Reviews

B&N on Melty Men

The Barnes and Noble review of The Man Who Melted, courtesy of Paul Goat Allen:

“Jack Dann’s Nebula Award–nominated The Man Who Melted (1984) is one of the genre’s most underappreciated classics. Written as four interconnected short stories between 1981 and 1983, Dann’s haunting vision of a dystopic 22nd-century Earth is appropriately described by Robert Silverberg in the novel’s introduction as ‘a book like no other science fiction novel…the future as nightmare, science fiction as poetic vision.’
Equal parts social commentary, apocalyptic thriller, and dark prophecy, the novel stars Raymond Mantle, a psychologically shattered man obsessed with finding his wife (and sister) Josiane, who disappeared during the Great Scream — a large-scale outbreak of shared insanity that swept the Earth and turned millions into raging, murdering disciples of the collective conscious. Suffering from amnesia when it comes to memories of his wife, Mantle will do anything to find her — even if it means telepathically plugging into a dying Screamer’s memories. But after traveling a world gone insane in search of clues to her whereabouts, what Mantle finds at journey’s end just may be enough to trigger another — and final — Great Scream…
Since its launch in 2005, the editorial brain trust at Pyr has (among other accomplishments) reissued numerous largely overlooked genre masterworks and breathed new life into them with innovative new cover art, updated introductions, etc. Longtime science fiction fans who enjoy rediscovering truly visionary classics like Dann’s The Man Who Melted should also check out Pyr reissues of George Zebrowski’s Macrolife and Robert Silverberg’s Star of Gypsies. All three novels more than adequately support the curmudgeonly claim that they just don’t write ’em like they used to… “

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Locus Looks Forward, Times Two

The February 2007 issue of Locus is out, containing two very nice reviews of Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge:

“Lou Anders has edited a couple of first rate anthologies over the past few years, and with this book he initiates what one hopes will be a series of original anthologies. I enjoyed Fast Forward 1, and I certainly hope it continues for years…The table of contents is intrigu­ing – featuring many of the best newer writers, including some who may be unfamiliar to US readers…it must be said that the stories are on the whole solid work…plenty of good stories, only one great one. That great story is Ken MacLeod’s ‘‘Jesus Christ, Reanimator’’, at this very early date a definite competitor for the 2007 Hugo…It’s smart and cynical and even surprising. First rate work…well worth reading…on balance a pretty fine anthology.” -review by Rich Horton
“For some years now, Lou Anders has been editing good to excellent original anthologies with urgently prospective science-fictional themes…Now, in charge at Pyr Books, Anders has the security of outcome necessary to plan a whole anthology series – a rare opportunity these days. And, naturally, his continuing urge to confront the future grounds that series: Fast Forward. The first volume is definitely promising: many first-rate contributors, some striking individual stories…many SF readers will enjoy Fast Forward 1 cover to cover; but ‘Fast Forward’ should be exactly that, a speculative onrush into futures still possible and valid, and on that count this anthology is only partly successful.” –review by Nick Gevers

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More Alien Sex

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Eric Brown reviews Martin Sketchley’s The Liberty Gunin a piece in the Guardian entitled “Identity Crisis”:

“…a fast-paced action adventure with an oddly nostalgic feel. What isn’t at all old-fashioned is an alien race comprising three sexes which leads to fascinating human-alien-human intercourse and its resulting emotional fallout; and a hard-bitten central character whose humanity is tested to the limit.”

Also reviewed, books by Jeffrey Thomas, Stephen Baxter, and Liz Williams.

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SFFWorld on FF1

Tired of the good reviews of Fast Forward 1 yet?
I’m not!

Here’s the latest, from Rob H. Bedford over on SFFWorld:

“With Fast Forward 1, Anders has brought together some of the most visionary voices in the genre to postulate on our future, to entertain us with their visions of where our world will be in the proverbial subsequent frames. The writers are of a varied enough sampling to give something of a state of the genre status, and with the quality of the stories, this state of the genre is good. One of the best things about this anthology is the ‘1’ following Fast Forward, which like the stories contained between the covers, points to something readers of the genre can anticipate every year.”

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LJ on FF

The Library Journal has just reviewed Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge, and I’m happy to report the string of positive reviews continues:

“Sf anthologies generally trace their roots back to the classic Amazing Stories magazine series, which began in 1926. Having edited a number of sf collections, Anders understands this historical context; his introduction to his fifth anthology is an invitation to the young acolyte reader as well as the grizzled veteran to sit back and enjoy the “amazing” enlightenment possible in reading sf shorts. The names on the list of contributing authors read much like an All-Star roster of current American and British sf writers. From stories by Tony Ballantyne about software and David Hume to the problems associated with raising genetically cloned saber-toothed cats in Mary Turzillo’s story “Pride,” the writers tackle moral, ethical, and philosophical issues. Anders is your guide, and the limits of your imagination determine the level of enjoyment and amount of wisdom to be garnered from this anthology. Recommended for both public and school libraries.” –Library Journal web exclusive review, January 30, 2007

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What’s not to love?

Mike Resnick’s Starship: Pirate gets a B from Sci Fi Weekly. D. Douglas Fratz isn’t criticising when he says in his review of the book:

“…to enjoy this novel it is important that the reader unpack and leave behind much in the way of knowledge and logic and go with the narrative flow. The reader cannot ask why, in a high-technology far future, diamonds (simple carbon) are so much more valuable than starships that pirates can get rich on jewels but destroy starships at will, or why everyone seems to know everyone in a universe with trillions of people, or why the hero is so incredibly lucky. The answer, of course, is that such things are simply part of the traditions of the subgenre.”

