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dennisbabu's review
4.0
Exceptional stories
Don't skip the introduction of this book. It set an amazing context to how to approach the stories.
Most of the stories are amazing, I just found one or two stories verbose and all over the place which you can skim through.
Highly recommended if you are a into sci-fis & fantasies.
Don't skip the introduction of this book. It set an amazing context to how to approach the stories.
Most of the stories are amazing, I just found one or two stories verbose and all over the place which you can skim through.
Highly recommended if you are a into sci-fis & fantasies.
lizbusby's review
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
An excellent collection of short stories exploring religion through speculative fiction. I was disappointed that there were no Mormon stories in this collection, but it does cover a variety of real-world religions including eastern ones that can sometimes be less represented. Editor Andy Dibble's introductory essay makes a good case for SF in exploring religious ideas; I'll most likely end up citing it in some of my own scholarship eventually. I particularly loved this quote: "On one level, it isn't helpful to distinguish between wonder in scripture and in speculative fiction because scripture is speculative fiction when read by religious outsiders."
I didn't particularly like the inclusion of discussion questions at the end of each story, which sometimes seemed obvious and reductive and sometimes completely unrelated to the story, but it seems to be part of the format of the anthology series so I can forgive. However, I definitely think this book could be used as the basis for a future course on religion in speculative fiction (one that I absolutely dream about teaching).
My favorites from the collection include:
"Al-Muftiyah" by Jibril Stevenson - This story derives so organically from Islamic concerns and projects them forward two or three steps to create a believable sci-fi premise. Especially creepy to read in the age of AI art and ChatGPT. I may steal this central conceit to apply to an LDS story.
"Samsara" by JA Legg - Putting an SF spin on the Hindu concept of reincarnation, I love how the protagonist's eventual course of action proceeds from her evolving understanding (and belief in) her faith.
"The Rebbetzin Speaks" by Daniel M Kimmel - This "Dear Abby"-type column for a sci-fi Jewish setting reminded me so much of things I've read in the Mormon Lit Blitz. Interesting evolution of the particularities of religious laws without devolving into generic progressive non-specificity.
"The Devil is a Shape in the Brain" by Joachin Glage - This story is a faux-academic report complete with footnotes and citations, so obviously I'm going to love it. The story follows the descendants of some sort of demonic being and how the spirit interacts with the physical. A fascinating concept from an LDS perspective of "no immaterial matter."
"Deep Play" by Andy Dibble - A college student driven mad by a drug that shows him the possible truth of all religions. Interesting cold-logic take on the immediacy of the search for "which of all the churches is right."
"Fate and Other Variables" by Alex Shvartsman - I'm a sucker for a mechanistic universe but this Kabbalistic story kicks it up a notch.
broccoli_baz's review
5.0
I loved this varied, atmospheric collection of stories about spirituality and belief. Particular mention to Dying Rivers and Broken Hearts by Gabriella Buba - the yearning, nostalgic dynamic between Maria-Lucia and Ada-Caylao gave me shivers. There are discussion questions at the end of each submission which really enriched the stories and the way I thought about them. I highly recommend this anthology!
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