The menace of galactic warfare; of science and genetics run amok..Jewelled princesses, desperate guests, doomed worlds, exotic aliens and the deadly snicker of sword blades. These are the rich themes which Brian Aldiss has brought together in a tribute to red-blooded science fiction of the golden age. The authors include many of s.f's founding fathers such as Asimov, Van Vogt, and Bradbury, as well as the lesser known gems rescued from the obscurity of long forgotten pulp magazines.