Anthopology 101: Reflections, Inspection, and Dissections of SF Anthologies

Author:  Bud Webster

First Publication: August 2010

Publisher:  Merry Blacksmith Press

Source:  Kindle

Challenge:  42 Challenge 2015

I have always been a big fan of science fiction anthologies.  Among the ones I have read are Donald Wollheim and Terry Carr “World’s Best SF”, many of Groff Conklin’s classic collections, Roger Elwood’s “Continuum” series, and Roy Torgeson’s lesser known “Chrysalis”.  One look at my shelves show many rows of unread anthologies.  My Kindle contains all 18 volumes of David Hartwell’s “Year’s Best SF” and the last 3 of Gardner Dozois’ “The Year’s Best”.  I was counting down the days until volume 32 of Gardner’s series was released today.  One of my many goals is to start reading more anthologies.  Only time will tell if I am successful.

 That brings me to this book. Periodically, I enjoy reading a non-fiction book about science fiction.  When I saw this one I had to pick it up.  I bought and downloaded the Kindle and was hooked.  Bud Webster’s collection of essays he wrote about the history of the science fiction anthology was a fun trip through time to revisit favorites from my younger days.  The short articles made for great reading and filled me in on the history of some classics.  I hope that Webster will continue and write more along this line.


Highly recommended for fans who want to learn more about the subgenre.

Hull Zero Three

Author:  Greg Bear

First Publication:  November 2010

Publisher:  Orbit

Source:  Library

Cover:  Shutterstock

The 2015 Sci-Fi Experience

The holidays tend to make me reminisce and this year my thoughts returned to my youth when I make weekly trips to the county library.  My family would go to town on Friday nights to do the banking, go to a couple of stores and stop at the library.  My parents were not science fiction and fantasy fans but they were happy that I enjoyed reading.  I would usually pick up a book or two at the town newsstand, appropriately called “The Village News”, then end up checking out a couple of books from the library.  Especially in the winter, I would read a book in one or two days.  Granted, the books were mostly shorter in those days. 

Cloud Permutations by Lavie Tidhar

From the author's website...The world of Heven was populated, centuries ago, by Melanesian settlers from distant Earth. It is a peaceful, quiet world – yet it harbours ancient secrets.

Kai just wants to fly. But flying is the one thing forbidden on Heven – a world dominated by the mysterious, ever present clouds in the skies. What do they hide? For Kai, finding the answer might mean his death – but how far will you go to realise your dreams?

Set against the breathtaking vista of a world filled with mystery and magic, Cloud Permutations is a planetary romance with a unique South Pacific flavour, filled with mythic monsters, ancient alien artefacts, floating islands and a quest to find a legendary tower… whatever the cost.

"Cloud Permutations" lives up to the hype.  I found myself caught up in the world from the start.  It is a short book so it does not take long to read.  "Planetary romance" is a classic form in science fiction.  It describes a rousing adventure on another world.  One of the old school authors of this genre was Leigh Brackett with her Eric John Stark adventures.  I hope to read and review some of her work later this year.  Tidhar does a solid job of settling up the mystery.  You won't want to put this down once you start reading it.

While reading this story, I was taken back to 1976 and an issue of Analog that came in the mail.  That issue featured a novella by George R. R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle that was called "The Storms of Windhaven".  It was later expanded into a novel.  The combination of Martin and Tuttle's styles hooked me with the first page.  Both stories deal with someone who wants to fly on an alien world.

The two stories are different (Tidhar's stylistically is closer to a Cordwainer Smith tale) but both are excellent.  Maybe more writers need to explore this type of planetary romance.

Highly recommended.

Quartet & Triptych by Matthew Hughes

Let me begin with a little background concerning my taste in stories.  I enjoy a good caper novel or movie.  That is important when discussing this story.  I am also a Jack Vance fan.  The first novel of the Demon Prince series ("Star King") hooked me as a fan.  I remember the disappointment when I read further into the series but could not find all of the books.  Later, DAW Books reprinted the series and had Vance finish it.  I never read the final 2 novels.  The upcoming Science Fiction Experience 2012 might be a good time to re-read the early books and finish reading the rest of the series.  In the words of Peter David, "But I Digress...". 

