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thukpa's review
4.0
Considering that the only sci-fi I really read is the Ender and Shadow series, and that is what drew me to this collection of short stories, I really enjoyed the stories that weren't from Ender's Universe. I'm looking forward to yet another collection from the online mag Orson Scott Card's Intergallactic Medicine Show, or I may just have to purchase one on the site!
charlibirb's review
4.0
Some good stories, some bad. Some were downright amateur. Card's stories were fun. The last of Card's stories, though, was lifted from one of his Ender books.
scottcmikula's review
4.0
I didn't actually read this book cover to cover, because I had already read most of the stories in the online magazine. (http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com) There were a few stories that I had to reread, though, and it was good to be reminded that Orson Scott Card's magazine tends to be better than many other magazines at providing a selection of short fiction that I really enjoy.
The bonus to reading this anthology is getting the afterward to each story, where the author explains a little bit about where the story came from. Edmund Schubert, in his introduction, likens it to getting a peek at the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. (In some cases I enjoyed those anecdotes as much as the stories themselves!)
The bonus to reading this anthology is getting the afterward to each story, where the author explains a little bit about where the story came from. Edmund Schubert, in his introduction, likens it to getting a peek at the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. (In some cases I enjoyed those anecdotes as much as the stories themselves!)
wmhenrymorris's review
I read this several weeks ago but have put off writing a review because I am somewhat acquainted with three of the authors represented in the anthology and wanted to give them their due as well as highlight some of the other stories. But of course now I've had to return the book to the library and can't find a table of contents anywhere and can't remember a bunch of the stories.
But I can say this:
I enjoyed "Tabloid Reporter to the Stars" by Eric James Stone for its blend of hard sci-fi and humor and for a suspenseful and hilarious take on the first contact genre. I'm serious -- on one level there was a bit that was absurd, but on the other hand, we end up with some excellent exploration of questions of faith and the other.
"Audience" by Ty Franck is an idea story. Some people see such stories as lesser achievements. I disagree. First of all, it's an excellent idea/concept/conceit. But secondly, Ty shows admirable restraint in telling the story. It must have been difficult (or would have been difficult for me) to not push the story further, not tease out more consequences and situations and show off more cleverness. But he keeps things tight.
"Eviction Notice" by Scott Roberts is a devastating, dark story. I'm surprised it didn't get more play in the reviews of the anthology. In fact, the reviews highlighted stories that I thought were okay but not really standout. Anyway, Roberts is an intense, poetic writer and "Eviction Notice" is no exception. Not an easy read. But it really gets under your skin.
In addition, I was pleasantly surprised by Orson Scott Card's Enderverse contributions. They were kind of fun. A couple seemed a little slight or easy -- "Pretty Boy" and "A Young Man with Prospects" -- but "Mazer in Prison" is fascinating and almost made me tear up a little and "Cheater" is pretty cool.
Of the other stories, I liked David Farland's "The Mooncalfe" quite a bit. Same with "To Know All Things That Are in the Earth" by James Maxey. But at the same time, there was something about the natures of each story that made me go "eh" when I should have been going "ooooo."
The other stories were fine, but I don't remember them enough to comment on them specifically.
But I can say this:
I enjoyed "Tabloid Reporter to the Stars" by Eric James Stone for its blend of hard sci-fi and humor and for a suspenseful and hilarious take on the first contact genre. I'm serious -- on one level there was a bit that was absurd, but on the other hand, we end up with some excellent exploration of questions of faith and the other.
"Audience" by Ty Franck is an idea story. Some people see such stories as lesser achievements. I disagree. First of all, it's an excellent idea/concept/conceit. But secondly, Ty shows admirable restraint in telling the story. It must have been difficult (or would have been difficult for me) to not push the story further, not tease out more consequences and situations and show off more cleverness. But he keeps things tight.
"Eviction Notice" by Scott Roberts is a devastating, dark story. I'm surprised it didn't get more play in the reviews of the anthology. In fact, the reviews highlighted stories that I thought were okay but not really standout. Anyway, Roberts is an intense, poetic writer and "Eviction Notice" is no exception. Not an easy read. But it really gets under your skin.
In addition, I was pleasantly surprised by Orson Scott Card's Enderverse contributions. They were kind of fun. A couple seemed a little slight or easy -- "Pretty Boy" and "A Young Man with Prospects" -- but "Mazer in Prison" is fascinating and almost made me tear up a little and "Cheater" is pretty cool.
Of the other stories, I liked David Farland's "The Mooncalfe" quite a bit. Same with "To Know All Things That Are in the Earth" by James Maxey. But at the same time, there was something about the natures of each story that made me go "eh" when I should have been going "ooooo."
The other stories were fine, but I don't remember them enough to comment on them specifically.
davidr's review against another edition
3.0
Here are some very good short stories, and some not-so-good stories. A couple of the stories are by Card, even placed in the setting of the Ender's Game universe. Most are by other authors.
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