Every once in awhile it does my heart good to read a book that harkens back to the olden days of science fiction and still manages to take me away on an adventure through time and space that happens so rarely with today's fiction.

Lucky me, I was able to get my hands on just such a gem a few weeks ago when I saw my paperback copy of Isaac Asimov's NIGHTFALL AND OTHER STORIES sitting on the upper shelves of my bookcase, picked it up and decided to give it a whirl. Some months ago I had read the Grand Old Master of Science Fiction's NEMESIS and was none too impressed. While reading that book, I became more and more disappointed because, having read many of Asimov's masterpieces in the past, I simply knew that there were just so many other fantastic Asimov books out there to be read.

Well, guess what? I found one...and it had been sitting under my nose for the past fourteen years. Yes, I must admit, I purchased my copy of NIGHTFALL AND OTHER STORIES way back in 1989 and, for one reason or another, there it remained on my bookshelf unread for all these years. Being packed into boxes and unpacked through four moves and three states, this gem of a short story collection had not managed to catch my interest until just recently.

Now that I am done with it, I find myself wanting more. This is a collection that was originally published in a single volume all the way back in 1969. The stories it contains were many of Isaac's earlier works, some of the first short fiction he ever published. At first I thought that they would be corny and hokey, you know--the kind of sf that was being put out in those days, but I quickly learned otherwise.

These are the stories that astounded readers fifty or more years ago, the kind of fiction that got people thinking back then. The kind of science fiction that Americans everywhere were just waiting to gobble up and come back to for seconds. Much to my delight, the stories in this volume held up even by today's standards. Emotional, thought provoking, enlightening, these are the kinds of stories that made Isaac Asimov famous.

The title story and one of Isaac Asimov's most famous, "Nightfall," is the headliner in this edition. Since it is the very first story in the collection, I was hoping that I wasn't in for a bunch of mediocre stuff in the 300 or so pages to follow. What I found was just the opposite--I enjoyed many of the stories that followed more than the famous, "Nightfall." In fact, I couldn't see why some of the other beauties in this collection hadn't become as well known as the title story.

What makes this edition even sweeter is the light, almost banter-like commentary written by Isaac before each story appears. He paints the picture of editors who changed a particular story's title, editors who stuck by him and continued to publish his work, the meaning behind certain stories and how they came about... simply wonderful.

And then there are the stories themselves -- gems, every one of them. Sure, there were some here and there that I thought were just OK. But, for the most part, this collection of early Asimov stories impresses and entertains, just like good science fiction is supposed to.

To pick a clear favorite in this collection is nearly impossible but I'll list a few of the best of the best here: "Segregationist" -- about an unusual type of doctor who doesn't understand why some people are willing to take on machine parts to extend their lives, willing to become cyborgs in order to live more of life; "What If-" -- about a couple on a peculiar train ride who gets the rare chance to find out how their lives would have turned out if certain circumstances and experiences never took place; "Sally" -- about a man who takes care of a fleet of retired robot cars and what happens when an outsider sees them as a source of quick money; "It's Such a Beautiful Day" -- about one boy's adventures when he chooses to travel outside in the open air instead of using the Door, a transportation device that makes it possible to get from one place to another without ever stepping foot outside; "C-Chute" -- about a group of men, strangers to each other, taken prisoner by aliens during an interstellar war and how they work together despite their differences to take their lives into their own hands; "Unto the Fourth Generation" -- about a man who takes a series of coincidental sightings of a particular name, or variations thereof, and begins to put them together in a way that draws him closer to previously unknown relatives... you know, I could go on and on, but I think I'll just let you go to the store and pick up a copy of this wonderful collection for yourself.

Take it from me, there is a reason why Isaac Asimov was considered a Grand Master of Science Fiction. These stories weren't hokey, they weren't corny and they aren't rendered outdated by today's science fiction standards. In my opinion, these stories were written well before their time, possibly inspiring some of today's Science Fiction Masters in the process.

I'm glad that I decided to pick up a collection of old sf stories not too long ago. I'm glad that I had just read a few political thrillers and murder mysteries in a row and was ready for some good old adventure amidst the stars again. Otherwise, NIGHTFALL AND OTHER STORIES might still be sitting on the upper shelf of my bookcase, unread and unnoticed.

What was I thinking, letting it lay there for all of those years? I guess I better go look up there on the top shelf and see what other goodies I might be able to uncover.