From Publishers Weekly
While generally sound, this collection is badly in need of a trimming. It is hard to see, for example, why Dozois thought to include Geoffrey A. Landis's uninspired throwback to the time when manned lunar landings were still the stuff of science fiction. And Dozois's breathless introductions to these 28 stories are annoying distractions. Still, there is more than enough material here with real merit. Outstanding are Nancy Kress's story about children genetically altered to require no sleep and Connie Willis's chillingly restrained tale of an ancient evil haunting the rubble-strewn streets of World War II London. Gregory Benford finds a new world at the intersection of particle physics and Eastern mysticism. Unsurprisingly, computers appear frequently in these pages but, in what may be a telling example of the late Isaac Asimov's benign influence, they pose no threat to humans--none, that is, beyond their ability to capture our sympathy, as they do in Chris Beckett's tale of an Italian macchina , or robot, and our love, as illustrated by Mark L. Van Name and Pat Murphy's customized Home Information and Appliance Network.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
From Library Journal
This collection of 28 stories by sf's cream of the crop testifies to the healthy state of the genre. From William Gibson's future look at the homeless ("Skinner's Room") to Kristine Kathryn Rusch's tribute to Civil War photographer Mathew Brady ("The Gallery of His Dream"), Dozois's choices exhibit the varied interests of their authors. Including an informative summary of sf publishing in 1991 and an appendix of recommended reading, this volume is a good choice for libraries interested in keeping abreast of sf short fiction.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
