- The hardcover edition was heavily edited and abridged by the publisher. The paperback reprint restored the original text.
- The concept was to have the "ultimate" story about: first contact, the exploration of space, immortality, inner space, robots and androids, strange children, 2 x future sex, space opera, alternate universes, the uncontrolled machine, after the Holocaust, time travel.
| Year | Award | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Locus Poll Award | Best Original Anthology (old) | Nominee/Finalist |
| 1976 | Locus Poll Award | Best Anthology | Nominee/Finalist |
| Date | Publication | Publisher | Type | Page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1974 |
|
Final Stage: The Ultimate Science Fiction Anthology | Charterhouse | Anthology | |
| May 1975 |
|
Final Stage | Penguin Books | Anthology | |
| November 1977 |
|
Ultima tappa | Mondadori | Anthology | |
| November 1982 |
|
Brennpunkt Zukunft 1 | Ullstein | Anthology | |
| October 1984 |
|
Brennpunkt Zukunft 3 | Ullstein | Anthology |