The first mass market Australian horror anthology. From the 1980s, so that shows how backward we were/are.
The introduction details this and a brief history of Australian horror all the way from 19th century writers like Guy Boothby up to Greg Egan and beyond.
An interesting book, and reasonable quality at 3.31.
Terror Australis : Catalyst - Leanne Frahm
Terror Australis : The Daemon Street Ghost-Trap - Terry Dowling
Terror Australis : The Wolves Are Running - Paul Lindsey
Terror Australis : Chameleon - Sharon A. Hansen
Terror Australis : Hantu-Rimba - Dr John Hugoe-Matthews
Terror Australis : Losing Faith - Louise M. Steer
Terror Australis : Openings - Robert Hood
Terror Australis : Remorseless Vengeance - Guy Boothby
Terror Australis : A Gift from Gehenna - B. J. Stevens
Terror Australis : Johnny Twofeller - Kendall Hoffman
Terror Australis : In the Light of the Lamp - Steven Paulsen
Terror Australis : Feeling Empty - Christopher Sequeira
Terror Australis : The Nicholas Vine - Ann C. Whitehead
Terror Australis : The Keeper - Geoff O'Callaghan
Terror Australis : Out of the Storm - Rick Kennett
Terror Australis : Twist of the Knife - Sean Williams
Terror Australis : The Hut - Sheila Hatherley
Terror Australis : The Hourglass - Leigh Blackmore
Terror Australis : A Dangerous Thing - Michael Bryant
Terror Australis : Makeover - Sue Isle
Terror Australis : Dear Reader - Dirk Strasser
Terror Australis : The Vivisector - Eddie Van Helden
Terror Australis : Anzac Day - Cherry Wilder
Terror Australis : Red Ambrosia - Bill Congreve
Terror Australis : Heir of the Wolf - Stephen Dedman
Terror Australis : Neighbourhood Watch - Greg Egan
Terror Australis : Denials - Bill Fewer
Mabuza's Plum - Eddie Van Helden
Middle aged women slash, too.
3.5 out of 5
Son's a sucker for spooks.
4 out of 5
Mutant cannibal son cull.
3.5 out of 5
That's not Curly.
3.5 out of 5
Ghost tiger.
3 out of 5
Double hanging haunting.
3 out of 5
Lying pixie.
3 out of 5
Leave the hanging to the dead people, bro.
3.5 out of 5
Multple penis dinner.
3.5 out of 5
Wombi snake bi-location.
3 out of 5
A couple go to meet their dealer to score some weed, but he isn't there, and they end up buying a lamp from a strange show. Lovecraftian vistas await.
3.5 out of 5
Eel inside-outside.
3 out of 5
Thorny dead problem.
3 out of 5
Paintball crypt crucified.
3.5 out of 5
Corvette crewlost hag vision.
3.5 out of 5
GUTS plan, bro.
3 out of 5
Dropout scary poetry book.
3.5 out of 5
Hourglass figure, hourglass sex fetish. Add skull goblets and magic, you have an incantation for death.
3.5 out of 5
Demon summoning lack of communication.
3.5 out of 5
Body transfer Time.
3.5 out of 5
Dark infection.
3 out of 5
Slices of life.
3 out of 5
Mum hack.
3 out of 5
Rapist woman bloodsucker suicide wait.
3.5 out of 5
Prefer human well done.
3.5 out of 5
A group of local residents make a deal with a monster to keep the local area crime free. Crime not done by them, anyway. You know what those deals with the devil are like.
4 out of 5
With killings, paperboy.
2.5 out of 5
Skinny bits.
3 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Crisis - Roger Elwood
An editorial that seems a bit pleased with itself. The title is the theme for the stories, so fairly broad. SF except perhaps for Hoch's fable.
Only a 3.15 - so a 2.75 book. Not enough of note to round up here, though, Brackett aside.
Crisis : The Day the Founder Died - Robert Silverberg
Crisis : Mommies and Daddies - Leigh Brackett
Crisis : We'll Walk Again in the Moonlight - Tom Godwin
Crisis : Psychosomatica - Gordon Eklund
Crisis : Limited Accommodations - Doris Piserchia
Crisis : The Boy Who Brought Love - Edward D. Hoch
Crisis : The Spacers' Dance - Maureen Exter
Crisis : Gamesman - J. F. Bone
Crisis : The Proust Syndrome - Howard Goldsmith
Crisis : Xong of Xuxan - Ray Russell
City prison not intentional.
