Unconventional Speculative Fiction!
356100
Very often in writing classes, students are challenged to create elevator pitches, challenging them to summarize the premise of a story in one or two sentences. When it comes to Philip Jose Farmer, good luck with that. It was a struggle even for me and I consider myself well practiced at it.

The Classic Philip Jos&eacute; Farmer, 1952-1964 is my first exposure to Farmers work and if nothing else, it has instilled a respect for his unorthodox approach to storytelling. There is little one could call conventional about Farmers style and imagination. His worlds are replete with bizarre aliens and even more peculiar humans.

In the first of two anthologies published by Crown Classics, we are presented with three short stories and three novellas, albeit the final story could easily be classified as flash fiction.

In Sail On! Sail On!, we are given a glimpse into an alternate history of Columbuss expedition across the Atlantic wherein a bibulous monk uses a mysterious device that sends ship to shore communications through the intervention of angels. When his messages are disrupted by signals from the moon, might it spell danger for their voyage?

An apathetic, fragile young man and his doting mother are the only survivors of a crashed ship. While exploring their alien surroundings, the boy is taken captive by an alien who becomes his surrogate Mother" and protector.

In The God Business, a former college professor invents a libation called the Brew that liberates people from all inhibitions, elevating himself to godhood in the process. When two investigators are sent in to gather intelligence where military incursions previously failed, they find a strange destiny awaits.

The Alley Man claims to be last of the Neanderthals. Living in a trailer beside a garbage dump, he accepts payment from a local research scientist to allow her to study him in his daily routineuntil a strange attraction overcomes her.

My Sisters Brother tests the prejudices of the sole survivor of a Mars expedition when he stumbles across an attractive alien with a surprising sexuality.

A biologist provides a guided tour of a zoo that recreates specimens from various extinct species, including one that is considered The King of Beasts.

In Mother and My Sisters Brother particularly, I found Farmers detailed descriptions of the aliens and their respective biologies remarkable. The God Business was my favorite of the collection. I look forward to volume two and then moving onto Farmer's acclaimed Riverworld series.
2868959
Lord's novel is the perfect blend of science fiction and fantasy containing a futuristic twist which readers will find to be entirely mind-blowing. It's out of the ordinary, yet works. Lord's writing keeps one pushing on to flip the pages to find out what could happen next. It really makes one think if a far-fetched situation portrayed in the author's book could really happen. Completely bizarre, yet entertaining!
1242333
I was completely inspired and thrilled by "Ancient, Ancient" a short story collection by Kiini Ibura Salaam that covers science-fiction, fantasy and horror in the most unique ways. Her storytelling is original, organic and mesmerizing. The opening story, "Desire" is like magical poetry, telling the fable of a woman dried out by life and what happens when she is caught in a conflict between deities.
 I loved the stories (the first is "Of Wings, Nectar & Ancestors") involving the aliens (whose language was body movement) that gather human nectar and transform the human at the same time.
 "Bio-Anger"  was raw science-fiction and written in a style that is so unique its almost another language.
 I was sad when the last story ended. I didn't want to leave the multi-faceted universe spun from Salaam's fantastic and exceptional imagination. You have to read this book!
3074950
It's very, very odd; very, very imaginative and until this edition returned it to print, it was very, very hard-to-find.

Arthur Byron Cover's AUTUMN ANGELS is set in an Earth of the far, far future where, in the wake of some crisis that nearly wiped out humankind, the survivors were granted godlike powers by an alien race called the "bems."  Through a lack of imagination (or possibly through the Machiavellian machinations of the Other Fat Man; see below), most of the residents have taken on archetypal identities culled from popular fiction.  You might recognize some of them... for example, the fat man in his white suit seems reminiscent of a certain character played by Sydney Greenstreet in THE MALTESE FALCON; the lawyer has a loathing of pigs and a sword cane, just like Theodore Marley Brooks, better known as "Ham" from the Doc Savage novels; and the other fat man and his witty leg man could have stepped out of one of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe stories.

There are some wonderful literary games and joyful riffs on these pop archetypes... and there are wonderfully bizarre and imaginative journeys.  You'll meet the Crawling Bird, the Cigar-Smoking Frogs, the green-furry ball creatures of the dullest planet in the universe, and the fish-with-legs who merely long to dance the night away.

It's all nailed together -- just barely -- by the story of the unlikely alliance of the lawyer, the fat man and the demon as they desperately attempt to rediscover Depression -- a state of mind long banished from the minds of godlike men, and one which the triumvirate believes is vital if the race is to ever rediscover a sense of purpose.

The book is filled with whimsical inventiveness and it frequently smash-cuts between phantastical fancies and more deeply thought, deeply felt moments.  It's a wild trip, if one that has its flaws.  (An artifact of the early '70s, it's filled with very peculiar little jokes and moments that must have seemed much more logical to a deeply stoned reader and/or writer.)  But nonetheless, its mix of philosophy, fantasy and just plain fun makes it a natural fit for fans of books like GOOD OMENS (by Gaiman & Pratchett) and devotees of Douglas Adams' HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY books.  (Its literary fun-'n'-games should also appeal to Philip Jose Farmer readers and fans of Alan Moore's LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN.)

