Chicago News columnist, Dan Miller, called Lester del Rey “today’s most knowledgeable s-f critic,” and it is the con-sistently high quality of the stories del Rey selects that has earned this annual collection its place as “one of the best of its kind.” It is now firmly established with s-f fans. As science fiction writer F. M. Busby commented about last year’s collection: “It’s a good, well-rounded anthology,” adding that he “had not caught a number of the stories the first time around.” Themes and styles of writing change from year to year, reflecting the world around us. In this fifth volume of Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year, for instance, some of the everyday problems in the stories concern delays in mail delivery, limitations of technology, the process of aging in humans, the role of the senior citizen, and our current financial situation. Among the writers represented are such familiar names as Poul Anderson and Clifford D. Simak. as well as some not so familiar.
A special feature of the book is The Science Fiction Yearbook, in which Lester del Rey gives a brief summary of events during the year that have significance for anyone concerned with the field of science fiction.

- Paul Anderson THE BITTER BREAD
- Hayford Peirce MAIL SUPREMACY
- P. J. Plauger CHILD OF ALL AGES
- Phyllis Eisenstein TREE OF LIFE
- Stephen Robinett HELBENT FOUR
- Robert Hoskins POP GOES THE WEASEL
- Liz Hufford THE BOOK LEARNERS
- Hayford Peirce HIGH YIELD BONDAGE
- Clifford D. Simak SENIOR CITIZEN
- Joan D. Vinge and Vernor Vinge THE PEDDLER'S APPRENTICE