In which the reader shares his thoughts on the books that possess his imagination throughout the year.
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Most of my reading weekend, taking place while watching NFL playoff football, was taken up finishing Jeff Vandermeer’s short story collection, The Third Bear, which I will review separately. I did manage to squeeze in a few more short stories, however, that I am happy to share with you here.
Continue reading Short Story Weekend: January 8th and 9th, 2011
I have recently completed my first review assignment for a relatively new website, The Portal. I read and reviewed the most recent issue of Apex Magazine, edited by award-winning author Catherynne M. Valente. I would love it if you had the time to pop over there to read my review and leave a comment there too, if the mood strikes.
You can direct link to my post by clicking here: Apex Magazine #19, December 2010
Thank you in advance. 🙂
Hull Zero Three ~Greg Bear
–published 2010
–Orbit
–307 pages
–4.5/5 stars
Imagine you were selected as one of Earth’s elect, chosen to travel light years beyond our galaxy aboard a sleeper ship during which time you are engaged in something called the Dreamtime, where you learn, grow, and form relationships meant to help you in your role of rebuilding humanity on a new world. Now imagine that you have finally arrived. You “wake up”, excited and anxious and ready for your new adventure. You see your chosen partner in real life for the first time and your adrenaline starts flowing. You will soon discover when you are to depart for your new life. All is right with the world.
Now imagine that you truly wake up–it is freezing cold, you are pulled, naked and befuddled, from a watery cocoon by what appears to be a young girl who tells you that you must run. RUN NOW or DIE!
The Dying Earth ~Jack Vance
–originally published 1950
–Orb Books
–130 pages
–4/5 stars
Jack Vance has been on my radar for several years, beginning when I purchased the Subterranean Press collection, The Jack Vance Treasury. I read a handful of stories out of that collection and really enjoyed them yet I hadn’t gotten back to reading any of his work in the past two years or more. Recently Tor Books sent me a copy of the Jack Vance tribute collection, Songs of the Dying Earth. This volume is filled with wonderful illustrations by Tom Kidd and many stories written by authors whose works I have enjoyed. Although I suspect one could jump right in and enjoy these tales, I decided I would take the time to read the book that inspired the tribute in the first place. This was one of my good decisions.
Starman Jones ~Robert A. Heinlein
–originally published 1953, Scribners
–252 pages
–4.75/5 stars
Max Jones is a dirt poor farm boy on a far future earth who dreams of sailing among the stars, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Arthur “Chet” Jones, who was an upstanding member of the Astrogator’s Guild. A kick in the pants from Fate, in the form of a sleazy new step father, sends Max Jones out into the dark night on the road to adventure. Through a series of mishaps and misadventures, and a healthy dose of deceit, Max Jones is given the chance to test the old adage “be careful what you wish for”.