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5.0 out of 5 stars
A treasure for all Martin fans, Feb 22 2004
These stories are by far the greatest short fantasy/scifi fiction I have ever read. Martin puts Bradbury to shame in this spectacular collection. Each character is well defined, living in worlds lightyears away from our own...but at the same time, very similar. My favorites were "Override" and "Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels", and "The Exit to San Breta". "A Song for Lya", probably the featured story of this novel, was, in my opinion, the most poorly written. But at the same time, it was the most powerful. It was one of those stories (as with all in this collection) that someone could write hundreds of pages trying to explain, and never get it right. But in less than fifty pages, Martin captured one of the most elusive ideas that we all have in our minds, and all understand to some degree, and put it into a very touchable setting, so we can examine it closely. Truly, these stories are each a masterpiece. Martin is an author that has never once yet let me down on anything he has written.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
His best work, Sep 4 2003
Martin, while best known for the sword-and-sorcery epic Song of Ice and Fire, should not be overlooked in the science-fiction and short story genres. A Song for Lya contains, in my opinion, his best two works to date. With Morning Comes Mistfall is a marvel of modern literature. While it's a simple story on the surface, deep symbolism conveys breathtaking views of contemporary society. Read more about this at www.tenorposaune.com, under the Rants section. The Second Kind of Loneliness is an introspective piece dealing with the human psyche and how it reacts to extreme pressures. Once again, Martin's powerful writing brings readers to a new understanding of themselves and those around them. The other eight stories in this collection also live up to Martin's well-deserved reputation. I highly recommend this book, even above his higher-profile output.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Provocative Fiction From A Short Story Master, Aug 2 2003
A fine collection of early (1971 - 1974) fiction from a much underrated master of the short story. Although George R.R. Martin has attained a great degree of success as a novelist, his most memorable work has been in the short story/novella format. A SONG FOR LYA was the author's very first book, published initially in February of 1976 in an Avon paperback edition, and while it may not be his finest collection, the stories presented here have the invigorating freshness and energy of a dazzlingly talented then-young writer first making his mark in the world. The most notable of the stories, "A Song For Lya" arguably still ranks as Martin's finest work. "Lya" is a beautifully sad meditation on love and loss, telling a moving tale of a young, vital woman who is willingly absorbed into The Greeshka, a strange collective "religion" that ultimately sucks the individuality out of those who choose to join it. It deservedly won the Hugo Award as best novella of 1973. "With Morning Comes Mistfall" is an equally powerful story, a melancholic examination of what happens when the cold pursuit of knowledge ultimately leads to the destruction of an important, beautiful myth. Other stories include: "Override", in which animated corpses are used as cheap labor in a mining colony, "Dark, Dark Were The Tunnels", a claustrophobic horror tale about a devolved worm-like man who makes disastrous contact with humans exploring his deep underground home turf, and "The Second Kind of Loneliness", a Poe-like tale of isolation, loneliness and madness in a remote space outpost. This is a nice, oversized paperback repackaging of one of George R.R. Martin's best short story collections. The simple fact that it's the only such collection currently available by this fine writer makes it an absolute must-buy.
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