This is a story about the making of a yellow pottery bowl, and goes to show there's no limit to imagination. This is Vance at his best when it comes tThis is a story about the making of a yellow pottery bowl, and goes to show there's no limit to imagination. This is Vance at his best when it comes to the creation of strange cultures. -30-...more
3.7⭐ I have no idea how long ago I read this short novel, but it sticks with me, as do many of Biggle's stories. A space traveler is marooned on a lost3.7⭐ I have no idea how long ago I read this short novel, but it sticks with me, as do many of Biggle's stories. A space traveler is marooned on a lost colony world where the humans have forgotten where they came from. The world is a paradise and the people are unsophisticated but at peace with themselves and their planet. Knowing that unscrupulous developers would exploit the colonists, he devises a plan to save them. A nice little story....more
3.8⭐ I can't remember how long ago I read this but I can remember thinking it was a pretty good collection of stories. In particular I recall 'Placet i3.8⭐ I can't remember how long ago I read this but I can remember thinking it was a pretty good collection of stories. In particular I recall 'Placet is a Crazy Place' and 'The Waveries '....more
Read this science fiction classic in college, as part of a course. The basis for TOS StarTrek episode of the same name. I liked if fine but it hasn'tRead this science fiction classic in college, as part of a course. The basis for TOS StarTrek episode of the same name. I liked if fine but it hasn't stuck with me the way some stories of that era have, like Cordwainer Smith's "Game of Rat and Dragon" or Clarke's "The Sentinel" to name but two....more
3.3 ⭐ Very decent science fiction mystery short story. I thought I detected a nod to 'Murderbot' wherein our heroine, Ace, is inspired to solve the mu3.3 ⭐ Very decent science fiction mystery short story. I thought I detected a nod to 'Murderbot' wherein our heroine, Ace, is inspired to solve the murder in part through her favourite serial, 'Frontier Justice'...but who knows, really? My second Roth story and she's clearly a journeyman writer. I'll have to try more of her stuff, including longer works. A fine, small diversion. Part of Amazon's, 'Far Reaches' collection, available for free for those enslaved to Prime. -30-...more
3.2⭐ The rip snorting conclusion to Tchaikovsky's far flung space opera trilogy. First, the villains ( slave holding aristocrats; human supremacists;3.2⭐ The rip snorting conclusion to Tchaikovsky's far flung space opera trilogy. First, the villains ( slave holding aristocrats; human supremacists; man hating Amazons) disrupt our heros' (plucky space crew; cute AI robots/aliens; good Amazons) efforts to save the universe from inscrutable, genocidal, all powerful aliens. The good guys rally and mount a breathless, last minute, do or die mission ( that lasts the final third of the book). Happy endings all around. What's not to like?
Sure the prose is slightly purple; the technobabble is piled high and deep and it's more science fantasy than science fiction. I can live with all that.