3.5 out of 5
Junky kid Hunt hat cull.
4 out of 5
Star World delirium.
3 out of 5
Local force bot.
3 out of 5
Not for human planet.
2.5 out of 5
King enemy gift destruction.
3 out of 5
But no love.
3.5 out of 5
Family war Umpire price.
3.5 out of 5
Nostalgia plague life.
3 out of 5
Got new wordx.
2.5 out of 5
2.5 out of 5
Only a 3.15 - so a 2.75 book. Not enough of note to round up here, though, Brackett aside.
Crisis : The Day the Founder Died - Robert Silverberg
Crisis : Mommies and Daddies - Leigh Brackett
Crisis : We'll Walk Again in the Moonlight - Tom Godwin
Crisis : Psychosomatica - Gordon Eklund
Crisis : Limited Accommodations - Doris Piserchia
Crisis : The Boy Who Brought Love - Edward D. Hoch
Crisis : The Spacers' Dance - Maureen Exter
Crisis : Gamesman - J. F. Bone
Crisis : The Proust Syndrome - Howard Goldsmith
Crisis : Xong of Xuxan - Ray Russell
City prison not intentional.
3.5 out of 5
Junky kid Hunt hat cull.
4 out of 5
Star World delirium.
3 out of 5
Local force bot.
3 out of 5
Not for human planet.
2.5 out of 5
King enemy gift destruction.
3 out of 5
But no love.
3.5 out of 5
Family war Umpire price.
3.5 out of 5
Nostalgia plague life.
3 out of 5
Got new wordx.
2.5 out of 5
2.5 out of 5
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Best Of Planet Stories (virtually)
The Best Of Planet Stories #1 edited by Leigh Brackett was the supposed start of a series of anthologies in 1975. Planet Stories was a pulp magazine that had over 70 issues and well over 540 stories. Here is what she chose:
(My notes here if interested http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2009/11/best-of-planet-stories-leigh-brackett.html)
Best of Planet Stories : Lorelei of the Red Mist - Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury
Best of Planet Stories : The Star Mouse - Fredric Brown
Best of Planet Stories : Return of a Legend - Raymond Z. Gallun
Best of Planet Stories : Quest of Thig - Basil Wells
Best of Planet Stories : The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears - Keith Bennett
Best of Planet Stories : The Diversifal - Ross Rocklynne
Best of Planet Stories : Duel on Syrtis - Poul Anderson
So, thanks to the fact that I put all the stories in a spreadsheet, I've read 26% or so of Planet Stories tales, thanks to various anthologies, collections and the internet.
That's close to 3/4 unread of course. There are definitely going to be other 3.5 type stories lukring in there like 'Return of a Legend' and quite a few 3's like 'The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears' There are some Poul Anderson stories here even I've never seen. Obviously he doesn't like 'em much.
Here are some virtual volumes then that could continue the series, based on stories I have read. I'll keep to the publisher rule of one Leigh Brackett story per volume, because it is a bloody good idea, and she was the most prolific teller of quality tales for that publication anyway. Will keep the same number of stories, too, and some more obscure work in the middle of the volume.
