Scan barcode
kristenbooks's review
3.0
7.5/10 (3.5/5--> 3/5 on the Goodreads stars)
1- Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: This one was just alright. As I was reading, I was intrigued and curious about what was going on, but it was incredibly short (or at least it felt shorter than the others) and I felt like the 'twist' at the end was pretty expected. Just average.
2- The Most Precious Memory: This one was really interesting, and I really enjoyed it. I think that the ability that the main character has in this story is really cool, and I would love to see a full novel exploring this world and the ability that these people have. However, given the nature of the ability, I'm not exactly sure how that would work. Either way, this was a really cool one.
3- The Girl & the Machine: Although this one wasn't super unpredictable, I did find it really intriguing and thought that it was an interesting commentary on the topic that it addressed. I did kind of catch on to what was going to happen pretty early on, but didn't discover WHY until just before the twist was revealed, so it was nice that the suspense was still somewhat there. Overall, a pretty solid story.
4- Lag: I think that I would have been more impressed by this novella if I'd read it before reading The Body Electric, because some of the ideas in here were placed into TBE. That being said, please DO NOT read this novella before reading The Body Electric, because that is a great book, and I think it would be a travesty to have a major plot point of the book be spoiled by a novella that I deem as just "good." That being said, this was an interesting one, and it did take me a little while to catch on to the elements that were also used in TBE.
5- The Turing Test: I think that this one might be my favorite novella in the entire book, just because of the fact that I didn't see the ending coming. If I remember correctly, it's also one of the shorter novellas, which is especially surprising. Overall, really intriguing and kept me guessing.
6- As They Slip Away: This is a novella related to Revis's Across The Universe trilogy. I would recommend at least reading book 1 of the trilogy before you read this. It does take place before the main plot of the trilogy, but it would confuse you and spoil some stuff from book 1. Anyway, I thought this one was interesting. I just wish it was about something else. It focused on some minor characters- one that I like, one that I hate, and many that I don't care about. And there are so many interesting things that could go on within the ship other than what happened in this novella. HOWEVER, I can't just sit here and fantasize about what she could have written. This is what she wrote, and overall, I liked it. Not bad, not outstanding, but I liked it.
1- Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: This one was just alright. As I was reading, I was intrigued and curious about what was going on, but it was incredibly short (or at least it felt shorter than the others) and I felt like the 'twist' at the end was pretty expected. Just average.
2- The Most Precious Memory: This one was really interesting, and I really enjoyed it. I think that the ability that the main character has in this story is really cool, and I would love to see a full novel exploring this world and the ability that these people have. However, given the nature of the ability, I'm not exactly sure how that would work. Either way, this was a really cool one.
3- The Girl & the Machine: Although this one wasn't super unpredictable, I did find it really intriguing and thought that it was an interesting commentary on the topic that it addressed. I did kind of catch on to what was going to happen pretty early on, but didn't discover WHY until just before the twist was revealed, so it was nice that the suspense was still somewhat there. Overall, a pretty solid story.
4- Lag: I think that I would have been more impressed by this novella if I'd read it before reading The Body Electric, because some of the ideas in here were placed into TBE. That being said, please DO NOT read this novella before reading The Body Electric, because that is a great book, and I think it would be a travesty to have a major plot point of the book be spoiled by a novella that I deem as just "good." That being said, this was an interesting one, and it did take me a little while to catch on to the elements that were also used in TBE.
5- The Turing Test: I think that this one might be my favorite novella in the entire book, just because of the fact that I didn't see the ending coming. If I remember correctly, it's also one of the shorter novellas, which is especially surprising. Overall, really intriguing and kept me guessing.
6- As They Slip Away: This is a novella related to Revis's Across The Universe trilogy. I would recommend at least reading book 1 of the trilogy before you read this. It does take place before the main plot of the trilogy, but it would confuse you and spoil some stuff from book 1. Anyway, I thought this one was interesting. I just wish it was about something else. It focused on some minor characters- one that I like, one that I hate, and many that I don't care about. And there are so many interesting things that could go on within the ship other than what happened in this novella. HOWEVER, I can't just sit here and fantasize about what she could have written. This is what she wrote, and overall, I liked it. Not bad, not outstanding, but I liked it.
caitlintaylorford's review
4.0
I averaged out my individual ratings and the book as a whole turned out to be like a 4.17....SO....
Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: 3.5. This was an interesting little story, but a little predictable.
The Most Precious Memory: 4. Awesome! This would be a really cool premise for a full-length book.
The Girl & the Machine: 5. MY FAVORITE story in the whole collection. Interesting and dark and I didn't see the ending coming at all!
Lag: 4. This was pretty rad, a little gruesome, but really makes me interested in the idea of future teleportation.
The Turing Test: 4.5. So cool and different, artificial intelligence is always a fascinating subject and I was completely thrown off from where the story was going!
As They Slip Away: 4. I read this before, it's sad and haunting and allows me to reminisce of Across the Universe.
Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: 3.5. This was an interesting little story, but a little predictable.
The Most Precious Memory: 4. Awesome! This would be a really cool premise for a full-length book.
The Girl & the Machine: 5. MY FAVORITE story in the whole collection. Interesting and dark and I didn't see the ending coming at all!
Lag: 4. This was pretty rad, a little gruesome, but really makes me interested in the idea of future teleportation.
The Turing Test: 4.5. So cool and different, artificial intelligence is always a fascinating subject and I was completely thrown off from where the story was going!
As They Slip Away: 4. I read this before, it's sad and haunting and allows me to reminisce of Across the Universe.
hopecobblepotworld's review
5.0
Stunning
Beth Revis is a storyteller. Each of these stories drew me in, gave me a vested interest in the characters and made me eager to know their outcome.
Worth your time and your almighty dollars. Bravo, Beth.
Beth Revis is a storyteller. Each of these stories drew me in, gave me a vested interest in the characters and made me eager to know their outcome.
Worth your time and your almighty dollars. Bravo, Beth.
lindseylindseyo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
My faves of the anthology were "Doctor-Patient Confidentiality" and "The Girl and the Machine."
mysticalspiders's review
5.0
I am not usually a short story reader. I love the idea of short stories, I even love writing them but for me I usually find myself rushing through them not enjoying the true story. Also I find myself being board not having enough time to get into the story.
The Future Collection was a perfect short story collection. I got into each story without thinking about finishing it. When I was reading each story I kept wanting to read it. A lot of the stories I wish were longer. Beth Revis wrote in a stile that I love in science fiction. There are times when I am reading I feel that I will never meet a science fiction writing that I truly love, then I read something from Beth Revis and fall in love with it. If you love anything in the world of science fiction and are stuck inside because of poor weather read this perfect collection of stories.
The Future Collection was a perfect short story collection. I got into each story without thinking about finishing it. When I was reading each story I kept wanting to read it. A lot of the stories I wish were longer. Beth Revis wrote in a stile that I love in science fiction. There are times when I am reading I feel that I will never meet a science fiction writing that I truly love, then I read something from Beth Revis and fall in love with it. If you love anything in the world of science fiction and are stuck inside because of poor weather read this perfect collection of stories.
mostlyshanti's review
4.0
Really excellent short fiction. I like seeing my favourite authors explore different places and seeing what they come up with. This was really fun. I think As They Slip Away was my favourite, but I loved the twist in the most precious memory as well.
nadinee24's review
5.0
Wow. Colour me impressed!
Beth Revis delivers fantastically crafted science fiction stories in very few pages. Each story gives enough information to capture the readers' attention and to understand the present situation. Each story made me wish they were part of a full length novel. Revis' writing style is clean and precise and her ability to craft a comprehensive world in a few pages is truly impressive. I will always read whatever she writes.
Short story rating break down:
Doctor-Patient Confidentiality - 5 Stars
The Most Precious Memory - 4 Stars
The Girl and the Machine - 5 Stars (Did not expect the ending!)
Lag - 5 Stars (So good!)
The Turning Test - 5 Stars (So good!)
As They Slip Away - 5 Stars (Novella attached to the Across the Universe trilogy)
Beth Revis delivers fantastically crafted science fiction stories in very few pages. Each story gives enough information to capture the readers' attention and to understand the present situation. Each story made me wish they were part of a full length novel. Revis' writing style is clean and precise and her ability to craft a comprehensive world in a few pages is truly impressive. I will always read whatever she writes.
Short story rating break down:
Doctor-Patient Confidentiality - 5 Stars
The Most Precious Memory - 4 Stars
The Girl and the Machine - 5 Stars (Did not expect the ending!)
Lag - 5 Stars (So good!)
