Collections of short sci-fi stories can be thoroughly refreshing. It gives the author the space to explore outlandish concepts (societal, philosophical, technological, etc.) that wouldn't work too well stretched out to a full novel. From recent anthologies to paperbacks collecting a bunch of stories around a theme from the seventies: there are gems in every one of them (misses too of course).

I find it a good way to explore authors I haven't read anything by as well.