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lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
Like most collections of short stories there are some that you love and others you could leave.
Overall I loved the variety of styles and authors. Some who i just wanted to read more of.
Overall I loved the variety of styles and authors. Some who i just wanted to read more of.
kamela's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard to rate this book accurately since the stories varied so much in quality and appealing-to-me-ness, so I end up with 3 stars.
I wouldn't have picked this up at the library, honestly; I tend to have a problem with cyberpunk, most of it being that I don't really "get" it, and often find its technological preoccupations too byzantine to care about. But then I started writing a near-future book based on a cyberpunk roleplaying campaign, and so for all of the ways I'm trying to write the least cyberpunk cyberpunk novel imaginable, I still feel like I need to know a lot about the genre, particularly what it looks like in more recent iterations (this anthology is from 2016).
I really enjoyed Althea Ann's review of this, and shamelessly swiped the story titles from them for my own review.
**** SERENADE - Isabel Yap
Really cool to read a first story in a cyberpunk book that is about love and loss, even as the mechanics of it are about memory sticks and body-replacement and broken-down computer stores.
*** THE MIGHTY PHIN - Nisi Shawl
The beauty of the relationships and characters in this story really got me, though the setting was abstract enough that I had trouble understanding who they all were. That seemed to be part of the point. More intriguing and satisfying were the questions of polyamory, gender, and the body in this one.
**** REACTIONS - Mario Acevedo
I loved this opportunity to follow a future-soldier's bleak dive into a leave too long to overcome the drugs he needs to keep sane. I've known too many soldiers, and this feels like a very real type of future. Once again, the story is ultimately about love - and poly love at that, though I would have liked to see the story go on quite a bit longer to flesh out the ideas.
***** THE BEES OF KIRIBATI - Warren Hammond
This was the first story in the collection that to me felt like a complete narrative, classic and clean and shocking like a Ray Bradbury joint. Excellent and chilling.
** THE REST BETWEEN TWO NOTES - Cat Rambo
Eh. Shocking I guess, abusive mom I guess, I wasn't really feeling it?
** THE SINGULARITY IS IN YOUR HAIR - Matthew Kressel
I felt like what was a very good premise in this story was dependent on another premise that was too vague to have a lot of meaning. The result was that in the end, I didn't understand what I was supposed to have gotten from it.
***** PANIC CITY - Madeline Ashby
This was fantastic - GLADOS-level evil AI stuff packaged in a nurturing-mom-style programming. Very effective - but also excellent for my own research.
**** THE FAITHFUL SOLDIER, PROMPTED - Saladin Ahmed
This one. This one KNOCKED. ME. OUT. So frickin' good. I laughed, I cried, it was better than Snow Crash.
**** YOUR BONES WILL NOT BE UNKNOWN - Alyssa Wong
Ooooof, this is like watching a truly great anime. Really good mob-style dystopian sci-fi, badass female characters who don't die.
* STAUNCH - Paul Graham Raven
This story contained, from its first sentence, everything I hate about cyberpunk. I didn't get over it.
*** OTHER PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS - Chinelo Onwualu
This was a yummy little vignette, but I wanted much more from it.
* WYSIOMG - Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
I hated this. Didn't understand a single word, and couldn't be made to care.
** WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN - Angie Hodapp
This one felt a bit preachy and overwritten.
** A SONG TRANSMUTED - Sarah Pinsker
This was nice, and I liked the relationship-building early in the tale, but the ending wasn't as satisfying as I might have liked. I'm not sure, to be honest, that I've ever seen anyone describe a musical experience in words that truly conveyed its power.
* IT’S ONLY WORDS - Keith Ferrell
This whole story feels like the lament of a whiny teenager. Which it is, so I suppose that works.
**** SMALL OFFERINGS - Paolo Bacigalupi
Oof, this one was near-literally gut-wrenching - very graphic, brutal, and probably not too far off from possible reality. Disturbing as hell.
*** DARKOUT - E. Lily Yu
The thing I didn't expect from this story, which spends a lot of time with a disaffected white guy and his proto-fascist buddy, was for it to be sort of sweet at the end. Yes, little old Jewish lady on my block, I would love to get breakfast with you after all the surveillance cameras go out at once.
** VISIBLE DAMAGE - Stephen Graham Jones
This had that deep-dive, we're going into the net to do HACKING THINGS cyberpunk thing going on, which always puts me off, but somehow the twist got me.
***** THE IBEX ON THE DAY OF EXTINCTION - Minister Faust
This, alongside Saladin Ahmed's story, was by far my favorite piece in the book. I wanted to hang out with this protag in the desert indefinitely, and I wanted to know sooo much more about the world. So great - it felt like everything cyberpunk is trying to be and so often fails to be, for me.
* HOW NOTHING HAPPENS - Darin Bradley
Eh. More of a metafictional experiment, and indeed, nothing occurs, which is kind of like trying to play "boredom" as an actor.
I wouldn't have picked this up at the library, honestly; I tend to have a problem with cyberpunk, most of it being that I don't really "get" it, and often find its technological preoccupations too byzantine to care about. But then I started writing a near-future book based on a cyberpunk roleplaying campaign, and so for all of the ways I'm trying to write the least cyberpunk cyberpunk novel imaginable, I still feel like I need to know a lot about the genre, particularly what it looks like in more recent iterations (this anthology is from 2016).
