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ladythursday's review
4.0
First of all, what a gorgeous title! It is both eye-catching and very appropriate for an anthology of modern speculative poems about the universe. Because what is poetry but the heartbeat of reality?
The book is edited by Emily Hockaday and is made up of 5 general chapters. There was a cohesiveness to the parts and ordering of the poems, but nothing too distinct. This is a great book to have on your nightstand so that you can flip open a random poem and ponder over your existence in this vast universe.
As with almost all anthologies, there were some poems that stood out for me more than others.
My favorite poems were:
- Mostly Hydrogen by Jack Martin
- Postulate 2 by Timons Esaias
- Sparking the Matter by Tod McCoy
- Almost Certainly a Time Traveler by Jarod K. Anderson
- At the Natural History Museum by Bruce Boston
- All the Weight by Holly Day
- Leaving by Bruce McAllister
- Quantum Entanglement by Fred D. White
- Music Remembers by Ashok K. Banker
- The impending apocalypse helps me maintain perspective by Steven Dondlinger
- Terra Incognita by Fred D. White
- Continuum by G.O. Clark
- Your Homeworls is Gone by Leslie J. Anderson
DISCLAIMER: Ebook provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
cathepsut's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I am not a massive poetry fan, but I have read the odd speculative fiction poetry. Emphasis on odd. Still, I have a reading buddy who loves specfic poetry and I got the Netgalley of this book.
Here is the first poem of this collection as a teaser:
MOSTLY HYDROGEN
Jack Martin
Somewhere between Earth’s axis
and the hippocampus, a line draws
swimmers into water. This is
outer space, blue cloth over borders
with music notes in black enameled writing.
This is how memory works. This is how:
a large system of stars, gas, dust,
and dark matter orbits a common center.
Deep in the ice, bodies get stuck
reaching for the anterograde.
Each meadowlark song is a series
of green sparks. Oh, vastness,
I’ve forgotten how to be where I am.
Some of the poems were a complete mystery for me, as I lacked historical context or knowledge of the underlying physics. I struggled to relate. And that was true for the majority of poems in this collection. I assume that it‘s probably me and not the poems.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
Here is the first poem of this collection as a teaser:
MOSTLY HYDROGEN
Jack Martin
Somewhere between Earth’s axis
and the hippocampus, a line draws
swimmers into water. This is
outer space, blue cloth over borders
with music notes in black enameled writing.
This is how memory works. This is how:
a large system of stars, gas, dust,
and dark matter orbits a common center.
Deep in the ice, bodies get stuck
reaching for the anterograde.
Each meadowlark song is a series
of green sparks. Oh, vastness,
I’ve forgotten how to be where I am.
Some of the poems were a complete mystery for me, as I lacked historical context or knowledge of the underlying physics. I struggled to relate. And that was true for the majority of poems in this collection. I assume that it‘s probably me and not the poems.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher or author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
corvvs's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
hanreadsstuff's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
This is a collection of speculative fiction poems that I had high hopes for Like many anthologies I felt that some poems exceeded my expectations and some feel flat. The Heartbeat of the Universe offers a diverse range of poetic approaches and perspectives on themes ranging from hard science through mundane moments of life to reflections on broader societal structures.
I thought the way the book was organised worked well but might make some readers put the book down thinking it isn't the genre for them. So for all hard sci-fi or traditional spec fic writers I would urge you to stick with it past 80 pages. Why? Because the book is divided into thematic sections. The first half focuses more on abstract science-related themes which I struggled to get into but the latter half delves deeply into more traditional science fiction that critiques life and society. If you like Christie Nogles work then you’ll love the second half of this book.
Like many others I found the poem about a taxi ride after a flood to be particularly breathtaking!
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Thankyou Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book.
fawnsbooks's review
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Interstellar Flight Press for this ARC.
One of the first books I ever bought, with the money I made from my first part-time job, was a collection of poems.
I've been chasing that high ever since. Over the years I have collected several collections of poems and more often than not, I need to be in a specific mindset before reading them. I tend to be a moody and melancholy person and reading poetry about whatever negative thing I'm going through, is a big hobby for me. Finding a collection of poems that is not specific to one kind of (bad) mood and me liking it, doesn't happen a lot.
HOWEVER, this one did it. Not going to lie, some of these poems made me feel like I should have paid more attention in school, but other poems made me feel like no one had ever quite understood me as much as the author had. The authors and topics are quite diverse, even though most (all?) have a background in science fiction. I believe there's a poem in here for everyone.
One of the first books I ever bought, with the money I made from my first part-time job, was a collection of poems.
I've been chasing that high ever since. Over the years I have collected several collections of poems and more often than not, I need to be in a specific mindset before reading them. I tend to be a moody and melancholy person and reading poetry about whatever negative thing I'm going through, is a big hobby for me. Finding a collection of poems that is not specific to one kind of (bad) mood and me liking it, doesn't happen a lot.
HOWEVER, this one did it. Not going to lie, some of these poems made me feel like I should have paid more attention in school, but other poems made me feel like no one had ever quite understood me as much as the author had. The authors and topics are quite diverse, even though most (all?) have a background in science fiction. I believe there's a poem in here for everyone.
twicomb's review
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
This is the book that every poetry person needs, especially those who do not yet love science. This is also the book that every science person needs, especially those who do not yet love poetry. And for those lucky ones already within the Venn diagram overlap of these two areas, this book will be a particular delight to discover.
My favorite poems from this book, in order of their appearance:
- "What A Time Traveler Needs Most" by Jane Yolen (quote: "What a time traveler needs most / when going back to childhood: / a solid plan that can be forgot")
- "Apocastasis" by Jennifer Crow (quote: "Given time enough, that egg will unbreak itself.")
