katpeterson06's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to as an audiobook and it was fantastic. Loved how odd the stories were.
shrrawat's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. I was surprised to get the book, then find that it's a sequel to another book which I hadn't read. That'll teach me to read the giveaway details more closely, instead of going straight for the plot line. Still, there was no harm done, as the book was simple and clear to read, even to a fresh new reader like myself. That point alone caused me to give it two stars.
The rest of the book earned the other two stars. As I have mentioned before in my other reviews, I do have a weakness for short stories, so one can say that I'm slightly biased. But truly, the stories in this book were remarkable. It is hard for a story to stand out in an anthology, but the majority of the tales in this book managed to do just that. It also conquered another challenge many short stories face: predictability, or some stories sounding exactly the same as others. But with so many authors coming from so many different walks of life, this obstacle was cleared, with many fresh, new stories to be offered to the reader.
There are few flaws to be found in this book. Yes some plot lines in some of the stories are predictable (at least to me), and there are a few with a bit too much melodrama. But I believe that this book will be as popular as its predecessor (I think the first book was popular to demand a sequel), to both old and new fans.
The rest of the book earned the other two stars. As I have mentioned before in my other reviews, I do have a weakness for short stories, so one can say that I'm slightly biased. But truly, the stories in this book were remarkable. It is hard for a story to stand out in an anthology, but the majority of the tales in this book managed to do just that. It also conquered another challenge many short stories face: predictability, or some stories sounding exactly the same as others. But with so many authors coming from so many different walks of life, this obstacle was cleared, with many fresh, new stories to be offered to the reader.
There are few flaws to be found in this book. Yes some plot lines in some of the stories are predictable (at least to me), and there are a few with a bit too much melodrama. But I believe that this book will be as popular as its predecessor (I think the first book was popular to demand a sequel), to both old and new fans.
srgower's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book - I really thought it was great how many similar themes were found through all of the stories. Well curated!
mishafreya's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. I LOVED this. Each story was totally creative and different, and many had clever twists that I totally didn't expect. Some were funny, and others were very dark. The "prompt" - humans have developed a way to predict how everyone will die, but not when, and without specifics - is interpreted very differently by each author. Some stories were better than others, but all were innovative and fun to read.
literarystrawberry's review against another edition
I honestly love the concept behind this, and I loved how unique all the stories were and how they took that concept in so many different directions. Starting off, I was totally planning on giving it four stars, but later on there were some stories that I... Don't feel comfortable recommending. xD But yeah! There were a lot of super cool stories in here and I really enjoyed reading them.
ampersandread22's review against another edition
5.0
Read this and other reviews at Ampersand Read.
I need to start reading more anthologies, if most of them are as interesting and all-around excellent as this one!
In all 31 stories, there were only a couple I felt indifferent about. Pretty good track record! I loved the different genres and different takes on the "Machine of Death." And most authors incorporated a twist, a different interpretation of the Machine's prediction that changed the character's perspective and/or how they lived their life and dealt with their prediction. I loved getting to experience twist after twist, seeing how people and characters interpreted this concept.
In fact, there are so many interesting, well-written gems in this collection, if I reviewed every one, this goodreads post would be a mile long. So I shall address only a few, but trust me: all of them are worth reading!
"Zephyr" by George Page III explores the impact of this machine on the military and soldiers going into battle, knowing the very second they are most likely to die. They are separated into two units: the Ephemerals (those whose death time is imminent) and the Invincibles (those whose death is still far off). The action was compelling and well-written, and the twist was chilling as well as interesting, opening up doors for the author as well as the reader.
"Conflagration" by D.L.E Roger tells the story of a faltering marriage, where both halves are involved in Machine of Death predictions. One horrible realization shifts the story, and the complex relationships between characters, developed even within a short story, really deepens the impact of this machine in a modern world.
"Your Choice" by Richard Salter is a CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE STORY! I mean, how cool is that?!