Best of Planet Stories #2
Black Amazon Of Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Sound Of Thunder - Ray Bradbury
Citadel Of the Green Death - Emmett McDowell
Survival - Basil Wells
The Star Saint - A. E. Van Vogt
Brooklyn Project - William Tenn
Sargasso Of Lost Starships - Poul Anderson
Best of Planet Stories #3
Queen Of the Martian Catacombs - Leigh Brackett
Dwellers In Silence - Ray Bradbury
Grandma Perkins and the Space Pirates - James McConnell
The Conjurer Of Venus - Conan T. Troy
Beyond Lies the Wub - Philip K. Dick
What Hath Me? - Henry Kuttner
Tiger By the Tail - Poul Anderson
Best of Planet Stories #4
Enchantress Of Venus - Leigh Brackett
Rocket Summer - Ray Bradbury
The Rebel Of Valkyr - Alfred Coppel
Black Priestess Of Varda - Erik Fennel
Black Friar Of the Flame - Isaac Asimov
The Eyes Of Thar - Henry Kuttner
The Virgin Of Valkarion - Poul Anderson
Best of Planet Stories #5
The Stellar Legion - Leigh Brackett
Forever and the Earth - Ray Bradbury
Sword Of Fire - Emmett McDowell
A Planet Named Joe - Evan Hunter
Captives Of the Thieve-Star - James H. Schmitz
The Crystal Crypt - Philip K. Dick
The Star Plunderer - Poul Anderson
(My notes here if interested http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2009/11/best-of-planet-stories-leigh-brackett.html)
Best of Planet Stories : Lorelei of the Red Mist - Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury
Best of Planet Stories : The Star Mouse - Fredric Brown
Best of Planet Stories : Return of a Legend - Raymond Z. Gallun
Best of Planet Stories : Quest of Thig - Basil Wells
Best of Planet Stories : The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears - Keith Bennett
Best of Planet Stories : The Diversifal - Ross Rocklynne
Best of Planet Stories : Duel on Syrtis - Poul Anderson
So, thanks to the fact that I put all the stories in a spreadsheet, I've read 26% or so of Planet Stories tales, thanks to various anthologies, collections and the internet.
That's close to 3/4 unread of course. There are definitely going to be other 3.5 type stories lukring in there like 'Return of a Legend' and quite a few 3's like 'The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears' There are some Poul Anderson stories here even I've never seen. Obviously he doesn't like 'em much.
Here are some virtual volumes then that could continue the series, based on stories I have read. I'll keep to the publisher rule of one Leigh Brackett story per volume, because it is a bloody good idea, and she was the most prolific teller of quality tales for that publication anyway. Will keep the same number of stories, too, and some more obscure work in the middle of the volume.
Best of Planet Stories #2
Black Amazon Of Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Sound Of Thunder - Ray Bradbury
Citadel Of the Green Death - Emmett McDowell
Survival - Basil Wells
The Star Saint - A. E. Van Vogt
Brooklyn Project - William Tenn
Sargasso Of Lost Starships - Poul Anderson
Best of Planet Stories #3
Queen Of the Martian Catacombs - Leigh Brackett
Dwellers In Silence - Ray Bradbury
Grandma Perkins and the Space Pirates - James McConnell
The Conjurer Of Venus - Conan T. Troy
Beyond Lies the Wub - Philip K. Dick
What Hath Me? - Henry Kuttner
Tiger By the Tail - Poul Anderson
Best of Planet Stories #4
Enchantress Of Venus - Leigh Brackett
Rocket Summer - Ray Bradbury
The Rebel Of Valkyr - Alfred Coppel
Black Priestess Of Varda - Erik Fennel
Black Friar Of the Flame - Isaac Asimov
The Eyes Of Thar - Henry Kuttner
The Virgin Of Valkarion - Poul Anderson
Best of Planet Stories #5
The Stellar Legion - Leigh Brackett
Forever and the Earth - Ray Bradbury
Sword Of Fire - Emmett McDowell
A Planet Named Joe - Evan Hunter
Captives Of the Thieve-Star - James H. Schmitz
The Crystal Crypt - Philip K. Dick
The Star Plunderer - Poul Anderson
The Best Of Planet Stories - Leigh Brackett
This is numbered as #1, so apparently supposed to be a series. Unfortunately there are no more.
There's a fine introduction on why she likes this particular type of story:
"“Planet, unashamedly, published ‘space opera’. Space opera, as every reader doubtless knows, is a pejorative term often applied to a story that has an element of adventure. Over the decades, brilliant and talented new writers appear, receiving great acclaim, and each and every one of them can be expected to write at least one article stating flatly that the day of space opera is over and done, thank goodness, and that henceforward these crude tales of interplanetary nonsense will be replaced by whatever type of story that writer happens to favor — closet dramas, psychological dramas, sex dramas, etc., but by God important dramas, containing nothing but Big Thinks. Ten years later, the writer in question may or may not still be around, but the space opera can be found right where it always was, sturdily driving its dark trade in heroes.”"
