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Catastrophia
Did you grow up on a diet of catastrophe novels? Classics such as "War of the Worlds", "Death of Grass", "Day of the Triffids", "Greybeard", "The Purple Cloud" and so forth? Did you hone your teen angst through a diet of disaster stories?This book won't exactly take you back to that Golden Age… because the purpose of "Catastrophia" is to revitalise this sub-genre of Science Fiction for the early twenty-first century. To bring a modern sensibility and craft to the business of ending the world as we know it. These days, there's plenty of catastrophe on screen - whether it be at the cinema or on TV - but we have somewhat let the subject slip in the literary world. No longer!Award-winning editor Allen Ashley has collected 18 brilliant brand new stories from a mix of established and emerging authors that will take you way beyond Wyndham and well past Wells. Catastrophe stories are alive and kicking.Buy this book, read this book… while we still have a world in which to do so!
- GenresShort StoriesFiction
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Brian W. Aldiss
833 books674 followersPseudonyms: Jael Cracken, Peter Pica, John Runciman, C.C. Shackleton, Arch Mendicant, & "Doc" Peristyle.
Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.
Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads
Brian Wilson Aldiss was one of the most important voices in science fiction writing today. He wrote his first novel while working as a bookseller in Oxford. Shortly afterwards he wrote his first work of science fiction and soon gained international recognition. Adored for his innovative literary techniques, evocative plots and irresistible characters, he became a Grand Master of Science Fiction in 1999.
Brian Aldiss died on August 19, 2017, just after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family and closest friends.
Brian W. Aldiss Group on Good Reads
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 9, 2011
This is a collection of modern catastrophe stories. I have to mention that I have a piece in this book, but nevertheless will review it unbiased!
Here are 18 stories all dealing with the theme of catastrophe in its various guises. Naturally, with a themed anthology, there is sometimes the preoccupation of wondering what each author has done with the theme rather than focussing on the actual storyy/writing, and this is certainly true here. Yet none of the stories disappointed. Here are a handful of favourites:
Gravity Wave - Douglas Thompson. The story deals with the after effects of such a happening. The descriptions of the individual and varied disasters are inventive and the writing quite brilliant.
Trouble With Telebrations - J.B.Harris (aka Tim Nickels). A quiet, anti-television story, set in the 50s replete with commumate period details and delightful prose.
Noose - Adam Roberts - an electromagnetic noose circles the earth and draws inwards.
The Phoney War - Nina Allen - another quiet piece, where the quality of the prose is in the micro rather than the macro. Difficult to understand exactly what is happening, but none the less intriguing for that.
Crashes - Stuart Young - a brain in a glass jar has engineered the end of the world to save humanity. Fun-filled and intelligent.
Stephen's Boat - Bille Bundschuh - possibly my favourite story here. Very understated, a personal tragedy with an unknown cause. Very affecting.
Other authors include Brian Aldiss, David John Baker, Simon Clark, Joe Essid, Robery Guffey, David Gullen, Andrew Hook, Carole Johnstone, Jet McDonald, Ian Sales, Patrick Shuler, and James L Sutter.
Here are 18 stories all dealing with the theme of catastrophe in its various guises. Naturally, with a themed anthology, there is sometimes the preoccupation of wondering what each author has done with the theme rather than focussing on the actual storyy/writing, and this is certainly true here. Yet none of the stories disappointed. Here are a handful of favourites:
Gravity Wave - Douglas Thompson. The story deals with the after effects of such a happening. The descriptions of the individual and varied disasters are inventive and the writing quite brilliant.
Trouble With Telebrations - J.B.Harris (aka Tim Nickels). A quiet, anti-television story, set in the 50s replete with commumate period details and delightful prose.
Noose - Adam Roberts - an electromagnetic noose circles the earth and draws inwards.
The Phoney War - Nina Allen - another quiet piece, where the quality of the prose is in the micro rather than the macro. Difficult to understand exactly what is happening, but none the less intriguing for that.
Crashes - Stuart Young - a brain in a glass jar has engineered the end of the world to save humanity. Fun-filled and intelligent.
Stephen's Boat - Bille Bundschuh - possibly my favourite story here. Very understated, a personal tragedy with an unknown cause. Very affecting.
Other authors include Brian Aldiss, David John Baker, Simon Clark, Joe Essid, Robery Guffey, David Gullen, Andrew Hook, Carole Johnstone, Jet McDonald, Ian Sales, Patrick Shuler, and James L Sutter.
April 22, 2011
A collection of varied and imaginative apocalyptic tales. Exceptional stories, with the stands outs being The Phoney War by Nina Allan, Happy Ending by Simon Clark, Up by Andrew Hook, Scalped by Jet McDonald and In the Face of Disaster by Ian Sales.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
January 4, 2013
A book of 18 short stories about various catastrophies that could happen. I would call all of them soft catastrophies. Stories develop quickly and end just as fast.
Light read. Some stories prompt thought, others not so much.
Light read. Some stories prompt thought, others not so much.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews