rujein's review against another edition
4.0
Only read Openness so far, and it left a deep impression on me. Basically this story follows a relationship from its start to its end, the turning point being the couple "opening" their minds entirely to one another, in a world where communication between humans is conducted via revealing 'layers' of memories to one another. The central question of the story, is whether this complete openness (not just memories, but also thoughts in the moment) is good for a relationship. The narrator/half of the couple doesn't definitively point to it as the cause for the breakup, but he definitely suggests it is so (or that it expedited the breakup of an incompatible couple), raising incidents where the knowledge of the other's thoughts caused friction e.g. disdain for a parent, attraction towards a server.
I suppose the author painted an extreme scenario (complete openness, even to thoughts in the moment) to facilitate the exploration of the theme of openness; how much should we share with others, even those who are closest to us; how complete openness to thoughts in the moment may not leave room for the future (the couple broke up because the narrator saw a different guy in his partner's conception of the future - not a specific guy, just a guy who is different from him - but there was a possibility that it could change over time?). It also made me think too about how much work goes into communication in a relationship; we filter out thoughts which may be hurtful/cause harm (instinctive thoughts which we might realise later are irrational and unhelpful), we frame things in constructive ways etc.
I suppose the author painted an extreme scenario (complete openness, even to thoughts in the moment) to facilitate the exploration of the theme of openness; how much should we share with others, even those who are closest to us; how complete openness to thoughts in the moment may not leave room for the future (the couple broke up because the narrator saw a different guy in his partner's conception of the future - not a specific guy, just a guy who is different from him - but there was a possibility that it could change over time?). It also made me think too about how much work goes into communication in a relationship; we filter out thoughts which may be hurtful/cause harm (instinctive thoughts which we might realise later are irrational and unhelpful), we frame things in constructive ways etc.
catbooking's review against another edition
3.0
Overall not a bad collection. Only a handful stood out as amazing, and only about half caught my attention, not counting those that I have read elsewhere.
Utopia, Lol? by Jamie Wahls – delightfully hilarious.
Mother Tongues by S. Qiouyi Lu – as someone who is bilingual, gave me something to think about.
In The Sharing Place by David Erik Nelson – would make a great, albeit short, series.
One Hour, Every Seven Years by Alice Sola Kim – made me want to give the kid a hug.
Tender Loving Plastics by Amman Sabet – break my heart, why don’t ya.
Welcome To Your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse – it did say authentic.
Utopia, Lol? by Jamie Wahls – delightfully hilarious.
Mother Tongues by S. Qiouyi Lu – as someone who is bilingual, gave me something to think about.
In The Sharing Place by David Erik Nelson – would make a great, albeit short, series.
One Hour, Every Seven Years by Alice Sola Kim – made me want to give the kid a hug.
Tender Loving Plastics by Amman Sabet – break my heart, why don’t ya.
Welcome To Your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse – it did say authentic.
zoes_human's review against another edition
4.0
The best of science fiction uses the tools of the future to examine the complexities of the now. This anthology is most certainly the best. The New Voices of Science Fiction contains an exceptional collection of stories set in diverse and fascinating worlds, where the eternal dramas of the human experience are acted out in new and interesting ways as each author explores the mysteries of identity, relationships, and the human condition in their own unique style. While there is an overall tone of hope, substance was never sacrificed for joy, and readers will find depth throughout the collection.
Furthermore, I don't think I've ever seen anything like parity before in an anthology. In fact, I know that I haven't. Authors of various cultures, genders, races, sexualities, and ethnicities lend their voices to this collection, which is in no small way part of why the collection is so fresh.
STORY NOTES
Openness
Alexander Weinstein
4 stars
How does the rhythm of relationships change when social media becomes an imbedded part of life and an integrated part of romance?
The Shape of My Name
Nino Cipri
5 stars
A powerful story about anger and forgiveness in an imperfect family
Utopian, LOL?
Jamie Wahls
5 stars
When a human is placed in stasis until they can be cured, will they be able to recognize or cope with the humanity and world of the future? An amusing story with a beautiful ending.
Mother Tongues
Qiouyi Lu
5 stars
A heartwrenchingly beautiful tale of an immigrant mother's love for her child and her gift of the ultimate sacrifice.
In the Sharing Place
David Erik Nelson
4 stars
How does the human race survive in a future where mental flexibility and true acceptance are the only key to viability in the new world?
A Series of Steaks
Vina Jie-Min Prasad
5 stars
A woman struggling to keep her head above water faces an uncertain future when an anonymous and powerful enemy exploits her vulnerable position.
