The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Sixteen Original Works by… (original 2008; edition 2008)

This collection started out interesting. Not necessarily compelling or knock your socks off fantastic. But the story "The Elephant Ironclads" by Jason Stoddard has some decent storytelling and, as an alternate universe where the Navajo have their own nation because of the use of ironclad elephants is interesting. It felt like a little too much romanticizing of the Native American experience with a heavy dose of how bad tribal life can currently be (both traps authors often fall into in this situation), but still an interesting story.

Why do I spend so much time on a short story that I didn't find overly impressive? Because, after this story, the quality went downhill. And this fairly good one represented some of the best the collection has to offer.

That isn't to say this is a horrible collection. But neither does it rise above so-so. There are a couple that stick their heads up to be noticed. "The Elephant Ironclads" (already discussed), "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall" by Elizabeth Bear which tells Sonny Liston's side of what happened against Mohammed Ali (a story that is just barely science fiction or fantasy – in fact, feeling like that aspect was tacked on), and ...you know what, I usually try and come up with three stories that are worth mentioning, and I can't come up with more than two. And, as you may have noted, those two don't come with ringing recommendations.

The stories are not bad. They just don't feel like they are the best that could have been done. Many of them feel obvious, and others feel like the author was just trying too hard.

Ellen Datlow is great editor of anthologies. She would be better leaving this one off her resume. ( )

You had me at “Maureen F. McHugh”!

I first picked up this book because it contains a piece by one of my favorite writers, Maureen F. McHugh – “Special Economics” which, as it just so happens, I’d already read (it appears in 2011’s After the Apocalypse: Stories) – but ultimately enjoyed all but one of the sixteen essays in this diverse collection. With elements of horror, fantasy, post-apocalyptic fiction, alternate history, and the supernatural, The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy – masterfully curated by Ellen Datlow – has a little bit of something for everyone. Especially if you prefer your speculative fiction on the dark side.

In addition to Maureen McHugh’s “Special Economics,” an arguably feminist tale which takes place in a future China devastated by the bird flu, my favorites include:

* “Jimmy” (Pat Cadigan), whose eponymous (anti?-) hero is a young boy coming of age in the 1960s (the bulk of story takes place the day JFK was assassinated). Granted “enlightenment” by an alien species, Jimmy is shunned by those who can sense his difference – and want nothing to do with it. Ignorance is bliss, or so the saying goes.

* “The Passion of Azazel” (Barry N. Malzberg), a revenge story told from the point of view of a goat, sacrificed to the gods one long-ago Day of Atonement and then reincarnated as a (human) rabbinical student who fashions a golem who is quite possibly his long-dead brother goat.

* “The Goosle” (Margo Lanagan), a fittingly bleak retelling of/sequel to “Hansel and Gretal,” in which lone survivor Hansel escapes from the witch’s cage only to find a world more brutal than the one he left behind. (Strong trigger warning for rape.)

Some of the stories – most notably “The Passion of Azazel” – can be interpreted from an anti-oppressive vegan perspective, which I especially appreciate.

For what it’s worth, I just discovered Ellen Datlow’s adult fairy tale anthology series. Wishlist ALL the books!

(Crossposted on Amazon.) ( )

http://www.of2minds.org/otm/2008/07/07/books-for-may-and-june/

I picked up the ARC of this anthology when I was at NY Comic Con, and I’m glad I did. My favorite of the included stories was Elizabeth Bear’s “Sonny Liston Takes the Fall,” and I also quite enjoyed Maureen F. McHugh’s “Special Economics,” Margo Lanagan’s “The Goosle,” and Laird Barron’s “The Lagerstatte.” Some of the other choices didn’t work as well for me, but it’s still a good group of stories overall. ( )

This book turns out to be just another not very good original anthology. 3.16 average only. Although billed as The Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy, you could uncharitably call it the Del Rey Book Of Fantasy with a fair helping of mundane and a bit of Science Fiction. The subtitle mentions Speculative Fiction - perhaps that would have been a better actual title as far as content goes. However, the McAuley/Newman novella is a long piece, and clearly SF, and also probably the only story with anything resembling humour. Perhaps not so surprising given the editor's predilection for horror. Lanagan and Barron may well appeal to the horror fan, too, and maybe some of the other stories.

In general though, there is too much average, mediocre, and dull to be found here, and a certain sameness of tone perhaps in the inferior examples. The better tales clearly depart from this sort of atmosphere: McHugh's future China again, Lanagan's not just fractured by actually fracked fairy tale and McAuley and Newman's whacky island, to name a few.

Here's what the editor says in the intro : "This volume reflects the kinds of fiction I published while at SCI FICTION: fantasy, science fiction, a touch of horror—and even a possibly unclassifiable or two. I did not go out and try to pick a story to represent every type of SF, every type of fantasy or dark fantasy. You won’t find off-planet stories or hard science fiction, but you will find two very different alternate histories, some aliens, and some powerful, very timely political science fiction. There’s no sword and sorcery or elves but there are cities in bottles, a twisted fairy tale, and a woman who loves filming volcanoes."

In other words, if you are looking for a variety of centre-core science fiction stories, second world fantasy or the more mainstream urban fantasy to any significant degree, then you should definitely look elsewhere, you definitely won't find it here. Those that like the more mundane or mainstream type stuff will likely find this appealing. Perhaps a strange approach if trying to establish a series title and turn it into a success. Maybe there idea is to be the flipside of the Solaris effort and try and get a different audience. This one isn't in mass market form I don't think though, however the ebook is available and how I managed to get it for a price I thought was worth it. Good thing it was at a nice fictionwise discount as it turns out.

The best story here, Elizabeth Bear's 'Sonny Liston Takes the Fall' is an example of the above approach, it would seem: it has one minor if you are aware of it mention of another character from a supernatural urban fantasy story of hers. 'One-Eyed Jack and the Suicide Kings' which you can find at Subterranean Online and says it is an exceprt from a novel. Otherwise as you should be able to tell from the title, it is a story about a boxer.

There are other stories like that, chop out a line or two and you wouldn't notice it was any sort of fantasy at all.

Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : The Elephant Ironclads - Jason Stoddard
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Ardent Clouds - Lucy Sussex
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Gather - Christopher Rowe
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Sonny Liston Takes the Fall - Elizabeth Bear
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : North American Lake Monsters - Nathan Ballingrud
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : All Washed Up While Looking for a Better World - Carol Emshwiller
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Special Economics - Maureen McHugh
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Aka Saint Marks Place - Richard Bowes
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : The Goosle - Margo Lanagan
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Shira - Lavie Tidhar
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : The Passion of Azazel - Barry N. Malzberg
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : The Lagerstätte - Laird Barron
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Gladiolus Exposed - Anna Tambour
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Daltharee - Jeffrey Ford
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Jimmy - Pat Cadigan
Del Rey Book Of Science Fiction and Fantasy : Prisoners of the Action - Paul McAuley and Kim Newman

Uranium power deal flunkies.

3 out of 5

Volcano junkie gets the horn.

3.5 out of 5

...more clarity.

2.5 out of 5

Taking one for Ali.

4 out of 5

So, in the shed, why then?

3 out of 5

That about covers it.

3 out of 5

Getting a Chinese Wal-Mart New Life revolution.

3.5 out of 5

The finding of a Ray Light.

3 out of 5

Arsebanditry better than cannibalry.

3.5 out of 5

Poetry pass-over.

2.5 out of 5

Kill that scapegoat.

2.5 out of 5

Plane crash ghosts.

3.5 out of 5

Bone fondling end.

3 out of 5

Domeworld no Brainiac.

3.5 out of 5

Dead Kennedy bridge being runaway.

3 out of 5

Alien zombie Stalag 13 is highly inventive.

3.5 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2008/07/del-rey-book-of-science-fiction-and.html ( )