Runcible Tales

Polity Universe (chronological) #non-canon short stories

by Neal Asher

Content:

Always with You • [Polity Universe] • (1996)
Blue Holes • [Polity Universe]
Dragon in the Flower • [Polity Universe] • (1994)Neal Asher
The Gire & the Bibrat • [Polity Universe] •
Walking John & Bird • [Polity Universe] •

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Collections, Short Stories

68 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

I’ve been an engineer, barman, skip lorry driver, coalman, boat window manufacturer, contract grass cutter and builder. Now I write science fiction books, and am slowly getting over the feeling that someone is going to find me out, and can call myself a writer without wincing and ducking my head. As professions go, I prefer this one: I don’t have to clock-in, change my clothes after work, nor scrub sensitive parts of my body with detergent. I think I’ll hang around.

Source: http://www.blogger.com/profile/139339...

Reviews

[A3an · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just found Neal Asher on Goodreads. I'm not going to leave a review, except to say that I own every. single. one. of his books in paperback. Books are expensive in South Africa, and I *really* don't have a lot of money. I buy them anyway, and cut back on other costs for the month. He's that good.

[Celtic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of very early Polity short stories. Recommended for fans, though not for those looking for a first taste of Neal's work ‐ I'd recommend Prador Moon as a good starting point.

They're decent stories, but much less polished than Neal's more recent work. That's the case both stylistically and in relation to the Polity background.

While they're only short stories and not the blockbusters we've come to expect from Neal, the core of the Polity is here and fans will enjoy seeing the early seeds of the story lines we've grown to know and love. ‐ [spoilers ahead]










... including Earth Central, Gordon, the Skaidon warp, runcible gates, Dragon, contra-terrene devices and the prador plus Cormac and Horace Blegg [spoilers ahead]










... "but I had a different name when the Enola Gay flew over my home city of Hiroshima. I came to know myself in fire, and that fire I hold for others".

[Ralph Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Runcible Tales by Neal Asher- A collection of early stories by celebrated noir space opera wizard Neal Asher. I looked high and low for this tome when I began reading his novels in the early 2000's but could never find any copies. Now Amazon offers it up in e-book fashion and of course, I didn't have to think twice about buying it. Five stores of varying lengths, set for the most part in his still evolving Polity Universe. Familiar faces and terminology abound as we meet Ian Cormac, Horace Blegg, Dragon, Runcibles, Skaidon Warps, Chainglass Knives, and all the stuff that makes his books such a blast to read. Maybe just for die-hards like me, but I think anyone who likes challenging science fiction will appreciate and enjoy this read.

[Macha · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a lovely - and bleeding important to those who love Neal Asher's work - little thing this is. a collection, privately printed, of the very first Polity stories, complete with introduction by Asher. i almost didn't get it; i have all the novels, but it seemed like it might be a completist-only kind of thing. it isn't. it's charming, and deep. Ian Cormac appears, and the extraterrestrial Dragon, and Horace Blegg. there's a Prador planet breaker. the world building is well along. somewhere off in the middle distance, Edward Lear is smiling.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five decent short stories. Mostly four stars, though I thought the first story, Always With You, was quite a bit weaker. I'd probably say the second, Blue Holes, was my favourite—slightly homophobic feeling (perhaps contributing to it's 6ps sci-fi vibe) but a pacy, thriller-ish ride with hints of body horror.

I read the edition self-published through Amazon, though the editing wasn't as weak as Asher's first foray into self publishing.

[Erik Martenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-Fungible Tales

A short book containing five tales all connected by the form of travel in the future Polity universe: by Runcible, a form of wormhole travel not unlike the Stargate universe. My favorite was Walking John & Bird. Sort of reminded me of a movie I once watched where a man was followed around by a giant rabbit.

[James Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asher to Asher dust to dust…..no way this guys writing just keeps getting better

Great tales woven by the master in the ever expanding universe of the polity….great for a quick read with your feet up and a cuppa on a Sunday afternoon in rainy Blighty…..

[david james · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Early Asher polity short stories. I've had this book for years but never got around to reading it for some reason. Five solid short stories that anyone who likes the Polity universe will enjoy.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is good

Only a series of short stories but God they are good. Short snappy and leave you wanting more. Just like a good almond thin biscuit.

[Michael Latiolais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially liked the story with Dragon.

[Mark Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved being back in the Polity universe and anything with Pradors is a must read for me.
A short, short collection of Asher's scribblings involving A.I's and big bangs.
Pew, Pew!!!!!

[Reuben Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining

[Periklis · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone unfamiliar with Neil Asher's Polity Universe, I enjoyed this very short collection of five stories. Most of them serve as a good introduction to Asher's future history. Central to each story is the Runcible, a teleportation device (something between a Stargate and a Transporter) From Asher's bio on the backcover (he mentions E.C. Tubb as an early influence) one can be expecting large in scale, action-oriented, space opera. I'm really considering reading Gridlinked, since the "Cormac" story ("Dragon in the Flower") was my favorite.
A brief note regarding this edition, it is pamphlet in quality and printing with a few typos in the text.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 short tales from an early version of Asher's future history; Many familiar elements are present (Blegg, Prador, Dragon and Gridlinked Cormac) but all clearly underwent some revision between theese tales and use in later novels.

Well worth the time for Asher fans, potentially confusing for those who don't realise that this work is not 100% compatible with later revisions of his future history.

[Owen Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable