A review by graff_fuller
The New Space Opera by Jonathan Strahan, Gardner Dozois

adventurous inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

3.25

01 The New Space Opera (anthology)
Average Rating: 60/18 = 3.33 Stars

My favorite story was by Alastair Reynolds called Minla's Flowers - 4.5 Stars

My least favorite stories were by Gwyneth Jones called Saving Tiamaat AND James Patrick Kelly called Dividing the Sustain. BOTH were rated at 2.5 Stars.

Short stories are using rated lower for me, since I really do not enjoy this medium. I enjoy long form story telling...500 plus pages and long standing series...so that we can live in this world for a LONG time and truly get to know the characters...where they almost become family.

In short stories, you are dropped into a story in the middle and you only get a few scenes. It really is a frustrating experience for me.

The rating will obviously differ with each person. There are not ANY in this anthology that is horrible.

01: Gwyneth Jones: "Saving Tiamaat"
- 2.5 Stars - just wasn't that interested.
02: Ian McDonald: "Verthandi's Ring"
- 3 Stars - a little too loopy for me.
03: Robert Reed: "Hatch"
- 3.5 Stars
04: Paul J. McAuley: "Winning Peace"
- 3 Stars 
05: Greg Egan: "Glory"
- 3.5 Stars 
06: Kage Baker: "Maelstrom"
- 3.5 Stars 
07: Peter F. Hamilton: "Blessed by an Angel"
- 3.5 Stars 
08: Ken MacLeod: "Who's Afraid of Wolf 359?"
- 3.5 Stars 
09: Tony Daniel: "The Valley of the Gardens"
- 3.5 Stars 
10: James Patrick Kelly: "Dividing the Sustain"
- 2.5 Stars 
11: Alastair Reynolds: "Minla's Flowers"
- 4.5 Stars 👆
12: Mary Rosenblum: "Splinters of Glass"
- 3 Stars 
13: Stephen Baxter: "Remembrance"
- 3 Stars 
14: Robert Silverberg: "The Emperor and the Maula"
- 3.5 Stars 
15: Gregory Benford: "The Worm Turns"
- 3 Stars 
16: Walter Jon Williams: "Send Them Flowers"
- 3.5 Stars 
17: Nancy Kress: "Art of War"
- 4 Stars 
18: Dan Simmons: "Muse of Fire"
- 3.5 Stars