The book has two "kind of" sequels by Arthur Byron Cover -- THE PLATYPUS OF DOOM & OTHER NIHILISTS (a collection of 4 novellas set in the same far future of AUTUMN ANGELS); and a more directly connected sequel, the truly excellent and deeply haunting AN EAST WIND COMING, which presents a darker vision of the world of godlike men: a reincarnation of Jack the Ripper stalks the Golden City, adding to a growing sense of malaise and despair, while the consulting detective slowly stirs from his torpor...
523650
An intricately wrought fiction, there were so many things I loved about this book. If you read the other reviews, you'll know that the structure of this book is unusual, and that the book gestures toward several genres, without adhering strictly to any of them. I don't want to ruin the surprise, however, so if you haven't read another review, stop now and read the book instead.

Here are a few reasons why:
- This book is genre-bending in fun and surprising ways, weaving tropes from a variety of types of fiction without rigidly adhering to their rules. It's an adventurous exploration of what it means to be a fantasy, sci-fi, spy, coming of age, etc. novel.
- The book explores a number of science fiction/fantasy narrative structures in fun and unusual ways, but relies primarily on quantum theory.
- The narrative voice of the main character is quirky. Jane is interested in everything. She's self-confident and decisive and fun to read about.

There are aspects of the book which are repetitive, but they are so to allow the unearthing of new information, and those discoveries are important for the development of the main character, whose peripatetic voyage of self-discovery unfolds across the different dimensions of the story. This is a book which stretches the boundaries of its own genre, so don't pick it up expecting a traditional narrative arc. But if you are willing to enjoy the details and revel in the playful exploration of possibility, you may find that you enjoy Jane's unlimited journey very much.
1136891
No Hope for Gomez! might have been just sheer chance, but after two books in a row I think I have officially become a Graham Parke's fan.
This is a different kind of book, though. Not a novel, which is what I usually read. The book is a collection of short stories and its diversity is quite wide: some of them make you laugh out loud, some of them seem to be an exact reflection of what we think but don't dare to say out loud, some of them are sci-fi and some of them emotional.
My top sories were: Favourite White Bones (what a great ending!), Sunday Brunch ( Just brilliant), What I figured out so far (i would like to reply, 'me too'), Discontinued, It's her birthday after all (I do confess to liking it!), Dear Damian (no comments needed).
I loved the fact that you could read the author's comments after some of the stories. In fact, there is one particular story -Unspent Time- in which I enjoyed the author's comment more than the story itself!
3756810
This is such a great and unusual book! Well written and unique among the genre. I would recommend it for any steampunk-loving, YA-book-reading, Frankenstein-adoring or overall inquiring minds that you know!
3675105
When she says "speculative" fiction, Tara really means it. She has some very interesting and thought-provoking speculations on future (and past and fictional) tech and society in this anthology. The fun thing is that she explains how she developed the stories in the notes after each story. That's very helpful for aspiring writers such as myself.

While my favorite stories are very short, Ghosts on  Red Strings and The Best of All Possible Worlds, I would love to see some of the worlds she creates expanded into full length novels.

This anthology is great for filling the little reading gaps you might have during your day. Buy it! Read it! Review it!

(When you review a book, it really helps out the author reach more readers. So, especially if you like a book, be sure to come back and review it!)
3671570
Another post-apocalyptic tale of survivors re-inventing their world.  Ho hum, right?  NO!

This is a very different set of stories with a very unusual cast of characters.  And it is, perhaps, time that someone gave young people (babies through 12-year olds) credit for intelligence, moral vision, and the ability to plan and carry out the plans they have made.  It is a worn-out truism that the future depends on the abilities and will of the young, but Cramer here does a lot more than pay lip service to that pious thought.

In any case, Cramer populates his vision with credible and most likeable (for the most part) youth.  Each novel is exciting and nail bitingly intense.  Each arrives at a reasoned and reasonable conclusion.  Unlike so many series creators, Cramer does not leave his readers hanging at the end of each part of the series.  Readers eagerly look for the next book here, not because they are looking for answers to all the many questions the author has left hanging in the previous volume, but because the reader has become so involved in the lives of the characters that he or she wants to know what will happen to them next.

While each volume is self-contained, there is also a clear progression here from book to book.  While the first book concerns a limited cast of characters on an isolated island,  successive volumes have larger casts and bigger concerns.  One reviewer complained of this movement, calling it a growing fragmentation.  I disagree completely.  On a physical level the setting grows from the confines of the island to the expanse of the surrounding country as a whole.  On the level of plot the subject matter grows from the survival of a relatively small group of families  to that of the entire still-living population.  In other words, the characters the reader has come to care about continue to grow up.  As they do, they come to accept ever larger tasks and ever-growing moral responsibility--a fact I find very hard to object to.

I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy.  No matter how much I enjoy specific works, I very rarely give them 5 stars.  There is usually still too much of a gap between what these books attempt and what truly enduring literature achieves.  I don't claim that The Toucan Trilogy is great literature, but I do think it a measurable step beyond the majority of even successful sci/fi.
1086185
I thought the concept of this book sounded really interesting and unique. The merging of fantasy world and real world gave it quite a nice little enticing edge to it. I thought the characters were very well written and layered in such a way that really brought them to life.

This was not a light and fluffy tale. Yes there was humor and fun, but also a lot of darkness. I thought the characters teetered on the edge of that darkness very well. Definitely kept me plowing through and anxiously waiting to see where this wild ride went.

*Hint: It went to very cool places!*

 I really liked this strange tale.

Also, I laugh every time I see the name Paddlelump Stonemonger! I just can't help it!
4891177
I expected the usual science fiction set up, dystopian this and apocalyptic that... but what I got was a strangely foreign and alien experience that come out of ideas I hadn't yet read in science fiction. Well done! Amazing read!
3693204
I didn't know what to expect from "Metropolitan" but within one pages, this science fiction novel grabbed me and I had a tough time putting it down. That's a good sign for a book! The story centers around Aiah, who is a bureaucratic low-level functionary working for the energy distribution system. The energy source is "plasm", which is a almost-mythical source of psychic and physical energy that is stored in the destroyed layers of mass sitting under a dystopic city. It can be tapped and used as energy for anything--as well as a healing source, and a tonic. Misused, mishandled and you end up as the book begins, with a woman, a "diver" who is immolated when she apparently taps a huge source of plasm, as yet undiscovered by the authorities.

Aiah is an interesting character. She has some similarities to Shira Shipman of Marge Piercy's Shira Shipman in He, She and It --which this novel reminds me of, quite strongly. The underclass Barkazil and their conflict with the paler "Jaspeeri" is of course familiar, as are Aiah's struggles to afford an apartment when her boyfriend takes off for a distant job and somehow doesn't understand that his contribution to the rent was all that was keeping them from sinking into bankruptcy. I was impressed with the way the author has created a future dystopia with pieces of our own miseries.

I have only read one book in the series, and do not know if the author can keep the same level of excellence, but this is certainly a fine science fiction novel on its own and if you like dystopian science fiction, you may enjoy this as much as I did.
4238792
This is arguably one of the best books I have ever read. I was honestly a little peeved when i found out that this book was going to be the focus of D Wolfin's time, and not End Online, but I am so glad it was! Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy reading End Online, but this is a completely different level. If you like Brandon Sanderson or Jim Butcher you will enjoy this book. To be fair, it isn't perfectly edited, but honestly that doesn't matter that much to me (as you can probably tell by my horrendous grammatically incorrect review). However, the story is rich and engaging with an original way of looking at virtual reality that lends the concept a  weight that hasn't really existed in the genre before. A great mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and steampunk. Thanks Wolfin for an amazing book!
2057633
Very witty and interesting. Very surreal so expect to be challenged as well! A fine addition to the sci fi/ horror genre.
The book comes with heaps of appendices and extracts at the end as well which I loved, it was like when you buy a dvd and you get added extras.
Well worth a read!!
2949480
Ms. Black has written a compelling, sublime and imaginative work of literature. I became completely immersed in the characters and their stories, and it was not possible to tell what was going to happen next much as I tried to piece it together in advance. So unformulaic and creative, especially unusual within this genre - of which I am not even positive how to categorize it - its really one of a kind and Ms. Black has broken new ground in the sci-fi, goth, epic, vampire, otherworldly, erotica, thriller, fiction areas! Get it, read it - you won't be able to put it down!
834615
Hinck breaks fresh ground in faith-based fantasy, seamlessly incorporating an ordinary woman-next-door into an extraordinary world where she must perform supernatural deeds in order to save a people she's never met. There are no royal bloodlines involved, no thrones to win, and no quest for a talisman. With only an unlikely set of allies and a hodge-podge of archaic and technological resources to aide her, the heroine must truly trust the One to have any hope of victory against overwhelming odds. Hinck's world-building is superb as we meet ethereal Singers and mind-bending Rhusicans, among an array of imaginative new people groups. Highly recommended for any reader who loves a good adventure tale, regardless if fantasy is their genre of choice. There is plenty here for any fiction-lover to relate to, as the storyline inspires the reader to see how an extroardinary God can work wonders through an ordinary person. In our everyday lives, we often encounter situations that place us into "another world," so to speak. Hinck's tale ministers comfort and encouragement to anyone moving into an unfamiliar and challenging place in their life.
3540554
Millhauser's stories are always whimsical and slightly off, eccentric, speculative treasures.  Though not known a genre author, he would easily be accepted in the realm of speculative fiction.  This collection is equal, if not better to his previous works, with such thoroughly enjoyable, sometimes plot-less non-fiction seeming jewels such as the opening, "cartoon," "Cat 'N Mouse," about a fictional cat and mouse chase who both have melancholic regrets about the development of their relationship and character, "In the Reign of Harad IV" about a literal minimalist, and "The Other Town," an "article" about a town whose every crevice is replicated in another town.

All in all, an excellent, fun and emotionally satisfying read.