If you want a great collection of Eric Frank Russell's short stories you have two choices - go through anthology after anthology looking for the occasional EFR story or go buy Major Ingredients.

If you haven't experienced Eric Frank Russell or have only read a story or two of his, Major Ingredients may well catch you off guard. He's a much better author than many people give him credit for. All too many have only been exposed to his weakest works.

I'm a pretty big Russell fan, and there are short stories in Major Ingredients that I had never read before. Up until I bought this book, an anthology with an EFR short in it was very likely to be bought, unless I was 100% certain I already owned it.

There are too many stories to review them individually, so I will mention a few favorite titles: Allmagoosa, Dear Devil, Jay Score, Plus X and The Waitabits. Just a few favorites off the top of my head; by no means a complete list. And no, this book is not a comprehensive collection.

Yes, much of his work is dated and/or idealistic. He has a love of humor in his stories and defiance of excessive authority. This is not heavy science fiction on the whole. But it is excellent reading.