with a bit more:-
"“The tale of adventure — of great courage and daring, of battle against the forces of darkness and the unknown — has been with the human race since it first learned to talk. It began as a part of the primitive survival technique, interwoven with magic and ritual, to explain and propitiate the vast forces of nature with which man could not cope in any other fashion. The tales grew into religions. They became myth and legend. They became the Mabinogion and the Ulster Cycle and the Voluspa. They became Arthur and Robin Hood, and Tarzan of the Apes. The so-called space opera is the folk-tale, the hero-tale, of our particular niche in history.”"
and almost to finish:
"Who looks for a statement of any _Real Importance in a space opera? I won't tell you if any such are lurking among these stories--but if you happen to think you see one here and there you just might be right."
As to the stories themselves, unlike Brackett I have only read something over a quarter of the stories from this magazine. This will certainly include a bunch of the better and well known tales, but not all of them. As can be seen by some of the finds in Jean Marie Stine's Planets Of Adventure series. Which, if you like this, I recommend checking out.
Brackett also says that the publisher demanded one of her stories in each volume, when talking about the old putting yourself in your own anthology faux pas.
There is no doubt I would put Lorelei Of the Red Mist and Duel On Syrtis amidst the best stories.
Not much of a fan of Brown's mouse, though. Gallun's story is reasonable - a story of survival on Mars that trends a little more towards Robinson than Burroughs.
I have quite a bit of time for Wells' whacky imagination, even if not so talented. Stories about writers tend to bore me though, probably along with a lot of other people. However, he makes this one fun.
The Bennett story is a little reminiscent of a couple of Brackett's own, like The Stellar Legion, etc. and is ok, as is the Rocklynne.
The book is worth it for the Brackett team-up, Anderson and the intro alone, though - overall a 3.43.
Best of Planet Stories : Lorelei of the Red Mist - Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury
Best of Planet Stories : The Star Mouse - Fredric Brown
Best of Planet Stories : Return of a Legend - Raymond Z. Gallun
Best of Planet Stories : Quest of Thig - Basil Wells
Best of Planet Stories : The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears - Keith Bennett
Best of Planet Stories : The Diversifal - Ross Rocklynne
Best of Planet Stories : Duel on Syrtis - Poul Anderson
Power from the Seawitch
Zombie army from the sea,
All shall find victory at last
Starke's barbarity
4.5 out of 5
Mitkey Minnie escape velocity.
2.5 out of 5
Neo-Martian comeback.
3.5 out of 5
Not so bad this non-Horde writer thing.
3.5 out of 5
A military science fiction short novel. This particular group gets forced down thanks to a busted up ship, and to try and survive on Venus.
This includes dangerous plans and screaming lizard-men, so they get plenty of chances to use their military skills.
3 out of 5
Gamma Group man save, 8000th century style.
3 out of 5
Bagging a Martian is hard.
4 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
There's a fine introduction on why she likes this particular type of story:
"“Planet, unashamedly, published ‘space opera’. Space opera, as every reader doubtless knows, is a pejorative term often applied to a story that has an element of adventure. Over the decades, brilliant and talented new writers appear, receiving great acclaim, and each and every one of them can be expected to write at least one article stating flatly that the day of space opera is over and done, thank goodness, and that henceforward these crude tales of interplanetary nonsense will be replaced by whatever type of story that writer happens to favor — closet dramas, psychological dramas, sex dramas, etc., but by God important dramas, containing nothing but Big Thinks. Ten years later, the writer in question may or may not still be around, but the space opera can be found right where it always was, sturdily driving its dark trade in heroes.”"
with a bit more:-
"“The tale of adventure — of great courage and daring, of battle against the forces of darkness and the unknown — has been with the human race since it first learned to talk. It began as a part of the primitive survival technique, interwoven with magic and ritual, to explain and propitiate the vast forces of nature with which man could not cope in any other fashion. The tales grew into religions. They became myth and legend. They became the Mabinogion and the Ulster Cycle and the Voluspa. They became Arthur and Robin Hood, and Tarzan of the Apes. The so-called space opera is the folk-tale, the hero-tale, of our particular niche in history.”"
and almost to finish:
"Who looks for a statement of any _Real Importance in a space opera? I won't tell you if any such are lurking among these stories--but if you happen to think you see one here and there you just might be right."
