This is a collection of the author"s earliest science fiction stories: the first ones that he wrote. Like his novels, the stories range from whimsical to serious. All contain imaginative concepts mixed with strong characters undergoing extraordinary experiences or unusual adventures. As a bonus, two previously uncollected stories from the author"s later career are included. The author has been writing science fiction since the age of sixteen, when he submitted a 47-page story to his eleventh-grade English teacher for extra credit. He has now written fifty-one books, published more than 3,000 photographs, and led a life of adventure.