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It Came from Schenectady
“This title is just a front for a collection of 12 stories, several of which are among the finest written within Longyear’s time as a writer. Hardly any of the dozen end as one might expect, and yet they’re not possessed of twist endings, merely good ones. Longyear is the kind of quality writer who sets up so complete a segment of life within a story, that all possibilities of a real occurrence come through.” —STARLOG
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First published December 1, 1984
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About the author
Barry B. Longyear
121 books77 followersBarry Brookes Longyear was an American science fiction author who resided in New Sharon, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 4, 2021
This is a very good collection of Longyear's short science fiction stories from the late 1970's and early 1980's (a very short span actually), and most are from Asimov's Magazine or Asimov's SF Adventures. There's an interesting introduction to each story. His best known work, Enemy Mine, is not included, but some good ones are. Some of the stories are somewhat dated, and some are humorous without much substance to them, but as can obviously be seen from the title (which answers the question, "Where do you get your ideas?"), they're all in good fun. I particularly remember enjoying The Portrait of Baron Negay and Collector's Item, but my favorite was the dinosaur story, The Homecoming.
December 26, 2010
Barry Longyear is one of the best science fiction authors that nobody knows. He's won just about every major SF award, including a rare triple-crown (Hugo, Nebua, Campbell), yet the work most people will be familiar with is Enemy Mine -- not for the story, which won the aforementioned triple-crown, but won a second Hugo when WorldCon held a retrospective vote to determine the best of the best, but for the second-rate movie starring the not-crazy Quaid brother and the poor-man's Morgan Freeman in horrid makeup.
It Came from Schenectady (a great title that captures the tone of book) is a collection of Longyear's stories from the '70s and '80s (though not Enemy Mine). There are a few clunkers, but on the whole it's a great compilation of golden age-style stories.
We start off with "Collector's Item," which is the most golden agey of the stories, about a teacher who discovers several of his students are having disturbingly similar dreams of an apocalyptic future. This feels very much like a great episode of X-Minus One.
"Dreams," is a Mathesonesque style story about a man who discovers a world of dreams with real-world consequences. Not the best story in the lot -- it could be improved ifthe dreamworld had been more original -- but perfectly entertaining.
"The House of If" is about a security expert hired by the government to text effectveness of prisons. So far he's never found a place that's impregnable, but he may have met his match in an inventor who's created a device for inducing prisoners to experience an entire prison sentence in a matter of minutes. Would be better without the psychobabble towards the end, but otherwise a fine story.
"The Initiation" is more of a long joke than a short story. Amusing.
"The Portrait of Baron Negay" has my vote for the best story in this collection. It's the tale of an artist who has the secret to a unique artform that allows him to paint pictures that induce specific feelings in all who look upon them. But when he's coopted by a brutal regime, he faces a difficult decision.
"SHAWNA, Ltd." is an inconsequential story about space ships powered by philosophy. A little too cute for my taste.
"A Time for Terror" is a servicable tale about terrorism on the moon. Good but nothing special.
"The Homecoming," tells of what happens when a race of space-faring dinosaurs return to Earth after 70 million years to discover that tasty rodents have evolved into humanity. Longyear explains in the introduction to this story that it was an idea given to him by an editor, and he wasn't very keen on it himself. It shows. The story is good, but it feels as though something's missing -- something subtle, downright ineffable, yet tangible nonetheless.
"Twist Ending," is a second take on "The Homecoming," this time with time travel instead of spaceships. In this case, Longyear takes the opportunity to poke fun at the idea of the story. On the whole it's not as good as the previous story, but it does has that missing vivre.
"Catch the Sun," is a wonderful first contact story set on a slowly-rotatng planet where civilization has to keep moving to remain in the narrow habitable zone.
"Adagio" feels like a Twilight Zone story written by George R.R. Martin. (Why, yes, I am thinking of Sandkings, though there are a number of classic TZ eps that fit the mould as well.) A ship crashes on an alien world, and the survivors are bored stiff waiting for rescue. One crewman discovers that certain rocks in the area are in fact slow moving creatures. The man uses his speed to convince the creatures that he's a supernatural creature and orders them to engage in bloody wars against each other.
"Where Do You Get Your Ideas," is another too-cute joke, though as a coda to the book it's somewhat forgivable.
It Came from Schenectady (a great title that captures the tone of book) is a collection of Longyear's stories from the '70s and '80s (though not Enemy Mine). There are a few clunkers, but on the whole it's a great compilation of golden age-style stories.
We start off with "Collector's Item," which is the most golden agey of the stories, about a teacher who discovers several of his students are having disturbingly similar dreams of an apocalyptic future. This feels very much like a great episode of X-Minus One.
"Dreams," is a Mathesonesque style story about a man who discovers a world of dreams with real-world consequences. Not the best story in the lot -- it could be improved ifthe dreamworld had been more original -- but perfectly entertaining.
"The House of If" is about a security expert hired by the government to text effectveness of prisons. So far he's never found a place that's impregnable, but he may have met his match in an inventor who's created a device for inducing prisoners to experience an entire prison sentence in a matter of minutes. Would be better without the psychobabble towards the end, but otherwise a fine story.
"The Initiation" is more of a long joke than a short story. Amusing.
"The Portrait of Baron Negay" has my vote for the best story in this collection. It's the tale of an artist who has the secret to a unique artform that allows him to paint pictures that induce specific feelings in all who look upon them. But when he's coopted by a brutal regime, he faces a difficult decision.
"SHAWNA, Ltd." is an inconsequential story about space ships powered by philosophy. A little too cute for my taste.
