Neha Patil (Editor)

Creatures of the Cosmos

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Cover artist
  
Jay Krush

Publisher
  
Westminster Press

Media type
  
Print (Hardback)

Genre
  
Fantasy

Country
  
United States of America

Preceded by
  
Tales Beyond Time

3.6/5
Goodreads

Language
  
English

Publication date
  
1977

Originally published
  
1977

Illustrator
  
Jay Krush

Editor
  
Catherine Crook de Camp

Creatures of the Cosmos httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen887Cre

Author
  
edited by Catherine Crook de Camp

Similar
  
The Stones of Nomuru, The Incorporated Knight, The Bones of Zora, The Pixilated Peeress, Conan the Barbarian

Creatures of the Cosmos is an anthology of fantasy and science fiction short stories for younger readers, edited by Catherine Crook de Camp. It was first published in hardcover by Westminster Press in 1977. It was the third such anthology assembled by de Camp, following the earlier 3000 Years of Fantasy and Science Fiction (1972) and Tales Beyond Time (1973), both of which she edited together with her husband L. Sprague de Camp.

Contents

The book collects eight tales by various authors, in each of which "a strange beast, or one having unearthly qualities, plays a prominent role," with an overall introduction and a bibliography of recommended reading by de Camp. One piece, "The Bear Who Saved the World," was adapted for younger readers by the editor from her husband's short story "The Command."

Contents

  • "A Word from the Editor" (Catherine Crook de Camp)
  • "The Bear Who Saved the World" (L. Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp)
  • "Old Man Henderson" (Kris Neville)
  • "The Million Dollar Pup" (Catherine Crook de Camp)
  • "The Smallest Dragonboy" (Anne McCaffrey)
  • "The Large Ant" (Howard Fast)
  • "Dead Man's Chest" (L. Sprague de Camp)
  • "Socrates" (John Christopher)
  • "The Horse Show" (Catherine Crook de Camp)
  • "Other Worlds, Other Times-Books You Will Enjoy" (Catherine Crook de Camp)
  • Reception

    Betsy Herne, writing in Booklist, called the collection "uneven, with McCaffrey's 'The Smallest Dragonboy' being one of the best" pieces. She found the stories written or co-written by the editor "intriguing despite some awkwardness in the writing," but those by Fast and Neville "abstract and confusing." She did not address the remaining contributions. Her ultimate assessment was favorable, since "few science fiction collections exist for this age group, and the tie-in here with animals is likely to appeal."

    References

    Creatures of the Cosmos Wikipedia