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pipn_t's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology. I enjoyed most of the stories and thought they were well chosen and interesting to read. The only two stories I didn’t like where two of the cyberpunk ones, the first as it felt rather in creative and the women felt like stereotypes. It read like a bit noir fiction with a disguise of cyberpunk to make it seem like it was doing more than it really was. The other story was written from the point of view of an Arabic person and felt like a collection of harmful stereotypes disguised as a novel.
Whilst there was some diversity among the writers, I wish they had done even more in this respect as I felt like there were probably lots of new and unique stories from diverse that could have added some different voices to this anthology. Overall though, a really well thought out and interesting collection, and I enjoyed reading it immensely.
Whilst there was some diversity among the writers, I wish they had done even more in this respect as I felt like there were probably lots of new and unique stories from diverse that could have added some different voices to this anthology. Overall though, a really well thought out and interesting collection, and I enjoyed reading it immensely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Body horror
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
5.0
What a great collection! I struggled for awhile to find an anthology of science fiction that could give me a basic introduction to the genre. This one is big, varied, and comes with short but sweet introductions to each story. Most of the major writers are included here, with some less well-known authors thrown in as well.
blairconrad's review against another edition
4.0
Like a lot of collections, ups and downs. And some of the early stories don't really fit my modern sensibilities, but the collection as a whole works, showing the changing themes and tropes in SF over the many decades. And a lot of the stories were quite good.
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
4.0
A great selection of the fathers and mothers of the science fiction genre, as well as more contemporary authors. There were many stories that I gave to my husband to read because they were so thought-provoking and relevant.
fairybookmother's review against another edition
5.0
"Though I am long dead as you read this, explorer, I offer to you a valediction. Contemplate the marvel that is existence, and rejoice that you are able to do so. I feel I have the right to tell you this because, as I am inscribing these words, I am doing the same." – Ted Chiang, "Exhalation"
Fabulous, fantastic collection of science fiction stories. A total must for anyone interested in the genre and in the history of the genre.
Fabulous, fantastic collection of science fiction stories. A total must for anyone interested in the genre and in the history of the genre.
apageinthestacks's review against another edition
4.0
Great collection of SF stories. Read about half of them for my science fiction class, and the other half for fun. "Exhalation" is probably my favorite story, by Ted Chiang, but there's a lot of great ones.
anatomydetective's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent anthology spanning the history of science fiction from classics to 2008. Detailed introductions to the authors and their work as well as further suggested reading gives a great jumping off point for anyone looking to explore the genre further. Definitely worth reading, so many great stories.
libscigrl's review against another edition
5.0
I never would have read this were it not for my Sci-Fi Literature class.
I'm so glad I did and will be keeping it!
I'm so glad I did and will be keeping it!
carolcanaan's review against another edition
5.0
It made me fall in love with science fiction writing. I could reread this every year.