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eli99's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Overall a good collection of short stories. Most left me wanting more.
berlinbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free copy of this ebook on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this anthology. I liked how different the stories were from one another, with a wide range of fantasy, sci-fi, dystopia, steampunk and everything in between. My favourites were Fonda Lee's "Welcome to the Legion of Six", Seanan McGuire's "In Silent Streams, Where Once the Summer Shone" and "The Knack of Flying" by Shelley Adina Bates.
I enjoyed this anthology. I liked how different the stories were from one another, with a wide range of fantasy, sci-fi, dystopia, steampunk and everything in between. My favourites were Fonda Lee's "Welcome to the Legion of Six", Seanan McGuire's "In Silent Streams, Where Once the Summer Shone" and "The Knack of Flying" by Shelley Adina Bates.
arkron's review against another edition
3.0
This anthology celebrates stories from the first year of Podcast The Worldshapers. It‘s been financed as a Kickstarter project and the 18 stories are released at 14.11.2020.
In summary, most stories are enjoyable and I found two gems in it: „Evanescence“ by Modesitt, and Fonda Lee‘s superhero story „Welcome to Legion Six“. There are a couple of mediocre stories in it, though this is more a matter of personal taste than a literary assessment.
The editor is an author himself, and he included a story from himself - I wouldn’t write home about his „Vision Quest“. His decision not only to include the story but even to start the anthology isn’t bold; it feels questionable like cutting the line or serving yourself before your guests.
More than half of the stories were original for the anthology, the other half reprints, and the oldest one „Tricentennial“ from Haldeman closes the anthology.
While the stories are a broad selection over SF and Fantasy subgenres, I couldn’t identify the proclaimed topic of creating worlds consistently in them. The editor just lined them up one after the other without an introduction.
The average over all stories leads to three stars. Usually, I round up a little, because anthologies work differently than novels - they are more than the sum of its parts. In this case, I thought more about decreasing the average because of the editor‘s questionable choice. In the end, it’s a weak three stars, and I can’t fully recommend this anthology.
Please, find individual reviews for each story linked to my blog.
Contents:
Meta: isfdb, published at 14.11.2020 by Shadowpaw Press.
In summary, most stories are enjoyable and I found two gems in it: „Evanescence“ by Modesitt, and Fonda Lee‘s superhero story „Welcome to Legion Six“. There are a couple of mediocre stories in it, though this is more a matter of personal taste than a literary assessment.
The editor is an author himself, and he included a story from himself - I wouldn’t write home about his „Vision Quest“. His decision not only to include the story but even to start the anthology isn’t bold; it feels questionable like cutting the line or serving yourself before your guests.
More than half of the stories were original for the anthology, the other half reprints, and the oldest one „Tricentennial“ from Haldeman closes the anthology.
While the stories are a broad selection over SF and Fantasy subgenres, I couldn’t identify the proclaimed topic of creating worlds consistently in them. The editor just lined them up one after the other without an introduction.
The average over all stories leads to three stars. Usually, I round up a little, because anthologies work differently than novels - they are more than the sum of its parts. In this case, I thought more about decreasing the average because of the editor‘s questionable choice. In the end, it’s a weak three stars, and I can’t fully recommend this anthology.
Please, find individual reviews for each story linked to my blog.
Contents:
- • ★★★☆☆ • Vision Quest • 2020 • SF short story by Edward Willett • an eons old entity contacts a teenager • review
- • ★★★☆☆ • Call to Arms • 2020 • Fantasy novelette by Tanya Huff • A teenage weredog and a mage join to fight the Empire • review
- • ★★★+☆☆ • The Tale of the Wicked • 2009 • Space Opera novelette by John Scalzi • A space ship decides to follow Asimov‘s Laws in the middle of a battle • review
- • ★★★+☆☆ • The Farships Fall to Nowhere • 2020 • Generation ship short story by John C Wright • how is it when a generation ship reaches its target planet? • review
- • ★★★★☆ • Evanescence • 2020 • First Contact short story by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. • solar system formation, Oort Cloud mining exploration, and opera • review
- ☆ • Peel • 2004 • by Julie Czerneda • didn’t unterstand, skipped assessment, no review
- • ★★★☆☆ • The Knack of Flying • 2020 • Steampunk short story by Shelley Adina • a secret flight vessel contest in 1896 • review
- • ★★+☆☆☆ • Ghost Colours • 2015 • SF short story by Derek Künsken • Dehaunting by gentherapy • review
- • ★★★☆☆ • One Million Lira • 2014 • Military SF short story by Thoraiya Dyer • A sniper protects a crashed aircraft from looters • review
- • ★★★☆☆ • Pod Dreams of Tuckertown • 2007 • SF short story by Gareth L. Powell • Pod works off a brutal punishment • review
- • ★★☆☆☆ • In Silent Streams, Where Once the Summer Shone • 2020 • Apocalyptic short story by Seanan McGuire • A virus extinguishes all humans • review
- • ★★★★☆ • Welcome to the Legion of Six • 2019 • Superhero short story by Fonda Lee • New talents interview for a position in a famous group of superheroes • review
- • ★★☆☆☆ • Good Intentions • 2020 • Planetary SF short story by Christopher Ruocchio • A Sun Eater story with a scientist interfering with slavery • review
- • ★★★☆☆ • “Shhhh. . .” • 1988 • First Contact SF short story by David Brin • far advanced aliens are rumored to have a weakness • review
- • ★★☆☆☆ • The Greatest of These is Hope • 2020 • YA first contact novelette by D.J. Butler • a girl on a dying planet meets a dead friend in a Minecraft sim • review
- • ★★★+☆☆ • A Thing of Beauty • 2011 • First contact SF novelette by Dr. Charles E. Gannon • A corporation is about to sell unregistered children to aliens • review
- • ★★★☆☆ • Home Is Where the Heart Is • 2020 • Urban Fantasy novelette by David Weber • a man without memory sells his soul to the devil • review
- • ★★★☆☆ • Tricentennial • 1976 • SF novelette by Joe Haldeman • antimatter propels traveling a generation ship with relativistic speed • review
Meta: isfdb, published at 14.11.2020 by Shadowpaw Press.