Mostly for fans of the genre, I would say. -30-...more
Original review August 7/23 3.0⭐ The first third of this book seemed to me a mash up of a space station plumbing manual and the Book of Genesis ( the flOriginal review August 7/23 3.0⭐ The first third of this book seemed to me a mash up of a space station plumbing manual and the Book of Genesis ( the flood story- "no more water-the fire next time." ) The second third is a heavy topping of disaster porn, to keep things moving along briskly. Finally, we get to the space opera! Overall an ok post apocalyptic tale of humanity's survival after a "hard rain" of meteors fries the earth's surface. Stephenson tries to give it a hard science coating with data dumps on basic stuff like delta vee and other rocket science but advancing his plot really depends on quasi-science and out and out techno-magic. Like repopulating the human race from only seven people, by parthenogenesis, invented on the fly, in orbit. Really? So, the required suspension of disbelief is significant, to put it mildly. So what? That's why they call it science *fiction*. It's a well paced thriller with a couple of characters that almost transcend cardboard. Good enough for me! -30- Postscript August 9/23 I should explain my "well paced" comment, because the many, many data dumps really slows it down. But not if you shift into "The Princess Bride's" 'good parts' mode i.e. skim the technobabble until the story kicks up again. Then the the pacing is just fine. -30-...more
3.4⭐ The last guy alive ( as far as anyone knows) is rescued by some triangular aliens and becomes a kind of living fossil ( or "relic" ). Two adolescen3.4⭐ The last guy alive ( as far as anyone knows) is rescued by some triangular aliens and becomes a kind of living fossil ( or "relic" ). Two adolescent survivors are eventually found, complicating matters immensely. The triangles get into a spat with bendy alien lizards over who owns the humans. Then everybody goes to Earth. Good, clean fun!...more
2.8⭐ Classic later-Clarke, written in short, choppy chapters, each with its own corny title. It's an asteroid-on-collision-path-with-earth tale, by the2.8⭐ Classic later-Clarke, written in short, choppy chapters, each with its own corny title. It's an asteroid-on-collision-path-with-earth tale, by the man who claimed to have more or less invented the genre ( see the odd essay at the end of the book). Once again, Clarke's touching faith in technology to solve all our problems is on full display. There's also some strange sociological predictions, the rise of the new religion Chrislam and the demise of the Catholic Church-caused by its acceptance of modern contraception, for examples.
Obviously a bit dated in the 30 years since it's publication but still a decent enough tale of derring-do in space. The erratic style of the book as it jumps from locale to locale and character to character impeded the smooth flow of story telling, at least to my reading. The data dumps of 30 year old science didn't help much, either. Still, Clarke is Clarke, one of the giants I cut my teeth on, so there's a lot of affection for the author and his works. It's also a short, easy read. -30-...more
3.7 ⭐ Apart from "Firewatch" and "A Letter From The Clearys" I personally wouldn't rate the rest of these stories as Willis' best although they're all3.7 ⭐ Apart from "Firewatch" and "A Letter From The Clearys" I personally wouldn't rate the rest of these stories as Willis' best although they're all good, if not superior, short science fiction. I think "Daisy in the Sun" was a major omission, in my totally subjective opinion, from any collection purporting to be this author's "best." The remaining stories, while as always imaginative and well written, didn't strike me as 'peak' Willis, despite the numerous awards they have racked up. Again, totally subjective.
I'll admit I got a politically incorrect chuckle from "Even the Queen" and Willis' wicked take on 'Liberation' and the 'Cyclists' ( who are not bicycle enthusiasts). I've never been enamored of her Christmas/romance obsession though, represented here by "All Seated on the Ground." I found her take on the horror genre, "Death on the Nile" slightly eerie at best.. but then again I am not a fan.
When this author is on, she can hit it out of the park. Even the merely good stories are two and three base hits. So while maybe not the mythical "best" it is still a collection of above average science fiction. -30-...more
3.0⭐ Original Review July 21, 2023 This book wraps up nicely the latest arc in the endless space opera saga of Black Jack Geary and his not-Lost Fleet.3.0⭐ Original Review July 21, 2023 This book wraps up nicely the latest arc in the endless space opera saga of Black Jack Geary and his not-Lost Fleet. Let's be honest - it's formulaic with shallow characterization, corny jokes and occasionally painful dialogue. Who cares? It's got all the space battles, aliens ( this time it's hippie octopuses with super advanced technology), and cheap heroics you need. I make no apologies for this guilty pleasure. It provided a welcome few hours of distraction from a miserable cold. I must admit the ending was glaringly obvious but so what? Of course I'll read the next inevitable, installment. -30- P.s. I did enjoy the crazy ( literally), monomanical tech billionaire who thinks only he has the map to the future. Elon, much? September 2023 Reread. Just needed a quick reality break, back in Black Jack Gearyland. Also checking to see if I missed any subtle nuances the first time through. Nope....more
