TAURUS FOUR

Paperback Library paperback, 1970. Cover artist uncredited, but
I'm dead sure it's by Robert R. Foster.

"IT IS THE YEAR 2270 A.D. 

A long time ago on Earth, our ancestors did not believe in the industrial-warfare society. They dropped out to live in freedom and do their thing, hated by all the uptight squares.... 

Thus begins a folk legend on Taurus Four, where, during the Saurian Wars, a group of hippies had been transplanted forcibly. Right now the only uptight squares on the planet is a stranded Space Sociologist, Dorian Frank - who has reason to be uptight. The group is about to sacrifice a beautiful virgin to the god in charge of their hemp garden. And the planet is about to be colonized by a nonhuman race even more ruthless than mankind. But all Dorian can do is invent new footnotes to the Space manual, like, 

"For his own piece of mind, the Space Sociologist should sometimes kick the dirty savage on his bare butt."

THE ASYLUM WORLD

Paperback library paperback, first printing, December 1969.
Cover artist uncredited.

"TAKE A TRIP TO THE ASYLUM WORLD, A MIND-BLOWING SCIENCE FICTION SATIRE OF OUR TIMES - AND TIMES TO COME! 

Gears ground and the mechanical voice started describing Newyork. "...such noted tourist attractions as the Mailer Obelisk, the Streisand Catafalque, the ever popular Wax Museum of the Performing Arts...charming ethnic dining spots, prices beginning at 70 credits. Recommended are Nedick's Flaming FIlet, Mother's Hot Chicken Soup Eatateria..." But the visitors from Mars couldn't get to Newyork after all - it was closed except to official personnel. 

Just then a trainload of lunatics passed the barrier. Official personnel? 

WHAT ON EARTH WAS WRONG WITH EARTH?"

SINISTER BARRIER

Paperback Library paperback, second printing, December 1966,
cover painting by Ed Valigursky (thanks, Mark).

"TIME - 21ST CENTURY 

PLACE - AMERICA 

CRISIS - A WORLD GONE MAD 

PRESIDENT'S WARNING - 

DESTROY THE VITON MENACE - 

OR EARTH HAS ONLY 80 HOURS TO LIVE! 

Bill Graham was among the scientists and government leaders left who heard the president's message. He shuddered at the thought of the last Viton rampage of kidnapping, ghastly murder and madness. Hidden somewhere in the vastness of the galaxy, the hideous blobs of Viton, that fed on men's fears and emotions, planned a last-ditch attack to destroy the universe. Only Bill Graham had a one-in-a-million chance to stop them. But the Vitons were so deadly that even to think about them risked instant annihilation."

THE SOLARIANS

Paperback Library Edition. First printing, July 1966.
Cover by Ed Valigursky (thanks, Mark).

"Earth was programmed for destruction in the mad war of the computer worlds - unless the Solarians could stop the machines! 

Three hundred years ago the solarians retreated to the safety of their Fortress as Earth became embroiled in the first of the computer wars with the dread Duglaari Empire. 

The solarians' final word to all humanity was a promise to reappear one day and bring it to victory. Suddenly, with Earth on the verge of becoming a helpless victim of the merciless Duglaars, the Solarians made contact with fleet commander Jay Palmer. It was an offer of aid. 

But the Solarians' plan was so cunning, so fraught with danger, that Jay faced the greatest decision of his life - and that of Earth's: 

Accept their ingenious strategy as a stroke of genius or reject it as a trick designed to destroy human life forever."

BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORIES OF CLIFFORD D. SIMAK

Paperback Library paperback, first printing, 1972. Cover artist
uncredited, possibly Bob Pepper? (thanks: Egrove).

"A man's discovery of the truth about his travelling companions. A shipboard romance involving a fickle female and three unresponsive crewmen. A young man's dissatisfaction with his new job. A drunken evening that turns into one continuous lost weekend. These are some of the ordinary events that take on quite extraordinary dimensions in these seven unusual takes by a master of science fiction. Highly original and perceptive, each of the stories examines the glamor and mystery of existence and the very real possibilities that lie within the realm of future experience. Together they show Clifford Simak at his entertaining and thought-provoking best."

Contents:

Founding Father
Immigrant
New Folks' Home
Crying Jag
All The Traps Of Earth
Lulu
Neighbor