Scan barcode
A review by wmhenrymorris
Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show by Tim Pratt, David Farland, Bradley P. Beaulieu, Scott M. Roberts, James Maxey, Eric James Stone, Orson Scott Card, Brian Dolton, David Lubar
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.