As to the stories themselves, unlike Brackett I have only read something over a quarter of the stories from this magazine. This will certainly include a bunch of the better and well known tales, but not all of them. As can be seen by some of the finds in Jean Marie Stine's Planets Of Adventure series. Which, if you like this, I recommend checking out.
Brackett also says that the publisher demanded one of her stories in each volume, when talking about the old putting yourself in your own anthology faux pas.
There is no doubt I would put Lorelei Of the Red Mist and Duel On Syrtis amidst the best stories.
Not much of a fan of Brown's mouse, though. Gallun's story is reasonable - a story of survival on Mars that trends a little more towards Robinson than Burroughs.
I have quite a bit of time for Wells' whacky imagination, even if not so talented. Stories about writers tend to bore me though, probably along with a lot of other people. However, he makes this one fun.
The Bennett story is a little reminiscent of a couple of Brackett's own, like The Stellar Legion, etc. and is ok, as is the Rocklynne.
The book is worth it for the Brackett team-up, Anderson and the intro alone, though - overall a 3.43.
Best of Planet Stories : Lorelei of the Red Mist - Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury
Best of Planet Stories : The Star Mouse - Fredric Brown
Best of Planet Stories : Return of a Legend - Raymond Z. Gallun
Best of Planet Stories : Quest of Thig - Basil Wells
Best of Planet Stories : The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears - Keith Bennett
Best of Planet Stories : The Diversifal - Ross Rocklynne
Best of Planet Stories : Duel on Syrtis - Poul Anderson
Power from the Seawitch
Zombie army from the sea,
All shall find victory at last
Starke's barbarity
4.5 out of 5
Mitkey Minnie escape velocity.
2.5 out of 5
Neo-Martian comeback.
3.5 out of 5
Not so bad this non-Horde writer thing.
3.5 out of 5
A military science fiction short novel. This particular group gets forced down thanks to a busted up ship, and to try and survive on Venus.
This includes dangerous plans and screaming lizard-men, so they get plenty of chances to use their military skills.
3 out of 5
Gamma Group man save, 8000th century style.
3 out of 5
Bagging a Martian is hard.
4 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Eclipse 3 - Jonathan Strahan
An ordinary original anthology. Which is pretty much to be expected when you have a book that has stories by a lot of good writers, but not a lot of the best writers. Even Peter S. Beagle's effort is pretty ordinary. All a bit bland. Which may be deliberate on the editor's part, perhaps, but mostly eminently forgettable.
The most interesting is easily Nicola Griffith's tale of twisted new corporate product research and hiring.
Caitlin Kiernan perhaps trying something a little different for her. Otherwise, there's a fair amount of contemporary-lacking-in-imagination-or innovation, Okorafor aside.
Eclipse 3 : The Pelican Bar - Karen Joy Fowler
Eclipse 3 : A Practical Girl - Ellen Klages
Eclipse 3 : Don't Mention Madagascar - Pat Cadigan
Eclipse 3 : On the Road - Nnedi Okorafor
Eclipse 3 : Swell - Elizabeth Bear
Eclipse 3 : Useless Things - Maureen F. McHugh
Eclipse 3 : The Coral Heart - Jeffrey Ford
Eclipse 3 : It Takes Two - Nicola Griffith
Eclipse 3 : Sleight of Hand - Peter S. Beagle
Eclipse 3 : The Pretender's Tourney - Daniel Abraham
Eclipse 3 : Yes We Have No Bananas - Paul Di Filippo
Eclipse 3 : Mesopotamian Fire - Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple
Eclipse 3 : The Visited Man - Molly Gloss
Eclipse 3 : Galapagos - Caitlin R. Kiernan
Eclipse 3 : Dolce Domum - Ellen Kushner
TAP.
2.5 out of 5
Magic turtle square.
3 out of 5
Plane trick.
3 out of 5
Still got my hands, maybe with some monsters though.
3.5 out of 5
Fishy girl, I don't see.
3.5 out of 5
Special dildo feeding scare.
3.5 out of 5
Tulpa runthrough.
3 out of 5
Strip memory contract.
4 out of 5
Magician animal.
3 out of 5
No kneel run.
3 out of 5
Shorebird deranged ocarina.
