Smith's most celebrated short story is his first-published, "Scanners Live in Vain", which led many of its earliest readers to assume that "Cordwainer Smith" was a new pen name for one of the established giants of the genre. It was selected as one of the best science fiction short stories of the pre-Nebula Award period by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, appearing in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929-1964. "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" was similarly honored, appearing in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two.
Smith's most celebrated short story is his first-pub:lished, "Scanners Live in Vain", which led many of its earliest readers to assume that "Cordwainer Smith" was a new pen name for one of the established giants of the genre. It was selected as one o!f the best science fiction short stories of the pre-Nebula Award period by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, appear.ing in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929-1964. "The Ballad of Los.t C'Mell" was similarly honored, appearing in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two.