I really enjoyed Althea Ann's review of this, and shamelessly swiped the story titles from them for my own review.
**** SERENADE - Isabel Yap
Really cool to read a first story in a cyberpunk book that is about love and loss, even as the mechanics of it are about memory sticks and body-replacement and broken-down computer stores.
*** THE MIGHTY PHIN - Nisi Shawl
The beauty of the relationships and characters in this story really got me, though the setting was abstract enough that I had trouble understanding who they all were. That seemed to be part of the point. More intriguing and satisfying were the questions of polyamory, gender, and the body in this one.
**** REACTIONS - Mario Acevedo
I loved this opportunity to follow a future-soldier's bleak dive into a leave too long to overcome the drugs he needs to keep sane. I've known too many soldiers, and this feels like a very real type of future. Once again, the story is ultimately about love - and poly love at that, though I would have liked to see the story go on quite a bit longer to flesh out the ideas.
***** THE BEES OF KIRIBATI - Warren Hammond
This was the first story in the collection that to me felt like a complete narrative, classic and clean and shocking like a Ray Bradbury joint. Excellent and chilling.
** THE REST BETWEEN TWO NOTES - Cat Rambo
Eh. Shocking I guess, abusive mom I guess, I wasn't really feeling it?
** THE SINGULARITY IS IN YOUR HAIR - Matthew Kressel
I felt like what was a very good premise in this story was dependent on another premise that was too vague to have a lot of meaning. The result was that in the end, I didn't understand what I was supposed to have gotten from it.
***** PANIC CITY - Madeline Ashby
This was fantastic - GLADOS-level evil AI stuff packaged in a nurturing-mom-style programming. Very effective - but also excellent for my own research.
**** THE FAITHFUL SOLDIER, PROMPTED - Saladin Ahmed
This one. This one KNOCKED. ME. OUT. So frickin' good. I laughed, I cried, it was better than Snow Crash.
**** YOUR BONES WILL NOT BE UNKNOWN - Alyssa Wong
Ooooof, this is like watching a truly great anime. Really good mob-style dystopian sci-fi, badass female characters who don't die.
* STAUNCH - Paul Graham Raven
This story contained, from its first sentence, everything I hate about cyberpunk. I didn't get over it.
*** OTHER PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS - Chinelo Onwualu
This was a yummy little vignette, but I wanted much more from it.
* WYSIOMG - Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
I hated this. Didn't understand a single word, and couldn't be made to care.
** WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN - Angie Hodapp
This one felt a bit preachy and overwritten.
** A SONG TRANSMUTED - Sarah Pinsker
This was nice, and I liked the relationship-building early in the tale, but the ending wasn't as satisfying as I might have liked. I'm not sure, to be honest, that I've ever seen anyone describe a musical experience in words that truly conveyed its power.
* IT’S ONLY WORDS - Keith Ferrell
This whole story feels like the lament of a whiny teenager. Which it is, so I suppose that works.
**** SMALL OFFERINGS - Paolo Bacigalupi
Oof, this one was near-literally gut-wrenching - very graphic, brutal, and probably not too far off from possible reality. Disturbing as hell.
*** DARKOUT - E. Lily Yu
The thing I didn't expect from this story, which spends a lot of time with a disaffected white guy and his proto-fascist buddy, was for it to be sort of sweet at the end. Yes, little old Jewish lady on my block, I would love to get breakfast with you after all the surveillance cameras go out at once.
** VISIBLE DAMAGE - Stephen Graham Jones
This had that deep-dive, we're going into the net to do HACKING THINGS cyberpunk thing going on, which always puts me off, but somehow the twist got me.
***** THE IBEX ON THE DAY OF EXTINCTION - Minister Faust
This, alongside Saladin Ahmed's story, was by far my favorite piece in the book. I wanted to hang out with this protag in the desert indefinitely, and I wanted to know sooo much more about the world. So great - it felt like everything cyberpunk is trying to be and so often fails to be, for me.
* HOW NOTHING HAPPENS - Darin Bradley
Eh. More of a metafictional experiment, and indeed, nothing occurs, which is kind of like trying to play "boredom" as an actor.
davidscrimshaw's review against another edition
4.0
This has some good stories. Some by must read authors. It also has stories that I skimmed over because I wasn't into them.
themadmaiden's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting mix of short stories and while I was very happy there were so many A.I in them, it did feel like a lot of them could have been a bit longer. Even if only to explain some of the world building. Some stories just threw around a lot of new words that didn't make much sense by the end of it and then you had to go into another story and the whole thing would restart.
So, mixed bag. I don't think it's really encouraged me to look into cyberpunk much either.
So, mixed bag. I don't think it's really encouraged me to look into cyberpunk much either.
uma_booksbagsburgers's review against another edition
4.0
( I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
BLURB
Cybernetics. Neuroscience. Nanotechnology. Genetic engineering. Hacktivism. Transhumanism. The world of tomorrow is already here, and the technological changes we all face have inspired a new wave of stories to address our fears, hopes, dreams, and desires as Homo sapiens evolve—or not—into their next incarnation. Cyber World presents diverse tales of humanity’s tomorrow, as told by some of today’s most gripping science fiction visionaries.
OVERALL REVIEW OF THE BOOK
As a whole, the book was quite interesting but there were some stories that weren't as interesting as the rest. Those stories would have made great novels on their own but I feel did not make a huge impact as a short story. Below are my comments on the stories I liked best.
SERENADE by [a:Isabel Yap|6463407|Isabel Yap|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1439080072p2/6463407.jpg] (4/5)
The main character Anj is a young techgirl who is approached by a client who wants to access encrypted files from an AI-USB. The story has some very interesting technology and also deals with other concepts like forgotten love and letting go.
REACTIONS by [a:Mario Acevedo|178924|Mario Acevedo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1293590858p2/178924.jpg] (4.5/5)
The main character is a war veteran suffering from the drugs used to connect soldiers to machines for remote warfare. It's a poignant story that reminds one the importance of family and friends and stresses upon human interactions.
THE BEES OF KIRIBATI by [a:Warren Hammond|687169|Warren Hammond|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1246727130p2/687169.jpg] (5/5)
The story is told from the PoV of a translator and deals with surrogacy, baby farms and consequences of war. It was a really disturbing but captivating story that shocked me. The ending wasn't something I was expecting!
PANIC CITY by [a:Madeline Ashby|5216935|Madeline Ashby|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1447519189p2/5216935.jpg] (4.5/5)
It is a really unique story as the protagonist is a city. A city that wants it's inhabitants to never leave and outsiders to never enter. The city is described as being a mother to the inhabitants and hearing the story from the city was really refreshing!
YOUR BONES WILL NOT BE UNKNOWN by [a:Alyssa Wong|8178928|Alyssa Wong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1469819886p2/8178928.jpg] (5/5)
The MC is as assassin who infiltrates a meeting to kill a crime lord. The story features highly interesting technology but we warned, the story has gory and macabre elements. I found the plot to be really good and this story is one of my favorites!
OTHER PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS by [a:Chinelo Onwualu|6575847|Chinelo Onwualu|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (4/5)
The story is set in the future where not just physical features but also personality traits can be altered. The MC's mother turns her into a hyper empath who can feel emotions and read thoughts to an extent. This was a unique love story and very touching.
A SONG TRANSMUTED by [a:Sarah Pinsker|6683690|Sarah Pinsker|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1391970984p2/6683690.jpg] (5/5)
It's a beautiful musical story. The protagonist loves music and has a beautiful relationship with her grandfather (a very endearing man). The story deals with loss, remembrance, creativity and music. The story left me smiling and asking for more.
IT'S ONLY WORDS by [a:Keith Ferrell|137297|Keith Ferrell|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] (5/5)
Sem is a guy who prefers to type on papers in a world that is 'tapped'; everyone is linked to everyone via implants in the brains and this has caused communication as we know it to become obsolete. The story was emotional and proves the weapons we need are not the weapons we see in the world but rather just words.
SMALL OFFERINGS by [a:Paolo Bacigalupi|1226977|Paolo Bacigalupi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1375566282p2/1226977.jpg] (5/5)
The story is set in a world where there is so much pollution and toxicity that birthing of healthy children is basically a miracle. The story follows a woman torn between her religion and her profession (in the words of another character). The story is frankly highly disturbing but has a unique and interesting concept all the same.
CONCLUSION
It is an interesting collection of stories that weren't perfect but had some really amazing stories. Worth a read.
BLURB
Cybernetics. Neuroscience. Nanotechnology. Genetic engineering. Hacktivism. Transhumanism. The world of tomorrow is already here, and the technological changes we all face have inspired a new wave of stories to address our fears, hopes, dreams, and desires as Homo sapiens evolve—or not—into their next incarnation. Cyber World presents diverse tales of humanity’s tomorrow, as told by some of today’s most gripping science fiction visionaries.
OVERALL REVIEW OF THE BOOK
As a whole, the book was quite interesting but there were some stories that weren't as interesting as the rest. Those stories would have made great novels on their own but I feel did not make a huge impact as a short story. Below are my comments on the stories I liked best.
SERENADE by [a:Isabel Yap|6463407|Isabel Yap|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1439080072p2/6463407.jpg] (4/5)
The main character Anj is a young techgirl who is approached by a client who wants to access encrypted files from an AI-USB. The story has some very interesting technology and also deals with other concepts like forgotten love and letting go.
REACTIONS by [a:Mario Acevedo|178924|Mario Acevedo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1293590858p2/178924.jpg] (4.5/5)
The main character is a war veteran suffering from the drugs used to connect soldiers to machines for remote warfare. It's a poignant story that reminds one the importance of family and friends and stresses upon human interactions.
THE BEES OF KIRIBATI by [a:Warren Hammond|687169|Warren Hammond|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1246727130p2/687169.jpg] (5/5)
The story is told from the PoV of a translator and deals with surrogacy, baby farms and consequences of war. It was a really disturbing but captivating story that shocked me. The ending wasn't something I was expecting!
PANIC CITY by [a:Madeline Ashby|5216935|Madeline Ashby|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1447519189p2/5216935.jpg] (4.5/5)
It is a really unique story as the protagonist is a city. A city that wants it's inhabitants to never leave and outsiders to never enter. The city is described as being a mother to the inhabitants and hearing the story from the city was really refreshing!
YOUR BONES WILL NOT BE UNKNOWN by [a:Alyssa Wong|8178928|Alyssa Wong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1469819886p2/8178928.jpg] (5/5)
The MC is as assassin who infiltrates a meeting to kill a crime lord. The story features highly interesting technology but we warned, the story has gory and macabre elements. I found the plot to be really good and this story is one of my favorites!
