... And Some Were Human

1948 collection of short stories by Lester del Rey ... And Some Were Human somewerehuman.jpg First edition Lester del Rey S. Levin L. Robert Tschirky United States English Science fiction and fantasy short stories Prime Press 1948 Print (hardback & paperback) 331 pp 1962580 "...and some were human." is the first story collection by science fiction writer Lester del Rey, originally published in hardcover by Prime Press in 1948 in an edition of 3,050 copies of which 50 were specially bound, slipcased and signed by the author. The stories first appeared in Astounding and Unknown. An abridged paperback edition, including only eight of the twelve stories, was issued by Ballantine Books in 1961. A Spanish translation, reportedly dropping only one story, appeared in 1957.ISFDB bibliography Contents "Foreword" "Hereafter, Inc." (Unknown 1941) "The Day Is Done" (Astounding 1939) "Forsaking All Others" (Unknown 1939) "The Coppersmith"* (Unknown 1939) "The Luck of Ignatz" ( Astounding 1939) "The Faithful"* (Astounding 1938) "Dark Mission" (Astounding Jul 1940) "Helen O'Loy" (Astounding 1938) "The Stars Look Down"* (Astounding 1940) "The Renegade" (Astounding 1943) "The Wings of Night" (Astounding 1942) "Nerves"* (Astounding Sep 1942) Stories marked with an asterisk* were omitted from the Ballantine paperback. "Helen O'Loy" was reportedly omitted from the Spanish translation.http://www.philsp.com/homeville/isfac/t33.htm#A720 Index to Science Fiction Anthologies and Collections 2014-02-15 2020-10-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20201002133031/http://www.philsp.com/homeville/isfac/t33.htm#A720 dead Reception Sam Moskowitz wrote that del Rey "displays enough understanding of the basic emotions of mankind to stand clearly apart from the herd in providing heart-warming entertainment".Sam Moskowitz, "Fantasy Book Reviews", Fantastic Novels, January 1949, p.113. P. Schuyler Miller similarly noted that del Rey's characters "have a warmth about them which makes what happens to them the reader's serious concern . . . because they are people you'd like to know.", he also noted that the stories had been popular with readers when originally published, and "five to ten years later, they hold up equally well"."Book Reviews", Astounding Stories, September 1949, p.150. Amazing Stories reviewer Morris Tish also reviewed the collection favorably, calling the selections "some of the best examples of [del Rey's] work."Great Books in Science Fiction", December 1949, p.153 Alfred Bester, however, took a contrary view; reviewing the 1961 edition, he declared Del Rey's work "lacking in any comprehension of human or parahuman motives and behaviour. . . . [M]ood-writing demands a poetic insight and discipline beyond his ability; he is merely sentimental.""Books", F&SF, April 1962, pp. 114-15 E. F. Bleiler commented that the stories "were unusual in their day for using a sentimental approach that was sometimes very effective".Bleiler, E. F. (1983). The Guide to Supernatural Fiction. Kent, Ohio: Kent State UP. 0873382889 (p.147) Publication history 1948, USA, Prime Press 1962580, Pub date 1948, Hardback 1957, Spain, Nebula, Pub date 1957, Paperback, as y algunos eran humanos, omits "Helen O'Loy" 1961, USA, Ballantine Books 1635423, Pub date 1961, Paperback, omits 4 stories Further reading Chalker Jack L. Jack L. Chalker Mark Owings The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923-1998 Westminster, MD and Baltimore Mirage Press, Ltd. 530–531 1998 Contento William G. Index to Science Fiction Anthologies and Collections http://www.philsp.com/homeville/ISFAC/t33.htm#A720 2008-04-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20080508071135/http://www.philsp.com/homeville/ISFAC/t33.htm 8 May 2008 live Tuck Donald H. Donald H. Tuck The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy Chicago Advent 135 1974 0-911682-20-1 References Category:1948 short story collections Category:Science fiction short story collections