Scan barcode
zanosgood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
arachnichemist's review
4.0
An interesting take on what happens when a war drone starts to think on its own. Short and sweet with an ending that packs a punch.
danielwestheide's review
2.0
Some very good stories, but this is the first short story collection in my life where I aborted some of the stories because they couldn't grab me.
mizar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A science fiction anthology that for my tastes was a bit hit and miss. The fact that this was marketed as 'hard sci-fi' did not help with my expectations, as I found that most stories included did not live up to the label.
russk's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleased with the variety of stories in this collection. You've got aliens, robots, time-travel, all the main sci-fi tropes are hit upon at one point or another. I got this as a gift from someone who knew I like Gaiman and Dick, and I hadn't heard of any of these authors so I wasn't really sure what to expect. The opener, "Malak" by Peter Watts is a great story looking into the mind of a machine. "Walls of Flesh, Bar of Bone" by Damien Broderick and Barbara Lamar was another one of my favorites, and one of those stories where you can't tell which "type" of story it is until you're already invested in the characters. Like you're halfway through this character's short adventure and you suddenly go, "Oh, so THIS is what this story is going to be about."
Honestly there were a couple I didn't finish all the way through. I couldn't get into Charles Stross's "Bit Rot," even though on the front and back cover he's one of the top-billed writers. But as I read some of the other stories I realized, maybe I'm just not into the space stories right now. And that's okay. Some people are really into complex world-building, I'm into characters and more realism (if that makes sense in sci-fi). Now this just means I can put this on my shelf and re-read them another time.
Honestly there were a couple I didn't finish all the way through. I couldn't get into Charles Stross's "Bit Rot," even though on the front and back cover he's one of the top-billed writers. But as I read some of the other stories I realized, maybe I'm just not into the space stories right now. And that's okay. Some people are really into complex world-building, I'm into characters and more realism (if that makes sense in sci-fi). Now this just means I can put this on my shelf and re-read them another time.
ctopherrun's review
3.0
Good anthology. Three stars for the good stories, two stars off for the not so hot ones.
dancarey_404's review
3.0
This book bills itself as a collection of hard science fiction stories. Now, any collection is bound to be a little uneven. But some of the stories in here were in no way, shape, or fashion "hard" SF. And they weren't that good, either. But others particularly the first 2 and the last 1, had me thinking, "Yes! This is the stuff I fell in love with as a kid." So if you pick this book up, just know that you are in for some very disparate experiences.
jjwalter2001's review
3.0
Interesting mix of what I would generally consider 'hard science fiction' short stories. As with any compilation - there are some really good ones and some that I couldn't get into.
Some that were rather intriguing...
The Server and The Dragon - a different take on a 'computer virus.'
Watching the Music Dance - a look at the potential for psychological addiction to technology
The Invasion of Venus - it's not all about humanity
The Ki-anna - not quite sure how to summarize that one...
The Birds and the Bees and the Gasoline Trees - a very creative take on the theory of panspermia
Some that were rather intriguing...
The Server and The Dragon - a different take on a 'computer virus.'
Watching the Music Dance - a look at the potential for psychological addiction to technology
The Invasion of Venus - it's not all about humanity
The Ki-anna - not quite sure how to summarize that one...
The Birds and the Bees and the Gasoline Trees - a very creative take on the theory of panspermia
thiefofcamorr's review
3.0
Katharine is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
To be safe, I won't be recording my review here until after the AA are over.
There were a few stories that were interesting here - more so than a few other anthologies I've read lately - but as a whole, quite boring
There were a few stories that were interesting here - more so than a few other anthologies I've read lately - but as a whole, quite boring