There’s so much to love about golden-age science fiction like: detective stories with robots, martians with green skin, and dystopian views of the future that have proven true in ways the author didn’t quite foresee. This collection of Pohl’s short stories extrapolates the damning trends of 1950s culture into twisted visions of the future where, for instance, work becomes a holiday for consumer-weary citizens.

Unfortunately, this collection of short stories and novelettes is mediocre. There are weak stories mixed in with the innovative ones, bringing down the overall quality of the volume.

I’m still glad I read it. Pohl is a giant in the evolution of science fiction. I suspect, however, some of his other titles may outclass this collection.

Polh, Frederik. The Case against Tomorrow: Short Stories by a Master of Science Fiction. Ballantine, 1970.