Gravity's Angels

by Michael Swanwick

Short stories from the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award-winning author. "One of the best science fiction collections I've ever read." — The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Though written in the last decades of the twentieth-century, these tales are timeless and prophetic visions created by Michael Swanwick's wide-ranging imagination. Through stories of talking alien beasts, eco-fiction, and post-apocalyptic survival, this collection shows that humanity is something worth clinging to, even as technology and circumstances drastically change around us. 

Swanwick's first-published short story, "The Feast of Saint Janus," takes us to an America after the Worldwide Collapse, where a woman is surgically enhanced to look and sound like Janis Joplin—with horrific consequences. In the award-winning "The Edge of the World" a group of teenagers explore the graffiti-ridden stairway at the precipice of a flat earth. While in "The Dragon Line," Merlin and Mordred reunite in a dim and disenchanted future to join forces and save the world. 

With thirteen stories in all, Gravity's Angels "chronicles the career of one of the most impressive science fiction writers of the '80s . . . Swanwick's work illustrates the power and potential of contemporary science fiction" (Publishers Weekly).

"The stories collected here are luminous with the promise of his ambition, smart and allusive, dense with ideas and images, sacred and profane." — Interzone

"An extremely impressive collection . . . If there is any justice in the world, Gravity's Angels  will bring Swanwick whatever recognition he has not had thus far." — Locus  

"This is a book that merits a place on any serious science fiction reader's shelf." — The New York Review of Science Fiction

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Collections, Fantasy

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gravity's Angels was Swanwick's first collection of short fiction. It was published by Arkham House in 1991. The Arkham name usually conjures up images of Lovecraft and Derleth (or Bruce Wayne, I guess), but back in the '80s and '90s they brought out some good science fiction titles before they faded out in the current century. The bakers' dozen stories here all first appeared in the '80s in a variety of original anthologies, Omni, Amazing, Interzone, etc.; surprisingly only a couple are from Asimov's, where Gardner Dozois almost seemed to have a corner on the Swanwick market for many years. It's a wide-ranging but very good collection, which shows off the early Swanwick's craft and imagination to good advantage. My favorites are The Transmigration of Philip K, The Edge of the World, and most especially The Feast of Saint Janis.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 to 4.5 stars. I have not read all of the stories in this collection so this review is only for the storyies set forth below. I will update my rating and my review as I read further stories.

The Feast of Saint Janis (4.0 to 4.5 stars): Powerful novelette about an African diplomat visiting a post "Collapse" United States and becoming a part of a unique "tour" involving a Janis Joplin impersonator. A great ending and a powerful story.

Nominee: Nebula Award for Best Novelette.

"The Edge of the World" (4.0 stars): Alternative Earth story featuring three teenagers who travel to explore the "edge" of the flat Earth and find a way (used my ancient monks in the story) to gain wishes. All three gain their "hearts desire" unthinkingly with significant costs to themselves. Clever and poignant.

Nominee: Hugo, Locus and World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction. Winner: Sturgeon Award for Best Short Fiction.

[Horza]

Some 80s gems from Unca Mike. Lotta hits for me (midwinter’s tale, covenant of souls, the dragon line, snow angels, ginungagap, the edge of the world) and only a couple I skipped cos too high concept

[Matt Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of unevenly written short stories. Some are better than others. Interesting enough.

[Chase Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am nearing the end of this collection of short stories. Although Swanwick is nominally considered a Science Fiction author and is widely published in science fiction magazines, I would consider this collection to be solidly in the "fantasy" camp. But no matter, it is all wonderful stuff. He creates truly original themes and worlds, and this is warmly recommended for anyone who enjoys what might be more accurately described as "speculative fiction." A particularly strong story is "The Man Who Met Picasso," which is truly magical in its exploration of the nature of art and life and death.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant collection! All were worthy of serious appreciation. Swanwicks novel Vacuum Flowers has been a long time favorite of mine that gets reread frequently, each time with a larger understanding of the world he has created. I was thrilled to find a story in here, Trojan Horse, which seems to be set in the same world.
The overall tone of all these stories is really quite grim and existential; the consistent themes are of the nature of reality.

[Printable Tire]

There was some good stuff in here- I remember particularly liking the main story, the feast of st. janis, and the one about mummers. Some stories were complete BEM scifi crap though. A mixed bag, but I think the st. janis story is worth reading.

[Patrick]

Read around 1996.

10/13/11: "Trojan Horse" (re-read)
11/3/11: "Snow Angels" (re-read)
11/5/11: "Ginungagap" (re-read)

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe the best collection of Swanwick's short fiction.