Lunar Activity

Paksenarrion #5.5 - Those Who Walk in Darkness

by Elizabeth Moon

No new author has burst upon the scene with such instant success as Elizabeth Moon. Each of her first three novels, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold, have met with a reader response best described as "splendid." We now offer a collection of this author's shorter work that prove that while she is without question the fantasy discovery of a decade, she is also--as with such diverse talents as Poul Anderson, Gordon R. Dickson, and Larry Niven--equally a master of science fiction. Contains a story set in the world of Paksenarrion.

Contents:
Introduction --
ABC's in zero-G --
A delicate adjustment --
If nudity offends you --
Too wet to plow --
Gut feelings --
Gravesite revisited --
Just another day at the weather service --
The generic rejuvenation of Milo Ardry --
New world symphony --
Those who walk in darkness.

Cover Artist: Vincent Di Fate

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Anthologies, Space Opera

281 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1990

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

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Elizabeth Moon's novels (both fantasy and science fiction) but found this collection of 10 short stories to be a mixed bag. Despite the title of the collection, only one or two of these stories actually has to do with space. Rather, the science fiction stories included cover a wide swath of speculative fiction with a definite lean toward hard science. Clearly the title is a play on the author's name, as opposed to the subject matter. I have no problem with that but just don't read this with the expectation of lots of space-adventuring short stories.

Many people will acquire this book simply for the final entry, "Those Who Walk in Darkness", a story taking place in the "Deed for Paksenarrion" fantasy universe. I enjoyed that one but a couple of other stories were even better, especially my favorite: "If Nudity Offends You".

[Surreysmum · Rating 1 out of 5]

[These notes were made in 1991:]. It's rather unfair, I suppose, to base one's assessment of an author (a fantasy novelist) on a book of short stories, largely science fiction. It may well represent the flotsam and jetsam of an over-productive imagination. But I find, based on this book, that I am unable to acquiesce in a friend's very high recommendation. It's not that Moon lacks either scope or detail in her imaginary worlds - even within the confines of short stories, she manages to set them up quite well, thank you. Nor are there any problems with language or the handling of plot. No - what disturbs me about this collection is the rather Zolaesque insistence on physical, bodily reality, and in particular upon physical invasion, corruption and pain. There is an element of this in at least 4/5 of the stories, I'd say, and those that don't have it tend to be the briefer, less substantial ones. The last story, set in the fantasy world of Paksenarrion, stands apart by reason of that setting (tho' it shares the same fascination with mutilation). I found it both more elusive (because allusive to a trilogy I haven't read) and more attractive than the stories about a field ambulance service in space, or regeneration programme gone wrong, or goings-on in a genetics lab, or the loony doings of animal-rightsers determined to save a benign intestinal parasite. Most of these latter stories had attractive moments and a sharp social point, but they felt a trifle forced and cold to me. I may return to Moon to try the Paksenarrian stuff, but I have the feeling I will be able to suffer her fleshly obsessions only in small doses.

[Dalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most sort story collections, this has a range of stories of varying quality. Overall I liked it, and if you’re a fan of Paksenarrion the final story is worth checking out.

ABCs in Zero-G: 4/5, draws on Moon’s experience as an ambulance driver, but in space.
A Delicate Adjustment: 2/5, one of the longer stories, about cloned embryos used for research and destroyed in a world with low fertility. The ending is mind-boggling though, as nothing changes in the main character’s life as she continues making the euphemistic “delicate adjustments” to destroy the embryos.
If Nudity Offends You: 3/5, honestly I didn’t really understand this one’s point. Kinda fun story about aliens next door.
Too Wet to Plow: 3/5, farmers in a floodplain testing floating houses and barns in a raging flood. Solid, not spectacular.
Gut Feelings: 4/5, fun story about a timid man with genetically engineered parasites keeping him alive and on the run from some unhinged animal rights protesters that want the parasites freed. A story about the people you meet in any generic suburban strip mall.
Gravesite Revisited: 4/5, a time travel story that lampoons both chronological snobbery and some of the conclusions we draw from archaeology.
Just Another Day at the Weather Service: 4/5, another fun little story about the aliens watching over us.
The Generic Rejuvination of Milo Ardry: 3/5, didn’t really click with this one. Seemed somewhat generic about a rejuv tech and a rich old guy.
New World Symphony: 4/5, musings on the power of music to subvert.
Those Who Walk in Darkness: 4.5/5, the one you’ve been waiting for, set in the world of Paksenarrion. Set during the long night in book 3 of the Deed, it follows a young boy from the guild and the struggle between darkness and light. I feel that the less gratuitous nature of the torture in this story serves its purpose better.

[Poetreehugger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great escape by reading.
A short story collection, so the escape is to richly varied locations, surrounded by diverse and fascinating characters and events.

[Jim Standridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice blend of fantasy and science fiction. First experience of Moons' short fiction. Not bad....

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

ABC's in zero-G -- 4/11/2006 Re-read 8/27/2015
A delicate adjustment -- 4/12/2006 Re-read 8/27/2015
If nudity offends you -- RE-read 8/20/2015 read aloud to Lisa 12/3/2015
Too wet to plow -- 4/13/2006 Re-read 8/27/2015
Gut feelings -- 4/18/2006 Re-read 8/25/2015
Gravesite revisited -- RE-read 8/20/2015
Just another day at the weather service -- 4/21/2006 Re-read 8/26/2015
The generic rejuvenation of Milo Ardry -- 4/29/2006 Re-read 8/26/2015
New world symphony -- 4/20/2006 RE-read 8/20/2015
Those who walk in darkness 5/1/2006 Re-read 8/26/2015

[Bruce E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is a mixed bag. Some quite good, others mpt so much. the last story, set in the Gird/Paksennarrian fantasy uuniverrse is probably the bbest of the lot. "ABSs in Zero-G"" was an interesting exxploration of emergemcy medical work in space , altough gravity is hardly the biggestt problem

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy short story collections. The author is already one of my favorites for her science fiction novels and her shorter works were mostly as good as the longer.