3 out of 5
Little dragon discovery.
2.5 out of 5
Pole image.
3 out of 5
Crazed mission discovery.
3.5 out of 5
Silent night, dashed.
2.5 out of 5
2.5 out of 5
The most interesting is easily Nicola Griffith's tale of twisted new corporate product research and hiring.
Caitlin Kiernan perhaps trying something a little different for her. Otherwise, there's a fair amount of contemporary-lacking-in-imagination-or innovation, Okorafor aside.
Eclipse 3 : The Pelican Bar - Karen Joy Fowler
Eclipse 3 : A Practical Girl - Ellen Klages
Eclipse 3 : Don't Mention Madagascar - Pat Cadigan
Eclipse 3 : On the Road - Nnedi Okorafor
Eclipse 3 : Swell - Elizabeth Bear
Eclipse 3 : Useless Things - Maureen F. McHugh
Eclipse 3 : The Coral Heart - Jeffrey Ford
Eclipse 3 : It Takes Two - Nicola Griffith
Eclipse 3 : Sleight of Hand - Peter S. Beagle
Eclipse 3 : The Pretender's Tourney - Daniel Abraham
Eclipse 3 : Yes We Have No Bananas - Paul Di Filippo
Eclipse 3 : Mesopotamian Fire - Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple
Eclipse 3 : The Visited Man - Molly Gloss
Eclipse 3 : Galapagos - Caitlin R. Kiernan
Eclipse 3 : Dolce Domum - Ellen Kushner
TAP.
2.5 out of 5
Magic turtle square.
3 out of 5
Plane trick.
3 out of 5
Still got my hands, maybe with some monsters though.
3.5 out of 5
Fishy girl, I don't see.
3.5 out of 5
Special dildo feeding scare.
3.5 out of 5
Tulpa runthrough.
3 out of 5
Strip memory contract.
4 out of 5
Magician animal.
3 out of 5
No kneel run.
3 out of 5
Shorebird deranged ocarina.
3 out of 5
Little dragon discovery.
2.5 out of 5
Pole image.
3 out of 5
Crazed mission discovery.
3.5 out of 5
Silent night, dashed.
2.5 out of 5
2.5 out of 5
Pump Six and Other Stories - Paolo Bacigalupi
And there there were three. Egan, Chiang, and now Bacigalupi. He's that good. Two books, one a novel, and this earlier collection, both five stars. Like Chiang, he doesn't produce a lot, unfortunately. When it is all this quality, however, a rather forgiveable flaw.
He is also the most dystopian of the three.
A couple of the stories are part of the same future scenario - The Calorie Man, Yellow Card Man, which he expounds upon further in his novel The Windup Girl.
Whereas Egan started with some horror stories earlier, Bacigalupi has thrown a straight psychological horror piece in here with 'Softer'.
This collection is of outstanding quality, averaging 4.05. Along with the Calorie stories, the other best work includes 'The People Of Sand and Slag' with a really ruined future in which you have to be modified to survive the toxins, and Pop Squad, about dealing with overpopulation.
Really great work. Bacigalupi should definitely be part of your modern SF library. Given both his books are webscription DRM free, they can be on your flash drive, your phone, your PDA, or wherever else you want. This just makes them better.
Pump Six and Other Stories : Pocketful of Dharma - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Fluted Girl - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The People of Sand and Slag - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Pasho - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Calorie Man - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Tamarisk Hunter - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Pop Squad - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Yellow Card Man - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Softer - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Pump Six - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Small Offerings - Paolo Bacigalupi
Cube lama.
4 out of 5
Pufnstuf probably wouldn't stand for this.
3.5 out of 5
Immortal ruined future's lack of taste for pets.
4.5 out of 5
Knowledge prevention.
3.5 out of 5
Generipper murder massacre's unlikely Johnny Appleseed monopoly breaker.
5 out of 5
Breeding dinosaur kid kill cleanup.
4.5 out of 5
Vegiekilling water saviour.
4 out of 5
Breeding dinosaur kid kill cleanup.
4.5 out of 5
Fallen biotech magnate takes insults badly.
4 out of 5
Water walking on the trog wild thing wild side.
4 out of 5
Prenatal drug dose.
4 out of 5
5 out of 5
He is also the most dystopian of the three.
A couple of the stories are part of the same future scenario - The Calorie Man, Yellow Card Man, which he expounds upon further in his novel The Windup Girl.
Whereas Egan started with some horror stories earlier, Bacigalupi has thrown a straight psychological horror piece in here with 'Softer'.
This collection is of outstanding quality, averaging 4.05. Along with the Calorie stories, the other best work includes 'The People Of Sand and Slag' with a really ruined future in which you have to be modified to survive the toxins, and Pop Squad, about dealing with overpopulation.
Really great work. Bacigalupi should definitely be part of your modern SF library. Given both his books are webscription DRM free, they can be on your flash drive, your phone, your PDA, or wherever else you want. This just makes them better.
Pump Six and Other Stories : Pocketful of Dharma - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Fluted Girl - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The People of Sand and Slag - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Pasho - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Calorie Man - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : The Tamarisk Hunter - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Pop Squad - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Yellow Card Man - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Softer - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Pump Six - Paolo Bacigalupi
Pump Six and Other Stories : Small Offerings - Paolo Bacigalupi
Cube lama.
4 out of 5
Pufnstuf probably wouldn't stand for this.
3.5 out of 5
Immortal ruined future's lack of taste for pets.
4.5 out of 5
Knowledge prevention.
3.5 out of 5
Generipper murder massacre's unlikely Johnny Appleseed monopoly breaker.
5 out of 5
Breeding dinosaur kid kill cleanup.
4.5 out of 5
Vegiekilling water saviour.
4 out of 5
Breeding dinosaur kid kill cleanup.
4.5 out of 5
Fallen biotech magnate takes insults badly.
4 out of 5
Water walking on the trog wild thing wild side.
4 out of 5
Prenatal drug dose.
4 out of 5
5 out of 5
Genogoths - J. Steven York
Hound dogged.
Not too long after the events of the first book, and finally having gotten some time to themselves, sans adult superheroes, Generation X are surprised by a visitor.
Espeth turns up, telling them the three friends made in 'Crossroads' have been captured by your nasty secret government agency.
She also reveals her role in the Genogoths, as a clandestine X-gene protection group - concerned with the gene continuing to be passed on. Particularly the ordinary mutants - ones not powerful enough and so generally beneath the notice of people like Magneto or Xavier or others like that.
The abilities of the three are suited to being enhanced and turning them into a mutant hunter-killer squad.
So there are some trust issues with the punk girl - and transport problems - trying to avoid well resourced Genogoths in the clapped out Xabago, horns and all, is a problem.
As is breaking your friends out of a high-tech, well defended underground bunker.
3.5 out of 5
Not too long after the events of the first book, and finally having gotten some time to themselves, sans adult superheroes, Generation X are surprised by a visitor.
Espeth turns up, telling them the three friends made in 'Crossroads' have been captured by your nasty secret government agency.
She also reveals her role in the Genogoths, as a clandestine X-gene protection group - concerned with the gene continuing to be passed on. Particularly the ordinary mutants - ones not powerful enough and so generally beneath the notice of people like Magneto or Xavier or others like that.
The abilities of the three are suited to being enhanced and turning them into a mutant hunter-killer squad.
So there are some trust issues with the punk girl - and transport problems - trying to avoid well resourced Genogoths in the clapped out Xabago, horns and all, is a problem.
As is breaking your friends out of a high-tech, well defended underground bunker.
3.5 out of 5
Crossroads - J. Steven York
Road trip.
Emma Frost and Sean Cassidy surprise their charges by stopping off in Seattle rather than heading for their usual base.
The idea to buy a couple of camper vans and tour across the country is a little declasse for the former, especially the honking garish mobile the lads choose, but she gets talked around.
The two adults want to do some liaising with various people involved in helping mutants, and the mutant underground. This only involves a university fraternity for mutants and sympathisers called M.O.N.S.T.E.R. that has gone mostly underground.
The Gen X people make friends there - with espeth, a human goth girl, Recall, a boy with the ability to find things, Chill, the president, with obvious powers, and Pounder, with Dr Dolittle skills.
A right-wing anti-mutant talk show host and some terrorists who have repaired some old Mandroid armour make up the rest of the fun and games they get up in various states.
