GAME OF RAT AND DRAGON