The Best of Hal Clement

The Best of Hal Clement is a collection of science fiction short stories by American author Hal Clement, edited by Lester del Rey. It was first published in paperback by Del Rey/Ballantine in June 1979 as a volume in its Classic Library of Science Fiction. It was reissued in ebook by Gateway/Orion in May 2013, and in trade paperback and ebook by Phoenix Pick in December 2014.^[1]

The book contains ten short works of fiction and an afterword by the author, together with an introduction by editor Lester del Rey. ^[1]

• "Hal Clement: Rationalist" [introduction] (Lester del Rey)
• "Impediment" (from Astounding Science-Fiction, Aug. 1942)
• "Technical Error" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Jan. 1944)
• "Uncommon Sense" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Sep. 1945)
• "Assumption Unjustified" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Oct. 1946)
• "Answer" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Apr. 1947)
• "Dust Rag" (from Astounding Science Fiction, Sep. 1956)
• "Bulge" (from If, Sep. 1968)
• "Mistaken for Granted" (from Worlds of If, Jan./Feb. 1974)
• "A Question of Guilt" (from The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series IV, Nov. 1976)
• "Stuck with It" (from Stellar #2, Feb. 1976)
• "Author's Afterword"

The book was reviewed by Stephen W. Potts in Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review, Nov. 1979.^[1]

The book placed tenth in the 1980 Locus Poll Award for Best Single Author Collection. "Uncommon Sense" won the 1946 Retro Hugo Award for Best Short Story, awarded in 1996.^[1]