3.6⭐ Another warm / fuzzy space opera from Becky Chambers, the second in her Wayfarers series. Lovelace, the AI from the first book, is now passing as3.6⭐ Another warm / fuzzy space opera from Becky Chambers, the second in her Wayfarers series. Lovelace, the AI from the first book, is now passing as human, in an illegal "body kit". AI you see, is the new Black (or Gay or insert oppressed minority here), not recognized as persons despite their sentience and highly restricted as to their role in the galactic civilization Chambers creates. It's a story about finding place and purpose and it's a pretty good one. It alternates with the story of a cloned slave labourer and her flight to freedom. I recognize this is a popular and well regarded book and I like it just fine although I don't consider it brilliant or hugely original. What it is, is well written and well paced and just a pleasant story ( except for Clone-world, but that's not overpowering). I will undoubtedly be looking for the next books in this series as well as bouncing with anticipation for the next installment of Chambers' Monk and Robot books. -30-...more
2.3⭐ A straightforward ( and obvious) short tale of human possession by alien Puppet Masters (see what I did, there?). The ending struck me as mildly2.3⭐ A straightforward ( and obvious) short tale of human possession by alien Puppet Masters (see what I did, there?). The ending struck me as mildly homophobic. Not Silverberg's best work....more
3.0⭐ A monsterous (1000 page) survey of science fiction, designed for use by students of the genre. I found it an odd compilation of novellas and shor3.0⭐ A monsterous (1000 page) survey of science fiction, designed for use by students of the genre. I found it an odd compilation of novellas and short stories, of varying quality. One the positive side- it allowed me to read a number of classic stories I'd been unable to find previously, including John W. Campbell's "Who Goes There" (the basis for the film "The Thing," in all its iterations); Ward Moore's "Bring the Jubilee," often credited as the original alternative history tale; Phillip Nowland's first Buck Rodgers story "Armageddon 2419 AD." I also reread "The Time Machine" for the first time in 50 years, or so.
While there are some clear classics, such as Arthur C Clarke's "The Sentinel," Heinlein's "Green Hills of Earth" and Cordwainer Smith's "The Game of Rat and Dragon, other writers are represented by minor or mediocre examples of their work. The editor, Leigh Grossman, cites three examples where authors convinced him to abandon his first choice for lesser known stories, a strange process.
The stories are interspersed with essays on different aspects of science fiction written by a variety of academics, most of which I found to be forgetable. While there's an effort to include both stories and essay topics from outside the United States, the focus is still overwhelmingly American. To use a random example, the essay on science fiction and television is simply a quick survey of US shows since the medium began. There's one reference to Dr. Who, which mockingly describes the quality of its special effects. There's no reference at all to other seminal British programs like the Quatermass series, or The Prisoner and not a single mention of Japanese, French or any other non US production.
The book does however, contain a lot of good science fiction, all in one place and it does, by pure bulk, present an overview of the genre's last century. I would contrast it to the last sci-fi survey I read, "The Future is Female", which was very well curated with tightly written commentary. The latter also has something this book does not, a sense of wonder. It's buried under too many mediocre stories and essays and side trips into the commercial aspects of science fiction. A shame, really. -30-...more
3.4 ⭐ This started out like Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" on amphetamines, well written, gripping military science fiction at a frenzied pace. It car3.4 ⭐ This started out like Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" on amphetamines, well written, gripping military science fiction at a frenzied pace. It carries on like that for 100 or so pages, dragging you further in. Then it stops dead and drops you into a completely different story, at a much slower speed. I found it hard to maintain interest after the abrupt change-up, especially since the new story, about an unscrupulous cad up to no good on an isolated colony world, is kind of flabby. Eventually Steakley starts to tie the two parts together, but it takes too long. The book returns to the warfare after a protracted detour, then wraps up in a final section where "all is revealed." It's not a bad book really, superior to the vast majority of the genre, with some decent twists and some good writing. With the proper editing though, it could have been a great book. The ending literally begs the question of a sequel, which Steakley was writing when he died. I would have read it. For a much better, one sentence review, check out my friend Rog Peterson:https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8......more
2.5⭐ This is a very odd book. Full review tomorrow. ------------------- James Tiptree Jr. (whose real name was Alice Sheldon) has for years been one of my2.5⭐ This is a very odd book. Full review tomorrow. ------------------- James Tiptree Jr. (whose real name was Alice Sheldon) has for years been one of my favorite science fiction authors. Her work, mostly short stories, was edgy, often grim, unromantic and highly imaginative. And she almost always had something to say. This book, one of her two novel length works, is something else.
