A large collection published in late 1982 in which the editors have retroactively chosen what they think were the best stories from 1946. They note that these were the first stories written in the atomic age, following Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Atomics in one way or another is a recurrent element in several stories. One certainly knows these stories are now more than 70 years old. The editors both put notes before each story. There are some almost duds in the collection which shouldn't happen in a Year's Best, but almost always seems to happen. There are however a number of very good stories as well as a couple classics. Notable to me was Arthur C Clarke's first story ever sold (and second published story) "Rescue Party", as well as a true classic of the genre, the novella "Vintage Season" by Lawrence O'Donnell, which was a pseudonym for husband/wife writing team Henry Kuttner and Catherine Moore. Those who may not have read the story might remember the early 90's film adaptation starring Jeff Daniels titled Grand Tour or a Disaster in Time. I saw it originally as an HBO or maybe Showtime film that was first out with one title and then got a broader release with the other title. It is a story about tourists from the future who travel back in time to witness great disasters and other significant events in history. The film was an adaptation of this excellent story. I've read this before and enjoyed it just as much on re-reading. Also among the best is "The Million Year Picnic" by Ray Bradbury which was one of the first, if not the first, stories that became part of the Martian Chronicles. Clarke manages to place 3 stories in the collection which is a reflection of this being his breakout year.

There's also an unusual collaboration in the novella "Lorelei of the Red Mist". This is a story with no one named Lorelei which I find pretty funny.There IS someone named Conan, but not the Conan one would think. Leigh Brackett wrote the first half of the story and Ray Bradbury wrote the second half of the story. Maybe Brackett intended to introduce us to Lorelei. Very strange, that. I preferred Brackett's part more than Bradbury but it does go together pretty smoothly. For a planetary romance tale of the era it isn't bad and I enjoyed reading it.

I've increasingly found on reading or re-reading older Asimov stories that he has not aged well with me. I was once a big fan of his work and still hold some in high regard. 'Evidence' is one of his robot stories and a recurring character Susan Calvin is in this one, and the famous three laws of robotics comes into play. It is a pretty good story that I didn't recall having read before (although I probably had as a teen).

The included stories are:

9 • Introduction to The Great Science Fiction Stories Volume 8, 1946 by Martin H. Greenberg
13 • A Logic Named Joe • shortstory by Murray Leinster (as by Will F. Jenkins)
30 • Memorial • shortstory by Theodore Sturgeon
45 • Loophole • shortstory by Arthur C. Clarke
53 • The Nightmare • novelette by Chan Davis
74 • Rescue Party • novelette by Arthur C. Clarke
101 • Placet Is a Crazy Place • shortstory by Fredric Brown
116 • Conqueror's Isle • shortstory by Nelson S. Bond
131 • Lorelei of the Red Mist • novella by Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury
189 • The Million Year Picnic • shortstory by Ray Bradbury
199 • The Last Objective • novelette by Paul A. Carter
228 • Meihem in ce Klasrum • essay by Dolton Edwards
232 • Vintage Season • novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore (as by Lawrence O'Donnell)
276 • Evidence • novelette by Isaac Asimov
299 • Absalom • shortstory by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore (as by Henry Kuttner)
315 • Mewhu's Jet • novelette by Theodore Sturgeon
351 • Technical Error shortstory by Arthur C. Clarke ( )