Not critical at all. No, sir. Because, as Doug puts it:

“Resnick makes excellent use of the conventions and tropes of traditional space adventure… Resnick is writing good old-fashioned space adventure here, bereft of any complex themes or hard-science underpinnings, but he does it as well as it’s ever been done.”

And the result – though I’d argue there is more under the surfice that Doug suggests – is certainly pure, fast-paced fun.

What’s not to love? Read More »

BoingBoing presents Paul Di Filippo’s “Wikiworld”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 24, 2007
CONTACT:Jill Maxick
1-800-853-7545
jmaxick@prometheusbooks.com
Pyr, an imprint of Prometheus Books

BoingBoing presents Paul Di Filippo’s “Wikiworld”
In a Sneak Peek From FAST FORWARD 1 Anthology

Amherst, NY — At BoingBoing.net, Cory Doctorow has posted a wonderful review of the soon-to-be-published (February 13, 2007) FAST FORWARD 1, an anthology Publishers Weekly called “outstanding” in a starred review.

Cory Doctorow—the digital rights activist and popular science fiction writer whose short story collection Overclocked is reviewed in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly (”Doctorow is rapidly emerging as the William Gibson of his generation.”)—was just named by Forbes as one of the top 25 “Web Celebrities” for 2007. He’s the co-editor of BoingBoing.net, a very popular and hugely influential weblog about technology, culture, and politics that ranks in Technorati’s top 10 and averages over 300,000 actual unique visits a day.

In addition to praising FAST FORWARD 1 as a whole (and the very idea of the new series it launches), Doctorow directed BoingBoing readers to “one absolute knock-out story…that is among the most exciting pieces of fiction I’ve read in years”: Paul Di Filippo’s “Wikiworld.”

Pyr has offered “Wikiworld” online as a tasty sampling of what’s in store for those who buy the complete anthology FAST FORWARD 1. BoingBoing.net linked to it here.

See “Wikiworld” online here.


To read Lou Anders’ introduction from FAST FORWARD 1, see The Eternal Night’s posting.


Enjoy these samples until next month’s publication of FAST FORWARD 1, available now for pre-order. Media review copies will be available next week.

BoingBoing presents Paul Di Filippo’s “Wikiworld” Read More »

the Starship Saga Continues…

Rob H. Bedford, over on SFFWorld, posts his review of Mike Resnick’s Starship: Pirate:

“What makes this novel so enjoyable is the dialogue; the majority of the story is told through the words of the characters. Snappy banter between Cole and Forrice, his closest friend, Cole and Sharon, his lover, frankly between Cole and any of the characters proves entertaining. There are some omniscient narrative scenes, but most of the action and plot is relayed through the characters themselves. This allows the entire story to move along at a brisk pace, even more so with the brevity of the novel. As with Starship: Mutiny, Resnick puts a lot of story, ample amounts of action balanced with tension in a short novel. With no words wasted, the story is very entertaining. While a very character-driven story, Resnick also brings in enough action to balance out the story…. With the two of five project Starship novels published, Resnick is building a nice, thoroughly entertaining Space Opera.”

Rob’s thoughts on the previous book, Starship: Mutiny,are available in this earlier review.

the Starship Saga Continues… Read More »

Sagramanda & Fast Forward

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Michael Berry of the San Francisco Chronicle reviews Alan Dean Foster’s Sagramanda. He praises Foster’s “his versatility and ingenuity” but also makes a good point about the inevitable comparisons:

“Some readers may suspect that Sagramanda suffers in comparison with another recent near-future thriller set in India, Ian McDonald’s River of Gods, also published by Pyr. Both use purloined technology as a major plot device and present multiple viewpoints from a large cast of characters. Foster’s approach to the material is more direct than McDonald’s, but his eye for telling and exotic detail is sharp, and his instincts for constructing a gripping story line are sure. India is vast, and the subcontinent’s potential influence on this century shouldn’t be a subject restricted to only one science fiction writer at a time. “

Meanwhile, Monster’s & Critics reviewer Sandy Amazeen reviews Fast Forward 1:

“Inventive and thought provoking, with solid storylines and imaginative twists, this excellent new sci-fi collection delivers. “

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Mike Resnick Interview & Concatenation Reviews

Mike Resnick is interviewed by John Joseph Adams over on Sci Fi Wire. They talk about the Starship series – Mutiny, Pirate and the upcoming Mercenary and the commander in charge of the Starship Teddy R. throughout the series, Wilson Cole – “He is living proof that even in the military, brains will triumph over brawn just about every time. ” Mike also discusses his other projects, including his new role as executive editor of Jim Baen’s Universe.

Meanwhile, a handful of new Pyr reviews popped up on the Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation site.

Susan Griffiths says of Chris Roberson’s Paragaea: A Planetary Romance:

“I found the storytelling effective enough to conjure up images in my mind as well as inspiring interest in the characters and the world they inhabit. I found it a shame to get to the end of the book as I could have gladly read more – and it was perfect to lose myself in as I sat on a train that was delayed for several hours to the point when I lost track of time. So, on that note, I would recommend it as an enjoyable, well written and an engaging fantasy adventure with a consistently developing story.”

Whereas Tony Chester really likes George Zebrowski’s Macrolife: A Mobile Utopia:

“…an SF classic and a book which contains all the sense of wonder that truly good SF could wish for… Bearing in mind that this is an old novel and, therefore, one which was heavily influenced by the science of its day, it has to be said that it has held up remarkably well over time and does not seem implausible even now, even given current cosmology… Macrolife ticks all the right boxes, and it is probably its very unfussiness that has contributed to its longevity. …good is good and quality tells, and I’m damn sure there’s many a current writer of SF who would give their right arms to write a book that will survive as long as this one. Needless to say, recommended to all.”

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