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sonshinelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Since this is a collection of short stories, I'll make a quick note on each one.
Ark by Roth - Probably my favorite of the collection. Enjoyed the story and the characters.
Summer Frost by Crouch - I do enjoy explorations of AI becoming sentient. This was an interesting short story focused on that. I feel rather meh about it, though.
Emergency Skin by Jemisin - This one might tie for favorite. I particularly enjoyed the narrative style.
You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Towles - I did not care for this one at all.
The Last Conversation by Tremblay - I guessed where this was going from the beginning, but it's told in an interesting way.
Randomize by Weir - This one just didn't seem to fit in the collection. It was mildly interesting, though.
Ark by Roth - Probably my favorite of the collection. Enjoyed the story and the characters.
Summer Frost by Crouch - I do enjoy explorations of AI becoming sentient. This was an interesting short story focused on that. I feel rather meh about it, though.
Emergency Skin by Jemisin - This one might tie for favorite. I particularly enjoyed the narrative style.
You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Towles - I did not care for this one at all.
The Last Conversation by Tremblay - I guessed where this was going from the beginning, but it's told in an interesting way.
Randomize by Weir - This one just didn't seem to fit in the collection. It was mildly interesting, though.
kayrayp's review
3.0
Ark **
Summer Frost ***
Emergency Skin ****
You Have Arrived ***
Last Conversation ****
Randomize **
Summer Frost ***
Emergency Skin ****
You Have Arrived ***
Last Conversation ****
Randomize **
demandabanana's review
4.0
6 stories curated by Blake Crouch. Short stories are probably the trickiest to write. Some were more successful than others. In order that I liked them:
Emergency Skin, N.K. Jemisin: It's a nearly perfect short story. The character arcs are so good, the political background so on the nose, the use of science effective even for me, a scientist. I was totally taken in. 4 stars
You Have Arrived at Your Destination, Amor Towles: I would not have expected the author of A Gentleman in Moscow to write futuristic fiction, but he used his mastery of understanding people to write an incredible story about why we are who we are. 4 stars
The Last Conversation, Paul Tremblay. Ultimately predictable, but the writing and structure is terrific. 3.5 stars
Ark, Veronica Roth: I was all in until the end. It needed more time to truly understand the main character. The challenge of writing a short story. 3 stars
Summer Frost, Blake Crouch: It’s hard to write an AI story better than Ex Machina. This one seems like a tribute, not original enough. It’s hard to build a story around a being with complete control that doesn’t end like all the others. 2.5 stars
Randomize, Andy Weir: I usually don’t mind how technical Andy Weir is, but this one really only developed the tech, not the characters. It wrapped up, though, and he does love smart women. 2 stars
Emergency Skin, N.K. Jemisin: It's a nearly perfect short story. The character arcs are so good, the political background so on the nose, the use of science effective even for me, a scientist. I was totally taken in. 4 stars
You Have Arrived at Your Destination, Amor Towles: I would not have expected the author of A Gentleman in Moscow to write futuristic fiction, but he used his mastery of understanding people to write an incredible story about why we are who we are. 4 stars
The Last Conversation, Paul Tremblay. Ultimately predictable, but the writing and structure is terrific. 3.5 stars
Ark, Veronica Roth: I was all in until the end. It needed more time to truly understand the main character. The challenge of writing a short story. 3 stars
Summer Frost, Blake Crouch: It’s hard to write an AI story better than Ex Machina. This one seems like a tribute, not original enough. It’s hard to build a story around a being with complete control that doesn’t end like all the others. 2.5 stars
Randomize, Andy Weir: I usually don’t mind how technical Andy Weir is, but this one really only developed the tech, not the characters. It wrapped up, though, and he does love smart women. 2 stars
kristinarr's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
fast-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
2.5
jenc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
3.0
Collections are always tough to rate because the quality of the parts tend to vary.
Jemisin: 5*
Roth: 4.5*
Crouch: 3.5*
Towels: 3*
Tremblay: The premise is interesting but this one was boring, if Im honest. I wish I saw what others seem to get from his works.
Weir: This was barely a story. Or, rather, this story needs more space. Right when the thing happens, its over.
Jemisin: 5*
Roth: 4.5*
Crouch: 3.5*
Towels: 3*
Tremblay: The premise is interesting but this one was boring, if Im honest. I wish I saw what others seem to get from his works.
Weir: This was barely a story. Or, rather, this story needs more space. Right when the thing happens, its over.
pheonixangel84's review
hopeful
reflective
fast-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? Yes
3.0
bexdubyah's review
3.0
What was all of this?? Weird peeks into the future? Genetic editing to the extreme, AI’s taking over the world, preparing to leave a doomed world behind. Quick short stories, not much character depth, ideas to get your mind going.
tschmidt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
flightyzeus's review against another edition
4.0
To sum up the collection, it feels at home in the Black Mirror universe. Featured some authors I'm already a fan of, and sparked an interest in new ones, which is pretty much what you want from a short story collection such as this.
Ark 4/5
I like books where people have really specific interests (like Orchids) and I can learn random facts I didn't know before. I also like well told, immersive short stories from authors I hadn't read previously, and therefore can add several new items to my TBR pile.
Summer Frost 4/5
Some fast paced, Ex Machina-Westworldy vibes. I really love Blake Crouch's writing (even if some of the tech jargon goes past my realm of understanding). I enjoyed this tale, and felt it worked well within its short story parameters. We still got to know the main character, and despite the fact it felt doomed from the start, the ending still was unexpected and well played out.
Emergency Skin 3.5/5
Reminded me a lot of Sylvain Neuvels Themis Files. It was good, would be interesting to see more of the world(s). I did feel like it took me longer to get to grips with the storyline than previous stories.
You Have Arrived at Your Destination 3/5
I enjoyed the reels of "Daniels" and the premise was compelling enough, but I felt like something was lacking, and I can't put my finger on what.
The Last Conversation 3.5/5
Already a big fan of Paul Tremblay and wasn't disappointed. Full of intrigue, with not a lot given away. I do think I needed a little more revealed to enjoy it fully, but ultimately it was a decent and very suspenseful story. Interesting timing to read of a worldwide pandemic also, ahem..
Randomize 2/5
I think this just wasn't my thing.. Heavy on the quantum computing talk, and I wasn't overly invested in the outcome for any of the characters.
Ark 4/5
I like books where people have really specific interests (like Orchids) and I can learn random facts I didn't know before. I also like well told, immersive short stories from authors I hadn't read previously, and therefore can add several new items to my TBR pile.
Summer Frost 4/5
Some fast paced, Ex Machina-Westworldy vibes. I really love Blake Crouch's writing (even if some of the tech jargon goes past my realm of understanding). I enjoyed this tale, and felt it worked well within its short story parameters. We still got to know the main character, and despite the fact it felt doomed from the start, the ending still was unexpected and well played out.
Emergency Skin 3.5/5
Reminded me a lot of Sylvain Neuvels Themis Files. It was good, would be interesting to see more of the world(s). I did feel like it took me longer to get to grips with the storyline than previous stories.
You Have Arrived at Your Destination 3/5
I enjoyed the reels of "Daniels" and the premise was compelling enough, but I felt like something was lacking, and I can't put my finger on what.
The Last Conversation 3.5/5
Already a big fan of Paul Tremblay and wasn't disappointed. Full of intrigue, with not a lot given away. I do think I needed a little more revealed to enjoy it fully, but ultimately it was a decent and very suspenseful story. Interesting timing to read of a worldwide pandemic also, ahem..
Randomize 2/5
I think this just wasn't my thing.. Heavy on the quantum computing talk, and I wasn't overly invested in the outcome for any of the characters.