Tricia Sullivan. The One That Got Away. (Solaris Rising)
A very strange, surreal, dream-like story – you finish reading it, and think to yourself, as you do after some dreams, just where on Earth did that come from?
Reviewing short SF since 2000
A very strange, surreal, dream-like story – you finish reading it, and think to yourself, as you do after some dreams, just where on Earth did that come from?
Sort of cyberpunk as it might happen now, as opposed to the cyberpunk as we imagined it in the 80s.
You always get some thought-provoking politics with MacLeod, and here he pops in some near-future background to give depth to a story involving an SF writer and an anthologist.
A neat little story which takes a standard SF setting – a spacesuited protagonist outside of his spaceship and facing a risk – but looks at it several generations beyond the usual handling of such stories.
I’m not finding as many di Filippo stories to read as I would like, which is a shame, but it’s nice to be welcomed by an opening paragraph that tells you that your going to get his slightly-gonzo world view
It’s Asimovian in that it could have been one of his stories from the 50s, making it feel a bit out of place in a forward-looking volume published 50 years later.
Ingold takes us back to the ancient city of Tartassos, and explores what their fabled wealth in silver might have been built on, and led to.
Some wizardly goings-on for those of you missing Harry Potter. Admittedly somewhat darker, with adult scenes!
The unnamed protagonist exists in a strange world, the only human, who from time to time is suddenly required to set up a number of empty bars ready to entertain unseen guests.
Three-pager which looks briefly at the potential for virtual reality to be used in the penal system
Liu looks into the not-too-distant-future and the impact of technology on making movies.
A vivid opening image of roiling clouds about a Point Zero, and the story and explanation unfold nicely.
A sequel to ‘Plague Birds’ from Interzone last year.
McDonald takes us to Africa for a clever story in which it appears that the voices of the dead are being raised in objection to corruption in the government
A much longer story from Johnson than we’re used to seeing, and she makes the most of the opportunity.
A neat balance of humanity and renewable energy, and the potential for human and community growth.
Anthropological fiction, with the beliefs of the peoples of Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) forming the crux of the story, specifically Kiid K’iyaas, a mighty golden tree.
A follow-up to a story in the previous volume, and another short, tight drama leaving the reader wondering what happens next.
A gently humorous, cautionary tale to start the attractive anthology from The Technology Review.
Another reflective piece on what the 1960s/1970s ‘space race’ and Apollo missions might have led to in alternate histories, with a pinch of tabloid newspaper sensationalism, as some long buried secrets come to light…
A short-short originally from Nature
An increasingly rare occurrence – a story from Analog in a Year’s Best volume.
A fascinating exploration of where current fascination with online RPG, avatars, MMORPG, cosplay, and augmented reality could lead
Neat post-modern reflection on Mars(es) past(s) and present(s) and other(s). Don’t let me spoil it – have a read of it!
Sensitive story from Liu, looking at the impact on the Singularity, as increasing numbers of humanity opt to be be digitally uploaded, and the effect on those left behind.
A stronger volume than its predecessor, with more stories of a higher standard. Lots of fast-paced action, with a variety of settings, to make for an adrenaline-rush of a read. amazon.co.uk hb | amazon.co.uk kindle
There’s hand to hand combat, deep space combat, and human issues on a micro and macro level, which Taylor for the most part handles well.
An excellent issue, with several top-notch stories, well-balanced across the SFFH spectrum.
An author new to me, and one whose vibe is in tune with my own.
A tender time-travel story, with a daughter seeking to redress the problems caused by the murder of a father she never had.
A touch of ancient magic and noblery from Bowes.
A tense science thriller, with an interesting background – a West/East conflict is underway, but the protagonist is the commander of a Muslim nuclear submarine
Historical crime fiction.
Short, posthumously-published gothic horror.
Another in Rusch’s ‘Diving’ series, in which we find out more about the stealth cloaking technology.