Impact Parameter: And Other Quantum Realities

by Geoffrey A. Landis

Book Overview

Reading more like a news report from the future than contemporary fiction, this collection of short stories combines hard science with rich emotionalism to explore myriad realities. Stories in this... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930846061
• ISBN13: 9781930846067
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Golden Gryphon Press
• Length: 330 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.9" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

One of the best story collections I've read

I've known Geoff for a number of years and was not only surprised by, but thoroughly pleased by, his books, "Crossing Mars," and "Impact Parameter and other Quantum Realities." My one big wish is that Geoff write more, but I know how busy he is with LIFE and other realities.

Depth and Grace

Landis has many personas as a writer. On the one hand, "A Walk in the Sun" is a classic "well made story." On the other, "Snow" is a fey, post-modern sally at our preconceptions about society. His style is elegant and transparent, his characters sympathetic, his plots full of surprises and yet not just conventionally paced genre fiction. If you liked his novel _Mars Crossing_ ( and I did) you'll want to sample this treasure trove of impelling fictions, small and large. It's a special treat in this time when it's so hard to find a volume of short fiction for the loverof the form.

My new favorite author

I think I've just found my new favorite author. Mars Crossing was a page turner and Impact Parameter is like chocolate. You just got to have more. I hope a third book is in the works, because I've just got to have more.

A blend of hard science and strong characterization

Landis' short stories are perfect picks for any who appreciate the short story form and a healthy blend of hard science and strong characterization. Good hard science fiction often lacks for emotional impact: not so these short stories, which blend tales of virtual reality, black holes, and invaders with solid protagonists. From an issue of death on an ocean world to a pioneer mapping three-dimensional space, Impact Parameter & Other Quantum Realities includes many different scenarios.

Excellent hard science-fiction short stories

I was impressed by the author's first novel, MARS CROSSING, so I was very eager to read his collection of short stories, and I found that I was not disappointed. Many of these stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and have won awards. Landis is clearly a "hard" science-fiction writer, in that the science element in his stories is interesting and accurate, but he does not neglect the characters-- the short-short "Snow," for example, is a superb story which views the character with clarity and sympathy. Many stories are about exploration-- "Into the Blue Abyss," for example, is about exploring the oceans of Uranus---- and others are focused on humanity. Two of the stories, "Winter Fire" and "Rorvik's War", look at the future of war, with a focus on the human element.Overall, this book is an excellent collection of hard science-fiction stories. Highly recommended.