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sjstuart's review
4.0
This is an unusual topic for an anthology: all of the stories are written in the first person. The collection also includes an introduction by [a:Isaac Asimov|16667|Isaac Asimov|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1286862859p2/16667.jpg] and an afterword by [a:Barry Malzberg|5632360|Barry Malzberg|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] about the advantages and pitfalls of writing science fiction in the first person. This does make some sense as a theme, though: the stories are all more personal, emotional, and introspective than a typical sci-fi short story, which gave the collection an interesting flavor. I also found myself paying more attention to the authorial intent of using the first-person voice due to the topic of the collection, when I would normally just take it for granted and go along for the ride.
As with most anthologies, the quality is mixed. There are a few stories I didn't really enjoy (The Mathenauts, Positively the Last Pact With -- The Devil?), and a few outstanding enough that I'll remember them long afterwards (most notably Love is the Plan, the Plan is Death). There are few single-idea gimmicky stories (Closed Sicilian, Prototaph), and a few that are more mood pieces than anything else (The Secret Place, Fear Hound). There are typical stories from the prolific masters (Transit of Earth by [a:Arthur C. Clarke|7779|Arthur C. Clarke|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1193516744p2/7779.jpg], The Red Queen's Race by [a:Isaac Asimov|16667|Isaac Asimov|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1286862859p2/16667.jpg]) and others that gave me new insight or perspective on authors (The Pi Man by [a:Alfred Bester|10992|Alfred Bester|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1224111385p2/10992.jpg], How Can We Sink When We Can Fly by [a:Alexei Panshin|26068|Alexei Panshin|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg]). There were surprisingly few short stories with a twist ending (only End As a World), and one that left me bewildered (Rejoice, Rejoice, We Have No Choice). All together, it was an enjoyable collection of stories that hung together better than a random "best of" compilation, but without being as monotonous as a tightly themed collection.
As with most anthologies, the quality is mixed. There are a few stories I didn't really enjoy (The Mathenauts, Positively the Last Pact With -- The Devil?), and a few outstanding enough that I'll remember them long afterwards (most notably Love is the Plan, the Plan is Death). There are few single-idea gimmicky stories (Closed Sicilian, Prototaph), and a few that are more mood pieces than anything else (The Secret Place, Fear Hound). There are typical stories from the prolific masters (Transit of Earth by [a:Arthur C. Clarke|7779|Arthur C. Clarke|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1193516744p2/7779.jpg], The Red Queen's Race by [a:Isaac Asimov|16667|Isaac Asimov|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1286862859p2/16667.jpg]) and others that gave me new insight or perspective on authors (The Pi Man by [a:Alfred Bester|10992|Alfred Bester|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1224111385p2/10992.jpg], How Can We Sink When We Can Fly by [a:Alexei Panshin|26068|Alexei Panshin|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg]). There were surprisingly few short stories with a twist ending (only End As a World), and one that left me bewildered (Rejoice, Rejoice, We Have No Choice). All together, it was an enjoyable collection of stories that hung together better than a random "best of" compilation, but without being as monotonous as a tightly themed collection.
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