The 1950s was a boom period for American science fiction, as writers pushed past the genre's pulp origins to create novels that, while often ignored by the contemporary literary establishment, have in some cases earned a distinctive reputation in the following decades. Gary K. Wolfe, one of SF's leading scholars, has chosen nine novels from the decade for an anthology intended to showcase the best of the best. The selection in American Science Fiction spans a variety of styles, from the biting satire of Frederick Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth's The Space Merchants to the fast-paced adventure of Robert Heinlein's Double Star and Alfred Bester's intense revenge tale The Stars My Destination. In some cases, such as Algis Budry's Who?, these books are not otherwise readily available, making their appearance in the Library of America's high-quality format all the more welcome. A QR code on the dust jackets and slipcase will guide you to a website full of additional resources on the books and authors selected--and on science fiction as a whole. This two-volume set isn't for casual SF fans, but it's perfect for anyone who wants to dive into the classics. --Ron Hogan, founder of Beatrice.com