Product Description
Contains twelve entertaining and intriguing stories about the future as seen through the eyes of such noted science fiction authors as Anne McCaffrey, Bruce Coville, Joe Haldeman, Connie Willis, and others. Reprint. SLJ. C. VY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent!
I read this when I was little and haven't been able to find it for years. Fast shipping and great condition for a used book. Will definetely buy from again.

In the Year 2525 . . . Well, Okay, the Year 2041
Published in 1991, this collection of stories posed each author the question-what would the world be like 50 years from now?Veteran SF and fantasy writer Jane Yolen presents readers with a collection of delightful stories on the advent of her fiftieth year.These range from the introspective, to the hilarious, to the gravely frightening.Ten of these twelve tales are original to this production, and all of them are worth a read.This anthology is directed at a young teen audience, as evidenced by the introduction by the editor.Jane poses the question to her reader, what will the world be like in 50 years, when they are in their sixties.

After a brief and imagination-provoking intro by Jane Yolen of what the future might bring, we get down to the business of the stories themselves.Veteran readers of SF will recognize many of the names: Connie Willis, Nancy Springer, Anne McCaffrey, Patricia McKillip, Joe Haldeman and Susan Shwartz are just a few that leap off the page.The stories all vary in length and tone, but they all address the world of the possible future, and the young people that may very well inhabit it.Perhaps my favorite story is the tale that launches this collection: MUCH ADO ABOUT [CENSORED] by Connie Willis.This delightful little gem launches itself at PC behavior and censorship taken to its extremes when a class decides to read Shakespeare.They keep running into snags: The Drapery Defense League objects to Hamlet because Polonius is stabbed while he's hiding behind a curtain. Or there's the protest of the National Coalition Against Contractions (who feel that the use of contractions is directly responsible for the increase in crime rates). WHO'S GONNA ROCK US HOME? by Nancy Springer is an emotionally laden tale of a young man who rebels against a drugged society and must come to terms with his father.A QUIET ONE by Anne McCaffrey takes place on a horse ranch on a new planet-its not so much a SF story as one of character, and perseverance.Joe Haldeman's IF I HAD THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL is a beautiful little piece about growing up inside an asteroid.OLD GLORY by Bruce Coville is a chilling look at what our country could become and a warning to us today.

There were a few stories that I didn't find as compelling, such as LOSE NOW, PAY LATER by Carol Farley, and MOBY JAMES by Patricia McKillip, but the fact of the matter is, the variety is enough to forgive the lack of interest in a few of these selections.YOU WANT IT WHEN? by Kara Dalkey is a funny story and fine for a light read, but I felt it was a little too lightweight.THE LAST OUT by Resa Nelson and David Alexander Smith is a nostalgic look at baseball, and they write a very touching story of the passing of the old guard.EAR by Jane Yolen, considers the affect of technology on teens perceptions, and how it changes their world to turn it off.FREE DAY by Peg Kerr looks at a bleak society and the touching relationship between a girl and an old woman.BEGGARMAN by Susan Shwartz takes on the theme of being a misfit, and how sometimes being a misfit just means finding the place you belong.There's not a terrible story in the bunch, honestly.

Older readers may find the entire collection a bit young; it is targeted to the young teen readership, after all.While these stories are already over ten years old, they still remain relevant pictures of what the future could be.They are an excellent way of introducing science fiction to the younger generation in easy to swallow bites.This collection is sadly out of print, so it's harder to find, but worth reading.The hardcover volume presents the stories in easy-to-read large type that is comfortable to follow and may soothe young readers daunted by large books of tiny font.I certainly enjoy the easy reading when my eyes get tired.

If you enjoy this collection of SF stories, readers might also check out RACHEL AND THE ANGEL-stories by Robert Westall, or, if you can find it, YOUNG STAR TRAVELERS edited by Isaac Asimov, though I'm afraid it's also out of print.For full novels, I'd recommend THIS TIME OF DARKNESS by H. M. Hoover, DEVIL ON MY BACK by Monica Hughes and THE GIVER by Lois Lowry.

Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad

The best collection of sci-fi stories about the future!
This collection of stories are all from the year 2041.All have different things that the world will be like in 2041.One story is "Ear" which is about the people of 2041 have to wear an amp on their ear to hear. Another is "Whose Gonna Rock Us Home?" which is about a boy who runs away from home with just him and his guitar on the streets full of murderous gangs.So I think this is the best collection of sci-fi stories about the future of the year.Trust me you should add this to your science fiction book collection ... Read more

Product Description
As civil war rages between eastern and western North America--fought with massive laser beams called ""light raids""--young Ariadne works desperately to clear her mother's name from a charge of treason while struggling to survive the deadly onslaught. Reissue. AB. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A wonderful, light-hearted romp
This is one of my favorite books--I re-read it regularly. Part spy novel, part romance, part coming-of-age, and all wrapped in a delightfully light science-fiction package. The future North America is both instantly recognizable and fascinatingly different. But it is the keen and humorous observations of true-to-life characters and situations (Connie Willis's dry wit will be familiar to readers of her other books) that really make this story such a delight to come back to again and again. How many writers would have their heroine be forced to deal with a difficult toddler in the midst of a life-threatening situation? And have the result be both humorous and heart-stopping? This is a very easy read, and well worth it.

Darn Good Fun
It's sort of like a "mystery caper" movie.

ThisSci-Fi world of the near future is ably created and the revealing of the details of this future definitely helps to drive the story.

But, it's the characters, their realtionships and, in particular, the loveable heroine who really make you happy to keep reading.

A light, fun yarn.

Mesmerizing
I loved Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog.Light Raid was no different.I began reading it in the morning on the way to work and found it so entertaining that I simply could not stop reading it.I finished it in one day.

Light Raid is a simple, yet exciting novel about a young woman who finds herself in the middle of a spy ring involving her own family.It takes place in a future where wars are no longer fought on the ground, but rather with laser beams directed by satellites.

Light Raid is a light and fun read, full of mystery, suspense, wonderful characters and even a healthy dose of romance.Willis has a great knack for being able to draw the reader into the story from page one.

Entertaining
This is an interesting story that takes place a few years (centuries?) into the future.Water has become an altogethor different resource, and it has caused the restructuring of North America.The culture is at oncerecognizable, and yet bizarre and takes place in places that don't strikemany people as action centered.Like a chase scene in Victoria, BritishColumbia or references to the "Prince of Saskatchewan"!!! There's family and "Family" dynamics going on, spying, romance,fun and tragedy.Entertaining and interesting

Entertaining
This is an interesting story that takes place a few years (centuries?) into the future.Water has become an altogethor different resource, and it has caused the restructuring of North America.The culture is at oncerecognizable, and yet bizarre and takes place in places that don't strikemany people as action centered.Like a chase scene in Victoria, BritishColumbia or references to the "Prince of Saskatchewan"!!! There's family and "Family" dynamics going on, spying, romance,fun and tragedy.Entertaining and interesting ... Read more

Product Description
From the archives of Analog Science Fiction and Fact and Asimov's Science Fiction magazines comes this thought-provoking anthology of stories by a group of acclaimed, bestselling female writers who have changed the nature of visionary fiction. These 10 classic stories, each featuring well-developed, strong, female characters, have garnered numerous literary awards and span every style and theme in speculative fiction. With an introduction by Connie Willis, this powerful collection includes gems from Anne McCaffrey, Connie Willis, Octavia E. Butler, and Ursula K. LeGuin, among others.Amazon.com Review
A Woman's Liberation seems to promise explicitly feminist stories, but with one exception, that is not what you get. In sociopolitical terms, there isn't much in A Woman's Liberation that would discomfort the white, suburban, American middle class, and that's something that will discomfort many feminists.

