Nebula Winners Fifteen edited by Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert was a towering giant of speculative fiction, universally immortalized as the genius behind Dune—the best-selling science fiction novel of all time and the benchmark for complex world-building. Before reshaping sci-fi with his deep dives into ecology, religious fanatacism, and socio-political systems, Herbert worked as a journalist, photographer, and ecological consultant. His unique capability to merge high-concept technological evolution with the deep vulnerabilities of human biology earned him the genre's highest accolades, including the inaugural Nebula Award in 1966. Because of his monumental status within the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and his legacy as a defining architect of the field's literary transition into mature themes, Herbert was selected as the guest editor for this prestigious annual showcase, lending his profound critical authority and philosophical insight to analyze the absolute best short-form speculative writing of the era. 

This anthology compiles the premier award-winning short fiction selected by the SFWA for stories published in 1979. The volume features a star-studded lineup of legendary masters, anchored by Barry B. Longyear's critically acclaimed novella Enemy Mine and George R. R. Martin's chilling classic Sandkings, alongside celebrated short work from Jack Dann. Beyond the fiction, the collection holds immense value for collectors and scholars due to its specialized non-fiction inclusions: it features an insightful introductory essay by Herbert himself, exploring his philosophy on the mastery and evolving standards of science fiction writing, paired with a historically fascinating essay on the contemporary mechanics of manuscript preparation by Vonda N. McIntyre.

Navy cloth binding with gilt lettering to spine. Original pictorial dustwrapper. Clean copy with very good dustwrapper.