''Dangerous Visions'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically cate ...

edited by American writer Harlan Ellison and illustrated by

Leo and Diane Dillon Leo Dillon (March 2, 1933 – May 26, 2012) and Diane Dillon (''née'' Sorber; born March 13, 1933) were American illustrators of children's books and adult paperback book and magazine covers. One obituary of Leo called the work of the hu ...

. It was published in 1967. A path-breaking collection, ''Dangerous Visions'' helped define the New Wave science fiction movement, particularly in its depiction of

sex in science fiction Sexual themes are frequently used in science fiction or related genres. Such elements may include depictions of realistic sexual interactions in a science fictional setting, a protagonist with an alternative sexuality, a sexual encounter betwee ...

. Writer/editor

Al Sarrantonio Al Sarrantonio (born May 25, 1952) is an American horror and science fiction writer, editor and publisher who has authored more than 50 books and 90 short stories. He has also edited numerous anthologies and has been called "brilliant" and "a ...

writes how ''Dangerous Visions'' "almost single-handedly ..changed the way readers thought about science fiction." Contributors to the volume included 20 authors who had won, or would win, a Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, or

BSFA The British Science Fiction Association Limited is an organisation founded in 1958 by a group of British academics, science fiction fans, authors, publishers and booksellers, in order to promote the writing, criticism, and study of science fiction ...

award, and 16 with multiple such awards. Ellison introduced the anthology both collectively and individually while authors provided afterwords to their own stories.

Description

Advertisements described ''Dangerous Visions'' as "For the first time anywhere—33 great new stories by all the science fiction masters of our time", and "Not collected from magazines, not collected from other books ... one of the biggest anthologies of original material ever assembled in any field".

Awards and nominations

The stories and the anthology itself were nominated for and received many awards. " Gonna Roll the Bones" by

Fritz Leiber Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr. ( ; December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992) was an American writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theater and films, playwright, and chess expert. With writers such as Robert ...

received both a

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier ...

and a

Nebula Award The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), a nonprofit association of prof ...

for Best novelette, whilst Philip K. Dick's submission " Faith of Our Fathers" was a nominee for the Hugo in the same category. Philip José Farmer tied for the Hugo Award for Best Novella for " Riders of the Purple Wage". Samuel R. Delany won the Nebula for Best Short Story for " Aye, and Gomorrah..." Harlan Ellison received a special citation at the 26th World SF Convention for editing "the most significant and controversial SF book published in 1967."

Reception

"You should buy this book immediately",

Algis Budrys Algirdas Jonas "Algis" Budrys (January 9, 1931 – June 9, 2008) was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor, and critic. He was also known under the pen names Frank Mason, Alger Rome (in collaboration with Jerome Bixby), John ...

wrote, "because this is a book that knows perfectly that you are seething inside". He especially praised " Sex and/or Mr. Morrison".

Dave Langford David Rowland Langford (born 10 April 1953) is a British author, editor, and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter ''Ansible'', and holds the all-time record for most ...

reviewed ''Dangerous Visions'' for '' White Dwarf'' #94, and stated that it "poked at all SF's taboos, remains a mix of achievement and hype, of stories still brilliantly fresh and stories already moribund two decades ago."

Sequels

The collection was followed by a larger 1972 sequel, '' Again, Dangerous Visions''. The projected third collection, ''

The Last Dangerous Visions ''The Last Dangerous Visions'' is an unpublished speculative fiction anthology intended to follow '' Dangerous Visions'' (1967) and ''Again, Dangerous Visions'' (1972). Like its predecessors, it was edited by American author Harlan Ellison, with ...

'', was started, but controversially remains unpublished. The final book has become something of a legend as science fiction's most famous unpublished book. It was originally announced for publication in 1973, but other work demanded Ellison's attention and the anthology has not seen print to date. He has come under criticism for his treatment of some writers who submitted their stories to him, whom some estimate to number nearly 150 (and many of whom have died in the ensuing more than four decades since the anthology was first announced). In 1993 Ellison threatened to sue New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) for publishing "Himself in Anachron", a short story written by Cordwainer Smith and sold to Ellison for the book by his widow, but later reached an amicable settlement. British SF author Christopher Priest critiqued Ellison's editorial practices in a widely disseminated article titled " The Book on the Edge of Forever". Priest documented a half-dozen instances in which Ellison promised ''TLDV'' would appear within a year of the statement, but did not fulfill those promises. Ellison had a record of fulfilling obligations in other instances, including to writers whose stories he solicited, and expressed outrage at other editors who have displayed poor practices. On May 2, 2022,

J. Michael Straczynski Joseph Michael Straczynski (; born July 17, 1954) is an American filmmaker and comic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is best known as the creator of the science fiction television series ''Babylon 5'' ...

, the executor of the Ellison estate, announced on Twitter that ''The Last Dangerous Visions'' will be published in 2023 by Blackstone Publishers.

Illustrations by

accompany each short story. *"Foreword 1 - The Second Revolution" by

Isaac Asimov yi, יצחק אזימאװ , birth_date = , birth_place = Petrovichi, Russian SFSR , spouse = , relatives = , children = 2 , death_date = , death_place = Manhattan, New York City, U.S. , nationality = Russian (1920–1922)Soviet (192 ...

*"Foreword 2 - Harlan and I" by Isaac Asimov *"Thirty-Two Soothsayers" (introduction) by Harlan Ellison *"Evensong" by Lester del Rey. This is described by its author as an

allegory As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory t ...

. It details the capture of a being, identified at the end of the story as God, by Man, which has usurped God's power. *"Flies" by

Robert Silverberg Robert Silverberg (born January 15, 1935) is an American author and editor, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple winner of both Hugo and Nebula Awards, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and a Gran ...

. It was inspired by a quote from ''

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane a ...

'': "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods. They kill us for their sport." *" The Day After the Day the Martians Came" by

Frederik Pohl Frederik George Pohl Jr. (; November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013) was an American science-fiction writer, editor, and fan, with a career spanning nearly 75 years—from his first published work, the 1937 poem "Elegy to a Dead Satellit ...

*" Riders of the Purple Wage" by Philip José Farmer (

for best novella) *"The Malley System" by

Miriam Allen deFord Miriam Allen deFord (August 21, 1888 – February 22, 1975) was an American writer best known for her mysteries and science fiction. During the 1920s, she wrote for a number of left-wing magazines including ''The Masses'', '' The Liberator'', a ...

*" A Toy for Juliette" by Robert Bloch *" The Prowler in the City at the Edge of the World" by Harlan Ellison *" The Night That All Time Broke Out" by

Brian W. Aldiss Brian Wilson Aldiss (; 18 August 1925 – 19 August 2017) was an English writer, artist, and anthology editor, best known for science fiction novels and short stories. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss, except for o ...

*"The Man Who Went to the Moon — Twice" by Howard Rodman *" Faith of Our Fathers" by Philip K. Dick *"

The Jigsaw Man "The Jigsaw Man" is a science fiction short story by American writer Larry Niven, set in the ''Known Space'' universe. The story was first published in Harlan Ellison's anthology '' Dangerous Visions'', and is included in Niven's collections ''Al ...

" by Larry Niven *" Gonna Roll the Bones" by

( Hugo and Nebula awards for Best Novelette) *"Lord Randy, My Son" by

Joe L. Hensley Joseph Louis "Joe L." Hensley (March 19, 1926 – August 27, 2007) was a lawyer, prosecuting attorney, member of the Indiana General Assembly, circuit court judge, science fiction fan, and writer of science fiction and mysteries. He was a long- ...

*" Eutopia" by Poul Anderson *"Incident in Moderan" and "The Escaping" by

David R. Bunch David Roosevelt Bunch (August 7, 1925 – May 29, 2000) was an American writer of short stories and poetry. He worked mainly in the genres of science fiction, satire, surrealism, and literary fiction. Although prolific and critically acclaimed, ...

*" The Doll-House" by James Cross (pseudonym of Hugh Jones Parry) *" Sex and/or Mr. Morrison" by Carol Emshwiller *" Shall the Dust Praise Thee?" by Damon Knight *" If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister?" by Theodore Sturgeon *"What Happened to Auguste Clarot?" by

Larry Eisenberg Lawrence Eisenberg (December 21, 1919 – December 25, 2018) was an American biomedical engineer and science fiction writer. He is best known for his short story "What Happened to Auguste Clarot?", published in Harlan Ellison's anthology '' ...

*"Ersatz" by Henry Slesar *"Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird" by Sonya Dorman *"

The Happy Breed "The Happy Breed" is a short story by American writer John Sladek, originally published in Harlan Ellison's anthology '' Dangerous Visions'' (1967). It is Sladek's first published story. Synopsis The last five adults discuss how their lives have ...

" by

John Sladek John Thomas Sladek (December 15, 1937 – March 10, 2000) was an American science fiction author, known for his satirical and surreal novels. Life and work Born in Waverly, Iowa, in 1937, Sladek was in England in the 1960s for the New Wave ...

*" Encounter with a Hick" by Jonathan Brand *"From the Government Printing Office" by

Kris Neville Kris Ottman Neville (May 9, 1925 – December 23, 1980) was an American science fiction writer from California. He was born in St. Louis. His first science fiction work was published in 1949. His most famous work, the novella ''Bettyann'', is ...

*" Land of the Great Horses" by

R. A. Lafferty Raphael Aloysius "R. A." Lafferty (November 7, 1914March 18, 2002) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer known for his original use of language, metaphor, and narrative structure, Lafferty also wrote a set of four autobiographical n ...

*"The Recognition" by J. G. Ballard *" Judas" by

John Brunner John Brunner may refer to: * Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet (1842–1919), British industrialist and Liberal Member of Parliament * John L. Brunner (1929–1980), Pennsylvania politician * Sir John Brunner, 2nd Baronet (1865–1929), British Libera ...

*"Test to Destruction" by

Keith Laumer John Keith Laumer ( – ) was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer wa ...

*"Carcinoma Angels" by Norman Spinrad *" Auto-da-Fé" by Roger Zelazny *" Aye, and Gomorrah" by Samuel R. Delany (

for best short story, 1967)

References

External links