- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 5 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312263260
- ISBN-13: 978-0312263263
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.7 x 3.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 726 g
- Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,282,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
In his preface to this collection of 17 stories and novellas, all published between 1950 and 1998, Gardner Dozois points out that the notion of the far future could not exist without the concept of deep time; that is, this planet's history stretches back billions of years. His groundwork prepares the reader for the vast scale of the fiction that follows.
The best stories combine unabashedly science-fictional wonders with intimate characterization and clear story lines. Cordwainer Smith's "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard"--set on an Earth ruled by the mysterious Lords of the Instrumentality and populated by true men, hominids, and homunculi--is the story of two people who climb a ruined causeway to the clouds where the Abba-dingo, an ancient computer, will foretell their future. It reads like a lucid dream: strange, compelling, and beautiful. Unfortunately, it's followed in short order by "Bumberboom," nominally far-future SF but really a comic fantasy unlikely to be enjoyed by the same readers who appreciate Smith's piece. Michael Moorcock, in "Pale Roses," shows how it should be done, combining fantasy motifs with science-fictional sensibilities in a wickedly playful, psychologically dark, and cliché-mocking story of terminal ennui set in his Dancers at the End of Time milieu. Several of the later stories, particularly those written in the '90s by Robert Reed, Alexander Jablokov, and Paul McAuley, strive for transcendence but miss by a whisker. The anthology closes with a satisfyingly circular time-and-universe-spanning epic, Ian McDonald's "In the Days of Solomon Gursky," which manages brilliantly to give the reader a wonder-filled roller-coaster ride, yet end on a human note. --Luc Duplessis
From Booklist
Editor Dozois' latest theme anthology presents 17 stories, many of them classics, set in a future so far from now that memories of today's humans have been lost by our descendants. The contents' original publication dates range from 1950 for Jack Vance's "Guyal of Sfere" to 1998 for Ian McDonald's "The Days of Solomon Gursky." Vance isn't the only writer represented who treds the boundary between fantasy and sf, for stories by Michael Moorcock, Avram Davidson, and Cordwainer Smith are similarly mixed. Gene Wolfe, Keith Roberts, and James Tiptree Jr. are other old hands on hand, while Paul J. McAuley, Alexander Jabolokov, and Robert Reed stand out among the more newly come contributors. Special mention must go to Poul Anderson's "Genesis," the basis of his new novel Genesis. For Dozois, it is another anthology, another feather for his cap. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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First Sentence
Guyal of Sfere had been born one apart from his fellows and early proved vexation for his sire. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
Guyal of Sfere had been born one apart from his fellows and early proved vexation for his sire. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very Difficult Reading: Not Worth the Effort,
By A Customer
Ce commentaire est de: The Furthest Horizon: SF Adventures to the Far Future (Paperback)
Though there are a few gems in this collection, the majority of stories here are difficult to read at best, incomprehensible at worst. Even stories by writers like Joe Haldeman, most of whose stories and novels are clearly written and easily understood, are overly dense and don't "flow" in the least. Just as an example, the first page of the first story (by Jack Vance) in this collection starts like this: "Guyal of Sfere had been born one apart from his fellows and early proved vexation for his sire. Normal in outward configuration, there existed within his mind a void which ached for nourishment." And most of the stories that follow are written in a similar style that reminds of some of the worst writing in the sword-n-scorcery fantasy genre, which I despise. However, I did enjoy the stories by Cordwainer Smith, Frederick Pohl, and Ian McDonald. But, the rest of the stories were really not at all worth the effort. Even after rereading several passages in order to comprehend the overly wordy material, the story lines of most of these were just pointless. And some, like Coranda by Keith Roberts, aren't science fiction at all. Coranda is clearly an example of fantasy, with its pretentious character names and *complete lack* of science. I hate to blame editor Dozois here. I really enjoy reading the magazine he edits, Asimov's, every month, so I do think he usually has good taste in material. But I would think there are better "far future" stories in existence than these. SF writers I love most: Heinlein, Philip Dick, Joe Haldeman (his story in this book is arguably his worst ever), and David Gerrold. All of these authors write (usually) in a straight-forward, easily understood style. It's the stories (and characters) themselves that matter, not pretentious, showoffy, purple prose. This collection, for whatever reason, is just the opposite. Or maybe I'm just a total idiot.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading; don't get too excited, though,
By P CASON (Birmingham) - See all my reviews
Ce commentaire est de: The Furthest Horizon: SF Adventures to the Far Future (Paperback)
Of the 17 stories, I would say most are average. There are a couple of dogs and a few gems. I thought Reed, McDonald, Anderson were excellent. Strong finish, otherwise pretty average, but worth reading.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Dozois' Fault,
By
Ce commentaire est de: The Furthest Horizon: SF Adventures to the Far Future (Paperback)
With the exception of Gene Wolfe's The Map, the best these stories can do is mediocre. Dozois, I'm certain, did an excellent job picking out these stories, and that the fault lies with the authors themselves.
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