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omnibozo22's review
4.0
Wonderful scifi stories in a pretty wide variety of styles and topics. Liked these a lot.
erandir's review
4.0
It’s difficult to review or summarize a short story collection. In my experience there’s usually a few stories that really resonate with you, a few that are kind of meh, and maybe even some that you genuinely don’t enjoy.
This is a collection of sci-fi/horror short stories about, well, guardian angels & other monsters. This doesn’t take it’s collection title from one of the short stories, but rather lets you know what the theme is right on the tin.
The back cover blurb for this book describes it as “landscapes at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human life”. I don’t think this is entirely accurate. While yes, the stories do deal with the interactions between people and technology, I felt like the focus was much more on interpersonal relationships. It’s really about family, and the desire to protect those you care about. Whether that be blood family or your robot nanny.
These are stories about people stuck in nightmarish situations and the things they will do to survive and/or protect the people they care about.
This is a collection of sci-fi/horror short stories about, well, guardian angels & other monsters. This doesn’t take it’s collection title from one of the short stories, but rather lets you know what the theme is right on the tin.
The back cover blurb for this book describes it as “landscapes at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human life”. I don’t think this is entirely accurate. While yes, the stories do deal with the interactions between people and technology, I felt like the focus was much more on interpersonal relationships. It’s really about family, and the desire to protect those you care about. Whether that be blood family or your robot nanny.
These are stories about people stuck in nightmarish situations and the things they will do to survive and/or protect the people they care about.
midnightbookgirl's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this collection of short sci fi stories- some had a definite Black Mirror feel to them. Included is a Roboapcalypse story and A Clockwork Dynasty story. I read and loved the first Roboapcalypse book, but I haven't read A Clockwork Dynasty yet. .. but the short story made me want too! A more thorough review will be on my blog closer to release day.
smashy's review
4.0
3.75✪'s
There are so many things to like about this book of short stories. The writing is amazing and each story really draws you in. [a:Daniel H. Wilson|33773|Daniel H. Wilson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1489079874p2/33773.jpg]'s imagination and the atmosphere he creates (dark, bleak, depressing) is next level, I felt for the characters almost immediately - just fantastic. I was creeped out, teary eyed, horrified, and intrigued.
My favourites = The Blue Afternoon hat Lasted Forever (broke my heart), Blood Memory (creepy AF) & Special Automatic.
I would absolutely recommend if you enjoy reading sci-fi.
The Blue Afternoon that Lasted Forever
"It is very late, my darling, and the stars are in the sky. That means it's time to give you a kiss. And an Eskimo kiss. Now I will lay you down and tuck you in, nice and tight, so you stay warm all night. ... I hold her tight as we rise together into the blackness."
Blood Memory
"A mama does anything for her babies. She protects that downstream blood, always, because it matters more than her own. When it's all over and we blink good-bye and let go our last breath - it's only our blood that we leave behind."
There are so many things to like about this book of short stories. The writing is amazing and each story really draws you in. [a:Daniel H. Wilson|33773|Daniel H. Wilson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1489079874p2/33773.jpg]'s imagination and the atmosphere he creates (dark, bleak, depressing) is next level, I felt for the characters almost immediately - just fantastic. I was creeped out, teary eyed, horrified, and intrigued.
My favourites = The Blue Afternoon hat Lasted Forever (broke my heart), Blood Memory (creepy AF) & Special Automatic.
I would absolutely recommend if you enjoy reading sci-fi.
"It is very late, my darling, and the stars are in the sky. That means it's time to give you a kiss. And an Eskimo kiss. Now I will lay you down and tuck you in, nice and tight, so you stay warm all night. ... I hold her tight as we rise together into the blackness."