The collection may be mainstream in its feminism and, usually, its sociocultural assumptions, but that does not mean the stories are comforting--quite the opposite. In "Inertia," Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon Award winner Nancy Kress takes a disturbing look at a concentration camp for disease sufferers in a repressive, decaying America. In the Nebula and Hugo Award winner "Even the Queen," Connie Willis deftly dissects mother-daughter relationships andsatirically skewers a naive, doctrinaire feminist; this story represents an impressive but little-noted feminist accomplishment: Mrs. Willis placed a story blatantly about menstruation in Asimov's SF. Multi-award-winner Pat Murphy's "Rachel in Love" is guaranteed to disturb readers: when a young woman, Rachel, dies in an accident, her mind is downloaded into a chimpanzee's body, creating a mixed human-ape consciousness, and Rachel is torn between love for a man and love for a chimpanzee. The title story, Ursula K. Le Guin's impressive novella "A Woman's Liberation," is the book's most overtly feminist work; a multilayered, perceptive examination of politics (of several sorts) and freedom, it follows a woman's journey from slavery to liberty across two planets.

The anthology's subtitle, A Choice of Futures by and About Women, describes the contents perfectly: stories written by women about strong, intelligent female lead characters, set in the present and the future, on Earth and on distant planets. A Woman's Liberation is a superior collection of modern SF stories accompanied by an insightful introduction. --Cynthia Ward ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I am not a big fan of the science fiction genre but ----
...I am not a big fan of the science fiction genre. On the other hand, I am a big fan of anything to do with the liberation of women, which is why I requested A WOMAN'S LIBERATION for review.

`A WOMAN'S LIBERATION: A Choice Of Futures By And About Women' is an anthology featuring some of the finest women science fiction writers out there. Ladies, you have done your jobs as writers extremely well. You have hooked yourselves another fan with this anthology. I was captivated with this book from the very first story. I could scarcely put the book down. I couldn't believe it; I was reading science fiction and enjoying it immensely!

A WOMAN'S LIBERATION consists of stories by ten different authors - Nancy Kress, Connie Willis, Sarah Zettel, Pat Murphy, Vonda N. McIntyre, S.N. Dyer, Katherine MacLean, Octavia E. Butler, Anne McCaffrey, and Ursula K. Le Guin. It would be very tough for me to pick a favorite story out of the ten featured in this book; but, if hard pressed, I think it would have to be `Rachel in Love' by Pat Murphy with `Inertia' by Nancy Kress coming in a close second.

Fans of the science fiction genre, this is a must read. For all you readers out there who haven't tried the science fiction genre, this a book that you need to read; I think you will become hooked just as I was!...

enjoyable science fiction short stories
This anthology consists of ten science fiction stories previously published in Asimov or Analog written by women starring a female protagonist.The tales display how female authors have more than just contributed to the genre, but pioneered it while liberating writers to go beyond the limits of the past.Each story is well written as expected from a group of authors like this collection contains.Regardless of your gender, if you enjoy science fiction short stories you will gain much pleasure from much of A WOMAN'S LIBERATION.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
Brings together short stories from Joe Haldeman, Connie Willis, Lois McMaster Bujold, Suzy McKee Charnas and other winners of the Hugo Awards, one of the top prizes for science fiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Series survives the passing of Asimov
This was the first Hugo collection since the death of Isaac Asimov, the series' original editor. With big shoes to fill, Connie Willis does a wonderful job of setting up the short story, novella, and novelette winners for 1989-91.

And the writing is quite good. This is one of my favorite collection of Hugo Winners, as it shows just how much the genre has matured. Stories like "Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson and Ms. Willis' own "The Last of the Winnebagos" show an amazing, heart-wrenching depth. Others, like "Boobs" (Suzy McKee Charnas) and "Enter a Soldier. Later, Enter Another" reveal a fresh sense of humor.

Lois Bujold contributes a detective story to her Miles Vorkosigan series in "The Mountains of Mourning," Mike Resnick adds a pair of stories set in his much-celebrated neo-Kenyan settlement of Kirinyaga, and the alternative-worlds hypothesis of quantum physics is intriguingly explored by both Joe Haldeman ("The Hemingway Hoax") and George Alec Effinger ("Schrodinger's Kitten").