"Not Applicable" by Kyle Schoenfeld is the first published piece by this author, and I hope this guy writes a book because I love his writing style (another perk to anthologies - you discover so many new authors to explore and enjoy!). What happens when people start getting predictions that say "Not Applicable"? What happens when you discover the horrible truth behind those predictions, and need to say goodbye to everything you know? (Sorry, but it's hard to summarize this story without spoiling anything!)
And there are still so many other great stories! "Screaming, Crying, Alone, and Afraid" (Daliso Chaponda) is what would happen if the TV show Criminal Minds had access to a Machine of Death. "Apitoxin" (John Takis) is a period perfect Sherlock Holmes mystery...you know, if Sherlock found out this machine existed. "Toxoplasmosis of the Brain..." (Gord Sellar) explores the machine's impact on the AIDS epidemic. And I'm holding back from adding more.
If you enjoy Sci-Fi/Fantasy short stories at all, if this concept sounds at all interesting, go out and get this and read it and love it. I know you will!
I need to start reading more anthologies, if most of them are as interesting and all-around excellent as this one!
In all 31 stories, there were only a couple I felt indifferent about. Pretty good track record! I loved the different genres and different takes on the "Machine of Death." And most authors incorporated a twist, a different interpretation of the Machine's prediction that changed the character's perspective and/or how they lived their life and dealt with their prediction. I loved getting to experience twist after twist, seeing how people and characters interpreted this concept.
In fact, there are so many interesting, well-written gems in this collection, if I reviewed every one, this goodreads post would be a mile long. So I shall address only a few, but trust me: all of them are worth reading!
"Zephyr" by George Page III explores the impact of this machine on the military and soldiers going into battle, knowing the very second they are most likely to die. They are separated into two units: the Ephemerals (those whose death time is imminent) and the Invincibles (those whose death is still far off). The action was compelling and well-written, and the twist was chilling as well as interesting, opening up doors for the author as well as the reader.
"Conflagration" by D.L.E Roger tells the story of a faltering marriage, where both halves are involved in Machine of Death predictions. One horrible realization shifts the story, and the complex relationships between characters, developed even within a short story, really deepens the impact of this machine in a modern world.
"Your Choice" by Richard Salter is a CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE STORY! I mean, how cool is that?!
"Not Applicable" by Kyle Schoenfeld is the first published piece by this author, and I hope this guy writes a book because I love his writing style (another perk to anthologies - you discover so many new authors to explore and enjoy!). What happens when people start getting predictions that say "Not Applicable"? What happens when you discover the horrible truth behind those predictions, and need to say goodbye to everything you know? (Sorry, but it's hard to summarize this story without spoiling anything!)
And there are still so many other great stories! "Screaming, Crying, Alone, and Afraid" (Daliso Chaponda) is what would happen if the TV show Criminal Minds had access to a Machine of Death. "Apitoxin" (John Takis) is a period perfect Sherlock Holmes mystery...you know, if Sherlock found out this machine existed. "Toxoplasmosis of the Brain..." (Gord Sellar) explores the machine's impact on the AIDS epidemic. And I'm holding back from adding more.
If you enjoy Sci-Fi/Fantasy short stories at all, if this concept sounds at all interesting, go out and get this and read it and love it. I know you will!
thomcat's review against another edition
4.0
The original premise and collection of stories were quite good, leading the editors to seek submissions for a sequel. All tolled, 1958 new stories (and 151 art folios) were submitted. This new volume represents the best of those, and is also very good.
Authors branched a little further from the original theme - a machine which can tell you how (but not when) you are going to die. My favorites were “ZEPHYR” by George Page III (Space marines form into fighting units coordinated by the times of their impending deaths) and “CANCER” by editor Ryan North (A terminal patient discovers that her prediction may not be as straightforward as it seems at first). Perhaps one of the most clever stories was “TWO ONE SIX” by Marleigh Norton (A woman struggles to unravel the relevance of her numerical prediction).
