Off Center is a collection of five science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 short stories by Damon Knight

Damon Knight

Damon Francis Knight was an American science fiction author, editor, critic and fan. His forte was short stories and he is widely acknowledged as having been a master of the genre.-Biography:...

. The stories were originally published between 1952 and 1964 in Galaxy, If

If (magazine)

If was an American science fiction magazine launched in March 1952 by Quinn Publications, owned by James L. Quinn. Quinn hired Paul W. Fairman to be the first editor, but early circulation figures were disappointing, and Quinn fired Fairman after only three issues. Quinn then took over the...

and other science fiction magazines.

The first printing, by Ace

Ace Books

Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...

, was bound dos-à-dos

Dos-à-dos binding

In bookbinding, a dos-à-dos binding is a binding structure in which two separate books are bound together such that the fore edge of one is adjacent to the spine of the other, with a shared lower board between them serving as the back cover of both...

 with Knight's The Rithian Terror

The Rithian Terror

The Rithian Terror is a science fiction novel by Damon Knight. The story is a psychological thriller that follows an Earth security officer in the future who is racing against time to locate an alien spy.-Synopsis:...

, as Ace Double M-113. In 1969 the book was re-issued in the UK by Gollancz

Gollancz

Gollancz often refers to the British publishing house Victor Gollancz Ltd.Gollancz, a family name originating from the Polish town Gołańcz , is mainly known as the name of a prominent British Jewish family, including:* Sir Hermann Gollancz , rabbi* Sir Israel Gollancz , scholar of...

 with the title Off Centre; the novella was omitted and three additional stories were included: "Dulcie and Decorum

Dulcie and Decorum

"Dulcie and Decorum" is a science fiction short story written by Damon Knight. It first appeared in the March 1955 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction...

", "Masks", and "To Be Continued".

Contents

• "What Rough Beast"
• "The Second-Class Citizen"
• "Be My Guest
  Be My Guest (short story)
  "Be My Guest" is a science fiction short story by Damon Knight. It was first published in the September 1958 issue of Fantastic Universe and was re-printed in the collections Off Center and The Others...
  
  "
• "God's Nose"
• "Catch That Martian"