billd's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
I've enjoyed the work of Ursula K. Le Guin for quite a long time, probably back to my university days when I first read The Left Hand of Darkness. To be fair, it took me awhile to get into her other stories as I seemed to keep rereading Left Hand. At any rate, over the past few years, I've begun to explore her other works; getting into her Earthsea fantasy series, her poetry, short stories, a book of interviews, etc. I've also started tracking down her other books. I found Interfaces when she mentioned it, either in one of her interviews, or in the foreward of another book I read. Ramble, ramble, ramble... Get to the point, Bill!
Interfaces is a collection of short stories. Le Guin didn't write any. It was a project conceived with her publisher, Virginia Kidd. They approached Sci-Fi / speculative fiction authors and asked them to submit short stories; no theme, no restrictions, just submit stories. And from that beginning, put together Interfaces.
In this collection are 19 stories (two are actually poems, but hey) from authors such as John Crowley, Vonda McIntyre, Philippa Maddern, Edward Bryant, James Tiptree, etc. It's an eclectic, intriguing collection, some I enjoyed more than others. Short stories always present the same problems for me; how do you get into the plot quickly, introducing characters, settings, stories and then close it off as successfully. And to my mediocre mind, that was a 'problem' here, but not an important one. I say that because no matter what, these people can write. They present wonderful pictures, draw you in, then, even if it's not all wrapped up tidy and succinctly, leave you thinking... What the hey?
There is so much variety in this selection, it's difficult to find a particular favorite. I find that the stories blend together in some ways; was this story about this, or that? Yes, I'm copping out somewhat. You do really have to read this collection yourself. OK, a couple of examples. In Earth and Stone by Robert Holdstock, John Farrell travels back in time to a prehistoric settlement as part of a scientific experiment. He's partly looking for another traveler, also trying to get away from his own time. There is a mystery here, involving vampire type peoples?? A Short History of the Bicycle by Michael Bishop.. OK, this one was strange. Praeger is on the planet Drasienne watching / writing about bicycle creatures. Are they created because of the dreams or realities on Earth or is it an actual planet of bicycles???? Precession by Edward Bryant... Time seems to be in free flow here. At one point it's winter, then when the protagonist wakes, it's summer, he has to get to the university where he is teaching.... Keep track, it moves around..... Slow Music, the final story by James Tiptree, Jr. It seems like Earth as we know it is finished. People have gone to the River (what is it? An alien creation?) Jacko is heading home to see his father after visiting the Cities, abandoned pretty well, and meets Peachthief, a young girl trying to get pregnant. She doesn't want to go to the River. She wants to stay on Earth, raise children.. a battle of wills between Jacko and Peachthief..
Of course, I'm not laying these stories out very well. Basically, they are an intriguing, interesting collection, that it's worth checking out. More about the creation of a short story than any particular Sci-Fi / speculative fiction theme, but it's there too... Try it is all I can really say. (4.0 stars)
Interfaces is a collection of short stories. Le Guin didn't write any. It was a project conceived with her publisher, Virginia Kidd. They approached Sci-Fi / speculative fiction authors and asked them to submit short stories; no theme, no restrictions, just submit stories. And from that beginning, put together Interfaces.
In this collection are 19 stories (two are actually poems, but hey) from authors such as John Crowley, Vonda McIntyre, Philippa Maddern, Edward Bryant, James Tiptree, etc. It's an eclectic, intriguing collection, some I enjoyed more than others. Short stories always present the same problems for me; how do you get into the plot quickly, introducing characters, settings, stories and then close it off as successfully. And to my mediocre mind, that was a 'problem' here, but not an important one. I say that because no matter what, these people can write. They present wonderful pictures, draw you in, then, even if it's not all wrapped up tidy and succinctly, leave you thinking... What the hey?
There is so much variety in this selection, it's difficult to find a particular favorite. I find that the stories blend together in some ways; was this story about this, or that? Yes, I'm copping out somewhat. You do really have to read this collection yourself. OK, a couple of examples. In Earth and Stone by Robert Holdstock, John Farrell travels back in time to a prehistoric settlement as part of a scientific experiment. He's partly looking for another traveler, also trying to get away from his own time. There is a mystery here, involving vampire type peoples?? A Short History of the Bicycle by Michael Bishop.. OK, this one was strange. Praeger is on the planet Drasienne watching / writing about bicycle creatures. Are they created because of the dreams or realities on Earth or is it an actual planet of bicycles???? Precession by Edward Bryant... Time seems to be in free flow here. At one point it's winter, then when the protagonist wakes, it's summer, he has to get to the university where he is teaching.... Keep track, it moves around..... Slow Music, the final story by James Tiptree, Jr. It seems like Earth as we know it is finished. People have gone to the River (what is it? An alien creation?) Jacko is heading home to see his father after visiting the Cities, abandoned pretty well, and meets Peachthief, a young girl trying to get pregnant. She doesn't want to go to the River. She wants to stay on Earth, raise children.. a battle of wills between Jacko and Peachthief..
Of course, I'm not laying these stories out very well. Basically, they are an intriguing, interesting collection, that it's worth checking out. More about the creation of a short story than any particular Sci-Fi / speculative fiction theme, but it's there too... Try it is all I can really say. (4.0 stars)
brynhammond's review
4.0
Nostalgic for the era after my James Tiptree Jr bio. Ursula K. Le Guin gets to choose original fiction for this, alongside agent Kidd. It has several sf poems. They refuse a 'house style' in English Usage, eg. world spellings.
In the first story, by John Crowley, a time machinist has Virginia Woolf in for a visit. I didn't understand it. (I like that in a story).
&&
End report. A few were about history, or prehistory. A few were about extinction.
In the first story, by John Crowley, a time machinist has Virginia Woolf in for a visit. I didn't understand it. (I like that in a story).
&&
End report. A few were about history, or prehistory. A few were about extinction.
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