First off, it's a full blown space opera, complete with interstellar wars; science fiction style royalty; a space patrol; mysterious aliens and a "Federation." I'm not sure if Tiptree is writing a parody of the genre or if she's saying "if this is what you want, here it is." I suspect there's some tongue in cheek because of her use of terms like "spacers" and having cabin boys and cabin girls on space ships. She just seems to be laying it on too thickly.
The novel is set on a remote planet (on the "rim of space" -there seem to be more than a few nods to A. Bertram Chandler in the book) where a group of humans are gathering to watch the spectacular effects of a nova wave front. The nova is the remains of a star that was "murdered" by humans, in an act of war that wiped out an intelligent race. The planet is also the site of historic atrocities against the native, avian race, who were cruelly exploited in the production of an incredibly valuable drug/liquor. Secrets abound among the group and of course dark deeds are soon under way.
One of the things I've admired about Tiptree was her effective and unaffected prose. In this book the dialogue is flowery and melodramatic. The main villain speaks in a mincing and contrived fashion that immediately brings to mind Dr. Evil, from the Austin Powers movies. You want to scream at the oblivious heroes "Of course he's up to no good! Listen to him talk!"
One element some readers found off putting was the inclusion of the character of an interstellar pornographer with a heart of gold. And not just any pornographer but a child pornographer; his troupe of performers are all described as being well under the age of 18. I think what Tiptree is doing here is extrapolating the adult film industry of the '80s into the future, as already it was increasingly focused on the young and nubile. The character's home planet of "Gridworld" is clearly a caricature of Hollywood, where aspiring young people are consumed and destroyed at a fearsome rate and where it's perfectly legal to sign anyone over the age of five to a binding contract. When an iron jawed captain of the space patrol remarks it might be time to shut down Gridworld through a boycott, our producer/pornographer (who secretly longs to make documentaries) glibly says "It's been tried," and goes on to explain the rest of the universe simply demands the content. It seems like satire to me.
Whatever Tiptree was trying to do her florid dialogue, and over the top melodrama got in the way, imo. My main problem with the book, I suppose, was my expectation of the author. I kept wondering where James Tiptree Jr. was. I dithered between 2 and 3 stars for a long time but I realized anyone else would have gotten 3 stars for the space opera weirdness. For Tiptree it was a two star book, but I gave her the benefit of being "anyone else." -30-...more
3.0⭐ The edition of this book I read was titled "Hunting The White Witch". It's the final book in the Birthgrave trilogy, which sees the sorcerer/warri3.0⭐ The edition of this book I read was titled "Hunting The White Witch". It's the final book in the Birthgrave trilogy, which sees the sorcerer/warrior/barbarian Vazkor finally come to grips with his sorceress/goddess/mother, Karrakaz. It's a satisfactory conclusion to an above average fantasy series. Lee is an imaginative writer with a talent for colorful description. While it's certainly an adult fantasy series it's not vulgar or graphic. While comparisons with other writers are not always useful ( or fair) I think Lee took inspiration from Jack Vance and Robert Howard and still skillfully created her own, unique setting. I don't know that I'd go out of my way to read more of her books (classic fantasy just isn't my main thing), I wouldn't avoid them, either. -30-...more
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