Donald Wandrei: Coloso; Jack Williamson: Nacido del Sol; Raymond Z. Gallum: Viejo amigo; Stanley G. Weinbaum: El planeta de los parásitos; Murray Leinster: Próxima Centauri; Edmond Hamilton: La galaxia maldita.

This is the third volume of Asimov's collection of early science fiction stories that influenced him personally as he was growing up and becoming a writer himself, together with his description of his own life at the time. The point about influenced him personally is significant. For instance, he recognizes that Stanley Weinbaum's "A Martian Odyssey " influenced the science fiction field and the writers of the time more than "Parasite Planet" but Asimov includes "Parasite Planet" because that was the first Weinbaum story he personally read and was influenced by. This also does not try to be a general representative selection --it includes two John W. Campbell stories and no work by some other significant figures simply because Campbell was a great influence on Asimov (as, in fairness, he was to any other writers). ( )

http://ninecats.org/margaret/blog/2013/04/08/golden-age-3-ed-isaac-asimov ( )

I'm kind of torn -- on the one hand, ooh, old sci-fi! On the other....there is a *reason* science fiction had to grow up and let the girls in. It's a hell of an interesting concept for an autobiography, though. ( )

Before the Golden Age is an anthology of pulp science fiction from before John Campbell took over as editor of Astounding Science Fiction and changed the face of the genre. This is the third book in the series. The stories were selected primarily by Isaac Asimov based upon what stories he found memorable from his pre-writing days. Interspersed among the stories are comments from Asimov about his life at the time he encountered the stories in this book.

As with the other volumes in the series, the stories are pure pulp science fiction, with ravening aliens, space pirates, ray guns, and all of the other trappings of the era. As these are the most memorable stories of the era, they are generally quite good nonetheless, and overall mostly avoid the crude off-handed racism found in some of the stories in the earlier volumes of this collection.

If you are looking for thoughtful, reflective science fiction, or hard science fiction, you won't find it here. This is a collection full of swashbuckling heroes, daring escapes, ruthless and inhuman villains, and wacky pseudoscience. The stories are fun, and reading the book gives you an appreciation for the stunning transformation that was just around the corner. ( )