Blood Memory
"A mama does anything for her babies. She protects that downstream blood, always, because it matters more than her own. When it's all over and we blink good-bye and let go our last breath - it's only our blood that we leave behind."
chickflix's review
2.0
The first couple of stories blew my mind. I went through the author's books, adding everything I could find to my wishlist. They were very unique and I could feel the characters' desperation. But the rest of the stories ranged from confusing to boring. I ended up feeling disappointed, since the beginning had so much promise.
n8duke's review
4.0
Daniel H. Wilson is one heck of a good writer. Even when one short story isn't as good as the others, it's still a great read. :)
jroberts3456's review
4.0
I read Clockwork Dynasty earlier this year; didn’t think it was great but Wilson’s writing is fun and entertaining enough so I thought I’d give this collection a try. I loved it. His shorts resonate with energy and fun and he knows how to pack a punch with the short form. Most of the stories are robo-centric but the few that aren’t really showcase Wilson’s abilities as a writer. Blood Memory is especially haunting, even if it’s just a riff on King’s The Jaunt, and God Mode packs a surprising emotional wallop. I wasn’t keen to dive into Wilson’s back catalogue after Clockwork, but I might need to check out Robopocalypse now after reading this. Maybe I judged him too harshly are first. Still, fans of sci-fi in general will probably find at least 4-5 stories they love in this slim collection.
jennwilk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
amdame1's review
3.0
A collection of sci-fi short stories. a fun and varied set of reads. My favorite was probably the first where a "caster" robot who was a tutor to a young girl who was kidnapped threw himself from one piece of tech to another to follow her and how she ultimately heard his voice to save herself. Many of them were enjoyable even though I tend not to like short stories - it seems that I just start getting into that world and then they end and I want them to continue. This author is one to watch; he's good!
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
speculativebecky's review
5.0
Guardian Angels and Other Monsters by Daniel H. Wilson is a sci fi short story collection, heavy on the robots. Some stories are spooky, some are just smart and interesting, and running throughout is a strong theme of characters who are driven by love.
Right off the bat this book almost made me cry with Miss Gloria, a story about a robot who jumps between bodies to protect the young girl in his charge after she’s abducted. Then, in The Blue Afternoon that Lasted Forever, an astronomer rushes home to be with his daughter when he discovers a chilling astronomical event is occurring. My many other favorites stories include The Executor, about a man trying to get the robot executor of his ancestor’s will to award him money for the medical care of his daughter; Helmet, a haunting story about a boy in a world where a tyrannical government is empowered by robot servants; Blood Memory, the creepiest story in the collection, about a woman coping with fear of her daughter after she was born via teleportation; The Nostalgist, about a boy and his grandfather in a slum where trademarked Eyes and Ears allow the inhabitants to experience the world as clean and safe; and God Mode, which I won’t explain, as the unfolding of the story is perfectly mysterious and again almost had me in tears.
The only story I didn’t really care for at all in this collection was the tie in story to Wilson’s other writing in the Robopocalypse series, which I think would have been more enjoyable, and made a lot more sense, if I were familiar with that work. The other tie in story, to his Clockwork Dynasty setting, was a more successful stand alone.
This collection was full of stories that were exciting to read, building on cool ideas for technologies and characters I connected to immediately. Overall I recommend this collection very highly to fans of science fiction as a delightful dip into Wilson’s many creative ideas and obvious love of robots. I’m so excited to read more of his work!
Right off the bat this book almost made me cry with Miss Gloria, a story about a robot who jumps between bodies to protect the young girl in his charge after she’s abducted. Then, in The Blue Afternoon that Lasted Forever, an astronomer rushes home to be with his daughter when he discovers a chilling astronomical event is occurring. My many other favorites stories include The Executor, about a man trying to get the robot executor of his ancestor’s will to award him money for the medical care of his daughter; Helmet, a haunting story about a boy in a world where a tyrannical government is empowered by robot servants; Blood Memory, the creepiest story in the collection, about a woman coping with fear of her daughter after she was born via teleportation; The Nostalgist, about a boy and his grandfather in a slum where trademarked Eyes and Ears allow the inhabitants to experience the world as clean and safe; and God Mode, which I won’t explain, as the unfolding of the story is perfectly mysterious and again almost had me in tears.
The only story I didn’t really care for at all in this collection was the tie in story to Wilson’s other writing in the Robopocalypse series, which I think would have been more enjoyable, and made a lot more sense, if I were familiar with that work. The other tie in story, to his Clockwork Dynasty setting, was a more successful stand alone.
This collection was full of stories that were exciting to read, building on cool ideas for technologies and characters I connected to immediately. Overall I recommend this collection very highly to fans of science fiction as a delightful dip into Wilson’s many creative ideas and obvious love of robots. I’m so excited to read more of his work!