James’s Reviews > The Collected Stories of Vernor Vinge > Status Update

Original Sin - 4 Stars - Using original aliens to ask tough questions of humanity, strong stuff.

Gemstone - 3 stars - nice idea, plot a bit loose.

The science fair - 3 Stars - the plot isn’t that great but it does showcase Vinge’s ability to create interesting aliens.

Fast times at Fairmont High - 4 Stars - best I’ve read here so far, especially as the ideas are so relevant right now (remote workers becoming commuters of people) and the execution was a bit stronger.

The barbarian princess - 4 stars - good fun and an interesting setting.

The Blabber - 3 stars - this was what caused me to come back to this book as this story is set in “Fire on the Deep” universe, but it largely missed the mark, still loved some parts near the end, plus the “Earth as renaissance fair” vibe.

Conquest by default - 2 stars - the good ideas were not the central ones and the overall plot was a bit meh.

Apartness - 2 stars - An interesting idea
In there but not much else.

Long shot - 4 stars - I do love an extended chronology non-ftl space tale.