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samjonester's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
christytidwell's review
3.0
This anthology is a bit of a mixed bag.
There are a few classic stories that perhaps didn't need to be anthologized here in addition to all the other places I've come across them (e.g., Pat Murphy's "Rachel in Love," Vonda McIntyre's "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand," and Octavia Butler's "Speech Sounds"). I actually like those three stories, but I was hoping for more new (to me) women's science fiction.
Of the rest of the stories, there are four that were just okay (if that) and three that ranged from really quite good to wonderful. The latter three were Nancy Kress's "Inertia," Connie Willis's "Even the Queen" (which is a really interesting and funny story about menstruation of all things), and Ursula K. LeGuin's "A Woman's Liberation."
The story by LeGuin was itself worth the time spent reading the whole book. It is the longest story collected here and it really pays off. It's about slavery, love, and freedom. It drew me in instantly, and it made me cry. No matter what you think about the other stories in the book, I would highly recommend seeking out this story.
There are a few classic stories that perhaps didn't need to be anthologized here in addition to all the other places I've come across them (e.g., Pat Murphy's "Rachel in Love," Vonda McIntyre's "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand," and Octavia Butler's "Speech Sounds"). I actually like those three stories, but I was hoping for more new (to me) women's science fiction.
Of the rest of the stories, there are four that were just okay (if that) and three that ranged from really quite good to wonderful. The latter three were Nancy Kress's "Inertia," Connie Willis's "Even the Queen" (which is a really interesting and funny story about menstruation of all things), and Ursula K. LeGuin's "A Woman's Liberation."
The story by LeGuin was itself worth the time spent reading the whole book. It is the longest story collected here and it really pays off. It's about slavery, love, and freedom. It drew me in instantly, and it made me cry. No matter what you think about the other stories in the book, I would highly recommend seeking out this story.
scarahliz's review
4.0
This is a really lovely little collection of women's science fiction. By women's science fiction I of course mean SciFi written by women. It's perfect for me, the little geek who goes to a women's college. But it's also an excellent anthology of science fiction, spanning the genre from post-apocalypse, height of technology, freaky disease, and completely without context. Things handling social problems we have today, social problems that have existed in the past, and social problems we can only imagine (what do you do when humanity can no longer speak? what do you do when you are a space ship who is in love with a human?).
Anyway, if you like science fiction, I recommend it. I particularly recommend it for young women, but any SciFi enthusiast should enjoy.
Anyway, if you like science fiction, I recommend it. I particularly recommend it for young women, but any SciFi enthusiast should enjoy.
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