On Spec: The First Five Years

by On Spec Editors Collective

ON The First Five Years , features the best short stories and poetry from the first half-decade of the award-winning Canadian science fiction and fantasy magazine, ON SPEC . Look for incredible stories by authors such Robert J. Sawyer, James Alan Gardner, Alice Major, Robert Boyczuk and Karl Schroeder.

Genres: Anthologies, Science Fiction

255 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 1995

Reviews

[Robert Hudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly even for an anthology. Lots of time there are duds in a collection. While not every one of these pieces are my cup of tea, they all seem to belong. Some of these pieces are curiosity pieces as they deal with "current" themes circa 1990s. We have greenhouse gases and depleted fisheries. They still have something to tell us or even teach us. And strangely, it isn't ignore that shit.

Anyway, it reminds me that Canadian speculative and science fiction is pretty strong. Maybe it is due to us positing ourselves outside of mainstream American culture that allows us to see some things clearly. Science fiction is great when it isn't pontificating or sanctimonious. We can both see ourselves as part of the problem and the impact.

I do wonder if in the last twenty years we have become a bit more of the monoculture or perceived monoculture of the US. If we have, maybe that is what has caused us to be paralyzed and disheartened with dealing with the issues that sci-fi brings; environment, social and ethical issues of humankind.

Anyway, I enjoyed my time with this book and I will be going on a sci fi tear at some point because of it.

[Jon Pennycook · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not interesting at all. I gave up quite quickly.

[Brian Gaston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good collection of Canadian Science Fiction with some of its best authors but is a bit uneven in its stories.