2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A lot of good stories here, Jan 15 2010
By Learner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Starry Rift (Hardcover)
This sci fi anthology is stronger than most I've read. As with all anthologies, for me there were stories I really liked, some I didn't like, and some I lost interest in after the first several pages. However, overall I found most of the stories engaging, and I was impressed by the skill of the writers.
It's true that a few of the stories give the impression that they were rushed a little to meet the book's deadline, and could have probably used a little more "baking time in the oven."
Sci fi, as portrayed in this anthology, is maturing - interesting plots and ideas are still there, but there is also strong character development and psychological depth.
I am starting to keep an eye out for books edited by Johnathan Strahan. I appreciate that he doesn't seem to go out of his way to find stories where sex, language, or violence overshadow good storytelling.
I found the following stories especially interesting and impressive in their skillfulness: "Ass-Hat Magic Spider" by Scott Westerfeld, "Cheats" by Ann Halam, "Anda's Game" by Cory Doctorow, "Sundiver Day" by Kathleen Ann Goonan, "Lost Continent" by Greg Egan, and "Infestation" by Garth Nix.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, July 27 2008
By TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Starry Rift (Hardcover)
THE STARRY RIFT is truly a collection of stories about today's ideals, dreams, and philosophies. Strahan did an amazing job collecting stories written by modern science fiction masters. The authors write beautifully, uniquely, and intriguingly.
This anthology is masterful in representing different worlds and conceptions of worlds, covering everything from the real world to gaming to dreaming. The exploration of themes in the book cover everything from philosophy to the growing epidemic of obesity, from what is truly important to a person to who is truly important to a person, and from world economics to love.
It is a book that really looks at the human spirit with hope and sees the future as a reality. Each story draws the reader in and makes them a part of the tale. There is a story for virtually every mood and topic one can come up with. Overall, it is a beautiful anthology.
Reviewed by: Christina Tsichlis
5.0 out of 5 stars
A total knockout, Jan 20 2012
By Cara Bernier - Published on Amazon.com
This blows his SFnF anthologies out of the water. There is no deep philosophical or binding message that holds the stories together in any way, but they are each individually enjoyable and have something to say. There were one or two that were sub-par, but at least held my attention. All the rest were fantastic, I couldn't put it down.