We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore

by M. David Blake

"If I were editing a magazine I would be seriously considering buying this story for publication but I'm not, so I can't. Sorry." Bruce Bethke, author of "Cyberpunk" and Headcrash . . . Stan wanted a flying car. No, that wasn't quite accurate... Stan wanted a nice flying car, and the quantities of bliss that purchase would bring. Stan desired bliss. Fortunately, Bliss also desired Stan.

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction

47 pages, Nook

First published April 6, 2010

Reviews

[A.B. Syed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proper, good, old-fashioned science fiction a la Asimov, Clarke etc.
This story is well written and entertaining and yes, belongs in an anthology alongside others by the author, with wry, short excerpts about how each one came about - or very nearly didn't come about because of some curmudgeonly editor or other.

The story is an everyday tale of Stan, who wants a flying car upgrade to impress Bliss. Stan likes Bliss very much and wants her to fly in style. Even though Bliss doesn't seem to mind.

It is a short story, but fully developed, with the world in which it dwells, already constructed. There are some great technical explanations and the squiggles - or footnotes - in the glossy brochures that Stan likes to browse, add humour and danger in equal measure.

I'd recommend this to all sci-fi buffs. Written well and a quick, read.
Thanks :)


I'm off to find more from the same author...

[Shayan Kh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't particularly enjoy this short story. But I think that is because I have not read any cyberpunk genre books before and It wasn't really my cup of tea.
But it was a sweet and very short story. Plus it is free. I recommend it if you are a fan of the genre.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining tough-in-cheek story set in the future where instead of the automobile it is the aeromobile that dominates. Despite this huge leap the same old issues arise with looks being more important than safety. The story follows Stan, a statistics office worker who starts off wanting the nice shiny top of the range Shearwater as he trawls through all the small print, caveats and legal loopholes.

[Sarah]

This was a fun and quirky short story about a man who wants to replace his reliable beater car with a new fancy model. It gently pokes fun at ads where everything good is followed by a disclaimer.

There is a great moral about looking beyond the superficial to the truth hidden beneath. Not everything is as it seems, sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse.

I greatly enjoyed this story. It was entertaining and amusing.

[Jessica Buike · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was ok and highlighted how people have different priorities and that it is not just about wealth or material things. However, it felt jargony and didn't maintain my attention very well, especially considering how short it was. It was just plain vanilla in a world full of exciting flavors.

[Brandy Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little story. It seems to be set in a futuristic version of the 1950s where flying cars are real. I really liked this, especially the squiggles in the pamphlet.

[S. Spelbring · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intelligently well written piece of fiction. I generally don't go for this type of story, but I was looking for a short story to read to pass the time; I wasn't disappointed.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting short story! I loved the title so had to read it.

[Katy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, VERY short story with (what I consider to be, at least) a good overall message: Just because something's shiny/new, doesn't mean it's necessarily the best thing out there.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short fun retro 1950ish (lift operator, turntable, slide rule ...)story.

[Beth Durkee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title is interesting.

Read my complete review at http://sf-fantasybookreview.blogspot....