OTHER PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS by [a:Chinelo Onwualu|6575847|Chinelo Onwualu|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (4/5)
The story is set in the future where not just physical features but also personality traits can be altered. The MC's mother turns her into a hyper empath who can feel emotions and read thoughts to an extent. This was a unique love story and very touching.
A SONG TRANSMUTED by [a:Sarah Pinsker|6683690|Sarah Pinsker|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1391970984p2/6683690.jpg] (5/5)
It's a beautiful musical story. The protagonist loves music and has a beautiful relationship with her grandfather (a very endearing man). The story deals with loss, remembrance, creativity and music. The story left me smiling and asking for more.
IT'S ONLY WORDS by [a:Keith Ferrell|137297|Keith Ferrell|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] (5/5)
Sem is a guy who prefers to type on papers in a world that is 'tapped'; everyone is linked to everyone via implants in the brains and this has caused communication as we know it to become obsolete. The story was emotional and proves the weapons we need are not the weapons we see in the world but rather just words.
SMALL OFFERINGS by [a:Paolo Bacigalupi|1226977|Paolo Bacigalupi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1375566282p2/1226977.jpg] (5/5)
The story is set in a world where there is so much pollution and toxicity that birthing of healthy children is basically a miracle. The story follows a woman torn between her religion and her profession (in the words of another character). The story is frankly highly disturbing but has a unique and interesting concept all the same.
CONCLUSION
It is an interesting collection of stories that weren't perfect but had some really amazing stories. Worth a read.
frasersimons's review against another edition
5.0
So I loved this. Not only do the goals of the anthology completely align with what I'm looking for in regards to new contributions to the genre, but they're just really, really GOOD contributions too. The following quotes from the book made me super excited to read it:
"Cyberpunk isn’t cool anymore because it doesn’t have to be. It’s gone beyond cool. It’s life itself, the good and bad of it."
"One of the things I like about Cyber World is that it shows cyberpunk has left its heteronormative boy’s club roots behind in the dust."
"Today we no longer fear technology. It’s no longer a question of assimilation. What remains to be seen is what we are about to become."
"As each story for Cyber World popped up in my inbox, my confusion about how I defined cyberpunk grew. And I loved that feeling. Left to define the term “Cyber World” as they saw fit (or gloriously unfit), the authors formed a vast unconscious collective that redefined cyber-something-or-other for the current millennium. A network, you might even say. I don’t say that flippantly. Cyberpunk—or should we just start saying “cyberfiction”?—must continually plug back into itself, challenge itself, consume itself, and reinvent itself if it hopes to survive and remain relevant."
YES, right?
I can't explain how awesome it is to see short fiction that had an emphasis on diversity, yes. But also clearly inclusivity. Almost all the stories make specific points in regards to how this genre can be relevant today. It totally works. There were, I think, two stories that didn't really resonate with me but I saw why they were there and what they contributed. I just couldn't get all that into them. The other stories though, it's very difficult for me to select some favorites, that's how much I liked this collection. There's pansexual relationships, queer content, feminist content. Stories where people continually change their gender as their life progresses and the nice thing about these stories is that this progress is assumed, as it should be. There's tons of representation in these stories and it's very clear after reading just how good these stories are that representation like this makes a big difference in the quality of fiction produced because of it.
From a story about what faith might look like, from a Muslim perspective no less, in the future. To an entire sentient city's thoughts. I just could not have enjoyed myself more. The authors that weave in action always do so in such a way that always makes it secondary to a more overall and purposeful exploration of a question. This is what has always pulled me towards the genre. It's what makes it so riveting and exciting. You get philosophy, action and sometimes, you also get smart commentary on relevant subject matter during all of it.
"Cyberpunk isn’t cool anymore because it doesn’t have to be. It’s gone beyond cool. It’s life itself, the good and bad of it."
"One of the things I like about Cyber World is that it shows cyberpunk has left its heteronormative boy’s club roots behind in the dust."
"Today we no longer fear technology. It’s no longer a question of assimilation. What remains to be seen is what we are about to become."
"As each story for Cyber World popped up in my inbox, my confusion about how I defined cyberpunk grew. And I loved that feeling. Left to define the term “Cyber World” as they saw fit (or gloriously unfit), the authors formed a vast unconscious collective that redefined cyber-something-or-other for the current millennium. A network, you might even say. I don’t say that flippantly. Cyberpunk—or should we just start saying “cyberfiction”?—must continually plug back into itself, challenge itself, consume itself, and reinvent itself if it hopes to survive and remain relevant."
YES, right?
I can't explain how awesome it is to see short fiction that had an emphasis on diversity, yes. But also clearly inclusivity. Almost all the stories make specific points in regards to how this genre can be relevant today. It totally works. There were, I think, two stories that didn't really resonate with me but I saw why they were there and what they contributed. I just couldn't get all that into them. The other stories though, it's very difficult for me to select some favorites, that's how much I liked this collection. There's pansexual relationships, queer content, feminist content. Stories where people continually change their gender as their life progresses and the nice thing about these stories is that this progress is assumed, as it should be. There's tons of representation in these stories and it's very clear after reading just how good these stories are that representation like this makes a big difference in the quality of fiction produced because of it.
