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A review by spacedout_reader
Carbide Tipped Pens: Seventeen Tales of Hard Science Fiction by Eric Choi, Ben Bova
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
The star rating is because there are several real gems in here; I wouldn't tell anyone to feel the need to read straight through all the stories though. It's a nice opportunity to pick and choose what will interest you.
Of course, I neglected to follow my own advice.
- The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever: I've read this a few times and cried every time. 5 stars, if anyone out there is reading this, please read that story, trust me.
- A Slow Unfurling of Truth: About needing to be able to verify someone's identity when they can get a new and different body. I like the idea of the premise but the execution didn't captivate me.
- Thunderwell: While the writing could have been a little better, I really liked the story of sacrificing one's career, reputation, and lifestyle to do the right thing.
- The Circle: An enjoyable fable about how a computer works, by the author of the Three-Body Problem series.
- Old Timer's Game: It was okay. I'm not that into baseball.
- The Snows of Yesteryear: Interesting look at climate change, and the potential effects of our attempts to bend the changes to our own goals. A thought provoking look at various interests and incentives surrounding the process of adjusting to a changing environment.
- Skin Deep: Medical tattoos. Horrifying and tense in a great way; personal and corporate themes; a good story about catastrophic escalation of simple mistakes.
- Lady with Fox: wasn't for me.
- Habilis: applies the concept of handedness to the universe. I liked the idea but was underwhelmed.
- The Play's the Thing: About if AI actually got good at writing. I don't think that's likely but I enjoyed the premise and the writing, I wish it had been longer and taken the concept further.
- Every Hill Ends With Sky: wasn't for me.
-She Just Looks That Way: loved the twist, and enjoyed the setting and characters.
- Siren of Titan: Very good, emotional,very sad but I appreciated the themes a lot.
- Year of Inauspicious Stars: Romeo and Juliet in space, and that's about all I have to say about it really.
- Ambiguous Nature: wasn't for me.
- The Mandelbrot Bet: I haven't read much classic pulp sci-fi short stories, but this reminded me of what I know of those.
- Recollection: a great one to end on, restored my faith in humanity. A very sweet story of hope and grace, even in the midst of disappointment.
A final note: I read this on audiobook and I would probably recommend the print version, just because there isn't always enough of a pause or transition between the end of one story and the beginning of the editor's remarks for the next story.
Of course, I neglected to follow my own advice.
- The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever: I've read this a few times and cried every time. 5 stars, if anyone out there is reading this, please read that story, trust me.
- A Slow Unfurling of Truth: About needing to be able to verify someone's identity when they can get a new and different body. I like the idea of the premise but the execution didn't captivate me.
- Thunderwell: While the writing could have been a little better, I really liked the story of sacrificing one's career, reputation, and lifestyle to do the right thing.
- The Circle: An enjoyable fable about how a computer works, by the author of the Three-Body Problem series.
- Old Timer's Game: It was okay. I'm not that into baseball.
- The Snows of Yesteryear: Interesting look at climate change, and the potential effects of our attempts to bend the changes to our own goals. A thought provoking look at various interests and incentives surrounding the process of adjusting to a changing environment.
- Skin Deep: Medical tattoos. Horrifying and tense in a great way; personal and corporate themes; a good story about catastrophic escalation of simple mistakes.
- Lady with Fox: wasn't for me.
- Habilis: applies the concept of handedness to the universe. I liked the idea but was underwhelmed.
- The Play's the Thing: About if AI actually got good at writing. I don't think that's likely but I enjoyed the premise and the writing, I wish it had been longer and taken the concept further.
- Every Hill Ends With Sky: wasn't for me.
-She Just Looks That Way: loved the twist, and enjoyed the setting and characters.
- Siren of Titan: Very good, emotional,
- Year of Inauspicious Stars: Romeo and Juliet in space, and that's about all I have to say about it really.
- Ambiguous Nature: wasn't for me.
- The Mandelbrot Bet: I haven't read much classic pulp sci-fi short stories, but this reminded me of what I know of those.
- Recollection: a great one to end on, restored my faith in humanity. A very sweet story of hope and grace, even in the midst of disappointment.
A final note: I read this on audiobook and I would probably recommend the print version, just because there isn't always enough of a pause or transition between the end of one story and the beginning of the editor's remarks for the next story.