The City Quiet As Death by Steven Utley & Michael Bishop

Title:  The City Quiet as Death
Authors:  Steven Utley & Michael Bishop
First Publication:  2009
Cover Artist:  Jon Foster

From Amazon:

Between the incessant music of the stars and the spectre of a giant squid caught inside a locket ball, it is difficult for Don Horacio to maintain a restful mind.

The synopsis does not sound exciting but that is not the reason for this short chapbook.  The authors combine to write a very poetic book.  The language seems to flow from paragraph to paragraph.

This is one of those stories that I will read again.  My best guess after the first reading is that this is a H. P. Lovecraft inspired allegory about madness.

Recommended.  When you combine two of my favorite short story writers it has to be good.

Shambling Towards Hiroshima by James Morrow

Shambling Towards Hiroshima by James K. Morrow

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


In an alternate world, the Americans' work on a project to create biological weapons to end World War II. The creatures are living versions of Godzilla who will be released near enemy cities to invade and destroy without the loss of American troops. A Japanese delegation is coming for a demonstration and that is when things go wrong. An actor is approached about starring as one of the creatures in the demonstration. This is his story.

When I read about this book, it sounded like a fascinating short novel. Unfortunately I found the story to be lackluster. The best part of the book is the basic concept. The execution left something to be desired. While Morrow shows that he can write, it seems like he did not put much effort into the characters. Most of the characters are sterotypes who do nothing to change my opinion of them.

The worst part of the book, in my opinion, was the ending. Morrow uses most of the end of the book to get on his soapbox and preach about the evils of war. Based on the glimpses I saw in this book, and what I have heard from others, Morrow could has been more subtle with his approach. If he had made the same arguments appear as a natural part of the story, it would have made a better ending.

I will give Morrow another try at a later date.

View all my reviews

"Scales" by Alastair Reynolds

It is hard to believe that Reynolds started having his stories published in 1990.  I still think of him as a newer writer.  "Scales" first appeared in 2009 as part of the Guardian Books Podcast.  It was reprinted in Lightspeed Magazine's May 2011 issue.


This is the first military fiction written by Reynolds that I remember.  When I finished it I thought of similar themes from Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" and Joe Haldeman's "The Forever War".  Somehow Reynolds was able to fit many big ideas including humanity at war with an alien race, the evolution of humanity, the life of a soldier, and it all happened in a short story.  Usually Reynolds receives credit for his novels but I think he is a master of the short form.  This stand alone story deserves to be recognized.  I plan on checking out more of his short fiction.  This is the second of his short stories I have read and both were very good.


Highly recommended.  Not enough room to develop the characterization but the ideas and plot carry it at this short length.