The Secret Life of Bots
Suzanne Palmer
3 stars
A derelict ship and her crew hurtle through space on a desperate mission to save humanity before the crumbling vessel falls apart.
Ice
Rich Larson
4 stars
What conflicts arise between siblings when parents choose genetic modification for their second child but not their first?
One Hour, Every Seven Years
Alice Sola Kim
4 stars
A woman with access to a time machine repeatedly tries to save herself only to find that she needs saving again.
Toppers
Jason Sanford
4 stars
A girl lost in time tries to find safety from a decaying future.
Tender Loving Plastics
Amman Sabet
5 stars
What is the shape of life for a child raised by an AI foster system, and how do they satisfy the longing to return home?
Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience
Rebecca Roanhorse
5 stars
An Indian man struggles to come to terms with his identity while making his living selling a stereotype of his culture. Absolutely incredible on so many levels. A perfect story. Not only does the writing flow in a completely natural fashion, but the subtext is a much needed statement on modern American relations between indigenous and settler peoples.
Strange Waters
Samantha Mills
4 stars
A mother throws herself repeatedly back into danger and strife all for the slimmest hope that she will see her children once more.
Calved
Sam J. Miller
5 stars
An immigrant father struggles to remain close to a teenage son separated by divorce and culture.
The Need for Air
Lettie Prell
5 stars
A mother tries to provide only the best for her child but fails to recognize the subjectivity of her choices and the validity of her child's desires.
Robo-Liopleurodon!
Darcie Little Badger
4 stars
A humorous slice-of-life piece of microfiction about the dangers of pursuing your passion in a dying field
The Doing and Undoing of Jacob E. Mwangi
E. Lily Yu
3 stars
An examination of life with a guaranteed income. This is one of two stories that fell flat for me. The writing was excellent and the universe creative, but the story arc felt too pat.
Madeleine
Amal El-Mohtar
3 stars
A woman throws herself into a medical experiment in the wake of her mother's death only to find herself lost in unanticipated side effects. This story probably deserves a better rating than I gave it. Due to my personal history, I find stories about grieving the death of a loved one highly unrelatable.
Our Lady of the Open Road
Sarah Pinsker
2 stars
A woman and her band struggle to maintain the tradition of live music while resisting the temptation of new opportunities. This was my least favorite. I felt zero connection with the motivations of the characters, and the whole experience was like hearing someone reminisce longingly about something altogether unpleasant.
A Study in Oils
Kelly Robson
A man flees to ancient Earth to hide from predators in the wake of a crime. There among those who live in traditional ways, he works through his guilt with an art that ha long been forbidden to him.
Furthermore, I don't think I've ever seen anything like parity before in an anthology. In fact, I know that I haven't. Authors of various cultures, genders, races, sexualities, and ethnicities lend their voices to this collection, which is in no small way part of why the collection is so fresh.
STORY NOTES
Openness
Alexander Weinstein
4 stars
How does the rhythm of relationships change when social media becomes an imbedded part of life and an integrated part of romance?
The Shape of My Name
Nino Cipri
5 stars
A powerful story about anger and forgiveness in an imperfect family
Utopian, LOL?
Jamie Wahls
5 stars
When a human is placed in stasis until they can be cured, will they be able to recognize or cope with the humanity and world of the future? An amusing story with a beautiful ending.
Mother Tongues
Qiouyi Lu
5 stars
A heartwrenchingly beautiful tale of an immigrant mother's love for her child and her gift of the ultimate sacrifice.
In the Sharing Place
David Erik Nelson
4 stars
How does the human race survive in a future where mental flexibility and true acceptance are the only key to viability in the new world?
A Series of Steaks
Vina Jie-Min Prasad
5 stars
A woman struggling to keep her head above water faces an uncertain future when an anonymous and powerful enemy exploits her vulnerable position.
The Secret Life of Bots
Suzanne Palmer
3 stars
A derelict ship and her crew hurtle through space on a desperate mission to save humanity before the crumbling vessel falls apart.
Ice
Rich Larson
4 stars
What conflicts arise between siblings when parents choose genetic modification for their second child but not their first?
One Hour, Every Seven Years
Alice Sola Kim
4 stars
A woman with access to a time machine repeatedly tries to save herself only to find that she needs saving again.
Toppers
Jason Sanford
4 stars
A girl lost in time tries to find safety from a decaying future.
Tender Loving Plastics
Amman Sabet
5 stars
What is the shape of life for a child raised by an AI foster system, and how do they satisfy the longing to return home?
Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience
Rebecca Roanhorse
5 stars
An Indian man struggles to come to terms with his identity while making his living selling a stereotype of his culture. Absolutely incredible on so many levels. A perfect story. Not only does the writing flow in a completely natural fashion, but the subtext is a much needed statement on modern American relations between indigenous and settler peoples.
Strange Waters
Samantha Mills
4 stars
A mother throws herself repeatedly back into danger and strife all for the slimmest hope that she will see her children once more.
Calved
Sam J. Miller
5 stars
An immigrant father struggles to remain close to a teenage son separated by divorce and culture.
The Need for Air
Lettie Prell
5 stars
A mother tries to provide only the best for her child but fails to recognize the subjectivity of her choices and the validity of her child's desires.
Robo-Liopleurodon!
Darcie Little Badger
4 stars
A humorous slice-of-life piece of microfiction about the dangers of pursuing your passion in a dying field
The Doing and Undoing of Jacob E. Mwangi
E. Lily Yu
3 stars
An examination of life with a guaranteed income. This is one of two stories that fell flat for me. The writing was excellent and the universe creative, but the story arc felt too pat.
Madeleine
Amal El-Mohtar
3 stars
A woman throws herself into a medical experiment in the wake of her mother's death only to find herself lost in unanticipated side effects. This story probably deserves a better rating than I gave it. Due to my personal history, I find stories about grieving the death of a loved one highly unrelatable.
Our Lady of the Open Road
Sarah Pinsker
2 stars
A woman and her band struggle to maintain the tradition of live music while resisting the temptation of new opportunities. This was my least favorite. I felt zero connection with the motivations of the characters, and the whole experience was like hearing someone reminisce longingly about something altogether unpleasant.
A Study in Oils
Kelly Robson
A man flees to ancient Earth to hide from predators in the wake of a crime. There among those who live in traditional ways, he works through his guilt with an art that ha long been forbidden to him.
sapphicbookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
I loved quite a few of these stories. The editors, Rajaniemi and Weisman, did a good job of balancing the darker stuff with more light-hearted tales. There's something for everyone, including us LGBTQ+ sci-fi nerds.
davidscrimshaw's review against another edition
5.0
Good stories and a great way to find out who you should be reading if your most recent favourite sci-fi author is Larry Niven or William Gibson.
kevinmccarrick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jentidders's review against another edition
3.0
The New Voices of Science Fiction is a brilliant anthology of cutting-edge short stories hand-selected by award-winning author Hannu Rajaniemi.
The stories come from the new wave of science fiction authors from a diverse range of countries, ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities - all of which is reflected in their works.
This is a genre spanning collection covering space, aliens, time travel, post-apocalypse, technology, medicine, parallel worlds, and more, and as with all such compendiums some tales are better than others, but here the balance favours the excellent over anything else.
I don't read enough science fiction these days, but this has certainly inspired me to look out more material by the authors included, as well as other upcoming writers in the field.
The stories come from the new wave of science fiction authors from a diverse range of countries, ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities - all of which is reflected in their works.
This is a genre spanning collection covering space, aliens, time travel, post-apocalypse, technology, medicine, parallel worlds, and more, and as with all such compendiums some tales are better than others, but here the balance favours the excellent over anything else.
I don't read enough science fiction these days, but this has certainly inspired me to look out more material by the authors included, as well as other upcoming writers in the field.
shonatiger's review against another edition
4.0
A very good anthology! Loved some of these stories very much, and this anthology has one of the best science fiction stories I've ever read (and which won awards): The Secret Life of Bots, by Suzanne Palmer. Nb: You should never take my word for anything about science fiction, as I am an unabashed fangirl, and can make no real sense when recommending things. However, this is an excellent story.
Openness, by Alexander Weinstein, essentially a Black Mirror story about our lives and love without privacy, was very thoughtful, and because it's the first story in the book, I knew I'd love the entire book.
The Shape of My Name by Nino Cipri is a frightening and painful story that I'd read before, and will recommend for the plot twist.
A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad is about printed meat, and grossed me out even as it made me LOL many times.
Mother Tongues by S. Qiouyi Lu nearly made me cry.
Ice by Rich Larson appears to be what a story in S2 of Love, Death + Robots is based on. (What do you mean you haven't watched LDR yet?!!)
*Reviewing the titles of the rest of the stories again makes me realise almost all of the stories nearly made me cry.*
In short, a gorgeous anthology, much more even than many of the anthologies I've read lately, and an unusually good science fiction one.
Will take you a while to read and savour, if this is your kind of thing.
Openness, by Alexander Weinstein, essentially a Black Mirror story about our lives and love without privacy, was very thoughtful, and because it's the first story in the book, I knew I'd love the entire book.
