The Best of Lester Del Rey

333 Pages. Ex Libris on front endpaper stamped in KEY. Otherwise an As New book and jacket. Print code P35 on bottom of page 332. Two Terrans meet the sole survivor of an ancient lunar race; a woman devotes her life to caring for a child no one else can see; a minister learns that God does exist, but has abandoned Mankind in favor of aliens. Take sixteen provocative ideas like these, weave them into as many spellbinding stories, and you have The Best of Lester Del Rey. Here's a closer look at a few of the superlative tales inside: Hereafter, Inc. Phineas Potts abhorred sin, but he endured the wickedness of others because he figured God noted such sacrifices and would even the score later on. Then, one-day, Phineas had an odd memory lapse: he forgot the previous day's sins, missed confession and couldn't receive absolution. And things got worse after that! He found that a brazen young hussy had replaced his prim, elderly landlady; his sacrilegious boss was even more profane than usual; and, worst of all, an unfortunate series of events caused Phineas himself to blaspheme! It was Hell on Earth for the pious Mr. P. Superstition. The Sepelore'e alarms erupted suddenly; the ship's radar was picking up a planet only ten thousand miles off where there had been empty space mere seconds ago! Captain Derek's aide rushed in terrified. "Gone," he gasped, pointing behind him. There was nothing beyond the door to the bridge! The rest of the Sepelore had completely vanished, leaving only the four crew members who'd been in the control room. Derek knew his chances of landing the crippled ship were almost nil, but by some incredible stroke of luck they touched down safely! At least the four assumed it was luck until they met the strange inhabitants of that world. Helen 0' Loy. She was as beautiful as the legendary Helen of Troy-a vision in metals and spun plastics-and her loveliness inspired Dave and Phil to new heights of scientific achievements. Eagerly they set to work on that gorgeous robot body - wiring memory coils, connecting nerves, even implanting mechanition emotionally as well as physically. That's where they made their big mistake. Because Helen's emotional responses were so lifelike, she fell in love when Phil turned her on and there was no turning her off. Contents in Sixteen Stories: Helen O'Loy, The Day Is Done, The Coppersmith, Hereafter Inc, The Wings of Night, Into Thy Hands, And It Comes Out Here, The Monster, The Years Draw Nigh, Instinct, Superstition, For I Am a Jealous People, The Keepers of the House, Little Jimmy, The Seat of Judgment, and Vengeance Is Mine. Plus Introduction: The Magnificent by Frederik Pohl and Author's Afterword.