HH: "There was this original anthology that Barry Malzberg and Ed Ferman were doing. Their idea was saintly and wise. They wished to put paid to all of the oldest themes in science fiction, to have one story written on each, the definitive story on each theme ... Though I felt, and still feel, that you cannot stop bad stories from being written on old themes. I knew. I had written a parody of the space opera titled, modestly, Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers. It appeared a few years ago. And space operas blast on as ever. Here I have another kick at this particular groin." (Best of Harry Harrison).

PUBLICATION HISTORY

  • Final Stage: the Ultimate Science Fiction Anthology, edited by Edward L. Ferman and Barry N. Malzberg. New York: Charterhouse, hbk, 1974. Abridged / 'copy-edited' version. Includes an afterword by Harrison and a short bibliography of space opera stories.

  • Final Stage, edited by Edward L. Ferman and Barry N. Malzberg. London: Penguin, 1975, pbk. The text in this edition was restored to the writers' originals.

  • in: Ultima Etapa: Antologia de la Cienca Ficcion Definitiva, edited by Edward L. Ferman and Barry N. Malzberg. Barcelona: Editorial Bruguera, 1976. Translated by Ignacio Rived and Jose Luis Yarza. [Spanish].

  • in: [Final Stage] edited by Edward L. Ferman and Barry N. Malzberg. Tokyo: Sogen SF Bunko, Date? [Japanese]

  • Antigrav: Cosmic Comedies, edited by Philip Strick. London: Arrow Books, 1975, pbk.

  • Antigrav: Cosmic Comedies, edited by Philip Strick. New York: Taplinger, 1976, hbk.

  • Antigrav: Cosmic Comedies, edited by Philip Strick. London: Hutchinson, 1976, hbk.

  • as: "Opera Spaziale I Sorci Spaziali del CCC" in: Oscar 815, 8th November 1977. Milan: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. Translated by Hilia Brinis and Claudio Lo Monaco. [Italian]

  • The Best of Harry Harrison, June 1976.

  • as: "Rymdrättorna pä KKK" in Aschkelons Gator [The Best of Harry Harrison]. 1985. [Swedish].

  • Science Fiction: Masters of Today, edited by Arthur Liebman. Richards Rosen, 1981.

  • Galactic Dreams, April 1994.

  • as: "Die Raumratten von KKK" in: Brennpunkt Zukunft 1, edited by Edward L. Ferman and Barry N. Malzberg. Ullstein, 1982. Translated by Klaus Weidemann. [German]

  • as: "A HTO Acélpatkányai" in: Tüzözön, edited by Nemes István. Cherubion, 1999. Translated by Kiss Tamás & Tamás Krisztián. [Hungarian]

  • 50 in 50, July 2001.