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Book Summary InformationAuthor: Constance Ash, Joe Haldeman, Robert Silverberg Contributor: Constance Ash Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 1999-03-01 ISBN: 0451456815 Number of pages: 288 Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews of Not of Woman BornBook Review: Rating: overall "A" -- best original anthology I've seen thi Summary: 4 Stars
Theme anthologies sometimes suffer from too narrow a focus and/or carbon-copy stories. Not this one -- the authors interpreted the theme loosely enough so that I didn't lose interest. Walter Jon Williams takes a killer look at cybernetic family values in "Daddy's World", and Jack McDevitt delivers the most interesting look at gengineering one's progeny since Greg Egan's wonderfully sly "Eugene," in "Dead in the Water." McDevitt's mother-to-be is particularly well-drawn. A+ stories both; look for them on the award ballots next year. "A" stories: Silverberg's 1957 "There Was an Old Woman" is an amazingly fresh look at cloned lives, even 40 years on. Nina Kiriki Hoffman takes a sharp look at future retail clerks in "One Day at Central Convenience Mall." New author Janni Simner cleverly inverts bringing up baby in "Raising Jenny", and Richard Parks takes a close look at cloning's impact on showbiz in "Doppels." Plus "A-" (= flawed but very good) stories by Sage Walker, Susan Palwick, Patricia McKillip, Wm. F Wu, Doyle & Macdonald, and Kara Dalkey. Curiously, the only weak story in the bunch is by the editor. Overall: 2 "A+", 4 "A", 6 "A-", 1 "B+", and 1 "B" story.
The best original anthology I've seen this year. Highly recommended.
Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman
Summary of Not of Woman BornSince the 1970s, many of SF's original theme anthologies have been filled with flimsy toss-offs by the editor's pals. However, there are exceptions. In Not of Woman Born (theme: conscious evolution a.k.a. reproductive technology), editor Constance Ash has collected 13 original stories and one reprint that are strong, well-written, imaginative, highly diverse, and excellent. This is no surprise when you consider the amazing list of contributors, including Patricia A. McKillip, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Jack McDevitt, Robert Silverberg, Debra Doyle and James D. MacDonald, and Walter Jon Williams. --Cynthia Ward
Literature & Fiction Books
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