The infinite arena Book

This anthology of seven science fiction short stories involving sports was published in 1977. It is really a throwback to a more innocent time. Although some of the stories are quite compelling, they are all very tame by 2016 standards. No sex, extreme violence, or bad language. Very refreshing, really.

Wow, Arthur C. Clarke can really write. Sunjammer, about a race of sailing ships in space, is the best story in this anthology. The pacing, the narrative, and the ending all add up to a really fine short story. Published in 1964, it's a great example of the imagination of science fiction writers before we walked on the moon.

My favorite after Sunjammer was Bullard Reflects by Malcolm James. Great buildup to a terrific ending. Bullard Reflects kept me guessing - I really wasn't sure where it was going.

The most interesting thing about the George R.R. Martin story, Run to Starlight, is the introduction of the author as "a young man who has become one of the top writers of science in fiction in just a few years." I think of Martin as a fantasy writer, but he is certainly a well-known writer today. It's funny to imagine a world in the future where humans are playing human games against aliens, and the teams are still sponsored by companies like "Ken's Computer Repair" and "Blastoff Inn."

I very much enjoyed Clifford D. Simak's Mr. Meek Plays Polo. Mr. Meek was an interesting and likeable anti-hero - bespectacled and elderly, with white hair and watery eyes - who triumphed in the end. And it includes bugs that solve mathematical problems!

The weakest story in my mind was the first, unfortunately. Even though Joy in Mudville by Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson was about my favorite sport, baseball, I found it dull and too long. The Body Builders by Keith Laumer also did not do a lot for me. The Great Kladnar Race by Robert B. Silverberg and Randall Garrett was brief with a surprise ending but pretty forgettable.

Overall, a quick and enjoyable read, covering a variety of sports. If you like classic science fiction and sports, read it if you can get your hands on a copy.