Getting back to the novel at hand.  This was one that I was supposed to review for the now defunct "Walker of Worlds" site.  Mark gave me three books that I never finished writing the reviews.  One of my goals for December is to get these written.  So consider this an epilog to a much missed review site. 

Matthew Hughes has been named the heir apparent to Jack Vance.  His style of writing, the names of the characters, and the exotic locals back this up.  Case in point:  The main character in "Quartet & Triptych" is master thief Luff Imbrey.  Luff is planning to steal one of the rare eidolons left behind when the alien Iphigenza race committed ritual suicide.  Unfortunately for Luff, it is located in a mutable maze that a nobleman had build to torture his enemies.  So he decides to "liberate" the life mask of a noblewoman who knows how to navigate the maze.  The life mask is an intriguing creation.  It traps the essence of the person in a mask that, when put on by another, allows them to speak to the wearer of the mask.  The noblewoman strikes a slightly different deal with Luff.  It is one that proves to be much more lucrative. Luff develops the perfect plan that, in the style of the classic caper novel, falls apart.  This short novel tells the story of what happens to the duo as they try to salvage their plan. 

Did I like the novel?  Yes and no.  Hughes is very talented when it comes to innovative concepts and descriptions.  His characters are interesting.  But I thought that the plot tended to drift too much for such a short novel.  If it had been more focused, I would have liked it more.  As it is, I think this is an interesting failure.  Looking at other peoples' reviews on Goodreads.com, I find myself in the minority.  Sometimes, a story does not connect with every reader.  I am one of the few that was disappointed with this story.  Based on what I read here, I will give Matthew Hughes' work another try.  I saw enough to interest me in giving this author a second chance.

Short Story Sunday - Jan. 23, 2011

1.  "Phantom Sense" by Richard A. Lovett and Mark Niemann-Ross

First Printing:  Analog, November 2010

One of the best Analog stories of recent times.  "Phantom Sense" deals with the return of a special ops soldier.  The science fiction element deals with using the soldier's brain to control insects.  The insects can be used as advance scouts.  The problems arise when the soldiers try to reintegrate into society.  Then one of them kidnaps the daughter of another soldier.  The authors steadily increase the suspense as the story races to it's conclusion.

The team of Lovett and Niemann-Ross put themselves on my list of authors to watch.
 

2.  "Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels" by George R. R. Martin

First Printing:  Vertex, December 1973

A group of archaeologists from the moon travel to Earth to see the effects of a nuclear war 500 years earlier.  Humanity has gone underground and established a new civilization.  Unfortunately, the radiation has sped up their evolution.  Most of the remaining humans are blind.  Their cities are threatened by giant worms.  Gael (one of the mutated humans) and his partner Hissig are a team who hunts the worms.  Hissig is a mutated rat.  When the archaeologists spot the rat they assume that Hissig is a monster.  The violence that ensues ruins any chance of a peaceful coexistence.

 

Martin does a great job of making the underground civilization seem real.  The character work and atmosphere are excellent as always in a Martin story.  He makes you feel the fear and sense of unease the characters feel.

Another highly recommended George R. R. Martin story.  He is one of the masters of the short form.

3.  "The Engine at Heartspring's Center" by Roger Zelazny

First Printing:  Analog, July 1974

This Nebula nominated story is classic Zelazny.  The Bork is created by an accident.  His story is the tale of his interaction with a human woman.  He makes every effort to appear human.  Like Martin, Zelazny is a master at making you "feel" a story.  He takes you into the heart of the characters.  This is one that can be hard to describe but easy to recommend. 

Highly recommended.

4.  "Remembering Melody" by George R. R. Martin

First Printing:  Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Magazine, April 1981

"Remembering Melody" is a haunting tale that will stay with you for a long time.  Do not read it after dark.  Martin shows why he was the perfect writer to work on the Twilight Zone.  This story will make you think before making promises to friends.  You will never look at a woman named Melody without thinking of this story.  It is a perfect Halloween tale.   

Avoid the poor adaptation of this story on the television show "The Hitchhiker".  They did a poor job of capturing the mood of the short story.

Recommended.