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As an avid consumer of sci-fi and fantasy in all its forms, please allow me to say a few words about my favorite subject.
Tag Archives: classic
Classic Review: Babel-17 by Samuel L. Delany
This compact novel feels way ahead of its time. It has an ambiance in the best tradition of Cordwainer Smith, it reminds me of the modern works of Alastair Reynolds, it explores an ancient idea that was immensely popularized in … Continue reading
Classic review: The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick
What do ogres and Dick’s books have in common? They are like onions: they have several layers, and when you peel one off, another will lie underneath. The layers in Dick’s book can be very different: they may have little … Continue reading
Classic review: City by Clifford Simak
Even after seventy years, City is a divisive work. Some readers may love it, while others won’t care about it too much. I not only fall into the first category, but I unashamedly admit that I look down at people … Continue reading
Flash review: Bears Discover Fire by Terry Bisson
Bears Discover Fire is one of the most decorated science fiction short stories. It has won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and Sturgeon awards, among others, and has been nominated for even more. It is a wonderful bittersweet piece of writing, … Continue reading
Flash review: A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny was a master wordsmith, and Rose is one of his early masterpieces. It is so skillfully written that one doesn’t even notice that it is more akin to a Greek tragedy than to science fiction. And one doesn’t … Continue reading
Flash Review: The Little Black Bag by Cyril M. Kornbluth
This highly amusing and cynical short story hits all the right buttons. It contains a future that may be funny for some and terrifying for others. It has a highly emotional redemption arc. And a crime and punishment element so … Continue reading
Flash review: Scanners Live in Vain by Cordwainer Smith
Before Alastair Reynolds and the Ultras, before the mind-numbing and soul-crushing emptiness of deep space travel, there was Smith and his Scanners. This is one of the first stories that combine Lovecraftian horror with space travel. It uses very vivid … Continue reading
Flash Review: Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon
A few years ago, I got to meet George R. R. Martin at a convention. My “meeting” was absolutely forgettable for him. I was one of hundreds of people queuing to get his autograph. Still, I was one of the … Continue reading
Flash review: A Martian Odyssey by Stanley G. Weinbaum
87 years ago, a remarkably modern short story was published in Weird Stories. Although sometimes overshadowed by the works of Olaf Stapledon, which were published at around the same time frame, this work has been immensely influential to science fiction, … Continue reading
Classic Review: Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks
Many people consider this to be the best book from The Culture series. Many more think it’s the most gut-wrenching book. I am simply amazed at the depth of characters, quality of writing and a story structure that was very … Continue reading