A strong anthology for some people...not for me so much
Written: May 11 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Some great stories....
Cons: Too many that didn't really appeal to me
The Bottom Line: A first edition that will make me buy the next one, but not as strong as it could be
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| hist's Full Review: Jonathan Strahan - Eclipse 1: New Science Fiction ... |
Eclipse One is the first in what will probably be an annual anthology of short stories edited by Jonathan Strahan. Already known for some of his Best of anthologies, Strahan decided he wanted to put out an annual anthology book of short stories in the same vein as the old Universe anthologies edited by Terry Carr back in the 70s and 80s. Strahan has assembled a varied collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories that defy any attempt at a theme. Theyre just a collection of supposedly great stories that Strahan had submitted to him. I say supposedly above because, unfortunately, I found the collection rather underwhelming. It will take another edition or two before I discover whether its the difference between my taste and Strahans, or whether the first edition is just an aberration. They were good enough that Im definitely going to give the next edition a try as well.
Strangely enough, I was mostly let down by the authors I was familiar with and pleasantly surprised by many who I wasnt. None of the stories are bad, as this is a group of talented authors that Strahan has collected. Even as Im finding I dont care for a story, I can recognize the skill of the author as the story unfolds. However, too often the story just didnt move me or make me want to care about the characters. Some of the stories are humorous and some are touching, and Im glad I read all of them. But for me, this was rather a weak collection.
My favorite story would have to be The Transformation of Targ by Paul Brandon & Jack Dann. This is a hilarious story about a being of pure evil whose heart just isnt in it anymore. He controls a vast, fantastical empire, but hes starting to feel
sympathetic to his people. Instead of ruthlessly destroying a village, he moves the villagers to a better parcel of land so that they have the money to pay their taxes next year. So when you cant be evil anymore, you go to an evil shrink, right? One who will get to the root of your problem and make you evil again. Unfortunately, that doesnt quite work for the evil overlord Brian. I loved this story, and its a shame that it comes so late in the volume, so it took me a while to get to it. Brandon and Danns tongues are firmly in their cheeks, and the tone is set perfectly at the start as Brian and his sadistic Captain of the Guard are forced to cool their heels in the waiting room and fill out forms. The ending twist is inspired, capping off a wonderful story.
Another favorite was Up the Fire Road by Eileen Gunn, though for reasons that others might not find amusing. This story is about an adventurous couple who get stranded in the wilds of Washington during a rainstorm, and who find themselves rescued by
something. At first they think its a Sasquatch, but then they realize its not. Andrea sees it as a man and Christy (a male) sees it as a woman. They stay out there six weeks, both having affairs with it, and then things get really strange. This story has that extra element that really makes me love it: it uses the Maury Povitch show in a wonderful way at the end of the story. The wife and I are fans of the show, so to see that just made me laugh even harder. Gunn uses it well, but even the first part of the story is interesting, as her characterization skills are very good. Its an enjoyable story, with a little extra for me.
I cant really point to any weak stories in the book, as all of them had at least something to draw me in even if I didnt necessarily care for them at the end. Some of the stories have a lesser tie to either SF or Fantasy than I would like, but generally thats not an issue. Lucius Shepards Larissa Miusov has only a hint of fantasy or SF in it, but its good enough that I didnt mind.
Strahan has managed to obtain stories from some of the current greats. Any collection with Peter S. Beagle, Bruce Sterling, Shepard, and Jeffrey Ford has to be considered a good one. However, Eclipse One has also introduced me to some new authors who I really enjoyed in this volume. They may not be new authors, but theyre new to me. Eileen Gunn, Maureen McHugh, Kathleen Ann Goonan, Paul Brandon & Jack Dann, theyre all authors who I will now look for, as their stories in this anthology were especially good.
Eclipse One is a strong first edition, but I hope that subsequent volumes are more to my taste. Its definitely worth checking out, and heres hoping it lasts at least 17 years, to match the longevity of Strahans inspiration.
Originally published on Curled Up With a Good Book at www.curledup.com. © David Roy, 2008
Stories in this volume
Unique Chicken Goes in Reverse by Andy Duncan
Bad Luck, Trouble, Death, and Vampire Sex by Garth Nix
The Last and Only or Mr. Moscowitz Becomes French by Peter S. Beagle
The Lost Boy: A Reporter at Large by Maureen McHugh
The Drowned Life by Jeffrey Ford
Toother by Terry Dowling
Up the Fire Road by Eileen Gunn
In the Forest of the Queen by Gwyneth Jones
Quartermaster Returns by Ysabeau S. Wilce
Electric Rains by Kathleen Ann Goonan
She-creatures by Margo Lanagan
The Transformation of Targ by Paul Brandon & Jack Dann
Mrs. Zenos Paradox by Ellen Klages
The Lustration by Bruce Sterling
Larissa Miusov by Lucius Shepard
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: David Roy
Location: Vancouver, BC
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