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beam_baum's review
4.0
Science Fiction:
1. "Cause for A Haunting"
I really liked this one even though I'm not usually one for ghost stories. Loved the insidious nature of the horror and the very human reason for the baby kidnapping. The ending, where Kate resolves to get her baby back, was also great. 4/5
2. "Origin Story"
Didn't like this at all. It felt incomplete and didn't offer any new insights to superheroes or vigilantes. 1/5
3. "Collateral"
LOVED this. The concept of a cyborg that is still treated like a human being is so different from the typical robots-have-no-feelings stuff you normally get. Loved how the ending makes it clear that the monster that kills you is the one you created. 5/5
4. "The Birth Will Take Place on a Mutually Acceptable Research Vessel"
LOVED THIS TOO. Took a normally trite trope (cross-species lovers) and made it something meaningful. You really got the sense of the cultural differences between the two societies, so you could appreciate even more the eventual coming together of both to celebrate life and love. 5/5
Fantasy:
1. "Dragon Brides"
Pretty interesting. Loved the twist at the end when the bride transforms into a dragon. Something really cyclical and magical about that process. 3.5/5
2. "Lily, with Clouds"
I liked the characterization of the main character and the framing of the narration but not so much the actual fantastical aspects of this. 3/5
3. "The Knobby Giraffe"
Kind of a weird one. I liked the concept and the ending but didn't care for the parts where confused metaphors are somehow meant to stand in for a quantum physics phenomenon that neither the reader nor the author (it seems anyway) understands. 2/5
4. "Of Metal Men and Scarlet Thread and Dancing with the Sunrise"
This was fine; I got the sense that it's meant to be part of a larger story and a more complex world (which it is) but as a standalone it was perfunctory. 2.5/5
1. "Cause for A Haunting"
I really liked this one even though I'm not usually one for ghost stories. Loved the insidious nature of the horror and the very human reason for the baby kidnapping. The ending, where Kate resolves to get her baby back, was also great. 4/5
2. "Origin Story"
Didn't like this at all. It felt incomplete and didn't offer any new insights to superheroes or vigilantes. 1/5
3. "Collateral"
LOVED this. The concept of a cyborg that is still treated like a human being is so different from the typical robots-have-no-feelings stuff you normally get. Loved how the ending makes it clear that the monster that kills you is the one you created. 5/5
4. "The Birth Will Take Place on a Mutually Acceptable Research Vessel"
LOVED THIS TOO. Took a normally trite trope (cross-species lovers) and made it something meaningful. You really got the sense of the cultural differences between the two societies, so you could appreciate even more the eventual coming together of both to celebrate life and love. 5/5
Fantasy:
1. "Dragon Brides"
Pretty interesting. Loved the twist at the end when the bride transforms into a dragon. Something really cyclical and magical about that process. 3.5/5
2. "Lily, with Clouds"
I liked the characterization of the main character and the framing of the narration but not so much the actual fantastical aspects of this. 3/5
3. "The Knobby Giraffe"
Kind of a weird one. I liked the concept and the ending but didn't care for the parts where confused metaphors are somehow meant to stand in for a quantum physics phenomenon that neither the reader nor the author (it seems anyway) understands. 2/5
4. "Of Metal Men and Scarlet Thread and Dancing with the Sunrise"
This was fine; I got the sense that it's meant to be part of a larger story and a more complex world (which it is) but as a standalone it was perfunctory. 2.5/5
baum's review
4.0
Science Fiction:
1. "Cause for A Haunting"
I really liked this one even though I'm not usually one for ghost stories. Loved the insidious nature of the horror and the very human reason for the baby kidnapping. The ending, where Kate resolves to get her baby back, was also great. 4/5
2. "Origin Story"
Didn't like this at all. It felt incomplete and didn't offer any new insights to superheroes or vigilantes. 1/5
3. "Collateral"
LOVED this. The concept of a cyborg that is still treated like a human being is so different from the typical robots-have-no-feelings stuff you normally get. Loved how the ending makes it clear that the monster that kills you is the one you created. 5/5
4. "The Birth Will Take Place on a Mutually Acceptable Research Vessel"
LOVED THIS TOO. Took a normally trite trope (cross-species lovers) and made it something meaningful. You really got the sense of the cultural differences between the two societies, so you could appreciate even more the eventual coming together of both to celebrate life and love. 5/5
Fantasy:
1. "Dragon Brides"
Pretty interesting. Loved the twist at the end when the bride transforms into a dragon. Something really cyclical and magical about that process. 3.5/5
2. "Lily, with Clouds"
I liked the characterization of the main character and the framing of the narration but not so much the actual fantastical aspects of this. 3/5
3. "The Knobby Giraffe"
Kind of a weird one. I liked the concept and the ending but didn't care for the parts where confused metaphors are somehow meant to stand in for a quantum physics phenomenon that neither the reader nor the author (it seems anyway) understands. 2/5
4. "Of Metal Men and Scarlet Thread and Dancing with the Sunrise"
This was fine; I got the sense that it's meant to be part of a larger story and a more complex world (which it is) but as a standalone it was perfunctory. 2.5/5
1. "Cause for A Haunting"
I really liked this one even though I'm not usually one for ghost stories. Loved the insidious nature of the horror and the very human reason for the baby kidnapping. The ending, where Kate resolves to get her baby back, was also great. 4/5
2. "Origin Story"
Didn't like this at all. It felt incomplete and didn't offer any new insights to superheroes or vigilantes. 1/5
3. "Collateral"
LOVED this. The concept of a cyborg that is still treated like a human being is so different from the typical robots-have-no-feelings stuff you normally get. Loved how the ending makes it clear that the monster that kills you is the one you created. 5/5
4. "The Birth Will Take Place on a Mutually Acceptable Research Vessel"
LOVED THIS TOO. Took a normally trite trope (cross-species lovers) and made it something meaningful. You really got the sense of the cultural differences between the two societies, so you could appreciate even more the eventual coming together of both to celebrate life and love. 5/5
Fantasy:
1. "Dragon Brides"
Pretty interesting. Loved the twist at the end when the bride transforms into a dragon. Something really cyclical and magical about that process. 3.5/5
2. "Lily, with Clouds"
I liked the characterization of the main character and the framing of the narration but not so much the actual fantastical aspects of this. 3/5
3. "The Knobby Giraffe"
Kind of a weird one. I liked the concept and the ending but didn't care for the parts where confused metaphors are somehow meant to stand in for a quantum physics phenomenon that neither the reader nor the author (it seems anyway) understands. 2/5
4. "Of Metal Men and Scarlet Thread and Dancing with the Sunrise"
This was fine; I got the sense that it's meant to be part of a larger story and a more complex world (which it is) but as a standalone it was perfunctory. 2.5/5
bluebec's review
4.0
I bought two books based on short stories in this edition, so I think it's pretty good
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