- "Quantum Entanglement" by Ken Posner (quote: "Each set of us / Has come to the end of our Universe / Expecting an edge of cosmic brilliance // And found it is the middle.")
- "The Tsuchinoko Always Lies" by Megan Branning (quote: "Tell me raindrops can be filled with pearls.")
- Bonus points for the light-hearted fun of "Attack of the Fifty-Foot Woman" by Ron Koertge, which proves that poetry can be a mischievous delight.
***Publisher, I hope you read this note! You have a major error in your TOC. The Jane Yolen poem is missing its attribution, and the title instead runs into the title of the next poem to look like one combined poem title.***
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.
My favorite poems from this book, in order of their appearance:
- "What A Time Traveler Needs Most" by Jane Yolen (quote: "What a time traveler needs most / when going back to childhood: / a solid plan that can be forgot")
- "Apocastasis" by Jennifer Crow (quote: "Given time enough, that egg will unbreak itself.")
- "Quantum Entanglement" by Ken Posner (quote: "Each set of us / Has come to the end of our Universe / Expecting an edge of cosmic brilliance // And found it is the middle.")
- "The Tsuchinoko Always Lies" by Megan Branning (quote: "Tell me raindrops can be filled with pearls.")
- Bonus points for the light-hearted fun of "Attack of the Fifty-Foot Woman" by Ron Koertge, which proves that poetry can be a mischievous delight.
***Publisher, I hope you read this note! You have a major error in your TOC. The Jane Yolen poem is missing its attribution, and the title instead runs into the title of the next poem to look like one combined poem title.***
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.
hawlaye's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A wonderfully beautiful and thought-provoking collection of poems that centres around science fiction, tales of the future, AI, the body, and many more!
This was such a great read that any fan of poetry or sci-fi will appreciate. There is truly a poem for everyone in this collection. This book consists of poems written in many different forms and styles, from long to short, ones that tell us a story and others that will leave you with existential dread.
I would love to receive this as a gift and will definitely be gifting it forward!
I had two absolutely favourites from this collection!
'Taxi Ride' by Ian Goh is a heartbreaking poem discussing the impact of a disaster on a town with the most beautiful of imagery.
'Somebody I used to love asks me who Marie Curie is' by Carly Rubin, which discusses Marie Curie and how important of a figure she is and should remain to be.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for this wonderful ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a great read that any fan of poetry or sci-fi will appreciate. There is truly a poem for everyone in this collection. This book consists of poems written in many different forms and styles, from long to short, ones that tell us a story and others that will leave you with existential dread.
I would love to receive this as a gift and will definitely be gifting it forward!
I had two absolutely favourites from this collection!
'Taxi Ride' by Ian Goh is a heartbreaking poem discussing the impact of a disaster on a town with the most beautiful of imagery.
'Somebody I used to love asks me who Marie Curie is' by Carly Rubin, which discusses Marie Curie and how important of a figure she is and should remain to be.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for this wonderful ARC in exchange for an honest review.
bepbop's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
mahaila's review
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
2.5
Thank you to Interstellar Flight Press an NetGalley for providing me with an E-Arc.
There were a number of pieces I liked in this collection, including:
-Somebody I used to Love Asks me Who Marie Curie is by Carly Rubin
-Time Traveler at the Grocery Store Circa 1992 by Kristian Macaron
-Taxi Ride by Ian Goh
-The Dogs of the Soviet Space Program by Christopher Cokinos
-Abyss Inside our Young Hearts by Yuliia Vereta
-Small Certainties by Sara Polsky
-In Theory by Rebecca Siegel
I was compelled most of all by the many scientific and speculative poems set in the context of mundane, domestic life.
The organization of the anthology made sense to me. It is broken up into five section on the topics of: sciences & mathematics, time travel, quantum physics, contact with otherworlds and astronomy.
There is much to enjoy about this collection, however, there were a number of poems that would begin on an interesting topic and then devolve into cliche romantic metaphor. I wish there would have been fewer of these pieces.
There were a number of pieces I liked in this collection, including:
-Somebody I used to Love Asks me Who Marie Curie is by Carly Rubin
-Time Traveler at the Grocery Store Circa 1992 by Kristian Macaron
-Taxi Ride by Ian Goh
-The Dogs of the Soviet Space Program by Christopher Cokinos
-Abyss Inside our Young Hearts by Yuliia Vereta
-Small Certainties by Sara Polsky
-In Theory by Rebecca Siegel
I was compelled most of all by the many scientific and speculative poems set in the context of mundane, domestic life.
The organization of the anthology made sense to me. It is broken up into five section on the topics of: sciences & mathematics, time travel, quantum physics, contact with otherworlds and astronomy.
There is much to enjoy about this collection, however, there were a number of poems that would begin on an interesting topic and then devolve into cliche romantic metaphor. I wish there would have been fewer of these pieces.
katnortonwriter's review
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
As a scifi nerd, I enjoyed myself. As a poetry nerd, I was a bit disappointed by the dearth of interesting poetic forms. There’s a lot of free verse — not that there’s anything wrong with free verse, but it’s a bit static in that regard.
Favorite entries are as follows:
Field Notes by Lola Haskins is an absolute banger, assuming one is comfortable referring to a prose-poem that buries political commentary in descriptions of ant colonies ‘a banger.’ I would assert that it is.
Taxi Ride by Ian Goh has some exceptional imagery of a city in the aftermath of a destructive flood.
Messaging the Dead by Betsy Aoki has a very unsettling take on the concept of AI and/or ghosts in the machine.
Wobble by Richard Schiffman does the thing I like in scifi where the science is an (in this case, directly stated) metaphor for some internal emotional parallel. It’s not particularly subtle but it’s well-phrased and bittersweet.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable collection. Pretty much what it says on the tin. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an advance copy.