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psyckers's review against another edition
5.0
A brilliant introduction to new zealand Sci-fi and fictional stories. This series of stories cover a number of topics that are just as prudent now as they were when they were first published.
Having a New Zealand flavour to the stories proves that the small country in the south pacific have fascinating authors, telling equally fascinating stories that are just as thought provoking as anyone else in the world.
Having a New Zealand flavour to the stories proves that the small country in the south pacific have fascinating authors, telling equally fascinating stories that are just as thought provoking as anyone else in the world.
klibri's review
4.0
"Trees" by Toni Wi ★★★
"The Garden" by Isabelle McNeur ★★★½
"Logistics" by A.J. Fitzwater ★★★★
"The Billows of Sarto" by Sean Monaghan ★★★
"A Most Elegant Solution" by M. Darusha Wehm ★★★★★
"A Brighter Future" by Grant Stone ★★★½
"The Glassblower’s Peace" by James Rowland ★★★½
"Mirror Mirror" by Mark English ★★★
"Common Denominator" by Melanie Harding-Shaw ★★★
"The People Between the Silences" by Dave Moore ★★★
"Te Ika" by J.C. HART ★★★½
"Girls who do not Drown" by Andi C. Buchanan ★★★★
"The Garden" by Isabelle McNeur ★★★½
"Logistics" by A.J. Fitzwater ★★★★
"The Billows of Sarto" by Sean Monaghan ★★★
"A Most Elegant Solution" by M. Darusha Wehm ★★★★★
"A Brighter Future" by Grant Stone ★★★½
"The Glassblower’s Peace" by James Rowland ★★★½
"Mirror Mirror" by Mark English ★★★
"Common Denominator" by Melanie Harding-Shaw ★★★
"The People Between the Silences" by Dave Moore ★★★
"Te Ika" by J.C. HART ★★★½
"Girls who do not Drown" by Andi C. Buchanan ★★★★
rivqa's review
adventurous
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
An excellent showcase of Aotearoa NZ spec fic, leaning towards dark/horror. There are some very smart, engaging, and beautifully written stories here. Recommended.
gbralph's review
5.0
In this collection, Marie Hodgkinson has brought together 13 fantastic short stories from Kiwi authors, the first in an annual anthology series.
I loved the variety of speculative fiction on display here, stories set in worlds both fantastical and familiar – some eerily so. Stories touching on topics that feel particularly close to home in the midst of the climate crisis and Covid-19 pandemic.
There are the more everyday struggles, like one character’s hunt for sanitary products, but set in the post-apocalyptic world of A.J. Fitzwater’s Logistics. The feeling of wonder in the exploration of a strange planet in Sean Monaghan’s The Billows of Sarto. Or the Auckland we’re familiar with, but with something uneasy running just below the surface in Grant Stone’s A Brighter Future. We’re immersed in the ancient Venice of James Rowland’s The Glassblower’s Peace, where a surplus son assists an elderly woman with her empire-defending magic. And we experience the joys and hazards of dating while trialling new technology in Melanie Harding-Shaw’s Common Denominator.
I took something from every story in this collection and cannot wait for Volume 2.
I loved the variety of speculative fiction on display here, stories set in worlds both fantastical and familiar – some eerily so. Stories touching on topics that feel particularly close to home in the midst of the climate crisis and Covid-19 pandemic.
There are the more everyday struggles, like one character’s hunt for sanitary products, but set in the post-apocalyptic world of A.J. Fitzwater’s Logistics. The feeling of wonder in the exploration of a strange planet in Sean Monaghan’s The Billows of Sarto. Or the Auckland we’re familiar with, but with something uneasy running just below the surface in Grant Stone’s A Brighter Future. We’re immersed in the ancient Venice of James Rowland’s The Glassblower’s Peace, where a surplus son assists an elderly woman with her empire-defending magic. And we experience the joys and hazards of dating while trialling new technology in Melanie Harding-Shaw’s Common Denominator.
I took something from every story in this collection and cannot wait for Volume 2.
justabean_reads's review
medium-paced
3.0
Does what it says on the tin. I tend to do better with SF/F short fiction than with contemporary short fiction, but I've got to say it's not always my favourite format. As collections go, this one was solidly fine, with a decent range of topics and perspectives, if a little heavy on the apocalypse. I was surprised how few stories were set in New Zealand, though a handful more were about New Zealanders elsewhere in the universe.
However, I don't think any particular story especially blew me away. They were all... fine. I would say that my favourite of the bunch was probably “Logistics” by A.J. Fitzwater (link goes to Clarksworld), about an enby New Zealander wandering through pandemic-afflicted Europe in search of tampons, which at least didn't take itself too seriously. Looking at the ToC to write this, I barely remember what a bunch of the others were about.
Which is pretty on par with me and short fiction. I will probably eventually check the next one out. Found this series via last year's Hugo Debacle.
However, I don't think any particular story especially blew me away. They were all... fine. I would say that my favourite of the bunch was probably “Logistics” by A.J. Fitzwater (link goes to Clarksworld), about an enby New Zealander wandering through pandemic-afflicted Europe in search of tampons, which at least didn't take itself too seriously. Looking at the ToC to write this, I barely remember what a bunch of the others were about.
Which is pretty on par with me and short fiction. I will probably eventually check the next one out. Found this series via last year's Hugo Debacle.
bookphilos's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
sebbie's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
barbarahowe's review
4.0
Nice variety, ranging in time from historic Venice (The Glassblower's Peace by James Rowland) to post-apocalypse Earth (Logistics by A. J. Fitzwater), in space from local New Zealand (Te Ika by J. C. Hart) to Mars (A Most Elegant Solution By M. Darusha Wehm), and in tone from horror to optimistic sci-fi. Something for everyone.
Will be looking forward to the next collection.
Will be looking forward to the next collection.
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