An excellent book if you read science fiction when growing up during the 1960's or 70's and would like to revisit some classic stories. (Or if you'd like to discover some dusty old gems that you missed along the way!) This is more than just a sampling of influential stories; each one is preceded by an author bio and a thoughtful, critical introduction by a scholar or a science fiction writer.

Silverberg has another anthology a bit like this one, called Robert Silverberg's Worlds of Wonder (1987). Worlds of Wonder doesn't have the guest commentary, but Silverberg's own comments are insightful and compelling. Mirror of Infinity was published in 1970, just around the time that science fiction was beginning to attract attention as a potential subject of academic study. So this book is likely the first of its kind.