steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The premise of this sf collection is worthy: gather together speculative and experimental stretches of genre and idea in science fiction, regaining something of what made classic sf great. Resist all the tired genre tropes and formula nonsense which pervade so much of the predictable publishing paradigms. And, to a large degree, that premise is successful. Many of the authors and works (Susanna Clarke a personal favorite) have gone on to expand these works and grow larger careers.
There are also later volumes of the series which will include writers like Stephen Baxter, Ted Chiang, and Jane Yolen.
This first volume, though, has some real hits and near misses, what one might expect from its ambition, a few of which I might argue never truly reach what I would define as science fiction, more merely "tales of the unexpected" or "an idea for a scene I had."
Among the standouts, though, is Michael Swanwick's "The Dead," which foresees grim morality for a biotech which animates dead humans. Clarke's "The Ladies of Grace Adieu" is an early tale in the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, this alone worth the collection for fans of hers. Carter Scholz's "Mengele's Jew" is a disturbing cross of metaphysics and fanaticism. Maureen McHugh's "The Cost to Be Wise" (later expanded into the novel Mission Child) plays richly with a future anthropology ethic. And for me, my favorite was "Erase/Play/Record: A Drama for Print" by John M Ford, a stage play of sorts that weaves and unpacks its territory in both terrifying and too truthful ways.
And anthology of short fiction with 5 of 12 beings hits, to my eyes, is worth the time!
There are also later volumes of the series which will include writers like Stephen Baxter, Ted Chiang, and Jane Yolen.
This first volume, though, has some real hits and near misses, what one might expect from its ambition, a few of which I might argue never truly reach what I would define as science fiction, more merely "tales of the unexpected" or "an idea for a scene I had."
Among the standouts, though, is Michael Swanwick's "The Dead," which foresees grim morality for a biotech which animates dead humans. Clarke's "The Ladies of Grace Adieu" is an early tale in the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, this alone worth the collection for fans of hers. Carter Scholz's "Mengele's Jew" is a disturbing cross of metaphysics and fanaticism. Maureen McHugh's "The Cost to Be Wise" (later expanded into the novel Mission Child) plays richly with a future anthropology ethic. And for me, my favorite was "Erase/Play/Record: A Drama for Print" by John M Ford, a stage play of sorts that weaves and unpacks its territory in both terrifying and too truthful ways.
And anthology of short fiction with 5 of 12 beings hits, to my eyes, is worth the time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Torture, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Gore, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood
Each of the stories deals with different topics, and the more troubling content is often limited to a single story.jonmhansen's review
4.0
An excellent collection, although for a few of the stories the speculative element is a bit, shall we say, overly subtle. Nevertheless, quite enjoyable.
awamiba's review against another edition
Starlight 1 by Patrick (Editor) Nielsen Hayden (1996)
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