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alyshadeshae's review
5.0
This was a fun collection of short stories. It's a bit like Black Mirror episodes in that it explores how technology could potentially, eventually, change or world. And it's inspired by Microsoft which I take to mean that it's based on things they're already actively working towards and researching. I'm sure some won't pan out, but still. I love these stories.
richardleis's review
4.0
Many of my favorite writers contributed stories to this anthology after they visited with Microsoft about cutting edge technology and speculation about the future. Some stories deal with translation and conversation, suggested by advancements in Skype, including "Hello, Hello" by Seanan McGuire and "Another Word for World" by Ann Leckie. Several deal with machine intelligence and especially deep learning, including "Machine Learning" by Nancy Kress, "Looking for Gordo" by Robert Sawyer, and "The Tell" by David Brin. The graphic art of "A Cop's Eye" by Blue Delliquanti and Michele Rosenthal pairs a cop with an AI to help a runaway. Greg Bear gets quantum weird with "The Machine Starts." Many of these stories also had healthy dollops of VR/AR technology, and "Riding with the Duke" by Jack McDevitt especially foregrounds this technology.
The writing is top-notch in all of these stories, though I think there is sometimes a sense of constraint that is hard to describe; that is, these stories are not necessarily examples of the writers' best work and they might have been constrained by time or topic, since this is a project focused on the work at one corporation. However, all the stories are at least very good, and some of them are spectacular. Personally, I was caught up in the incredible craft on display, especially from McGuire, Bear, Kress, and Leckie.
The writing is top-notch in all of these stories, though I think there is sometimes a sense of constraint that is hard to describe; that is, these stories are not necessarily examples of the writers' best work and they might have been constrained by time or topic, since this is a project focused on the work at one corporation. However, all the stories are at least very good, and some of them are spectacular. Personally, I was caught up in the incredible craft on display, especially from McGuire, Bear, Kress, and Leckie.
rick_k's review
5.0
This is an anthology greater than the sum of its parts. Each story is quite good, but a good anthology is assembled and edited with purpose. Future Visions pairs strong fiction writers (including [a:Elizabeth Bear|108173|Elizabeth Bear|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1422586829p2/108173.jpg], [a:Mira Grant|3153776|Mira Grant|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1380320279p2/3153776.jpg], [a:Ann Leckie|3365457|Ann Leckie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1402526383p2/3365457.jpg] and [a:Robert J. Sawyer|25883|Robert J. Sawyer|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1224975910p2/25883.jpg]) with computer scientists working on "moon shots" for Microsoft. It is rare that a scientist is able to distill their understanding of a subject into a narrative that makes it available for the masses. Einstein's thought games and the work of Asimov and Sagan are precious glimpses into the frontiers of science. By pairing writers with researchers we get to assemble windows (Microsoft pun intended) into the future. I truly hope this is only the first of a series from Microsoft and an inspiration to other researchers to share the worlds they see.
qalminator's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed almost all of these. There was only one that I genuinely disliked. Two others were interesting, but not to my taste. Note: this may have been put together by Microsoft, but it is not a glorification of them, or even of technology in general.
Hello, Hello - Seanan MacGuire (5 stars) - Translation software, with a twist.
The Machine Starts - Gregory Bear (2 stars) - Quantum computer interacting with the Many Worlds. Interesting premise, but lacked depth (and on-screen female characters).
Skin in the Game - Elizabeth Bear (4 stars) - Recording emotions for profit, not fun.
Machine Learning - Nancy Kress (2.5 stars) - AI learning software and an unending grief cycle. Well written, but felt more like an emotional pastiche than SF to me. YMMV
Riding with the Duke - Jack McDevitt (1 star) - Self improvement through watching yourself act out major movie roles, chosen by girlfriend (this is her only role in the story)
A Cop's Eye - Blue Deliquanti & Michele Rosenthal - graphic format - made so little impression that I barely remember it, so no star rating.
Looking for Gordo - Robert J. Sawyer (5 stars) - SETI finds the motherlode; mock trial over what to do about it. Mostly very well thought out, BUT mountains also isolate populations.
The Tell - David Brin (4 stars) - Facial recognition software as action predictor? Bit long and dry, but in a way that I enjoyed. YMMV
Another Word for World - Ann Leckie (4 stars) - Translation as political tool. Very enjoyable, but I want to see what happens next!
Hello, Hello - Seanan MacGuire (5 stars) - Translation software, with a twist.
The Machine Starts - Gregory Bear (2 stars) - Quantum computer interacting with the Many Worlds. Interesting premise, but lacked depth (and on-screen female characters).
Skin in the Game - Elizabeth Bear (4 stars) - Recording emotions for profit, not fun.
Machine Learning - Nancy Kress (2.5 stars) - AI learning software and an unending grief cycle. Well written, but felt more like an emotional pastiche than SF to me. YMMV
Riding with the Duke - Jack McDevitt (1 star) - Self improvement through watching yourself act out major movie roles, chosen by girlfriend (this is her only role in the story)
A Cop's Eye - Blue Deliquanti & Michele Rosenthal - graphic format - made so little impression that I barely remember it, so no star rating.
Looking for Gordo - Robert J. Sawyer (5 stars) - SETI finds the motherlode; mock trial over what to do about it. Mostly very well thought out, BUT mountains also isolate populations.
The Tell - David Brin (4 stars) - Facial recognition software as action predictor? Bit long and dry, but in a way that I enjoyed. YMMV
Another Word for World - Ann Leckie (4 stars) - Translation as political tool. Very enjoyable, but I want to see what happens next!
beulah_devaney's review
4.5
Such an interesting concept, I wish more companies invested their money in this way. Microsoft commissioned a group of fiction writers to shadow their employees and then write a short story, inspired by what they saw. I expected to see more evidence of corporate oversight in what was written, but a lot of the stories feel genuinely critical and subversive.
manuelte's review
4.0
Very good stories. I liked them all but particularly enjoyed "Hello, Hello" by Seanan McGuire; "The Machine Starts" by Greg Bear; "Looking for Gordo" by Robert J. Sawyer; and "Another Word for World" by Ann Leckie.
matosapa's review
3.0
Some good, some a bit awkward due to needing to springboard from current MS research. Overall, it kept me entertained.
kwugirl's review
3.0
Probably more like a 2.5 star overall, but it was a neat idea for a collection and also, free.