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rxh05d's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think there was one of these that wasn't stellar.
choirqueer's review against another edition
5.0
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. SO GOOD!! Every single story and image (including detailed image descriptions for all visual images!) in this book is incredibly well-crafted and sent chills up my spine. I tried to read it really slowly so it wouldn't end so quickly, but it was just so good that I couldn't slow down! My heart nearly broke when I reached the end and there was no more book left. Hoping beyond hope for a volume two!!!
spiraldots's review against another edition
5.0
Review originally written for my blog
So this was the third book I read for Sci-Fi month over on Twitter but I've decided to review it first just because it's so fantastic. I bought this a while ago on Amazon when I had some money left on a gift card then forgot about it for a while until this month. I've been trying to focus on reducing my physical TBR pile for Sci-Fi month (especially as then I can take a photo at the end of them all in a nice stack) but I just had to make an exception for this as it sounded fantastic.
Before we even get to the stories, there is a fantastic introduction which discusses the fact that not only does this attempt to represent a diverse range of disabilities, but it wants to ensure the people portrayed are equally as diverse, acknowledging that a lot of disability awareness focuses on straight white people. I was very impressed with that and glad to know they were making a conscious effort to be as inclusive as possible.
The range of disabilities represented is very interesting ranging from physical to mental, including even discussing how many disabilities are due to culture and so one story is focused on imagining what a future would be like where grief is considered a disability. I won't say too much about the stories themselves but there is a fantastic range and I really enjoyed them all. It's hard to pick a favourite since all the characters are brilliant and well portrayed.
Along with short stories, there are also several pieces of artwork. Each piece of artwork is followed by a description of the image for those who are unable to see it, which I was particularly pleased to see in a collection focused on disabilities. Unfortunately, there is not an audiobook version yet but I hope there will be one eventually to make it even more accessible. Even though my sight is fine, there were details mentioned in the descriptions that I hadn't noticed which helped enrich my enjoyment of the art. My favourite piece of artwork though is definitely the cover, which was one of the reasons I bought the book in the first place.
I highly, highly recommend this collection. It's incredibly diverse and full of great sci-fi. I've already got several friends to buy it just because I've been gushing about it so much and if it was possible to gift Kindle books in the UK, I'd definitely have bought it for several more.
So this was the third book I read for Sci-Fi month over on Twitter but I've decided to review it first just because it's so fantastic. I bought this a while ago on Amazon when I had some money left on a gift card then forgot about it for a while until this month. I've been trying to focus on reducing my physical TBR pile for Sci-Fi month (especially as then I can take a photo at the end of them all in a nice stack) but I just had to make an exception for this as it sounded fantastic.
Before we even get to the stories, there is a fantastic introduction which discusses the fact that not only does this attempt to represent a diverse range of disabilities, but it wants to ensure the people portrayed are equally as diverse, acknowledging that a lot of disability awareness focuses on straight white people. I was very impressed with that and glad to know they were making a conscious effort to be as inclusive as possible.
The range of disabilities represented is very interesting ranging from physical to mental, including even discussing how many disabilities are due to culture and so one story is focused on imagining what a future would be like where grief is considered a disability. I won't say too much about the stories themselves but there is a fantastic range and I really enjoyed them all. It's hard to pick a favourite since all the characters are brilliant and well portrayed.
Along with short stories, there are also several pieces of artwork. Each piece of artwork is followed by a description of the image for those who are unable to see it, which I was particularly pleased to see in a collection focused on disabilities. Unfortunately, there is not an audiobook version yet but I hope there will be one eventually to make it even more accessible. Even though my sight is fine, there were details mentioned in the descriptions that I hadn't noticed which helped enrich my enjoyment of the art. My favourite piece of artwork though is definitely the cover, which was one of the reasons I bought the book in the first place.
I highly, highly recommend this collection. It's incredibly diverse and full of great sci-fi. I've already got several friends to buy it just because I've been gushing about it so much and if it was possible to gift Kindle books in the UK, I'd definitely have bought it for several more.
tigerbalmbby's review against another edition
4.0
Ok so I actually finished it a few days ago but I wanted to write up a review for each of the stories.
Before I do, I wanna say I loved the illustrations that were between every few stories, and I loved that they each had a page describing them in detail. Illustrations good, the descriptions were good too.
Pirate Songs - Nicolette Barischoff
First story was pretty cool, it didn't resonate with me like some of the others though. I thought it had a cool setting and it was intriguing to see the world the author presented. It was interesting to me that the mc had come from a privileged background and despite her disability was obviously better off and more empowered in many ways than those she met. 3.5 stars. I wish it'd been longer.
Pay Attention - Sarah Pinsker
I really enjoyed this one. Class comes into this story as well, in a more contemporary setting. I was so happy for the main character and so sad for them at the same time. I'm not sure what to say about this one except it felt really empowering. I don't know if I share exactly the same kind of thing this character has, but some of the ways it's described felt really relatable. 4 stars
Invisible People - Margaret Killjoy
Good cyberpunk acab story. The paranoia felt too real. 3.5 stars.
The Lessons of the Moon - Joyce Chng
This one made me cry a bit. So short, so sad. I love it. The writing was so special, I really enjoyed the way this one was structured. 4 stars.
Screens - Samantha Rich
One of my favourites. I'm not sure how to describe it, or how to summarise my feelings on it. The concept of a device that can display invisible illnesses is so appealing to me, as it is for the people in this story. But I can relate heavily to how vulnerable it would make you, too. To have everything on display. That's a lot. 4.5 stars
A Sense All its Own - Sara Patterson
This was one of the ones where I just thought the world and characters were pretty metal, awesome, something I'd love to read more of set in this universe. Not as touching as some others for me, but really fun. 3.5 stars
Better to Have Loved - Kate O'Connor
Short and sweet. Bitterly, bitter sweet. Really interesting concept on what disabilities really are. 4 stars.
Morphic Resonance - Toby MacNutt
Honestly, I struggled to understand this one. I'm not exactly sure if I parsed it correctly, and it's a shame because it seems to go into gender stuff more. But I didn't understand the tech being described and I didn't particularly enjoy or get much from it. 2 stars.
Losing Touch - Louise Hughes
God this one was really kinda depressing, but fascinating. What makes somebody a person, an individual? 3.5 stars.
Into the waters i rode down - Jack Hollis Marr
Really interesting writing style. I enjoyed it a lot but I'm having trouble describing why, beyond that I loved the prose and the bond and actions it depicts. 4 stars
Playa Song - Petra Kuppers
Uhhhh I really can barely remember this one sorry. Can't give a proper review, I don't even remember if I enjoyed it.
Puppetry - A.C Buchanen
Another im struggling to remember, though I do remember liking this one quite a lot.
Lyric - A.F Sanches
This one is my favourite in the book. It hit me so hard. Autistic feels. It was such a touching story, one that just felt so...close to home. I definitely understood why the MC chose that animal over something else. I dunno what to say, it made me cry a lot and think about my own stuff in more depth. 5 stars
Courting the Silent Sun - Rachael K. Jones
Not really into romance in stories a lot, but the one shown in this one was pretty nice. I liked the story, but it wasn't something I would seek out. 3.5 stars
In Open Air - David Jón Fuller
This one being the last in the anthology was sort of disappointing. It had a really interesting premise that it didn't go anywhere with. As soon as it was getting somewhere neat it ended. It has good bones though. 3 stars.
Before I do, I wanna say I loved the illustrations that were between every few stories, and I loved that they each had a page describing them in detail. Illustrations good, the descriptions were good too.
Pirate Songs - Nicolette Barischoff
First story was pretty cool, it didn't resonate with me like some of the others though. I thought it had a cool setting and it was intriguing to see the world the author presented. It was interesting to me that the mc had come from a privileged background and despite her disability was obviously better off and more empowered in many ways than those she met. 3.5 stars. I wish it'd been longer.
