The Book of Van Vogt

The Book of Van Vogt, published in 1972 by DAW Books, serves as a retrospective collection of short fiction by Canadian science fiction author A. E. van Vogt. Released during a period when DAW, under the leadership of Donald A. Wollheim, was actively curating and reissuing essential works from the golden age of science fiction, the anthology was intended to showcase the thematic breadth of van Vogt’s career, ranging from his earlier pulp-influenced tales to his more complex, fix-up style narratives.

The design and editorial direction were heavily influenced by the genre's shift toward paperbacks that prioritized author-specific collections for established readers. As a prominent figure who helped define the space opera and puzzle-plot subgenres, van Vogt’s inclusion in the DAW lineup was a testament to his enduring influence on mid-century speculative fiction. While his work was sometimes critiqued for its dream-like, often disjointed narrative structures, this volume was well-received by fans of classic science fiction who valued his unconventional approach to world-building and high-concept plot mechanics.