Isaac Asimov's Utopias (edition 2000)

I was excited upon stumbling across this collection of sci-fi; my favorite sub-genre of both sci-fi and literature is utopian/dystopian fiction. However, the stories were nearly consistently weak and rambling, despite the accolades afforded them in the preface to each piece. I added a star, however, because the worlds imagined were creative and a bit startling, through-and-through; too bad the authors, for the most part, didn't deliver. ( )

ZZB4 ( )

What the title suggests, is what this book gives. This is a selection of science fiction stories with Utopian settings, taken from Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. Generally a fairly high quality, this batch with the pick of the litter perhaps being Bruce Sterling's story.

Isaac Asimov's Utopias : MOUNTAIN WAYS - Ursula K. Le Guin
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : OUT OF TOUCH - Brian Stableford
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : GETTING TO KNOW YOU - David Marusek
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : ONE PERFECT MORNING WITH JACKALS - Mike Resnick
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : CANARY LAND - Tom Purdom
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : TRANSIT - Stephen Dedman
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : SMART ALEC - Kage Baker
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : NEVERMORE - Ian R. MacLeod
Isaac Asimov's Utopias : BICYCLE REPAIRMAN - Bruce Sterling

Crossdressing marriage subterfuge decision.

3.5 out of 5

Longevity generation lost.

4 out of 5

Buggy accessories.

3 out of 5

Kenya piss off.

3.5 out of 5

Immigrant music.

4 out of 5

Muslim girl travels to planet of hermaphrodites. Is a bit stressed even though everyone is nice to her.

4 out of 5

Pirate Playfriend.

3.5 out of 5

Arty unreality.

2.5 out of 5

Celibate cycle geek bags black bag babe burglar thanks to baton boo-boo.

4 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2008/02/isaac-asimovs-utopias-gardner-dozois.html ( )