15 Stories Worth Reading From “Flying Saucers”

When I found this 1982 anthology in a second-hand store, I knew I had to buy it. After all, a book edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh? How can any fan pass that up? Though you may be wondering:

“What’s a genius like Isaac Asimov doing editing an anthology about UFOs – the #1 topic skeptics love to hate?” After all aren’t they just a part of mass hysteria?

Well it all depends on the context. According to Asimov, UFOs do exist because UFO stands for unidentified flying object. They fly, they’re unidentified, and they’re objects. But as for the possibility of the object being extraterrestrials, then that’s where it’s no longer a UFO – because it’s been identified. And because science has proven that there’s no life on other planets, then Asimov’s skepticism kicks in.

But Sir Isaac never let skepticism get in the way of a good story, especially if there are twenty-five stories across different decades good enough to be compiled into one anthology. And of those twenty-five, I chose fifteen to present to you, the reader, for your consideration. They are:

“What Is This Thing Called Love?” (1961) – Isaac Asimov: An alien presents two abductees before his supervisor as experiments on human sexuality. Now if only he can get the two strangers to copulate…

“Pagan” (1955) – Algis Budrys: A crashed spaceship, a farm and an alien unlike no other.

“The Beholders” (1957) A. Bertram Chandler: Three people (two of them SF writers) encounter a UFO – and come up with different descriptions of its appearance. Also, don’t make your wife unhappy, she may board a spaceship.

“Sense of Wonder” (1958) A. Bertram Chandler: One SF author ponders if sci-fi has made humanity jaded to the point of not taking UFOs seriously when one comes along.

“Trouble With the Natives” (1951) Arthur C. Clarke: Also known as “Captain Wyxtpthll’s Flying Saucer”. Maybe aliens should retire the phrase, “Take me to your leader”…

“The Lizard of Woz” (1969) Edmund Cooper: Two things I learned from this story. 1.) Female komodo dragons are the pinnacle of reptilian beauty and 2.) komodo dragons are the dominant species.

“The Merchant” (1973) Larry Eisenberg: What happens when you merge the TZ episodes, “People Are Alike All Over” and “To Serve Man”? You get this story.

“The Mouse” (1969) Howard Fast: The saddest story on the list. I felt so sad for the titular mouse, I wanted to cry. And I don’t even like mice.

“Small Miracle” (1959) Randall Garett: Major August Cantrell, USAF, has an alien encounter in the most hilarious way.

“All the Universe In a Mason Jar” (1977) Joe Haldeman: If you give an alien moonshine, will it lead to intergalactic peace? Yes. Yes it will.

“Sam” (1970) Leo P. Kelley: Father Ryan learns that Earth isn’t the only planet with missionaries.

“Posted” (1957) Mack Reynolds: There’s a reason why Earth hasn’t been contacted by aliens yet – and it involves a time loop.

“Speak Up, Melvin!” (1982) C.C. Rossel-Waugh: I think the intro summarizes it best: Melvin…succeeds in getting away with murder only to be tongue-tied.

“The Gumdrop King” (1962) Will Stanton: This is the story of a boy, an alien, and a bag of gumdrops.

“The Painter” (1960) Thomas Burnett Swan: What inspired Hieronymus Bosch to paint The Garden of Earthly Delights? I’m not saying it was aliens, but, it was aliens.

Whether you’re a UFO enthusiast, an eyewitness to a close encounter of the first kind, or in need of another title to add to your SF library, pick up Flying Saucers – and climb aboard.