"A Time for Terror" is a servicable tale about terrorism on the moon. Good but nothing special.
"The Homecoming," tells of what happens when a race of space-faring dinosaurs return to Earth after 70 million years to discover that tasty rodents have evolved into humanity. Longyear explains in the introduction to this story that it was an idea given to him by an editor, and he wasn't very keen on it himself. It shows. The story is good, but it feels as though something's missing -- something subtle, downright ineffable, yet tangible nonetheless.
"Twist Ending," is a second take on "The Homecoming," this time with time travel instead of spaceships. In this case, Longyear takes the opportunity to poke fun at the idea of the story. On the whole it's not as good as the previous story, but it does has that missing vivre.
"Catch the Sun," is a wonderful first contact story set on a slowly-rotatng planet where civilization has to keep moving to remain in the narrow habitable zone.
"Adagio" feels like a Twilight Zone story written by George R.R. Martin. (Why, yes, I am thinking of Sandkings, though there are a number of classic TZ eps that fit the mould as well.) A ship crashes on an alien world, and the survivors are bored stiff waiting for rescue. One crewman discovers that certain rocks in the area are in fact slow moving creatures. The man uses his speed to convince the creatures that he's a supernatural creature and orders them to engage in bloody wars against each other.
"Where Do You Get Your Ideas," is another too-cute joke, though as a coda to the book it's somewhat forgivable.
September 20, 2025
I consider myself a SF fan, and I'd never heard of Longyear before. I picked up the book because I live Schenectady-adjacent and thought the title was funny.
Some of these stories were absolutely incredible. "Collector's Item" and "Portrait and "Homecoming" were revelations, and I liked most of the rest of them, too. Definitely inspired me to keep an eye out for more of his work.
Some of these stories were absolutely incredible. "Collector's Item" and "Portrait and "Homecoming" were revelations, and I liked most of the rest of them, too. Definitely inspired me to keep an eye out for more of his work.
August 21, 2017
Eh. Some were half as good as Enemy Mine. Some were stupid. And the only interesting female was alien....
February 5, 2012
A collection of SF stories from the Hugo, Nebula and Campbell award winner. I was very impressed with these stories when I first read them, dozens of years ago, and indeed I incorporated facets of Longyear’s style in my own writing. Okay, I thought his style was cool and stole it. The tales:
“Forepiece,” a first-person humor piece detailing Longyear’s hatred of interviews and the source for the title (it’s where writers get their ideas).
“Collector’s Item,” in which a man learns of an alternate future through children’s writing assignments.
“Dreams,” a chili nightmare-inspired bit of old-style SF weirdness. Not too interesting.
“The House Of If,” a very spooky and well-done piece on the perfect prison.
“The Initiation,” a short punch-line story of little consequence.
“The Portrait Of Baron Negay,” a nice sinister story about a futuristic baron and the hapless serf who must paint his portrait or die.
“SHAWNA, Ltd.,” a flight of fancy based on the premise that philosopher can shape reality (and thus fly airplanes). An interesting idea, but not a story.
“A Time For Terror,” in which Lunar terrorists with a grudge unloose a catastrophe on Earth. An interesting exploration of what is justified and when.
“The Homecoming,” in which the dinosaurs, having exiled themselves on spacecraft, return to Earth after 70 million years --- and want it back. Nominated for a Hugo, and perhaps the most satisfying story in the book.
“Twist Ending,” another punch-line piece.
“Catch the Sun,” in which Earthlings sent to ‘civilize’ a planet with some odd rituals and customs grow to dislike their mission. Another very fine story of culture clash.
“Adagio,” in which stranded astronauts use the local life forms --- very slow-moving sentient rocks --- for their own purposes. Might have been easily the finest story in the bunch, but the odd ending doesn’t really click with me.
Finally, “Where Do You Get Your Ideas,” an amusing Walter Mitty type of piece. All in all, some great writing, although perhaps not the finest SF to be had anywhere.
[Read twice]
“Forepiece,” a first-person humor piece detailing Longyear’s hatred of interviews and the source for the title (it’s where writers get their ideas).
“Collector’s Item,” in which a man learns of an alternate future through children’s writing assignments.
“Dreams,” a chili nightmare-inspired bit of old-style SF weirdness. Not too interesting.
“The House Of If,” a very spooky and well-done piece on the perfect prison.
“The Initiation,” a short punch-line story of little consequence.
“The Portrait Of Baron Negay,” a nice sinister story about a futuristic baron and the hapless serf who must paint his portrait or die.
“SHAWNA, Ltd.,” a flight of fancy based on the premise that philosopher can shape reality (and thus fly airplanes). An interesting idea, but not a story.
“A Time For Terror,” in which Lunar terrorists with a grudge unloose a catastrophe on Earth. An interesting exploration of what is justified and when.
“The Homecoming,” in which the dinosaurs, having exiled themselves on spacecraft, return to Earth after 70 million years --- and want it back. Nominated for a Hugo, and perhaps the most satisfying story in the book.
“Twist Ending,” another punch-line piece.
“Catch the Sun,” in which Earthlings sent to ‘civilize’ a planet with some odd rituals and customs grow to dislike their mission. Another very fine story of culture clash.
“Adagio,” in which stranded astronauts use the local life forms --- very slow-moving sentient rocks --- for their own purposes. Might have been easily the finest story in the bunch, but the odd ending doesn’t really click with me.
Finally, “Where Do You Get Your Ideas,” an amusing Walter Mitty type of piece. All in all, some great writing, although perhaps not the finest SF to be had anywhere.
[Read twice]
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews