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.

February in Review

February was another good month for reading.  Unfortunately I fell behind in writing reviews.

The 2013 Science Fiction Experience wrapped up in February.  Carl hosts one of my favorite events of the year.  I read and reviewed three books for February that were part of this non-challenge.

Fallen Dragon by Peter Hamilton
Anthem by Ayn Rand
Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick & Paul Di Flippo

Being a huge fan of book reviews helped make the Broderick & Di Flippo book my favorite for the month.

I read many good short stories.  Hopefully I will get the reviews posted shortly.

As for what is coming in March, I plan on alternating between some of the current writers I have not tried yet and some books from the SF Gateway series.

I plan on reading books by Eric Brown and Iain Banks from the current writer list.  From the SF Gateway publications I will be reading books by Kenneth Bulmer, Doris Piserchia, and Richard Cowper.

"iRobot" by Guy Haley

Title:  iRobot
Author:  Guy Haley
First Publication:  Interzone, Jan-Feb 2013
Cover Artist:  Jim Burns

Thank you, Guy Haley.

This short story reminds me why I like science fiction.  It is about the last functioning robot on Earth.  Humanity has died out but it is still trying to fulfill it's programming.

The title is obviously a tribute to Isaac Asimov's classic story with the same name.  Looking back even further, it is also the name of an older story by two brothers who wrote under the name Eando Binder.  In more recent times, Cory Doctorow also used this title.

Why do I like this story so much?  In addition to the title reminding me of Asimov, the writing also reminds me of the short fiction of another favorite of mine-Roger Zelazny.  The idea of the last robot on Earth is a story that Zelazny might have written in his prime.

It is worth buying this issue of Interzone for this story alone.  I will definitely be adding more of Haley's works to my "to be read" pile.

Illustration by Jim Burns

Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010 by Damien Broderick & Paul Di Flippo

Title:  Science Fiction the 101 Best Novels 1985-2010
Authors:  Damien Broderick & Paul Di Flippo
First Publication:  2012
Cover Artist:  Luis Ortiz

From Amazon:
Inspired by David Pringle's landmark 1985 work Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels, this volume supplements the earlier selection with the present authors' choices for the best English-language science fiction novels during the past quarter century. Employing a critical slant, the book provides a discussion of the novels and the writers in the context of popular literature. Moreover, each entry features a cover image of the novel, a plot synopsis, and a mini review, making it an ideal go-to guide for anyone wanting to become reacquainted with an old favorite or to discover a previously unknown treasure. With a foreword by David Pringle, this invaluable reference is sure to provoke conversation and debates among sci-fi fans and devotees.

Green Lantern Corps Vol. 1: Fearsome

Title:  Fearsome
Author:  Peter Tomasi
Pencillers:  Fernando Pasarin & Geraldo Borges
Inker:  Scott Hanna
First Publication:  DC Comics 2012

Synopsis:

From Goodreads:
As part of the DC New 52 event, the Green Lantern Corps return, led by fan favorite Lanterns Guy Gardner and John Stewart.When a new menace, The Keepers, begins to march across the space sectors and devouring not only their natural resources but their entire populations, it is up to The Corps, severely outnumbered, to stop them. The Corps soon find one of their own held by the ruthless Keepers and must figure out a way to save their comrade and defeat the Keepers without the Green Lantern's most powerful weapon, their power rings.

Locke & Key Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft

Title:  Welcome to Lovecraft
Author:  Joe Hill
Artist:  Gabriel Rodriquez
First Publication:  IDW Publishing, 2009

Synopsis:

From Goodreads:
Locke & Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them.... and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all... Acclaimed suspense novelist and New York Times best-selling author Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box) creates an all-new story of dark fantasy and wonder, with astounding artwork from Gabriel Rodriguez.

Anthem by Ayn Rand

Title:  Anthem
Author:  Ayn Rand
First Publication:  1938
Cover Artist:  Unknown

Synopsis:

From Wikipedia:
Anthem is a dystopian fiction novella by Ayn Rand, written in 1937 and first published in 1938 in England. It takes place at some unspecified future date when mankind has entered another dark age characterized by irrationality, collectivism, and socialistic thinking and economics. Technological advancement is now carefully planned (when it is allowed to occur at all) and the concept of individuality has been eliminated (for example, the use of the word "I" is punishable by death).