annarella's review
4.0
This anthology features plenty of authors I love and had high expectations.
Some of the stories are quite entertaining, some are a bit meh.
It was an entertaining but I'd recommend it to fans of the authors.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Some of the stories are quite entertaining, some are a bit meh.
It was an entertaining but I'd recommend it to fans of the authors.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
triscuit807's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars. A few were very good, most were very average.
“Vision Quest” by Edward Willett-4 stars, 1st Contact story.
“Call to Arms” by Tanya Huff-5 stars, set in the Silvered universe. I love Mirian and the Pack.
“The Tale of the Wicked” by John Scalzi - 4 stars. AIs for the win
“The Farships Fall to Nowhere” by John C Wright - 2 stars
“Evanescence” by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. - 3 stars. Music and 1st Contact
“Peel” by Julie Czerneda -3 stars. Creation and madness
"The Knack of Flying” by Shelley Adina - 4 stars, enjoyable steampunk.
“Ghost Colours” by Derek Künsken - 3 stars. Hauntings.
“One Million Lira” by Thoraiya Dyer - 3 stars. Future snipers, dystopia.
“Pod Dreams of Tuckertown” by Gareth L. Powell - 3 stars. Future dystopia, price of memory.
“In Silent Streams, Where Once the Summer Shone” by Seanan Mcguire - 4 stars. Viruses.
“Welcome to the Legion of Six” by Fonda Lee - 3 stars. Superheroes.
“Good Intentions” by Christopher Ruocchio - 3 stars. Intentions have consequences.
“Shhhh . . .” by David Brin - 2 stars
“The Greatest of These is Hope” by D.J. Butler - 3 stars. 1st Contact and children.
“A Thing of Beauty” by Dr. Charles E. Gannon - 3 stars. Future dystopia, corporations.
“Home Is Where the Heart” Is by David Weber - 3 stars. Bargains and souls.
“Tricentennial” by Joe Haldeman - 4 stars, reprint. Space settlement and exploration.
I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge (Popsugar 2020 "anthology") and for the Huff and McGuire stories.
“Vision Quest” by Edward Willett-4 stars, 1st Contact story.
“Call to Arms” by Tanya Huff-5 stars, set in the Silvered universe. I love Mirian and the Pack.
“The Tale of the Wicked” by John Scalzi - 4 stars. AIs for the win
“The Farships Fall to Nowhere” by John C Wright - 2 stars
“Evanescence” by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. - 3 stars. Music and 1st Contact
“Peel” by Julie Czerneda -3 stars. Creation and madness
"The Knack of Flying” by Shelley Adina - 4 stars, enjoyable steampunk.
“Ghost Colours” by Derek Künsken - 3 stars. Hauntings.
“One Million Lira” by Thoraiya Dyer - 3 stars. Future snipers, dystopia.
“Pod Dreams of Tuckertown” by Gareth L. Powell - 3 stars. Future dystopia, price of memory.
“In Silent Streams, Where Once the Summer Shone” by Seanan Mcguire - 4 stars. Viruses.
“Welcome to the Legion of Six” by Fonda Lee - 3 stars. Superheroes.
“Good Intentions” by Christopher Ruocchio - 3 stars. Intentions have consequences.
“Shhhh . . .” by David Brin - 2 stars
“The Greatest of These is Hope” by D.J. Butler - 3 stars. 1st Contact and children.
“A Thing of Beauty” by Dr. Charles E. Gannon - 3 stars. Future dystopia, corporations.
“Home Is Where the Heart” Is by David Weber - 3 stars. Bargains and souls.
“Tricentennial” by Joe Haldeman - 4 stars, reprint. Space settlement and exploration.
I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge (Popsugar 2020 "anthology") and for the Huff and McGuire stories.
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