My favorite from the first collection was also authored by [a:Ryan North|45763|Ryan North|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1281073709p2/45763.jpg] - I will have to seek out more of his stories to read - including Dinosaur Comics, which I confess I have never read.
Authors branched a little further from the original theme - a machine which can tell you how (but not when) you are going to die. My favorites were “ZEPHYR” by George Page III (Space marines form into fighting units coordinated by the times of their impending deaths) and “CANCER” by editor Ryan North (A terminal patient discovers that her prediction may not be as straightforward as it seems at first). Perhaps one of the most clever stories was “TWO ONE SIX” by Marleigh Norton (A woman struggles to unravel the relevance of her numerical prediction).
My favorite from the first collection was also authored by [a:Ryan North|45763|Ryan North|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1281073709p2/45763.jpg] - I will have to seek out more of his stories to read - including Dinosaur Comics, which I confess I have never read.
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
4.0
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway, which I entered because it sounded like a quirky read. It was much different from what I was expecting.
First off, I have to say that I am still not sure if I would want to know how and/or when I am going to die, even if the prediction includes a play on words, as some do. Quite a few of the stories discuss that question in terms of whether it will allow you to be at peace and get on with doing what you want/need to do or whether it will be a burden that changes your fate.
Second, this book is a marvelous study aid if you are an aspiring or even published writer. Who would have thought there could be so many ways of writing a story based on the idea of a machine that tells how you will die? To that end, the first story in the book is a lovely way to begin (though, this being an anthology, you can skip around and read them in any order that works for you), because it is a simple story about love and family and choices -- no sci-fi/fantasy, futuristic, doomsday, or technical aspects at all. Other selections include a story featuring Sherlock Holmes, a choose-your-own-path story, a great comic take on the ironies of death featuring a self-proclaimed henchman, a story involving zombies, one that covers the French Revolution, one that is really reminiscent of Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, one addressing the AIDS crisis in Africa, and one that pays homage to Henrietta Lacks.
Did I like all of the stories? Actually, 95% of them at least. One left me rather puzzled, in part due to the style and in part due to the internal world being a little lacking in background (esp since I am not a huge fantasy/sci-fi reader), but even then it was good. The illustrations are really well done in that graphic novel style that works so well with the subject matter. All in all, a truly impressive compilation. I will keep a lookout for the original collection of stories, The Machine of Death, because I am curious what other ways the concept can be interpreted.
First off, I have to say that I am still not sure if I would want to know how and/or when I am going to die, even if the prediction includes a play on words, as some do. Quite a few of the stories discuss that question in terms of whether it will allow you to be at peace and get on with doing what you want/need to do or whether it will be a burden that changes your fate.
Second, this book is a marvelous study aid if you are an aspiring or even published writer. Who would have thought there could be so many ways of writing a story based on the idea of a machine that tells how you will die? To that end, the first story in the book is a lovely way to begin (though, this being an anthology, you can skip around and read them in any order that works for you), because it is a simple story about love and family and choices -- no sci-fi/fantasy, futuristic, doomsday, or technical aspects at all. Other selections include a story featuring Sherlock Holmes, a choose-your-own-path story, a great comic take on the ironies of death featuring a self-proclaimed henchman, a story involving zombies, one that covers the French Revolution, one that is really reminiscent of Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, one addressing the AIDS crisis in Africa, and one that pays homage to Henrietta Lacks.
Did I like all of the stories? Actually, 95% of them at least. One left me rather puzzled, in part due to the style and in part due to the internal world being a little lacking in background (esp since I am not a huge fantasy/sci-fi reader), but even then it was good. The illustrations are really well done in that graphic novel style that works so well with the subject matter. All in all, a truly impressive compilation. I will keep a lookout for the original collection of stories, The Machine of Death, because I am curious what other ways the concept can be interpreted.
l1brarygirl's review against another edition
4.0
Pop Sugar’s 2015 Reading Challenge - A book set in the future