Full Spectrum 4 - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553371428 ISBN 13: 9780553371420

Publisher: Spectra, 1993

Synopsis

“The most important original anthology series in [science fiction].”—The Washington Post Book World

With ten Hugo and Nebula award nominations and three consecutive Locus Awards for best original anthology, Full Spectrum is the most critically acclaimed original science fiction anthology series of its time. Now Full Spectrum returns with its fourth and most provocative installment to date, featuring the best speculative fiction being written today.

From David Brin’s tale of scientific obsession and consuming loneliness on a space station in the farthest reaches of space to Ursula K. Le Guin’s rich and mysterious evocation of the secret language of oppressed women to Ray Aldridge’s haunting tale of a planet where love can be deadly, these twenty fables of the future truly represent the full spectrum of the imagination from the known to the unknown—and everything in between.

Brilliant, disturbing, visionary, and startlingly original, Full Spectrum 4 is quite simply the state of the art of science and speculative fiction.

Featuring: Ray Aldridge · Kevin J. Anderson · David Brin · Danith McPherson · Stephen R. Donalson · L. Timmel Duchamp · Jean-Claude Dunyach · Geogory Feeley · Elizabeth Hand · Howard V. Hendrix · Bonita Kale · Nancy Kress · John M. Landsberg · Ursula K. Le Guin · A. R. Morlan · Mark Rich · Bruce Holland Rogers · Dave Smeds · Martha Soukup · Del Stone, Jr.

About this title

About the Author

Lou Aronica is the coauthor of The Element and The Culture Code (with Clotaire Rapaille), and is the editor, with Amy Stout and Betsy Mitchell, of Full Spectrum 3. He lives in Connecticut.

Reviews

The editors of Full Spectrum have gathered here original speculative fiction that is astonishing both in range and quality. From medieval sorcery to dystopian futures, from computer-generated virtual realities to space research outposts, from idol worship to scientific philosophy, the volume shows off the best of well-known (Stephen Donaldson, Ursula Le Guin) and not so well-known SF and fantasy authors. Dave Smeds conjures a future where regeneration and eternal youth are made possible through biotechnology; his story tells what happens to a dysfunctional mother and daughter in a world where suicide is a hobby and murder a misdemeanor. A. R. Morlan's men and women have changed social roles due to a disease that has reduced male births to less than 15%. David Brin and L. Timmel Duchamp also weigh in with reproduction stories, Brin through a highly technical story of a future in which cloning has made men unnecessary, Duchamp through a tale of an infectious hermaphrodite from another world. The focus on women throughout and the general excellence of the stories should give this volume broad appeal.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Another noteworthy entry in this laudable series of original anthologies, this one comprising 19 stories--one a translation from the French--and a poem from Ursula K. LeGuin. Best of the bunch: a splendid discourse on the enigmas of alien communication (John M. Landsberg); aliens, beauty, and art, in a striking combination (Ray Aldridge); a waggish and touching yarn featuring another story's minor characters (Martha Soukup); Andean saints and magic realism (Bonita Kale); brooding, provocative thoughts on aliens and alienation (Mark Rich); and, amusing and telling, a man who wakes up dead (Nancy Kress). Also worthwhile, if less remarkable by comparison: hermaphrodites, women warriors, alien artifacts, memory, magic, growing up, computers and paranoia, god and guilt, a deal with the devil, Mars, black holes, and Africa. High standards maintained: the fourth in this series is as thematically diverse, well crafted, and imaginative as ever. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ray Aldridge's compelling tale of a world where men literally die for beauty ("The Beauty Addict") and Elizabeth Hand's evocative retelling of "The Earl King" highlight this collection of 19 stories and one poem (by Ursula LeGuin). Other standouts in an unusually strong anthology of original short stories include entries by Stephen R. Donaldson, David Brin, and Danith McPherson. In a genre saturated with collections of every sort, this series is one of the best. Eminently suitable for sf and short story collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Spectra
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0553371428
• ISBN 13: 9780553371420
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 496
• Editor: Lou Aronica, Amy Stout, Betsy Mitchell