An AI starship with full autonomy and human knowledge is tasked with populating a suitable planet with humanity regardless of how long it may take. I An AI starship with full autonomy and human knowledge is tasked with populating a suitable planet with humanity regardless of how long it may take. I wasn't able to appreciate the AI's mindset. This novelette doesn't have either the problems of Scalzi's recent work that hinders my enjoyment or the parts that I find quite fun. It makes me wonder when and if I'll particularly enjoy anything from Scalzi again. I certainly want to as I prefer liking things to not.
I literally don't understand the purpose of this novelette. As far as I can tell it's about going to just out of Jupiter's reach and returning to EartI literally don't understand the purpose of this novelette. As far as I can tell it's about going to just out of Jupiter's reach and returning to Earth. If it was more than that, then its practical purpose has eluded me. The majority of the story is them meeting up in their biological ships for a week together, which was fine, but the question of "why?" overwhelmed me. If this is an allegory then I don't understand it all. Maybe it has a lot to say, but if it does I'm hard of hearing at the least....more
Humans have found intelligent life in the form of small slug-like people on another planet. The story is told from the perspective of one those slug-lHumans have found intelligent life in the form of small slug-like people on another planet. The story is told from the perspective of one those slug-like persons, who has great ambitions but very little time to accomplish them. There's quite a lot of existential questioning. It's not the typical alien contact story or the usual colonization tale. It's fascinating to see the world from a non-human perspective. If this novelette had more resolution or if it were longer and had accomplished I'd have rated it better. The futility is left ambiguous, similar to the the sole other one I rated decently from this collection. That's probably the main reason why I've rated it as such....more
This novelette is harmful and misguided. It's a hopelessly self-destructive allegory. The conclusion is abhorrent and irresponsible. It's one of the wThis novelette is harmful and misguided. It's a hopelessly self-destructive allegory. The conclusion is abhorrent and irresponsible. It's one of the worst works of short fiction in terms of my personal enjoyment I've ever finished. The story is written well enough, it's simply that I entirely disagree with everything about how it ends and the thought process that led up to it. Usually that wouldn't be an issue, but in this case I found it be unbearably frustrating and upsetting. If I had a physical copy I would've been tempted to throw it. You'll have to read what others have written about it if you want to know more because I'm uninterested in writing anything else about it. This is about as futile as it comes....more
Ace is a janitor on an interstellar passenger ship that experiences considerable time dilation. It's basically the only of its kind that will transporAce is a janitor on an interstellar passenger ship that experiences considerable time dilation. It's basically the only of its kind that will transport people and not exclusively cargo. Those who come aboard rarely are ever seen again and the crew have become entirely detached from time and to a lesser extent being able to relate to people. Ace generally stays apart from everyone, but now's time for her to play detective because a murder has been committed and she gets really into doing so. There's no one else who cares to do so, so why not?
I was surprised that I liked this novelette the most of this collection, but barely not enough to rate it higher. I wouldn't have expected that considering what else she's written, despite its popularity, isn't really my thing. The author that I do like didn't have good showings this time. I may only have this liked this one relatively the most because it's also the only story of this Amazon collection of notable writers that didn't feel futile.
Slow light allows for the duplication of matter over the vast distances of the galaxy, including of people. Thousands of colonies can be started from Slow light allows for the duplication of matter over the vast distances of the galaxy, including of people. Thousands of colonies can be started from a single origin point. The baton race to ensure the eternal existence of humanity has begun. Survival is all that matters, regardless of the cost, or how it must be accomplished, or the living conditions there. Out of desperation eternal recurrence has been achieved, but how meaningful is it?
I have a lot of issues with this novelette, but none of them are major aside from being baffled that a certain decision is endlessly repeated when better options must have existed. It could be that I'm rating it as I am because of the author, but I hope not. I primarily see it as a metaphor and it's not one that I like. As with almost every other story in this collection I can only see the overarching theme as being about futility. Maybe others can see it differently, but I'm unable to. I consider this a fail considering who the authors are.
Society has recently collapsed. It's never stated why, but I didn't mind in this case. Several medical professionals and those with training have estaSociety has recently collapsed. It's never stated why, but I didn't mind in this case. Several medical professionals and those with training have established a fort. Sometimes they go out to help others, but usually others come to them. Kath, the protagonist, helps out and is in a lesbian romance. This seems to be where the ideals of the reformed society began, especially the strictures regarding births. This novelette is the latest story written in this setting, but the earliest set chronologically. I decided to read this before the novels, which is out of publication order, but that wasn't an issue because it's about a side character's life far before anything happens in the novels or the short fiction. Rating: 3.5/5...more
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