From a story about what faith might look like, from a Muslim perspective no less, in the future. To an entire sentient city's thoughts. I just could not have enjoyed myself more. The authors that weave in action always do so in such a way that always makes it secondary to a more overall and purposeful exploration of a question. This is what has always pulled me towards the genre. It's what makes it so riveting and exciting. You get philosophy, action and sometimes, you also get smart commentary on relevant subject matter during all of it.
pearseanderson's review against another edition
3.0
I was saving reading this anthology for years, and I finally got to it this summer! Unfortunately, I didn't love it. I'm giving it 3 stars, because the only story that really caught my attention was THE BEES OF KIRIBATI. I'm glad that there's more good cyberpunk fic out there but this short read wasn't my thing.
cam356's review against another edition
3.0
This book was interesting but a lot of the stories started blending into one. There was a lot of similarities throughout the whole thing and it didn't make them as unique as they could have been. The very first story in the collection made my heart break and I loved it. I wish I had enjoyed all of them as much as that first one.
fyoosha's review against another edition
3.0
Some of these stories were pretty good, but most were only okay. It's kind of a mixed bag.
The problem with cyberpunk - or sci fi in general, I suppose - is that it threatens to be buried under the weight of its own inscrutability. Some authors want to throw in tons of new terminology and concepts and give the reader little time to adjust, which makes for a difficult reading experience.
There were some that were practically nonsensical that I only skimmed, and there were some that left no impression on me at all.
And then there were some that were excellent: "Other People's Thoughts" , "The Bees of Kiribati" , "We Will Take Care of Our Own" , "Small Offerings" , and "The Ibex on the Day of Extinction".
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The problem with cyberpunk - or sci fi in general, I suppose - is that it threatens to be buried under the weight of its own inscrutability. Some authors want to throw in tons of new terminology and concepts and give the reader little time to adjust, which makes for a difficult reading experience.
There were some that were practically nonsensical that I only skimmed, and there were some that left no impression on me at all.
And then there were some that were excellent: "Other People's Thoughts" , "The Bees of Kiribati" , "We Will Take Care of Our Own" , "Small Offerings" , and "The Ibex on the Day of Extinction".
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
thesffreader's review against another edition
3.0
Review originally published on The Curious SFF Reader
3.5
Overall Review
I have interested by this anthology for a while, I don’t read a lot of cyberpunk but I like reading this genre and I was curious to encounter some new authors I would like. Also, the fact that both Alyssa Wong and Paolo Bacigalupi contributed to this anthology was a bonus for me.
Overall, it was a strong anthologies, as always with those types of books they were hits and misses, I DNF’d a couple of stories that didn’t work for me (mostly because they confused me too much) but other stories such as Reactions by Mario Acevado, The Bees of Kiribati by Warren Hammond, Panic City by Madeleine Ashby, Your Bones Will be Unknown by Alyssa Wong, Other People’s Thoughts by Chinelo Onwualu, A Song Transmuted by Sarah Pinske, It’s Only Words by Keith Ferrell and Small Offerings by Paolo Bacigalupi were extremely good.
All the stories were short and very different from one another which was great because I never felt bored. I flew through this collection in two days and I liked the broad selection of themes it tried to tackle. Some of the most recurring themes were family, pregnancy, gender and gender fluidity, information and body’s transformation.
I would absolutely recommend this anthology even if you’re not a fan of cyperpunk or short fiction because I tryuly believe thatCyber World: Tale of Humanity’s Tomorrow contains something for everyone!
Story by Story Review
Serenade – Isabel Yap ★★★1/2
This story follows Anj, a young techgirl who has to access certain files that may be very important for one of her clients. In this future, most of the files are protected by Ais which means that you have to “confront” them to access the info contained in an AI-USB. This story wasn’t particularly unique but it was pretty bittersweet which I liked and it was dealing with issues such as grief, letting go and growing up that are always interesting to read about
First sentence: “Anj was in the shop late at night on Thursday when the new client walked in.”
The Mighty Phin – Nisi Shawl ★★
This story was previously published on the Tor.com website so this was a reread for me. I didn’t like it as much after rereading it because even though, it is fairly unique, it’s hard to understand. It follows Timofeya Phin, a woman who has been uploaded into an AI. We soon learn that the AI is losing some of the files and while it tries to hides it, weird things start happening in Timofeya’s life. I guess that it was mostly about loveand gender fluidity but it was pretty confusing. It was very hard to relate to the characters, I really couldn’t care less about them. I don’t really like Shawl’s short fiction which is why I’m pretty hesitant about reading her debut-novel Everfair that came out this year…
First paragraph: “Timofeya Phin glared at her bare brown hands. They were hers, all right. They looked the same as the orginals. Unlike her feet.”
Reactions – Mario Acevado ★★★★★
One of my favorite story in this anthology, this story follows the aftermath of war on a young soldier. It deals with PTSD, grief and love. It was very powerful and I really like the voice of the main character. I will be looking out for more of Acevado’s works!
First sentence: “”
The Bees of Kiribati – Warren Hammond ★★★★1/2
Another really good one, it was pretty creepy and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I don’t want to say too much about this one but I don’t think I ever read a story about surrogate mothers and refugees as powerful as this one. The ending was really impressive!
First sentence: “I spotted Detective Inspector Keo at the end of the corridor, his back against the wall, smoke snaking from the cigarette lodged between his fingertips.”
The Rest Between Two Notes – Cat Rambo ★★1/2
This story was very promising at the beginning and as much as it had interesting themes (dealing with an oppresive family, being different etc..) it felt a little flat toward the end. it didn’t really had a plot except the fact that the main character hates her mother and it was pretty meh overall.
First sentence: “I kill my mother.”
The Singularity is in Your Hair – Mathew Kressel ★★★
This one was a weird one, most of the story is set in a virtual reality where our main character works for an AI who promises to upload her on a server when she dies and in exchange, she has to program all kind of things. In “real life”, the main character is suffering from Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystophy which means that she can’t leave her wheelchair and that she only has a few years left to live. With an premise like that, I really expected to story to make more of an impact on me and, sadly, it didn’t…
First sentence: “When the door opens, the brown-skinned mailman stands smiling on the stoop in his rolled-up baby-blue short-sleeve shirt, top buttons opens, his chest hair exposed.”
Panic City – Madeleine Ashby ★★★★1/2
This is one is pretty unique since the main PoV of the story is… a city. And this city doesn’t want anybody to go in… or out.
First sentence: “Devoured by the blades of Fan Six, high above the Service Sector quadrant of the city and suspended over her many rings, something went still and cold.”
The Faithful Soldier, prompted – Saladin Ahmed ★★★1/2
This story is about a soldier who wants to find a cure for his wife illness, since leaving the army, he still receives prompted with instructions and some of them may be the key of his wife illness. I think that the concept could have been pushed farther but it was interesting and different from the overall tone of the anthology.
First sentence: “If I die on this piece-of-shit road, Lubna’s chances die with me.”
Your Bones Will be Unknown – Alyssa Wong ★★★★1/2
One of the main reason I was intrigued by this anthology was that it contained an Alyssa Wong story. Following a young assassin infiltrating a crime lords meeting, the story was pretty intense.. and gory. I mean we are talking Alyssa Wong here. As usual with this lady, the story is gripping and well-written.
First sentence: “I stuck close to the wall and let my corneal camera watch the action for me.”
Staunch – Paul Graham Raven – DNF
Sadly, this was a DNF for me, I was very confused while reading and I couldn’t get what was going on so I decided to drop it.
First Sentence: “The Hackney Kid’s kidneys go into shutdown on our way out Gunchester.”
Other People’s Thoughts – Chinelo Onwualu ★★★★★
This story doesn’t really has a plot but I really liked it, it follows a girl who was designed by her mother to feel other people’s thoughts and feelings and her relationship with a mysterious customer. I really liked the writings and the ideas and since I never heard of Onwualu before, I’m glad that I discovered her voice!
First sentence: “Zayin walked into my shop on the morning of my twenty-ninth birthday.”
wysiomg – Alvaro Zinos-Amaro – DNF
Another DNF, I might be dumb but this one made no sense to me whatsoever, I think that I only read three pages and then I was “Maryam’s out”! I don’t know if I should try this story again in the future but I’m in to rush to.
First sentence: “Bartolomeu used to puppeter ants and then he went to singU and now he builds furniture out of bugs but a few things happened in between”.
We Will Take care of Our Own – Angie Hodapp ★★★★
Political SF’s story are pretty rare because I’m pretty sure that they’re hard to do well (build a logic political world, adversaries and all for a short story might be a bit of a pain) but We Will Take Care of Our Own was fascinating. It reminded me a bit of Infomocracy and Minority Report and it was dealing with really complex themes like artificial intelligence and conciousness with a refreshing simplicity.
First Sentence:”Senator Tia Isandro stepped out of the Lincoln’s back seat.”
A Song Transmuted – Sarah Pinske ★★★★★
A cyperpunk story dealing with music? Oh yes. This was very well done, I am usually a big fan of stories with music eements in them and this one did it wonderfully well! It follows a young girl who loves playing music and her journey to make her body a music instrument. Really good.
First paragraph: “I was a fussy baby. The only thing that quited me was my great-grandfather’s piano. My parents placed my bassinet directly on the piano, with noise-cancelling headphones to keep from damaging my ears. His chords came up through the instrument, up through my bones.”That child is full of music, I’m telling you,” he told anyone who listened.”
It’s Only Words – Keith Ferrell ★★★★★
Another great one, it follows the idea that in a near future, everyone is going to be linked “tapped” to Internet thanks to an implant. Our main protagonist, Sem, isn’t and we follow him as he’s writing a school assignment explainign why he doesn’t want to have this implant.
First Sentence: “Eventually Sem began keyboarding.”
Small Offerings – Paolo Bacigalupi ★★★★★
I previously mentionned that one of the reason I was interested by this anthology was the Wong story, Bacigalupi is another. I only read one of his short stories before City of Ash but I loved The Water Knife and I was excited to give his short works another try. Small Offerings reached and surpassed my expectations quite a bit, i’s depresssing as hell and if reading about horrible pregnancy and dead babies is something that you can’t stand, well do not read this. I personally found it fascinating and creepy but extremely well done.
First Sentence:”Readouts glow blue on driplines where they burrow into Maya Ong’s spine.”
Darkout – E. Lily Yu ★★★1/2
Set in a society where everyone can observe other people’s life, it’s not suprising that, our “hero” Brandon isan unreliable self-centered douche bag. However, as much as I didn’t like Brandon, I like Yu’s commentary on what may be the future of our society.
First Sentence: “In all of Northchester, Pennsylvania there was hardly forty square feet that was not continuously exposed to public view, on glass walls if you had money or on tablets if you were poor.”