3.5 out of 5
Emma Frost and Sean Cassidy surprise their charges by stopping off in Seattle rather than heading for their usual base.
The idea to buy a couple of camper vans and tour across the country is a little declasse for the former, especially the honking garish mobile the lads choose, but she gets talked around.
The two adults want to do some liaising with various people involved in helping mutants, and the mutant underground. This only involves a university fraternity for mutants and sympathisers called M.O.N.S.T.E.R. that has gone mostly underground.
The Gen X people make friends there - with espeth, a human goth girl, Recall, a boy with the ability to find things, Chill, the president, with obvious powers, and Pounder, with Dr Dolittle skills.
A right-wing anti-mutant talk show host and some terrorists who have repaired some old Mandroid armour make up the rest of the fun and games they get up in various states.
3.5 out of 5
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Generation X - Elliot S. Maggin and Scott Lobdell
A young mutant dying of the Legacy Virus wants to spend the little time he has left studying alongside Generation X. He has electrical powers, and also a familiarity with ghosts.
Which is helpful, as not long after he turns up it appears that the team and trainers Sean Cassidy and Emma Frost are being haunted by the ghosts of the dead Hellions.
This is really getting everyone down. Along with another anti-mutant hate group crusader leader with secrets of his own.
This is a part of X-history I missed, so a good way to catch up with who these kids are, along with an interesting story.
3.5 out of 5
Which is helpful, as not long after he turns up it appears that the team and trainers Sean Cassidy and Emma Frost are being haunted by the ghosts of the dead Hellions.
This is really getting everyone down. Along with another anti-mutant hate group crusader leader with secrets of his own.
This is a part of X-history I missed, so a good way to catch up with who these kids are, along with an interesting story.
3.5 out of 5
Monday, November 16, 2009
Cherry Bomb - J. A. Konrath
Revenge is a burden.
After the murder of her fiancee it is understandable that Jack Daniels wants very badly to put an end to Alex Kork, as do her friends.
The problem still remains that said serial killer has an extreme intelligence level, and those pursuing her do not.
In fact, this can be an obsession, leading Jack to basically go rogue to do so.
It could get anyone depressed though that crazy people want to kill all the people you know - and anybody you do that has no proficiency as a warrior is basically toast, to boot.
As bleak as this starts to get - there are still some very funny pieces, especially when Harry McGlade gets a monkey, of all things, and a 'Crimebago'.
3.5 out of 5
After the murder of her fiancee it is understandable that Jack Daniels wants very badly to put an end to Alex Kork, as do her friends.
The problem still remains that said serial killer has an extreme intelligence level, and those pursuing her do not.
In fact, this can be an obsession, leading Jack to basically go rogue to do so.
It could get anyone depressed though that crazy people want to kill all the people you know - and anybody you do that has no proficiency as a warrior is basically toast, to boot.
As bleak as this starts to get - there are still some very funny pieces, especially when Harry McGlade gets a monkey, of all things, and a 'Crimebago'.
3.5 out of 5
Fuzzy Navel - J. A. Konrath
Brutal double trouble.
Alex Kork again outwits Jack by faking her own death and hence escaping from prison - then deciding to hold a little reunion for Jack and her other not-friends.
There's a serious additional problem as a party of snipers who call themselves The Urban Hunt Club also want to take out said detective who has annoyed them.
They choose to strike after Alex has done so. So it is a houseful of non-stop action and mayhem for Jack, Mary, Latham, Herb, Harry and Phin as they try to retain all their body parts, have no new holes introduced and even just stay alive.
Many twists here will have you saying 'oh no', as well as laughing at times.
4 out of 5
Alex Kork again outwits Jack by faking her own death and hence escaping from prison - then deciding to hold a little reunion for Jack and her other not-friends.
There's a serious additional problem as a party of snipers who call themselves The Urban Hunt Club also want to take out said detective who has annoyed them.
They choose to strike after Alex has done so. So it is a houseful of non-stop action and mayhem for Jack, Mary, Latham, Herb, Harry and Phin as they try to retain all their body parts, have no new holes introduced and even just stay alive.
Many twists here will have you saying 'oh no', as well as laughing at times.
4 out of 5
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