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theaurochs's review against another edition
4.0
A thoughtful collection of tales, with everything from space marine battle mums to the anthropological study of the cultures of dying Earth, to the death of America.
Older is a captivating writer, and this definitely makes me want to read some more of their long-form fiction. In this collection they showcase the knack for not just having cool and interesting sci-fi ideas, but for really fleshing these ideas out and examing how they will affect the cultures they exist within, and how those cultures shape the ideas in response. With clear and genuine political insights, Older creates frustratingly plausible near-futures and deeply believable new worlds to explore. It's grand sci-fi that always maintains a strong human element; written with empathy and insight. The characters that we do encounter are often well-rounded, and always products of their environment. There are several interesting stories where stepping outside of these new environments causes the conflict for these characters, and these culture clashes are enlightening.
For me, nothing truly mind-blowing or stunning (hence the lack of that elusive fifth star), but definitely really solid quality speculative fiction short stories
Older is a captivating writer, and this definitely makes me want to read some more of their long-form fiction. In this collection they showcase the knack for not just having cool and interesting sci-fi ideas, but for really fleshing these ideas out and examing how they will affect the cultures they exist within, and how those cultures shape the ideas in response. With clear and genuine political insights, Older creates frustratingly plausible near-futures and deeply believable new worlds to explore. It's grand sci-fi that always maintains a strong human element; written with empathy and insight. The characters that we do encounter are often well-rounded, and always products of their environment. There are several interesting stories where stepping outside of these new environments causes the conflict for these characters, and these culture clashes are enlightening.
For me, nothing truly mind-blowing or stunning (hence the lack of that elusive fifth star), but definitely really solid quality speculative fiction short stories
nnewbykew's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
pryngols's review against another edition
5.0
This was gifted to me by a friend and I finished it in one sitting because it’s just sooo good. SciFi/speculative fiction has always given us a wider perspective on humanity, technology and history, and this collection is one of the best I’ve ever read. It has been described as a diary from the future—and though it’s not always a world I would have wished for, as long as humanity finds a way to thrive, it gives me hope.
kaa's review against another edition
5.0
I wish this book were longer! Malka Older has a talent for envisioning broad sociopolitical and cultural systems without losing focus on how these systems impact individuals. I am in awe of the vision and compassion demonstrated in thses stories. I've been reading bits of this on and off over the course of the last couple weeks, but I feel fortunate that I still had a sizable chunk of it to devour this afternoon. There is something in her combination of expertise and realism-meets-optimism that I found very grounding in this particular moment in history.
_henrycrossley_'s review
5.0
What a great story collection! Every single one of these stories is extremely good.
abbmariec's review against another edition
5.0
Really really really enjoyed this one. My personal favorites were Tear Tracks, Email Heiress, and Saint Path; truly a great collection of science fiction/speculative fiction short stories and poems. Malka Older came to speak to my class and she was such a joy to hear speak on writing, societal understanding, and her various sources of inspiration.
howard's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
dr_matthew_lloyd's review against another edition
4.0
Malka Older has many great science fictional ideas, and an even greater sense of the potential social and political impact of those ideas. In this collections, we find internal recorders of our every move, the humans who will not leave Earth even as gravitational forces pull it apart, a machine built with artificial emotions over artificial intelligence, and more. Perhaps my favourite story is "Perpetuation of the Species", in which our protagonist, Cena, wishes to join the ranks of the military/midwifery unit on the colonization ship she calls home. Older combines several ideas about perpetuating the species through space colonization, pregnancy and birth, and violence, which questions the ways in which we value those things. Similarly, "Tear Tracks" questions how different societies might value different experiences and expressions of emotion, and what we lose in not doing so ourselves.
Throughout the collection are a number of short pieces called "The End of the Incarnation", which detail the fragmentation of the United States into many separate countries. Older's trilogy of novels, The Centenal Cycle, also questioned our current structures of countries and borders, and how differently the planet might be organized; but "The End of the Incarnation" actually details that separation, and it is fascinating and insightful. While I was reading this collection, Greece celebrated its 200th anniversary; the US nears its 250th. Meanwhile Germany, in its current incarnation, is younger than I am. Our borders are not immutable, timeless things; they are contingent, contextual. Change is difficult, and may well be harmful, but we should not assume it will never happen. (On borders, too, there is "The Divided", a horror story with some truly devastating imagery.)
Older's stories, as ever, are insightful and intelligent, rewarding contemplation on the part of the author. It's science fiction that's good to think with, which is my favourite kind.
Throughout the collection are a number of short pieces called "The End of the Incarnation", which detail the fragmentation of the United States into many separate countries. Older's trilogy of novels, The Centenal Cycle, also questioned our current structures of countries and borders, and how differently the planet might be organized; but "The End of the Incarnation" actually details that separation, and it is fascinating and insightful. While I was reading this collection, Greece celebrated its 200th anniversary; the US nears its 250th. Meanwhile Germany, in its current incarnation, is younger than I am. Our borders are not immutable, timeless things; they are contingent, contextual. Change is difficult, and may well be harmful, but we should not assume it will never happen. (On borders, too, there is "The Divided", a horror story with some truly devastating imagery.)
Older's stories, as ever, are insightful and intelligent, rewarding contemplation on the part of the author. It's science fiction that's good to think with, which is my favourite kind.