One of the earliest SF anthology series, these books, published only in the UK, were of great influence, according to The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction: "When Best SF (anth 1955) appeared it was unique in several ways: its editor was a respected literary figure; its publisher, Faber and Faber, was a prestigious one; and it made no apologies or excuses for presenting sf as a legitimate form of writing. Moreover, Crispin's selection of stories showed him to be thoroughly familiar with sf in both magazine and book form, and his introductions to this and succeeding volumes were informed and illuminating."

Most reprinted authors: Brian W. Aldiss (5), Eric Frank Russell (4), then Ray Bradbury, Fredric Brown, and John Wyndham (3 each).

Cover scans are adapted from isfdb.