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Asimov's 'The Mammoth Book Of...' series
The Mammoth Book of Fantastic Science Fiction: Short Novels of the 1970s
Works by Poul Anderson, Donald Kingsbury, Larry Niven, Frederik Pohl, Robert Silverberg, and others highlight a collection of science fiction from the heyday of the genre. Original.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 25, 2015
Very disappointed, I expected a lot more due to the high rating and these are supposed to be some of the best stories of the 70s. Overall 2/5 and here is the breakdown.
"Born with the Dead" by Robert Silverberg 2/5
Interesting take on the Zombie story but failed to
"The Moon Goddess and the Son" by Donald Kingsbury 2/5
Good story with a completely unlikable protagonist. Bitchy, whinny and manipulative and thinks the world owes her something.
"Tin Soldier" by Joan D. Vinge 2.5/5
Interesting, but went nowhere.
"In the Problem Pit" by Frederik Pohl 4/5
One of two that I really liked. Sequester bunch of strangers together underground to solve world problems.
"Riding the Torch" by Norman Spinrad -5/5
Absolute crap and totally boring with another totally unlikable protagonist. Don't know why this story has been rated so high. I found it extremely pretentious with no redeeming value whatsoever.
"Mouthpiece" by Edward Wellen 2/5
I almost stopped reading because the beginning was so annoying and didn't make any sense. Once you get past the prologue it gets better. This had potential but didn't go anywhere with it.
"ARM" by Larry Niven 4/5
Another one that I like. Good mystery with a scientific twist.
"The Persistence of Vision" by John Varley 2/5
Don't know what to make of it. Had potential but stopped short.
"The Queen of Air and Darkness" by Poul Anderson 3/5
Interesting mix of fairly tale and alien encounter
"The Monster and the Maiden" by Gordon R. Dickson 3/5
Monster tale with a twist.
"Born with the Dead" by Robert Silverberg 2/5
Interesting take on the Zombie story but failed to
"The Moon Goddess and the Son" by Donald Kingsbury 2/5
Good story with a completely unlikable protagonist. Bitchy, whinny and manipulative and thinks the world owes her something.
"Tin Soldier" by Joan D. Vinge 2.5/5
Interesting, but went nowhere.
"In the Problem Pit" by Frederik Pohl 4/5
One of two that I really liked. Sequester bunch of strangers together underground to solve world problems.
"Riding the Torch" by Norman Spinrad -5/5
Absolute crap and totally boring with another totally unlikable protagonist. Don't know why this story has been rated so high. I found it extremely pretentious with no redeeming value whatsoever.
"Mouthpiece" by Edward Wellen 2/5
I almost stopped reading because the beginning was so annoying and didn't make any sense. Once you get past the prologue it gets better. This had potential but didn't go anywhere with it.
"ARM" by Larry Niven 4/5
Another one that I like. Good mystery with a scientific twist.
"The Persistence of Vision" by John Varley 2/5
Don't know what to make of it. Had potential but stopped short.
"The Queen of Air and Darkness" by Poul Anderson 3/5
Interesting mix of fairly tale and alien encounter
"The Monster and the Maiden" by Gordon R. Dickson 3/5
Monster tale with a twist.
August 5, 2014
2.3/5.
Unrealistic fiction.
"Born with the Dead" by Robert Silverberg
--2/5. Dead life.
"The Moon Goddess and the Son" by Donald Kingsbury
--2.5/5. Bitchy life.
"Tin Soldier" by Joan D. Vinge
--2.5/5. Silly life.
"In the Problem Pit" by Frederik Pohl
--2/5. Group life.
"Riding the Torch" by Norman Spinrad
--2/5. Ghostly life.
"Mouthpiece" by Edward Wellen
--2/5. Trashy quest.
"ARM" by Larry Niven
--2.7/5. Murder mystery.
"The Persistence of Vision" by John Varley
--1/5. Blind & dumb.
"The Queen of Air and Darkness" by Poul Anderson
--2.4/5. A longing for wonder.
"The Monster and the Maiden" by Gordon R. Dickson
--2.5/5. Nessie and monsters.
Unrealistic fiction.
"Born with the Dead" by Robert Silverberg
--2/5. Dead life.
"The Moon Goddess and the Son" by Donald Kingsbury
--2.5/5. Bitchy life.
"Tin Soldier" by Joan D. Vinge
--2.5/5. Silly life.
"In the Problem Pit" by Frederik Pohl
--2/5. Group life.
"Riding the Torch" by Norman Spinrad
--2/5. Ghostly life.
"Mouthpiece" by Edward Wellen
--2/5. Trashy quest.
"ARM" by Larry Niven
--2.7/5. Murder mystery.
"The Persistence of Vision" by John Varley
--1/5. Blind & dumb.
"The Queen of Air and Darkness" by Poul Anderson
--2.4/5. A longing for wonder.
"The Monster and the Maiden" by Gordon R. Dickson
--2.5/5. Nessie and monsters.
August 3, 2014
Born with the Dead (1974) by Robert Silverberg 4/5
The Moon Goddess and the Son (1979) by Donald Kingsbury 4/5
Tin Soldier (1974) by Joan D. Vinge 3/5
In the Problem Pit (1973) by Frederik Pohl 3/5
Riding the Torch (1974) by Norman Spinrad 2/5
Mouthpiece (1974) by Edward Wellen 4/5
ARM (1975) by Larry Niven 5/5
The Persistence of Vision (1978) by John Varley 2/5
The Queen of Air and Darkness (1971) by Poul Anderson 4/5
The Monster and the Maiden (1976) by Gordon R. Dickson 4/5
Audio narration 4/5 (after DRC and 7% speed change in Audacity)
The Moon Goddess and the Son (1979) by Donald Kingsbury 4/5
Tin Soldier (1974) by Joan D. Vinge 3/5
In the Problem Pit (1973) by Frederik Pohl 3/5
Riding the Torch (1974) by Norman Spinrad 2/5
Mouthpiece (1974) by Edward Wellen 4/5
ARM (1975) by Larry Niven 5/5
The Persistence of Vision (1978) by John Varley 2/5
The Queen of Air and Darkness (1971) by Poul Anderson 4/5
The Monster and the Maiden (1976) by Gordon R. Dickson 4/5
Audio narration 4/5 (after DRC and 7% speed change in Audacity)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews