Phases

Paksenarrion #5.5 - Those Who Walk in Darkness

by Elizabeth Moon

The best of Elizabeth Moon, author of the critically-praised and Hugo-nominated Remnant Population. There's nothing inconstant about this Moon; a fact that shines forth brightly in all her Phases.

Contents:
Bargains --
ABCs in Zero G --
A delicate adjustment --
Too wet to plow --
Gut feelings --
The generic rejuvenation of Milo Ardry --
New World Symphony --
Just another day at the weather service --
Politics --
In suspect terrain --
The happy frog --
Horse of her dreams --
Knight of other days --
Aura --
Those who walk in darkness.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Anthologies, Speculative Fiction

374 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Elizabeth Moon was born March 7, 1945, and grew up in McAllen, Texas, graduating from McAllen High School in 1963. She has a B.A. in History from Rice University (1968) and another in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (1975) with graduate work in Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio.

She served in the USMC from 1968 to 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC. She married Richard Moon, a Rice classmate and Army officer, in 1969; they moved to the small central Texas town where they still live in 1979. They have one son, born in 1983.

She started writing stories and poems as a small child; attempted first book (an illustrated biography of the family dog) at age six. Started writing science fiction in high school, but considered writing merely a sideline. First got serious about writing (as in, submitting things and actually getting money...) in the 1980s. Made first fiction sale at age forty--"Bargains" to Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword & Sorceress III and "ABCs in Zero G" to Analog. Her first novel, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, sold in 1987 and came out in 1988; it won the Compton Crook Award in 1989. Remnant Population was a Hugo nominee in 1997, and The Speed of Dark was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and won the Nebula in 2004.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that I'm predisposed to like this, as I'm already a fan of the author.
I bet I give it four stars overall.

Bargains -- very short, clever
ABCs in Zero G -- paramedics, who, of course, know what is needed for them to be able to do their job, and manage to make that clear to both suit designers and doctors
A delicate adjustment -- and you thought stem cell research was controversial...
Too wet to plow -- dnf, as I could not visualize the 'tech' aka the setting
Gut feelings -- for fans of Flowers for Algernon, but without the sad ending
The generic rejuvenation of Milo Ardry -- short, clever, funny: money can't buy everything
New World Symphony -- what to do with a musician who is so talented, and dedicated, that there's no place for him in the mundane world?
Just another day at the weather service -- Very short, funny
Politics -- dnf, a Marine landing + title = not for me
In suspect terrain -- more military, but strategy, kinda interesting
The happy frog -- fractured fairy tale, a little long-winded for the punchline but I liked it
Horse of her dreams -- okaaay... too weird for me to appreciate
Knight of other days -- Supposed to be poignant & atmospheric but didn't quite work imo.
Aura -- horror + migraines = truly horrifying
Those who walk in darkness -- better for fans of Paksenarrion.

So, yeah, 3.5 objectively I think, rounded up because of the feeling I have that I'm glad that I had a chance to read it.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. This sat on the bedside table for months, since most of the stories are just OK, or worse. The only standout was "Too Wet to Plow", about future farming in flood plains: clever and interesting, 4 stars.
TOC: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?2...

Moon is best known as a novelist. This collection shows why. 2+ stars.

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book collects the very earliest published short stories by sci-fi/fantasy author Elizabeth Moon. Written between 1986-1995, many of them feel a little dated. A number of the stories center on men who failed to read the contracts before they signed, and this level of incompetence can be hard to empathize with. There are some standouts however- "ABCs in Zero G" tells of a hardworking team of EMTs on a space station and the unique challenges of administering emergency care to patients in space suits, and without the aid of gravity. "A Delicate Adjustment" is a tense story of medical ethics in a world in which declining fertility, embryo cloning projects, and human emotions lead to a clash of legality and morality. There are two military stories, "Politics" and "In Suspect Terrain" which both felt quite original for such a well-trod genre. The final story is set in the world of Moon's fantasy trilogy The Deed of Paksenarrion.

[Sara Forsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of wonderful short stories written by one of the best sic-fi/fantasy authors out there. These stories, however, are mostly about character, and explores very human themes through a futuristic or fantastical aspect. All the stories are lovely reads, perfect as a summer book to read in bits and pieces =).

[Mark Isaak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories, nominally science fiction and fantasy but almost always with the focus on the people (or, in one case, frog). Even where the technology is the focus (in one story about paramedic responses in zero-G), the human interest carries the story. This collection shows Moon's skill with a diverse range of characters, settings, and events.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read. One of my favorite short story collections, with a nice range of fantasy and science fiction, from the light to the deadly serious.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

re-read "ABCs in Zero-G" and "A Delicate Adjustment" February 26, 2014

Many of the stores here were also included in her Lunar Activity collection...

♦Bargains -- 4/10/2006 Re-read 8/25/2015
♦ABCs in Zero G -- 4/11/2006 Re-read 8/27/2015
♦A delicate adjustment -- 4/12/2006 Re-read 8/27/2015
♦Too wet to plow -- 4/13/2006 Re-read 8/27/2015
♦Gut feelings -- 4/18/2006 Re-read 8/25/2015
♦The generic rejuvenation of Milo Ardry -- 4/19/2006 Re-read 8/26/2015
♦New World Symphony -- 4/20/2006 RE-read 8/20/2015
♦Just another day at the weather service -- 4/21/2006 Re-read 8/26/2015
♦Politics -- 4/24/2006 RE-read 8/20/2015
♦In suspect terrain -- 4/25/2006 Re-read 8/28/2015
♦The happy frog -- 4/26/2006 Re-read 9/9/2015
♦Horse of her dreams -- 4/27/2006 Re-read 8/25/2015
♦Knight of other days -- 4/28/2006 Re-read 9/9/2015
♦Aura -- 4/30/2006 Re-read 9/9/2015
♦Those who walk in darkness 5/1/2006 Re-read 8/26/2015

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good fit while I was at camp, picking it up in those little snatches in between wrangling eleven- and twelve- year old girls. Some funny tales, some intense, all thoughtful and well crafted. Also, her account of still being unpublished at forty gave me hope that my chances aren't over yet. Favorites in this collection include "A Gut Feeling" and "The Happy Frog "

[Bunnyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories. Couldn't quite get into the one about doing taxes - I've never done them, so don't have any feel for the amount of anxiety this put the character under. Apart from that - great stuff!

[jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story book, so some are much better than others. I enjoyed reading it. When I'm busy the short story format works well for me.

[Korynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A variety of short stories from Elizabeth Moon - some sci-fi and some fantasy, even some space Marines.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting collection of sci-fi short stories. Some of them were really enjoyable but most of them felt formulaic and a little bland.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of Moon's earlier short stories. My favourite is those who dwell in the dark which belongs to the Paksenarrion series.