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mslaureeslibrary's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
brusboks's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
annemaries_shelves's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.0
This was a really good anthology introduction to a number of sci-fi themes, topics, and stories from a variety of Indigenous perspectives. The anthology collects writings from a variety of Indigenous authors living across what is now known as Canada, the United States (including Afro/Black-Native American), Australia, and New Zealand. It further compiles them into five broad categories: Native Slipstream, Contact, Indigenous Science and Sustainability, Native Apocalypse, and Biskaaiiyang/"Returning to Ourselves."
For me personally, I enjoyed the Contact and Indigenous Science and Sustainability sections the most, but there were (subjective) gems in each section.
I finally got to read some writings from Stephen Graham Jones and Nalo Hopkinson - two authors I've been meaning to read. I was also introduced to a number of new-to-me authors (and one familiar, Eden Robinson) and several novels that I'd be interested in checking out one day.
One of the strengths of the collection was the introduction to each piece - (presumably) the editor wrote a brief description of how this story fits into the section's theme with a bit of literary analysis, and in the case of novel excerpts, a summary of relevant info preceding the excerpt's text.
If you're a fan of sci-fi short stories/anthologies, I highly recommend checking out this collection (or others) - especially if you've been mostly focused (like I was) to mainstream/Western sci-fi.
For me personally, I enjoyed the Contact and Indigenous Science and Sustainability sections the most, but there were (subjective) gems in each section.
I finally got to read some writings from Stephen Graham Jones and Nalo Hopkinson - two authors I've been meaning to read. I was also introduced to a number of new-to-me authors (and one familiar, Eden Robinson) and several novels that I'd be interested in checking out one day.
One of the strengths of the collection was the introduction to each piece - (presumably) the editor wrote a brief description of how this story fits into the section's theme with a bit of literary analysis, and in the case of novel excerpts, a summary of relevant info preceding the excerpt's text.
If you're a fan of sci-fi short stories/anthologies, I highly recommend checking out this collection (or others) - especially if you've been mostly focused (like I was) to mainstream/Western sci-fi.
boomeraang's review against another edition
The language in prefaces is very academic and not very approachable. I couldn't really get into the stories - this book just made me feel tired :/
theblerdnewsletter's review
hopeful
informative
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? N/A
3.0
Maybe I've read too many comic anthologies, or other sci-fi anthologies, but I assumed this book would have stories specifically for this anthology. This way you get a full story, start to finish. Instead you are given excerpts from other Indigenous sci-fi stories/books, which is frustrating because then you should have just let me know so I can go and check those out from the library. The stories are very good, but I think this book lacks refinement. If you're going to make an anthology, be sure to include the full story otherwise your entire book becomes a book of excerpts from other books. If this is the case, wouldn't I just read those other books?
thatpaintedpony's review
3.0
This was sadly a little middle of the road for me. That's not necessarily because of any weakness of the stories themselves, but more the way this was structured. Because more often than not, these actually weren't short stories, but many of them were excerpts from novels. Which I feel like is not quite the same reading experience as a collection of short stories, and not one I'm specifically fond of. Scenes from a novel are meant to be read as part of a novel, where short stories are designed to be read in isolation. On top of that, I felt like many of these stories were over-explained (possibly necessitated by having so many excerpts that needed context). The introduction to each story seemed to me to be telling me why I should like it, how clever or subversive it was, instead of just letting me enjoy the stories for themselves. As a result, this felt like a bit of a slog. Some of the stories were really good, which is why I gaave it a 3 star rating, but on the whole this wasn't the best reading experience. I think I would have preferred to just read the stories on their own, without the length prologues.
jenception's review
4.0
Have been savoring this anthology of Indigenous science fiction or a long time. It has exposed me to a lot of great writers, but Stephen Graham Jones' story about the Lone Ranger actually being an android that Tonto controls is by far my favorite. Subversive and hysterical.
ederwin's review
3.0
Took me ages and I still never finished it. I guess the problem is that it is mostly excerpts from longer works rather than complete stories. Or maybe I've just had too many other things grabbing my attention.
I'm glad to have read the excerpt from "Midnight Robber". I don't think I'll read the rest of that book. The only author here I will likely seek out in future is Sherman Alexie.
I'm glad to have read the excerpt from "Midnight Robber". I don't think I'll read the rest of that book. The only author here I will likely seek out in future is Sherman Alexie.