Deep Space. edited by Robert Silverberg. 1973
DEEP SPACE
RATED 88% POSITIVE. STORY SCORE = 3.88 OUT OF 5
8 STORIES : 1 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 0 AVERAGE / 1 POOR / 0 DNF
Robert Silverberg’s short science fiction anthologies are like a bag of candy. It’s easy to grab a handful as you walk by. Perhaps, these stories won’t change the world, but they do offer a fun blast of SciFi goodness that is totally worth your reading time. I wish there were more short anthologies published today.
The titular theme of the book is “Deep Space,” which Silverberg uses as a workaround for the frequent lament that “Science Fiction is harder now because of the pace of Science.” It is an opinion that is always wrong. This anthology was published in 1973. In this instance, the theme plays out in the cosmic scale of the stories.
We have tales of electric aliens that strangely dance and astronauts either abandoned to strange beauty or trying not to lose money gambling. Robots protect riches with trivia questions or become dangerous when they malfunction.
There is one story that makes The Great List:
Blood's a Rover • (1952) • novella by Chad Oliver. This novella feels like a condensed novel. A future war is fought by humans making small anthropological changes to the people’s of foreign worlds, in order to eventually have allies. Cosmic in scope, compassionate in acknowledging the injustice of colonial intervention, and with a wonderfully sharp conclusion.
DEEP SPACE IS RATED 88% POSITIVE
8 STORIES : 1 GREAT / 6 GOOD / 0 AVERAGE / 1 POOR / 0 DNF
How do I arrive at a rating?
Blood's a Rover • (1952) • novella by Chad Oliver
Great. This novella feels like a condensed novel. A future war is fought by humans making small anthropological changes to the people’s of foreign worlds, in order to eventually have allies. Cosmic in scope, compassionate in acknowledging the injustice of colonial intervention, and with a wonderfully sharp conclusion. A very strong start to the anthology.
Noise • (1952) • short story by Jack Vance
Good. Poetic and haunting tale of a man stranded on a strange planet that transforms itself along colors and shapes. He slowly starts to see a parallel ‘bleed-over’ between his realm and a woman in another.
Life Hutch • [Earth-Kyba War] • (1956) • short story by Harlan Ellison
Good. An injured soldier must combat a broken robot that is attacking anything that moves.
Ticket to Anywhere • [The Analogues] • (1952) • novelette by Damon Knight
Good. A man hijacks his way into entering an alien portal that takes one into a random place the in solar system.
The Sixth Palace • (1965) • short story by Robert Silverberg
Poor. A fabulous treasure is protected by a robot that will kill you if you can’t answer his questions.
Lulungomeena • (1953) • novelette by Gordon R. Dickson
Good. On a working-class space station, a old man and a young man come into conflict over gambling and the superiority of the old man’s home planet. An alien visitor - from a race that cannot lie - comes to dinner as the ultimate power play.
The Dance of the Changer and the Three • (1968) • short story by Terry Carr
Good. A public relations man from a devastated mining colony recounts a strange performance of the indigenous aliens. Quite a good depiction of a truly alien mentality.
Far Centaurus • (1944) • short story by A. E. van Vogt
Good. Astronauts emerge for brief moments from a long cryo-sleep voyage to Alpha Centari, with death, beauty, and alien vessels on fire. The real challenge will come when they arrive to realize the meaningless nature of their mission.