Pay Attention - Sarah Pinsker
I really enjoyed this one. Class comes into this story as well, in a more contemporary setting. I was so happy for the main character and so sad for them at the same time. I'm not sure what to say about this one except it felt really empowering. I don't know if I share exactly the same kind of thing this character has, but some of the ways it's described felt really relatable. 4 stars
Invisible People - Margaret Killjoy
Good cyberpunk acab story. The paranoia felt too real. 3.5 stars.
The Lessons of the Moon - Joyce Chng
This one made me cry a bit. So short, so sad. I love it. The writing was so special, I really enjoyed the way this one was structured. 4 stars.
Screens - Samantha Rich
One of my favourites. I'm not sure how to describe it, or how to summarise my feelings on it. The concept of a device that can display invisible illnesses is so appealing to me, as it is for the people in this story. But I can relate heavily to how vulnerable it would make you, too. To have everything on display. That's a lot. 4.5 stars
A Sense All its Own - Sara Patterson
This was one of the ones where I just thought the world and characters were pretty metal, awesome, something I'd love to read more of set in this universe. Not as touching as some others for me, but really fun. 3.5 stars
Better to Have Loved - Kate O'Connor
Short and sweet. Bitterly, bitter sweet. Really interesting concept on what disabilities really are. 4 stars.
Morphic Resonance - Toby MacNutt
Honestly, I struggled to understand this one. I'm not exactly sure if I parsed it correctly, and it's a shame because it seems to go into gender stuff more. But I didn't understand the tech being described and I didn't particularly enjoy or get much from it. 2 stars.
Losing Touch - Louise Hughes
God this one was really kinda depressing, but fascinating. What makes somebody a person, an individual? 3.5 stars.
Into the waters i rode down - Jack Hollis Marr
Really interesting writing style. I enjoyed it a lot but I'm having trouble describing why, beyond that I loved the prose and the bond and actions it depicts. 4 stars
Playa Song - Petra Kuppers
Uhhhh I really can barely remember this one sorry. Can't give a proper review, I don't even remember if I enjoyed it.
Puppetry - A.C Buchanen
Another im struggling to remember, though I do remember liking this one quite a lot.
Lyric - A.F Sanches
This one is my favourite in the book. It hit me so hard. Autistic feels. It was such a touching story, one that just felt so...close to home. I definitely understood why the MC chose that animal over something else. I dunno what to say, it made me cry a lot and think about my own stuff in more depth. 5 stars
Courting the Silent Sun - Rachael K. Jones
Not really into romance in stories a lot, but the one shown in this one was pretty nice. I liked the story, but it wasn't something I would seek out. 3.5 stars
In Open Air - David Jón Fuller
This one being the last in the anthology was sort of disappointing. It had a really interesting premise that it didn't go anywhere with. As soon as it was getting somewhere neat it ended. It has good bones though. 3 stars.
starrysteph's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As with most anthologies, it was a mixed experience. Some of the writing was so creative, and inclusive, and brilliant. There was one story with a poetic, immersive style that totally captivated me. Others were far weaker on plot/characters and tropey-ness. Overall, I loved the idea and ambition but wished for slightly better curation & editing of some of the stories. Also - some needed a bit more length.
cael_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
meghan_is_reading's review against another edition
fantastic! all my favourite things in short form sci-fi. So much of sci-fi is about the present context :)
phenexrose's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
kir's review against another edition
2.0
2⭐, Okay.
Accessing the Future is an important anthology, but a number of the stories weren't my cup of tea, and I enjoyed the foreword, introduction and afterword the most.
Stories that ticked the enjoy interest box for me were 'Pay Attention' by Sarah Pinsker, 'Better to Have Loved' by Kate O'Connor, 'Losing Touch' by Louise Hughes, 'Puppetry' by A.C. Buchanan.
Accessing the Future is an important anthology, but a number of the stories weren't my cup of tea, and I enjoyed the foreword, introduction and afterword the most.
Stories that ticked the enjoy interest box for me were 'Pay Attention' by Sarah Pinsker, 'Better to Have Loved' by Kate O'Connor, 'Losing Touch' by Louise Hughes, 'Puppetry' by A.C. Buchanan.