The Best of R. A. Lafferty

The Best of R.A. Lafferty is a collection of twenty-two short stories including his Hugo-nominated and award-winning stories. Who was R.A. Lafferty? He was a World War II veteran and electrical engineer. When he retired from an electrical supply store at the age of 45, he became a very busy science-fiction writer. He wrote twenty-nine novels and over two hundred short stories. He was nominated for the Nebula Award, the World Fantasy Award, and won the Hugo Award for the best short story in 1973. He has been described as sui generis and according to Neil Gaiman “the finest writer of whatever it was that he did that every there was.”

Lafferty’s writing career spans almost two and a half decades, and with him retiring from writing in 1984 it is not easy finding copies of his short stories anymore. This put some of my favorites all in one place. I really enjoy his bizarre storytelling style and absurdity of the places and people he writes about.

With a book introduction by Neil Gaiman and story introductions by a who’s who of contemporary sci-fi writers, critics, and even a stand-up comedian this is a must have collection for any Lafferty fan. If you are new to the world of R.A. Lafferty get ready for fast-paced tall tales, bizarre characters, and many surreal situations.