The Shape of My Name by Nino Cipri is a frightening and painful story that I'd read before, and will recommend for the plot twist.
A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad is about printed meat, and grossed me out even as it made me LOL many times.
Mother Tongues by S. Qiouyi Lu nearly made me cry.
Ice by Rich Larson appears to be what a story in S2 of Love, Death + Robots is based on. (What do you mean you haven't watched LDR yet?!!)
*Reviewing the titles of the rest of the stories again makes me realise almost all of the stories nearly made me cry.*
In short, a gorgeous anthology, much more even than many of the anthologies I've read lately, and an unusually good science fiction one.
Will take you a while to read and savour, if this is your kind of thing.
kieralesley's review against another edition
5.0
It’s a tough thing to edit an anthology – finding stories that match the anthology theme, making sure the stories are varied enough that readers will enjoy most of the offerings and hopefully find new writers to follow, and somehow keeping it all sequenced to showcase the individual offerings.
Hannu Rajaniemi, too, as an author is, for me, right out on the edge of the current generation of hard scifi writers – technical, fiercely explorative and vibrant – so I was excited to see what he selected. The result is a good range of contemporary and diverse scifi voices and stories: robots, climate change, time travel, progressive gender and familial dynamics, new diasporas and cultural shifts.
I was familiar with some of the stories here already (not uncommon, very good pieces often get reprinted in multiple anthologies and I read a fair number of them each year) but I was pleased that some of my recent favourites were included: Sarah Pinsker’s Our Lady of the Open Road, Mother Tongues by S. Qiouyi Lu, and Openness by Alexander Weinstein.
Of those new to me my favourites were: The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer, Tender Loving Plastics by Amman Sabet, and Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse.
My only gripe was with the ‘new’ part. This is likely subjective, but a lot of these authors have won Hugos for their work, have been writing for almost a decade, have been collected in ‘years best anthologies’ or are otherwise established short fiction writers. It’s a minor thing and doesn’t take away from the strength of the stories collected here, but the title does imply the collection will be casting further afield or finding cutting edge, emerging writers.
If you want a great roundup of what this generation’s scifi looks like – the topics and dilemmas it’s grappling with and the breadth of voices and experiences being included and portrayed, this is well worth your time.
An advance copy of this book was kindly provided by Tachyon Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this collection, you may also be interested in the companion volume published in 2017: The Best New Voices of Fantasy.
Hannu Rajaniemi, too, as an author is, for me, right out on the edge of the current generation of hard scifi writers – technical, fiercely explorative and vibrant – so I was excited to see what he selected. The result is a good range of contemporary and diverse scifi voices and stories: robots, climate change, time travel, progressive gender and familial dynamics, new diasporas and cultural shifts.
I was familiar with some of the stories here already (not uncommon, very good pieces often get reprinted in multiple anthologies and I read a fair number of them each year) but I was pleased that some of my recent favourites were included: Sarah Pinsker’s Our Lady of the Open Road, Mother Tongues by S. Qiouyi Lu, and Openness by Alexander Weinstein.
Of those new to me my favourites were: The Secret Life of Bots by Suzanne Palmer, Tender Loving Plastics by Amman Sabet, and Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse.
My only gripe was with the ‘new’ part. This is likely subjective, but a lot of these authors have won Hugos for their work, have been writing for almost a decade, have been collected in ‘years best anthologies’ or are otherwise established short fiction writers. It’s a minor thing and doesn’t take away from the strength of the stories collected here, but the title does imply the collection will be casting further afield or finding cutting edge, emerging writers.
If you want a great roundup of what this generation’s scifi looks like – the topics and dilemmas it’s grappling with and the breadth of voices and experiences being included and portrayed, this is well worth your time.
An advance copy of this book was kindly provided by Tachyon Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this collection, you may also be interested in the companion volume published in 2017: The Best New Voices of Fantasy.
talvinovels's review against another edition
4.0
I'll admit the first story almost made me DNF this entire anthology because I was worried they would all be that boring, but I'm glad I stuck with it because I ended up liking many stories in here a lot! I've only properly gotten into sci-fi this year and this was such a nice way for me to explore different sci-fi concepts.
Some of my favorites:
A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad
Toppers by Jason Sanford
Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse
Strange Waters by Samantha Mills
Madeleine by Amal El-Mohtar (this was my most favorite for sure!)
Some of my favorites:
A Series of Steaks by Vina Jie-Min Prasad
Toppers by Jason Sanford
Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™ by Rebecca Roanhorse
Strange Waters by Samantha Mills
Madeleine by Amal El-Mohtar (this was my most favorite for sure!)