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karnakjr's review
slow-paced
3.0
An anthology with a vision of contextualization. The essays and timelines associated with each decade were interesting. The choices of stories were interesting, and some authors wind up representing decades that they are not necessarily most associated with. Many “important” writers wind up somewhere on the list.
Master Zacharius- 2 This was a complete slog
The Crystal Egg- 3 Notably unsettling, more interesting for the way ut shows consuming depression
The Disintegration Machine- 3 Professor Challenger is a wild character, and stone cold
The Metal Man- 2 pretty pointless, and everything is a random color to make it special
The Mad Moon- 2.75 a silly pulpy escapist fantasy, somewhat sexist
Misfit- 3 Solid short story, military experience comes through strongly while avoiding violence of almost any sort, no antagonist
Robbie- 3.5 affecting “the robots are more human than the people” story
Desertion- 3 a decent “thinker”
That Only a Mother- 3 fine
The Exiles- 2.5 disappointing choice for Bradbury
Scanners Live in Vain- 3.5 a slow start, but worth the slow burn
Death between the Stars- 3.5 a nice, intimate story, that hits some heavy themes
The Ship Who Sang- 4 pretty handily my favorite story in the book, fascinating and affecting, and weird
“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman- 2.75 kind of a corny anti authoritarian thing, and I usually love anti authoritarian things
The Electric Ant- 2.75 somewhat of a letdown, wears its Phillip Dick on its sleeve
The Sliced-Crosswise Only-on-Tuesday World- 3 a fun little Twilight Zonesque obvious twist ending situation
Cloak of Anarchy- 2 hamfisted anarchy is evil story, no nuance or novelty
The Hunting- 3 implicitly slashy SpockBones fanfic
The Thaw- 3.75 spooky, unsettling, from a pov of utter powerlessness
Valhalla- 2.75 middling time travel revenge story
Skin Deep- 3.25 a slight variant on Robbie above, but aliens, plus Native American allegory
For I Have Touched the Sky- 3 a moral philosophical story with no conclusion
At the Rialto- 2.75 popcorn sci-fi romcom, Gondryesque
The Abduction of Bunny Steiner, or a Shameless Lie- 2.75 is it even sci-fi, maybe I missed something, I guess bunny could be lying, sort of sweet
Steelcolar Worker- 2.75 misleading name, pretty decent human study of two friends and self sabotaging
The Hammer of God- 3.25 better Armageddon, also I have never seen Armageddon
Clean Up Your Room!- 2.75 I don’t think it really did much with its solid premise
Master Zacharius- 2 This was a complete slog
The Crystal Egg- 3 Notably unsettling, more interesting for the way ut shows consuming depression
The Disintegration Machine- 3 Professor Challenger is a wild character, and stone cold
The Metal Man- 2 pretty pointless, and everything is a random color to make it special
The Mad Moon- 2.75 a silly pulpy escapist fantasy, somewhat sexist
Misfit- 3 Solid short story, military experience comes through strongly while avoiding violence of almost any sort, no antagonist
Robbie- 3.5 affecting “the robots are more human than the people” story
Desertion- 3 a decent “thinker”
That Only a Mother- 3 fine
The Exiles- 2.5 disappointing choice for Bradbury
Scanners Live in Vain- 3.5 a slow start, but worth the slow burn
Death between the Stars- 3.5 a nice, intimate story, that hits some heavy themes
The Ship Who Sang- 4 pretty handily my favorite story in the book, fascinating and affecting, and weird
“Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman- 2.75 kind of a corny anti authoritarian thing, and I usually love anti authoritarian things
The Electric Ant- 2.75 somewhat of a letdown, wears its Phillip Dick on its sleeve
The Sliced-Crosswise Only-on-Tuesday World- 3 a fun little Twilight Zonesque obvious twist ending situation
Cloak of Anarchy- 2 hamfisted anarchy is evil story, no nuance or novelty
The Hunting- 3 implicitly slashy SpockBones fanfic
The Thaw- 3.75 spooky, unsettling, from a pov of utter powerlessness
Valhalla- 2.75 middling time travel revenge story
Skin Deep- 3.25 a slight variant on Robbie above, but aliens, plus Native American allegory
For I Have Touched the Sky- 3 a moral philosophical story with no conclusion
At the Rialto- 2.75 popcorn sci-fi romcom, Gondryesque
The Abduction of Bunny Steiner, or a Shameless Lie- 2.75 is it even sci-fi, maybe I missed something, I guess bunny could be lying, sort of sweet
Steelcolar Worker- 2.75 misleading name, pretty decent human study of two friends and self sabotaging
The Hammer of God- 3.25 better Armageddon, also I have never seen Armageddon
Clean Up Your Room!- 2.75 I don’t think it really did much with its solid premise
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