Bart's Bookshelf » 100 Shots of Short

Out of This World Mini Challenge [Sunday]

Darren — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:05:21 +0000

Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings, is hosting the Out of This World mini-challenge this weekend as a part of both the Sci-Fi Experience and the challenge in Dewey’s memory. The idea is just to read at least one Science Fiction short story over the weekend. Carl even provides a link to a fabulous online resource to find them!

All Summer in One Day by Ray Bradbury

No one in the class could remember a time when there wasn’t rain.

On the planet Venus the sun only shines for a couple of hours each day, nine year old Margot whose family moved to the planet when she was four, is an outsider to the rest of her class, and when their teacher leaves leaves for a few moments, they decide to pull a very mean prank on her.

My Thoughts:

For such a short story it contains incredible descriptions:

She was a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair. She was an old photograph dusted from an album, whitened away, and if she spoke at all her voice would be a ghost. Now she stood, separate, staring at the rain and the loud wet world beyond the huge glass.

And as Rusty says, it’ll make you hate bullies even more. 4.5/5

Read the story online, here.

They’re Made Out of Meat by Terry Bisson

“We’re supposed to talk to meat.”

Two aliens on a recon mission, discuss the race they have been sent to investigate.

My Thoughts:

This entirely dialogue driven short story, is very funny 817 words. 4/5

You can download a free version of this story (in several reader formats) from ElectricStory.com.

After the Coup by John Scalzi

“How well can you take a punch?” asked Deputy Ambassador Schmidt.

Lieutenant Harry Wilson, a Colonial Defence Force’s space technician is coerced into fighting a goodwill exhibition match against a little known alien race.

My Thoughts

A fun and speedy return to the world and characters of Old Man’s War for me. Weird aliens, spaceships, witty dialogue, naked fighting, diplomacy, what more could you wan out of a sci-fi short story?! 4.5/5

Read the story online, here.

Out of This World Mini-Challenge (Saturday)

Darren — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:15:39 +0000

The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin

He was not alone.

In the year 2178, EDS pilot, Barton is taking a spacecraft toward the planet Woden, carrying on board serum for six gravely ill men. But, Barton makes a discovery which will create a moral dilemma of the highest order.

My Thoughts:

About as powerful a short story as your likely to read. 4/5

Read the story online here. [Note: Avoid reading the first paragraph! As it gives the ending away! If you spoil yourself, it’s your own fault!]

Through Thy Bounty by Lucy A Snyder

I stare down at the naked body of the boy on the butcher block, as my mother’s nightmare washes through me.

Human prisoner and talented chef must prepare delicious meals for her captors the Jagaren. The more delicious the meal, the more comfortable her cell for the night. Only one problem, each meal feature one main ingredient, other humans.

My Thoughts:

Gruesome, really gruesome. But also very entertaining, with a killer ending. 4/5

Read the story online here.

The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C Clarke

"This is a slightly unusual request," said Dr. Wagner, with what he hoped was commendable restraint.

“The Nine Billion Names of God” follows three employees of a computer company as they sell, deliver and maintain a relatively large and fast computer to a group of Tibetan monks. The monks want the computer to help them print out all the possible names of God.

My Thoughts

Well it wouldn’t be right to read at least one of the masters classics at some point during the Sci Fi Experiences, and taking a look at one of his short stories works for me. The Best Science Fiction blog, praised it for it’s ‘nice surprise ending’ and while I saw it coming from about half way through, it was a satisfying one. Most Enjoyable.

Read the story online, here.

Shot of Short #3: The Duke of Wellington Misplaces his Horse

Darren — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:22:05 +0000

Title: The Duke of Wellington Misplaces his Horse
By: Susanna Clarke
Collection: The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
Summary: The Duke of Wellington, visits the village of Wall from Neil Gaiman’s Stardust.
Thoughts: Enjoyed this one a lot more that the previous ones in the collection – perhaps that’s down to it being set in a world I already love…
Rating: 3.5/5

Shot of Short #2: Mrs Mabb

Darren — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:03:47 +0000

Title: Mrs Mabb.
By: Susanna Clarke.
Collection: The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories.
Summary: Venetia, a village girl and Mrs Mabb, a fairy, fight it out for the heart of Captain Fox.
Thoughts: Again the story was okay, but I can’t get on with the style.
Rating: 2.5/5

Shot of Short #1: The Ladies of Grace Adieu

Darren — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:44:56 +0000

Title: The Ladies of Grace Adieu
By: Susanna Clarke
Collection: The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
Summary: A depiction of the difficulties faced by female magicians during the early nineteenth century – a time when their work was simply dismissed by their male counterparts.
Thoughts: An interesting tale, but I couldn’t get into the writing style.
Rating: 2.5/5