Category Archives: Science Fiction

Science Fiction, Short Stories

Short Story Sun..er, Monday (A Weekend Recap)

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(Wallpaper found at Interfacelift. Click on image for larger, text free wallpaper or visit site for other sizes/images)

Well the midnight hour has passed and with it our two-day science fiction short story event. I personally had a wonderful time hosting the event and participating as well. I managed to read stories from:

The Starry Rift anthology, edited by Jonathan Strahan
Eclipse Two anthology, edited by Jonathan Strahan
Pump Six and Other Stories, by Paolo Bacigalupi
The New Space Opera, edited by Gardner Dozois and Jonathan Strahan
Galactic North, by Alastair Reynolds
The World Turned Upside Down, edited by David Drake, Eric Flint, and Jim Baen

and online stories from:

Best Science Fiction Stories

All told I managed to read 14 short stories over the two day period. I am incredibly pleased with the variety and quality of the stories I read and am thankful I was able to crack into so many different books during the mini-challenge.

I really enjoyed reading everyone’s experiences throughout the weekend and would like to share mini-reviews of mine. At the end you can also take a peek at who the three winners for this mini-challenge are!

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Science Fiction

The Stars My Destination ~Alfred Bester

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The Stars My Destination ~Alfred Bester

–published 1956, originally as a 4 part serial in Galaxy Magazine
–212 pages, SFBC 50th Anniversary Collection
–5/5 stars

REVIEW SUMMARY: A must-read classic science fiction re-imagining of the Count of Monte Cristo, yet so much more.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Gulliver Foyle, sleep-walking through his existence, is awakened to his full, monstrous potential when his derelict ship, adrift in space, is ignored by the passing vessel, Vorga, and he is left to die. This catalyst propels Foyle on a course of vengeance that will shape the future of an entire galaxy.

THE GOOD: A page-turner. Surprisingly contemporary 60+ years after its release. Engaging anti-hero. Introduction of the concept of jaunting–planet-bound teleportation controlled by thought–which dramatically changes the planets’ economic and social structure. Thought-provoking and exciting vision of the future.

THE BAD: One small portion of the ever-escalating climax is conceptually odd; the denouement could have been a few pages longer.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The Stars My Destination is a book that all science fiction fans should read simply because it is a classic worth reading. It maintains its relevancy and should appeal to those who prefer to read more contemporary science fiction as well. This is also a book I would recommend for those who do not consider themselves fans of science fiction but enjoy a good story. It is an accesible, fast-paced story with enough thought-provoking material to appeal to those who like a good story with a little meat to it.

Highly recommended!

Continue reading The Stars My Destination ~Alfred Bester →

Science Fiction, Short Stories

Sci Fi Experience: Short Story Sunday, January 11th Edition

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It is the second Sunday of the of the month and once again time for Short Story Sunday, where I feature some of the short stories I read during the previous week/weekend. It just so happens that this week every story I read, even those I read in book form, are available online should any catch your eye.

Best Science Fiction Stories was my lunchtime companion several days this past week and I managed to delve into The World Turned Upside Down, a science fiction collection edited by Flint, Drake and Baen, for the remainder of my sci fi short story reads.

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Book Reviews, Science Fiction, Short Stories

Space Lords ~Cordwainer Smith

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Space Lords ~Cordwainer Smith

–first edition 1965, this edition 1968
–206 pages, Pyramid Books
–4.75/5 stars

“This is science fiction, yes. But it comes from your own time, from your own world, even from your own mind. All I can do is work the symbols. The magic and the beauty will come from our own past, your present, your hopes and your experience. This may look alien but it is really as close to you as your own fingers. Some people will like this very much. Many will not understand it, and push it aside.

That is their loss, reader, not yours, not mine.

We two, we have this story between us. Read a bit and see how it goes.”

(Cordwainer Smith, from the Prologue)

Some people will indeed like this very much. I know that I did.

Continue reading Space Lords ~Cordwainer Smith →

Book Reviews, Fantasy, Friday Favorites, Science Fiction

Friday Favorites: Spectrum 15

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(Island #1, Cover image by Michael Whelan)

(-all images taken from the artists’ respective websites for use in promoting this book and their individual websites and artwork. Call for Entries image taken from Spectrum website)

Though I read this for the first time in 2008, I could not think of a better way to inaugurate the Friday Favorites posts for 2009 than to do a brief review of the best art book to come out last year, Spectrum 15: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, edited by Cathy and Arnie Fenner.

Year after year the Fenners pull together a panel of artists and people in the industry and they converge upon Kansas City to pick the entries for the latest volume of Spectrum. For 15 years now the Fenners have been putting together the most amazing collection of fantastic art illustration and though it seems like it would be impossible to do, they manage to top themselves every year.

Spectrum 15 is no exception. This large, high quality art book is filled with hundreds of pages containing hundreds upon hundreds of examples of amazing art from many different categories. It is a thrill every year when the latest issue of Spectrum comes out. For the past 3 years my friend Jeff and I have cracked into our copies together, pouring through it page by page and commenting on the various pieces. It is a real treat and one of the highlights of every year. By way of review, and to whet your appetite for future Friday Favorites, I am including a random sampling of images from Spectrum 15. These are all images that I like, but they do not even come close to representing the variety of images contained in this volume.

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