"Destination Universe" by A.E. van Vogt

van Vogt is a firehose of sci-fi creativity. A little weird, a little raw, and like real life the pieces don't always, or even usually, fit together nicely. But his raw imagination, wildly inventive ideas and talent for instilling a sense of wonder and mystery (and some confusion) were unequaled in his time, as I believe they still are today. This collection is the first published anthology of his short, early fiction. There are some gems, especially The Monster, The Enchanted Village and The Rulers, which really give a good taste for his masterful style in many of his more acclaimed novels.

Far Centaurus (3.5) - A crew of deep space explorers from Earth destined for Alpha Centauri are in for a shock when they arrive hundreds of years later. van Vogt evokes feelings of loneliness, despair and desperation among the crew, mixing in some funky, surreal tech and a bit of time travel to boot.

The Monster (5.0) Considered among van Vogt's best shorts, and I must concur. This turns the typical alien invasion story on its head with some unexpected surprises. Love it!

Dormant (3.5) - A Lovecraftian tale of ancient alien mystery and doom set on a tiny Pacific island shortly after WWII, reflecting the growing fear and uncertainty around atomic weapons.

The Enchanted Village (4.5) - An astronaut crash lands on Mars and discovers a deserted alien village with a mind of its own. This story oozes eerie desolation and desperation.

A Can of Paint (3.0) - A funny little story which I think demonstrates van Vogt's view of the unlimited potential as man stands on the threshold of exploring the universe, yet warranting some caution and maybe a willingness to swallow our pride.

Defence (4.0) - A very short short showing a glimpse of the unknown alien dangers awaiting man as we journey out into the galaxy, sometimes even hidden in plain sight.

The Rulers (4.5) - A fine example of the character of many of van Vogt's well regarded longer novels. Quick paced, this follows the protagonist as he deftly evades the pursuit of enigmatic and pervasive enemies while attempting to uncover the truth of the nefarious conspiracy he suddenly finds himself in the middle of. Precipitated as it would seem by a mysterious mind altering drug known as the "h drug".

Dear Pen Pal (3.0) - Cute story with a nice twist, told via a series of letters from an alien pen pal on the other side of the galaxy.

The Sound (3.0) - Odd title, and odd theme. Not sure I really got this one. The story follow a boy pursued by alien saboteurs disguised as humans, attempting to gain access to some highly protected technology that could be decisive in the war being waged against them and stymie human plans for galactic expansion.

The Search (3.0) - Time travel van Vogt style. Another head scratcher. Unfortunately, most of the story the protagonist is in a haze of amnesia, trying to piece together his life, and that doesn't help in piecing together a very disjointed story. I'm left with a heavy feeling of fatalism.  (Jamie, Goodreads)