Scan barcode
A review by captlychee
Infinite Stars: Dark Frontiers by Bryan Thomas Schmidt
4.0
This is a good anthology for comparing the way SF used to be and the way it is now. The field has changed, and the most significnt change is the increase in female writers. Indeed, female writers who have done an MFA in Creative Writing are coming to dominate the field, shaping the direction it's moving. You could use the stories and authors here to plot a graph of how the field has changed. (Notice I didn't say 'improved'.)
Here's my opinion of the contensts:
IntrToduction - [a:David Weber|10517|David Weber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1227584346p2/10517.jpg]
The Lost Fleet: Shigaki- [a:Jack Campbell|55547|Jack Campbell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1302415236p2/55547.jpg] - Remember when they said you couldn't just set a Western in outer space and call it science ficiton? This doens't hold true for sea stories. If [a:C. S. Forester|23166752|C. S. Forester|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] were alive , he could probably sue. He certainly should.
Wayfarers: A Good Heretic - [a:Becky Chambers|22659598|Becky Chambers|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - SF = YA, forever.
Misfit, AKA "Cosmic Construction Corps" - [a:Robert A Heinlein|23055679|Robert A Heinlein|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
A Thousand worlds: A Beast for Norn (Haviland Tf) - [a:George R.R. Martin|346732|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1649011787p2/346732.jpg]
Skipjack: The Devil in the Details - Susan R. Matthews
Ender's Game: Messenger - [a:Orson Scott Card|589|Orson Scott Card|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1294099952p2/589.jpg] - When will it end?
Lensmen: The Vortex Blaster - [a:E. E. Smith|22537960|E. E. Smith|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - the good old stuff
Confederation: First In - [a:Tanya Huff|1967|Tanya Huff|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207242126p2/1967.jpg]
Frontier ABCS - [a:Seanan Maguire|21653255|Seanan Maguire|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - this woman is indefatigable!
Kangaroo: Fire in the Pocket - Curtis C Chen
Liaden: Dark Secrets - [a:Sharon Lee|57980|Sharon Lee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] & [a:Steve Miller|5829|Steve Miller|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1249575165p2/5829.jpg]
Dream Park: The Lady or the Tiger - [a:Larry Niven|12534|Larry Niven|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596428206p2/12534.jpg] & [a:Steven Barnes|20058|Steven Barnes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1284667688p2/20058.jpg] - a bit of a sequel to the [b:Dream Park|357922|Dream Park (Dream Park, #1)|Larry Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309200983l/357922._SY75_.jpg|1775372] series that doesn't really do it justice. But it's stil Niven and Barnes!
Earthman, Come Home - [a:James Blish|43625|James Blish|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1227585761p2/43625.jpg]
A Special Kind of Morning - [a:Gardner Dozois|12052|Gardner Dozois|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1247758142p2/12052.jpg]
Respect - [a:David Farland|83308|David Farland|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363272708p2/83308.jpg]
Kris Longknife: Boot Recruit - [a:Mike Shepherd|74519|Mike Shepherd|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1266776056p2/74519.jpg]
Northwest Smith: Shambleau - [a:C. L. Moore|22157320|C. L. Moore|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - rightly hailed as the advent of good characterisaton in SF
Polity: The Veteran - [a:Neal Asher|56353|Neal Asher|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207862001p2/56353.jpg]
Grunt: The End of the World Bowling League - Weston Ochre
Fremont's Children: Death, Butterflies and Makers of War - [a:Brenda Cooper|28045|Brenda Cooper|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1350534449p2/28045.jpg] - the title sounds like [a:James Tiptree Jr.|9860453|James Tiptree Jr.|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1425083616p2/9860453.jpg]
Pip and Flinx: Sideshow - [a:Alan Dean Foster|11735|Alan Dean Foster|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207233026p2/11735.jpg]
Diving: Lieutenant Tightass - [a:Kristine Rusch|21030341|Kristine Rusch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Saga of Seven Suns: Feet of Clay - [a:Kevin J Anderson|21608208|Kevin J Anderson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Bolo: The Traitor - David Weber
Rescue Party - [a:Arthur C Clarke|23043939|Arthur C Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Cold Sleep - [a:C J Cherryh|22429594|C J Cherryh|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Okay, I didn't read much past the Niven & barnes, but I'll be revisiting for the Blish and the Clarke. Four stars because it does take examples from the good SF of the past and isn't obsessed with promoting the friends of the editor (except, maybe, the Chambers).