Visible Damage – Stephen Graham Jones ★★
I was a bit confused by this one but it has similarities with the first story of this collection, Serenade, because the main character is kind of fighting against an AI. I can’t say much more about this one.
First Sentence: “If it were 2028 or something Dark Ages like that, what Mark had just asked for after casing the place, it would-no, it still wouldn’t make sense.”
The Ibex on the Day of Extinction – Minister Faust ★★★
This story follows the aftermath of a regional evacuation. Because of his work, our main character had not way to know that his family was evacuated and he tries to find them, wandering Niger. I liked this story when I read it but I have to admit that it was pretty forgettable in the sense that I had to reread a large portion of it to write this tiny synopsis…
First Sentence: “Kam Manjiri checked his satellite phone for the fifth time that morning.”
How Nothing Happens – Darin Bradley ★
I remember finishing this story and rereading the last paragraph to see if I missed something. It follows a main character that takes notes but who may have come from the future.. Maybe ?
First Sentence: “It’s strange to listen in, knowing at once nothing and everything about the discussion.”
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exhange for an honest review.
3.5
Overall Review
I have interested by this anthology for a while, I don’t read a lot of cyberpunk but I like reading this genre and I was curious to encounter some new authors I would like. Also, the fact that both Alyssa Wong and Paolo Bacigalupi contributed to this anthology was a bonus for me.
Overall, it was a strong anthologies, as always with those types of books they were hits and misses, I DNF’d a couple of stories that didn’t work for me (mostly because they confused me too much) but other stories such as Reactions by Mario Acevado, The Bees of Kiribati by Warren Hammond, Panic City by Madeleine Ashby, Your Bones Will be Unknown by Alyssa Wong, Other People’s Thoughts by Chinelo Onwualu, A Song Transmuted by Sarah Pinske, It’s Only Words by Keith Ferrell and Small Offerings by Paolo Bacigalupi were extremely good.
All the stories were short and very different from one another which was great because I never felt bored. I flew through this collection in two days and I liked the broad selection of themes it tried to tackle. Some of the most recurring themes were family, pregnancy, gender and gender fluidity, information and body’s transformation.
I would absolutely recommend this anthology even if you’re not a fan of cyperpunk or short fiction because I tryuly believe thatCyber World: Tale of Humanity’s Tomorrow contains something for everyone!
Story by Story Review
Serenade – Isabel Yap ★★★1/2
This story follows Anj, a young techgirl who has to access certain files that may be very important for one of her clients. In this future, most of the files are protected by Ais which means that you have to “confront” them to access the info contained in an AI-USB. This story wasn’t particularly unique but it was pretty bittersweet which I liked and it was dealing with issues such as grief, letting go and growing up that are always interesting to read about
First sentence: “Anj was in the shop late at night on Thursday when the new client walked in.”
The Mighty Phin – Nisi Shawl ★★
This story was previously published on the Tor.com website so this was a reread for me. I didn’t like it as much after rereading it because even though, it is fairly unique, it’s hard to understand. It follows Timofeya Phin, a woman who has been uploaded into an AI. We soon learn that the AI is losing some of the files and while it tries to hides it, weird things start happening in Timofeya’s life. I guess that it was mostly about loveand gender fluidity but it was pretty confusing. It was very hard to relate to the characters, I really couldn’t care less about them. I don’t really like Shawl’s short fiction which is why I’m pretty hesitant about reading her debut-novel Everfair that came out this year…
First paragraph: “Timofeya Phin glared at her bare brown hands. They were hers, all right. They looked the same as the orginals. Unlike her feet.”
Reactions – Mario Acevado ★★★★★
One of my favorite story in this anthology, this story follows the aftermath of war on a young soldier. It deals with PTSD, grief and love. It was very powerful and I really like the voice of the main character. I will be looking out for more of Acevado’s works!
First sentence: “
The Bees of Kiribati – Warren Hammond ★★★★1/2
Another really good one, it was pretty creepy and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I don’t want to say too much about this one but I don’t think I ever read a story about surrogate mothers and refugees as powerful as this one. The ending was really impressive!
First sentence: “I spotted Detective Inspector Keo at the end of the corridor, his back against the wall, smoke snaking from the cigarette lodged between his fingertips.”
The Rest Between Two Notes – Cat Rambo ★★1/2
This story was very promising at the beginning and as much as it had interesting themes (dealing with an oppresive family, being different etc..) it felt a little flat toward the end. it didn’t really had a plot except the fact that the main character hates her mother and it was pretty meh overall.
First sentence: “I kill my mother.”
The Singularity is in Your Hair – Mathew Kressel ★★★
This one was a weird one, most of the story is set in a virtual reality where our main character works for an AI who promises to upload her on a server when she dies and in exchange, she has to program all kind of things. In “real life”, the main character is suffering from Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystophy which means that she can’t leave her wheelchair and that she only has a few years left to live. With an premise like that, I really expected to story to make more of an impact on me and, sadly, it didn’t…
First sentence: “When the door opens, the brown-skinned mailman stands smiling on the stoop in his rolled-up baby-blue short-sleeve shirt, top buttons opens, his chest hair exposed.”
Panic City – Madeleine Ashby ★★★★1/2
This is one is pretty unique since the main PoV of the story is… a city. And this city doesn’t want anybody to go in… or out.
First sentence: “Devoured by the blades of Fan Six, high above the Service Sector quadrant of the city and suspended over her many rings, something went still and cold.”