The full contents:

1989
Novella: "The Last of the Winnebagos" by Connie Willis
Novelette: "Schrodinger's Kitten" by George Alec Effinger
Short Story: "Kirinyaga" by Mike Resnick

1990
Novella: "The Mountains of Mourning" by Lois McMaster Bujold
Novelette: "Enter a Soldier. Later: Enter Another" by Robert Silverberg
Short Story: "Boobs" by Suzy McKee Charnas

1991
Novella: "The Hemingway Hoax" by Joe Haldeman
Novelette: "The Manamouki" by Mike Resnick
Short Story: "Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

TERRIFIC TIME TRAVEL TALE...
Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for science fiction, this book, the French text edition of "The Doomsday Book", is a tour de force that is sure to captivate all those who love time travel themes, as well as those who have a deep appreciation for medieval history. The author masterfully melds these two genres, creating a novel that is riveting and highly entertaining.

The year is 2048 A.D., and a young history student named Kivrin is preparing to do an on site study of the turbulent fourteenth century. Her mission has placed two of the University's professors at cross purposes, as the proponent for this study, Mr. Gilchrist, finds himself pitted against Mr. Dunworthy, Kivrin's mentor, who believes that this trip in time is far too dangerous. Mr. Gilchrist, however, is in the position to have the final say on the project.

Kivrin is scheduled to land in the rural English countryside of the fourteenth century some twenty years before the Black Death savages England. Armed with the knowledge of fourteenth century customs, dress, languages, religious practices, and history, Kivrin is raring to go back in time. When she travels back, however, an unforeseen crisis in the present places Kivrin in a potentially deadly situation upon her arrival in the past.

The book alternates between what is happening in the present and what is happening in the past, as those in the present work to unravel the mystery of what went wrong. Meanwhile, Kivrin struggles to overcome the anomalous situations she encounters that run contra to her expectations. Believing herself stranded in the past, Kivrin artfully maneuvers around the precarious situations in which she finds herself, never losing her humanity despite the horror of her situation, given what went wrong.

Steeped in well-researched medieval life, it is the story of Kivrin's sojourn in the past that captures the imagination of the reader. This is a stunning book that is totally gripping. The spellbound reader will definitely keep turning the pages of this wonderful book, which is clearly written by a master storyteller. Bravo! ... Read more

Product Description
At the instigation of her con-artist father, Deza masquerades as a witch who can control the water supply of the desert planet of Mahali, in order to deceive its rulers and become rich, but the deception backfires. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A perfect airline book
Water Witch isn't big literature, but it provides an enjoyable few hours in another universe. Initially, the book gives you the impression that this will be fluffy entertainment, but it delivers much more. You bite into cotton candy and find, say, a lemon meringue pie. Just a *little* more depth than you'd expected.

The story is fairly simple, but it would be easy to spoil the plot; forgive me if I'm circumspect. Basically, Water Witch takes place on a planet, long since settled by humans, where water is rare; only a water witch -- someone who's genetically sensitive to water and can feel its presence -- can control the precious resource. However, of the water witches have died out and the current princess, as you learn in the first few pages, doesn't have very much talent. Despite the short-of-water theme, it's definitely not a Dune knockoff, as the alien planet has several well thought out ecological resources.

The story is told from two viewpoints: Deza, the daughter of a con man, and Radi, who's engaged to the last princess of the Red City. Naturally the whole thing is a setup for a love story, and it doesn't disappoint.

All of the above makes this sound like a very serious novel, but it's a done with a light hand and a sense of humor. The humor of real people rather than silliness or laugh-out-loud escapades.

While the story doesn't have the interwoven zanyness that Willis accomplishes so well in her later work (which always makes me think of Katherine Hepburn movies like Bringing Up Baby), it does show signs of her development. The authors do a fine job of storytelling (sometimes you can tell whose hand was on the keyboard, so to speak, but it's rare), with more complex characters than in at least another one of their collaborations.

I enjoyed this book, and think it'd be a fine accompaniment on a long trip.

Very entertaining, memorable.
I read this book some years ago and enjoyed it. I lost my copy and have been looking for another one ever since. ... Read more

Product Description
From the hilarious post-PMS future in "Even the Queen" to love and quantum physics exposed in "At the Rialto" or the eerie experience of "Death on the Nile", author Connie Willis--winner of a record six Nebula and six Hugo Awards--weaves her magic in five of her best short stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Diversity among five stories, not all aging well
The stories range from superior ("Death on the Nile") to weak ("Close Encounters"), the latter not prompting even a single chuckle. That one and a clever rift on the end of the world had timely references from the 1990s (Bill Clinton and Tonya Harding, anyone?) that didn't help all these years later.

"Death on the Nile" suffers early from some annoying characters before it turns serious and more complex. I kept wondering whether the same idea could have been developed better with some other characterizations, but she's the pro. Given that the other four stories were meant to be funny, perhaps these characters were for levity.

"Even the Queen" has to be one of a kind, or very close to it, with the dominant theme being whether technology that eliminates the female monthly cycle represents progress. Connie Willis isn't exactly Margaret Atwood in her take on women suppressed by the patriarch! I felt Willis as narrator didn't fit so well here.

OK, prospective writers, your assignment is to combine the disparate themes of Hollywood and quantum physics in a short story, preferably humorous. Her result has its moments, perhaps overplaying a few ideas.

A well-done audio version of wonderfully surprising stories
This collection of stories by the ever-surprising Willis includes the Twilight-Zone-ish "Death on the Nile" (with references to Christie's novel of the same name, and Porter's Ship of Fools (movieversion)); a witty explanation of quantum physics by way of a conference ina California hotel; the Awful Truth that aliens really are among us (but Icannot tell you where they are); and the one every woman should hear:"Even the Queen," a story of a post-menstrual society.The lastwas laugh-out-loud funny--and this is dangerous when listening to the tapein your car!The author's voice matches the tone of her writtenwords--matter-of-fact, with a wry twist-- and the stories themselvestranslate well to cassette: you long to look at the endings, BUT YOU CAN'T. I heartily recommend the tape (and don't forget to read her books, too). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

welllll....
Not sure what Asimov has to do with this since the editor is a Shawna McCarthy. A couple worth reading, but overall... I remember thinking - now this is pretty politically incorrect- proof women write boring science fiction. And 20 mediocre science-fiction stories by women writers...Some I don't consider SF, rather more like fantasy. Sidon in the Mirror (a man who copies the personalities of others, saints or sinners), Sorceress in Spite of Herself (you know how you lose thing when you need them most?)almost had me closing the book in boredom. Night of the Fifth Sun (feed the Aztec Sun God)wasn't SF but it was the best up til then. Jarabon (the thief who could handle hyperspace without going insane)was quite a bit better and actually SF. Then it was back down to barely readable Horn of the Elfland (magical note will send you.. you know where- urghh) not-SF. Belling Martha, post-apocalyptic cannibalism, raised it back up with bleak SF.Back to not-SF w/ La Reine Blanche (cycle of expectation and punishment)- good story but not SF. Ancient Document - 2 paragraphs I wouldn't mind seeing a story around. Actually a 'like'. Miles to Go Before I Sleep- post-apocalyptic evil country hick villages vs cities. ehh.
My likes: Le Guin's story: Ascent of the North Face I found ooooh, intriguing... $CALL LINK4(CATHY)reminded me of an OUTER LIMITS episode and the upcoming series CAPRICA.
Then back to not-SF Exorcycle (ie. Ghost Actor and like Ghost Dad, it ain't so good-well to me at least. I am sure someone thought Ghost Dad was good). Stargrazing (poem, nebula as hungry animal).eck. Shadows from a Small Template. Not bad. Ghost in a box. In this case a child's ghost. Tissue material here. a 'like' on this one- worth reading... Packing Up (live-in psychologist for families. Everyone should have one). Blue Heart (you lose that special something when you transfer to an android body - and its not all that interesting). EXAMINATION OF EX-EMPEROR MING (who doesn't fear the merciless Intergalactic Revenue Korps?)was amusing. The Crystal Sunlight, the Bright Air ( religious censorship takes over the universe)was also pretty readable. MISSING was amusing (you'll never notice what's 'missing' until the last few sentences)as wasI almost forgot, Letter from the Clearys is sad and bleak post-apocalypse tale as is, to lesser extent, Heavenly Flowers. The last story is Fire-Caller calling a beaten slave race to their former wholeness and unique talents. ... Read more