The Turning Test - 5 Stars (So good!)
As They Slip Away - 5 Stars (Novella attached to the Across the Universe trilogy)
readerrayna's review
4.0
4/5 stars
Each short story left me feeling like I got punched sin the gut. They each held their own unique characters and story and each one had enough mystery to keep you wondering whether or not what was happening was actually taking place.
The first short story, Doctor-Patient Confidentiality, told of a girl who wakes from hyper-sleep to discover she had come close to death and that she had been brought back again. Many years have passed and she's unsure of where she is, but it mostly deals with her inner struggle of the past. And then you discover who the doctor is and then it hits you in the feels.
The second story, The Most Precious Memory, is about a world in which you can sell your memories for money, and then you can drink those memories and get a high. The main protagonist doesn't know his name after having drank all of his memories or given them away for money until someone offers him to give him the most precious memory. And then it continues and you learn more about the character and he tries to hold onto that memory. Again: right in the feels.
The third story, The Girl & the Machine, is about a teen boy who can time travel, but only within an immediate time frame. He meets this girl who knows him somehow from the future and the two then go to change the future. Well, things get kind of dark, and the subject matter turns to rape, and things are just... Heated.
The fourth story, Lag, is about teleportation and how a woman has lost two weeks of memory from her last travels. As a reporter, she uncovers why and how that was even possible, and she learns that she isn't exactly what she thought she was. This one was kind of intense.
The fifth story, The Turing Test, is about a girl who has to figure out if the two machines she's talking to are either human or artificial intelligence - AI. As she talks to them and makes her choice, it is then discovered just who the AI is. It was a surprise to me and I really enjoyed this short story the most. Well, it was my second favorite after the memory one.
The sixth and final short story, As They Slip Away, is about a group of teens who are all at the Hospital and they are all deemed crazy. Each one has a unique ability, but not necessarily for the good of the ship. As they break into partnerships, it really becomes clear just how creepy one kid is, how one girl decides to give it up and become nothing more than someone who chases rabbits, and how the others try to help her, but can't. This one was kind of the creepiest and most frustrating, but definitely interesting.
There were several typos I noticed through the collection, but the stories and plots themselves were unique and different, each situation leading somewhere I didn't see coming. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a quick and fun sci-fi fix.
Each short story left me feeling like I got punched sin the gut. They each held their own unique characters and story and each one had enough mystery to keep you wondering whether or not what was happening was actually taking place.
The first short story, Doctor-Patient Confidentiality, told of a girl who wakes from hyper-sleep to discover she had come close to death and that she had been brought back again. Many years have passed and she's unsure of where she is, but it mostly deals with her inner struggle of the past. And then you discover who the doctor is and then it hits you in the feels.
The second story, The Most Precious Memory, is about a world in which you can sell your memories for money, and then you can drink those memories and get a high. The main protagonist doesn't know his name after having drank all of his memories or given them away for money until someone offers him to give him the most precious memory. And then it continues and you learn more about the character and he tries to hold onto that memory. Again: right in the feels.
The third story, The Girl & the Machine, is about a teen boy who can time travel, but only within an immediate time frame. He meets this girl who knows him somehow from the future and the two then go to change the future. Well, things get kind of dark, and the subject matter turns to rape, and things are just... Heated.
The fourth story, Lag, is about teleportation and how a woman has lost two weeks of memory from her last travels. As a reporter, she uncovers why and how that was even possible, and she learns that she isn't exactly what she thought she was. This one was kind of intense.
The fifth story, The Turing Test, is about a girl who has to figure out if the two machines she's talking to are either human or artificial intelligence - AI. As she talks to them and makes her choice, it is then discovered just who the AI is. It was a surprise to me and I really enjoyed this short story the most. Well, it was my second favorite after the memory one.
The sixth and final short story, As They Slip Away, is about a group of teens who are all at the Hospital and they are all deemed crazy. Each one has a unique ability, but not necessarily for the good of the ship. As they break into partnerships, it really becomes clear just how creepy one kid is, how one girl decides to give it up and become nothing more than someone who chases rabbits, and how the others try to help her, but can't. This one was kind of the creepiest and most frustrating, but definitely interesting.
There were several typos I noticed through the collection, but the stories and plots themselves were unique and different, each situation leading somewhere I didn't see coming. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a quick and fun sci-fi fix.
More...