The Faithful Soldier, prompted – Saladin Ahmed ★★★1/2
This story is about a soldier who wants to find a cure for his wife illness, since leaving the army, he still receives prompted with instructions and some of them may be the key of his wife illness. I think that the concept could have been pushed farther but it was interesting and different from the overall tone of the anthology.
First sentence: “If I die on this piece-of-shit road, Lubna’s chances die with me.”
Your Bones Will be Unknown – Alyssa Wong ★★★★1/2
One of the main reason I was intrigued by this anthology was that it contained an Alyssa Wong story. Following a young assassin infiltrating a crime lords meeting, the story was pretty intense.. and gory. I mean we are talking Alyssa Wong here. As usual with this lady, the story is gripping and well-written.
First sentence: “I stuck close to the wall and let my corneal camera watch the action for me.”
Staunch – Paul Graham Raven – DNF
Sadly, this was a DNF for me, I was very confused while reading and I couldn’t get what was going on so I decided to drop it.
First Sentence: “The Hackney Kid’s kidneys go into shutdown on our way out Gunchester.”
Other People’s Thoughts – Chinelo Onwualu ★★★★★
This story doesn’t really has a plot but I really liked it, it follows a girl who was designed by her mother to feel other people’s thoughts and feelings and her relationship with a mysterious customer. I really liked the writings and the ideas and since I never heard of Onwualu before, I’m glad that I discovered her voice!
First sentence: “Zayin walked into my shop on the morning of my twenty-ninth birthday.”
wysiomg – Alvaro Zinos-Amaro – DNF
Another DNF, I might be dumb but this one made no sense to me whatsoever, I think that I only read three pages and then I was “Maryam’s out”! I don’t know if I should try this story again in the future but I’m in to rush to.
First sentence: “Bartolomeu used to puppeter ants and then he went to singU and now he builds furniture out of bugs but a few things happened in between”.
We Will Take care of Our Own – Angie Hodapp ★★★★
Political SF’s story are pretty rare because I’m pretty sure that they’re hard to do well (build a logic political world, adversaries and all for a short story might be a bit of a pain) but We Will Take Care of Our Own was fascinating. It reminded me a bit of Infomocracy and Minority Report and it was dealing with really complex themes like artificial intelligence and conciousness with a refreshing simplicity.
First Sentence:”Senator Tia Isandro stepped out of the Lincoln’s back seat.”
A Song Transmuted – Sarah Pinske ★★★★★
A cyperpunk story dealing with music? Oh yes. This was very well done, I am usually a big fan of stories with music eements in them and this one did it wonderfully well! It follows a young girl who loves playing music and her journey to make her body a music instrument. Really good.
First paragraph: “I was a fussy baby. The only thing that quited me was my great-grandfather’s piano. My parents placed my bassinet directly on the piano, with noise-cancelling headphones to keep from damaging my ears. His chords came up through the instrument, up through my bones.”That child is full of music, I’m telling you,” he told anyone who listened.”
It’s Only Words – Keith Ferrell ★★★★★
Another great one, it follows the idea that in a near future, everyone is going to be linked “tapped” to Internet thanks to an implant. Our main protagonist, Sem, isn’t and we follow him as he’s writing a school assignment explainign why he doesn’t want to have this implant.
First Sentence: “Eventually Sem began keyboarding.”
Small Offerings – Paolo Bacigalupi ★★★★★
I previously mentionned that one of the reason I was interested by this anthology was the Wong story, Bacigalupi is another. I only read one of his short stories before City of Ash but I loved The Water Knife and I was excited to give his short works another try. Small Offerings reached and surpassed my expectations quite a bit, i’s depresssing as hell and if reading about horrible pregnancy and dead babies is something that you can’t stand, well do not read this. I personally found it fascinating and creepy but extremely well done.
First Sentence:”Readouts glow blue on driplines where they burrow into Maya Ong’s spine.”
Darkout – E. Lily Yu ★★★1/2
Set in a society where everyone can observe other people’s life, it’s not suprising that, our “hero” Brandon isan unreliable self-centered douche bag. However, as much as I didn’t like Brandon, I like Yu’s commentary on what may be the future of our society.
First Sentence: “In all of Northchester, Pennsylvania there was hardly forty square feet that was not continuously exposed to public view, on glass walls if you had money or on tablets if you were poor.”
Visible Damage – Stephen Graham Jones ★★
I was a bit confused by this one but it has similarities with the first story of this collection, Serenade, because the main character is kind of fighting against an AI. I can’t say much more about this one.
First Sentence: “If it were 2028 or something Dark Ages like that, what Mark had just asked for after casing the place, it would-no, it still wouldn’t make sense.”
The Ibex on the Day of Extinction – Minister Faust ★★★
This story follows the aftermath of a regional evacuation. Because of his work, our main character had not way to know that his family was evacuated and he tries to find them, wandering Niger. I liked this story when I read it but I have to admit that it was pretty forgettable in the sense that I had to reread a large portion of it to write this tiny synopsis…
First Sentence: “Kam Manjiri checked his satellite phone for the fifth time that morning.”
How Nothing Happens – Darin Bradley ★
I remember finishing this story and rereading the last paragraph to see if I missed something. It follows a main character that takes notes but who may have come from the future.. Maybe ?
First Sentence: “It’s strange to listen in, knowing at once nothing and everything about the discussion.”
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exhange for an honest review.