Here's my opinion of the contensts:
IntrToduction - [a:David Weber|10517|David Weber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1227584346p2/10517.jpg]
The Lost Fleet: Shigaki- [a:Jack Campbell|55547|Jack Campbell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1302415236p2/55547.jpg] - Remember when they said you couldn't just set a Western in outer space and call it science ficiton? This doens't hold true for sea stories. If [a:C. S. Forester|23166752|C. S. Forester|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] were alive , he could probably sue. He certainly should.
Wayfarers: A Good Heretic - [a:Becky Chambers|22659598|Becky Chambers|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - SF = YA, forever.
Misfit, AKA "Cosmic Construction Corps" - [a:Robert A Heinlein|23055679|Robert A Heinlein|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
A Thousand worlds: A Beast for Norn (Haviland Tf) - [a:George R.R. Martin|346732|George R.R. Martin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1649011787p2/346732.jpg]
Skipjack: The Devil in the Details - Susan R. Matthews
Ender's Game: Messenger - [a:Orson Scott Card|589|Orson Scott Card|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1294099952p2/589.jpg] - When will it end?
Lensmen: The Vortex Blaster - [a:E. E. Smith|22537960|E. E. Smith|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - the good old stuff
Confederation: First In - [a:Tanya Huff|1967|Tanya Huff|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207242126p2/1967.jpg]
Frontier ABCS - [a:Seanan Maguire|21653255|Seanan Maguire|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - this woman is indefatigable!
Kangaroo: Fire in the Pocket - Curtis C Chen
Liaden: Dark Secrets - [a:Sharon Lee|57980|Sharon Lee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] & [a:Steve Miller|5829|Steve Miller|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1249575165p2/5829.jpg]
Dream Park: The Lady or the Tiger - [a:Larry Niven|12534|Larry Niven|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596428206p2/12534.jpg] & [a:Steven Barnes|20058|Steven Barnes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1284667688p2/20058.jpg] - a bit of a sequel to the [b:Dream Park|357922|Dream Park (Dream Park, #1)|Larry Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309200983l/357922._SY75_.jpg|1775372] series that doesn't really do it justice. But it's stil Niven and Barnes!
Earthman, Come Home - [a:James Blish|43625|James Blish|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1227585761p2/43625.jpg]
A Special Kind of Morning - [a:Gardner Dozois|12052|Gardner Dozois|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1247758142p2/12052.jpg]
Respect - [a:David Farland|83308|David Farland|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1363272708p2/83308.jpg]
Kris Longknife: Boot Recruit - [a:Mike Shepherd|74519|Mike Shepherd|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1266776056p2/74519.jpg]
Northwest Smith: Shambleau - [a:C. L. Moore|22157320|C. L. Moore|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - rightly hailed as the advent of good characterisaton in SF
Polity: The Veteran - [a:Neal Asher|56353|Neal Asher|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207862001p2/56353.jpg]
Grunt: The End of the World Bowling League - Weston Ochre
Fremont's Children: Death, Butterflies and Makers of War - [a:Brenda Cooper|28045|Brenda Cooper|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1350534449p2/28045.jpg] - the title sounds like [a:James Tiptree Jr.|9860453|James Tiptree Jr.|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1425083616p2/9860453.jpg]
Pip and Flinx: Sideshow - [a:Alan Dean Foster|11735|Alan Dean Foster|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207233026p2/11735.jpg]
Diving: Lieutenant Tightass - [a:Kristine Rusch|21030341|Kristine Rusch|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Saga of Seven Suns: Feet of Clay - [a:Kevin J Anderson|21608208|Kevin J Anderson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Bolo: The Traitor - David Weber
Rescue Party - [a:Arthur C Clarke|23043939|Arthur C Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Cold Sleep - [a:C J Cherryh|22429594|C J Cherryh|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
Okay, I didn't read much past the Niven & barnes, but I'll be revisiting for the Blish and the Clarke. Four stars because it does take examples from the good SF of the past and isn't obsessed with promoting the friends of the editor (except, maybe, the Chambers).