Games of Daze/Infomagic - Games of Daze (Summer 1995) (Disc 1 of 2).iso/x2ftp/books/misc/nebula28.rev

Internet Message Format | 1995-02-15 | 2KB

From: [e-mail] (Steve Brock)
Subject: Review of Nebula Awards 28 (anthology)
Date: 28 Dec 1994 17:38:21 GMT

NEBULA AWARDS 28, edited by James Morrow.  Harcourt Brace &
Company, 525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101, [phone], (800)
235-0256 FAX.  Illustrated, three appendices.  329 pp., $24.95
cloth (0-15-100082-4), $12.95 paper (0-15-600039-3).

                     Reviewed by Steve Brock

     The stories for this annual anthology were either winners of
a 1992 Nebula Award (conferred by the Science Fiction Writers of
America) or a notable runner-up.  In 1992, editor James Morrow
observes, the unannounced theme of the collection seems to be: "Is
science good or bad?"
     Each of the twelve stories critiques an aspect of science,
usually utilized to solve a social problem.  Consider the follow-
ing: a pill that prevents menstruation ("Even the Queen" by Connie
Willis), doctor's feelings of loss when there is a preventable
death ("The July Ward" by S.N. Dyer), a inept vice-president named
Quayle on the red planet ("Danny Goes to Mars" by Pamela Sargent)
and my personal favorite - Morrow's own tale of Veritas, a city
where no-one can tell a lie ("City of Truth").    While none of the
stories brings the reader closer to an answer to Morrow's question,
they all point out the complications inherent in the attempt.
     Also included are tributes to Fritz Lieber, and an assessment
of the year's science fiction movies (Nick Lowe) and novels (John
Clute).
     Of all the science fiction anthologies published each year,
the Nebula Awards series is consistently the best.  Number 28 is no
different.  My only regret is that more works weren't included.
Grade A-