Solid writing, real people in edge-of-sanity situations as implacable, unfeeling mechanical death seeks them out. The original Berserker short stories, some of which establish deep background for the later Berserker tales. Good stuff.
I really enjoyed this book - unusual for me as usually collections of short stories tend to bore me. I read this one, and found each story to really enhance the overall feeling of the plot.
* 1 Introduction (Berserkers: The Beginning) (1998) shortfiction by Fred Saberhagen
* 5 Berserker [Berserker 1] (1967) collection by Fred Saberhagen
* 5 Without a Thought [Berserker] (1963) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen (aka Fortress Ship)
* 17 Goodlife [Berserker] (1963) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 41 Patron of the Arts [Berserker] (1965) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 51 The Peacemaker [Berserker] (1964) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen (aka The Life Hater)
* 61 Stone Place [Berserker] (1965) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 105 What T and I Did [Berserker] (1965) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 115 Mr. Jester [Berserker] (1966) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 131 Masque of the Red Shift [Berserker] (1965) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 153 Sign of the Wolf [Berserker] (1965) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 163 In the Temple of Mars [Berserker] (1966) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 183 The Face of the Deep [Berserker] (1966) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 193 The Ultimate Enemy [Berserker 5] (1979) collection by Fred Saberhagen
* 193 The Smile [Berserker] (1977) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 211 Pressure [Berserker] (1967) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen (aka Berserker's Prey)
* 223 The Annihilation of Angkor Apeiron [Berserker] (1975) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 241 Inhuman Error [Berserker] (1974) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 263 Some Events at the Templar Radiant [Berserker] (1979) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 303 Starsong [Berserker] (1968) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 317 Smasher [Berserker] (1978) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 341 The Game [Berserker] (1977) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 357 Wings Out of Shadow [Berserker] (1974) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 5 Berserker [Berserker 1] (1967) collection by Fred Saberhagen
* 5 Without a Thought [Berserker] (1963) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen (aka Fortress Ship)
* 17 Goodlife [Berserker] (1963) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 41 Patron of the Arts [Berserker] (1965) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 51 The Peacemaker [Berserker] (1964) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen (aka The Life Hater)
* 61 Stone Place [Berserker] (1965) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 105 What T and I Did [Berserker] (1965) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 115 Mr. Jester [Berserker] (1966) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 131 Masque of the Red Shift [Berserker] (1965) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 153 Sign of the Wolf [Berserker] (1965) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 163 In the Temple of Mars [Berserker] (1966) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 183 The Face of the Deep [Berserker] (1966) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 193 The Ultimate Enemy [Berserker 5] (1979) collection by Fred Saberhagen
* 193 The Smile [Berserker] (1977) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 211 Pressure [Berserker] (1967) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen (aka Berserker's Prey)
* 223 The Annihilation of Angkor Apeiron [Berserker] (1975) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 241 Inhuman Error [Berserker] (1974) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 263 Some Events at the Templar Radiant [Berserker] (1979) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 303 Starsong [Berserker] (1968) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 317 Smasher [Berserker] (1978) novelette by Fred Saberhagen
* 341 The Game [Berserker] (1977) shortstory by Fred Saberhagen
* 357 Wings Out of Shadow [Berserker] (1974) novelette by Fred Saberhagen