Absolute Magnitude: SF Adventures For The 90's

Book Overview

The editors of the science fiction magazine, "Absolute Magnitude", present SF adventure stories for the '90s from C.J. Cherryh, Hal Clement, Barry B. Longyear, Allan Steele, and others. The book features some of the best-known and up-and-coming names in science fiction today.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312863357
• ISBN13: 9780312863357
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.8" x 1.3" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

satisfying... many good stories,,, cool ideas, worlds, and characters...

Just found this collection and enjoyed it immensely. I had given up on short science fiction stories but this collection has brought me back. It's a real art to write a SHORT story that satisfies and these do. Several are long enough to develop a world and characters nicely, such as "The Minds Who Jumped", "Mice", and "Sortie". Several satisfyingly explore, in a short space, cool ideas, such as "Working for Mr. Chicago" and "10:07:24". All are upbeat. As to the difference between science fiction and fantasy, to me it's the satisfying exploration of cool ideas, expressed in a world and characters, that matters. It's all imagination. This collection satisfies!

modern science fiction

Absolute Magnitude is one of the best hard science fiction magazines out there. Here is an anthology of some of their best fiction since 1993 (when the magazine was called Harsh Mistress). These stories will probably appeal only to hard science fiction fans. Others may find some of them too weird. Also, you won't find any fantasy or horror in here - just modern science fiction at its purest form. The anthology includes many Hugo-award winners, such as Terry Bisson and Allan Steele, and noteworthy stories "Sortie" and "The Prize". Generally, if you're new to SF, I wouldn't recommend this book. Some of the stories here have a style that's an acquired taste. Still, this book is a good way to check out what hard science fiction is like today.