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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I really like books of short stories. I find them satisfying for when I can't devote hours to reading. This book had five short stories worth talking about that I liked, one that wasn't so remarkable, and two that I didn't like (but one of those was still worth talking about).
I liked many of the stories: The New Prime had a really satisfying resolution and very interesting vignettes. The Men Return was a great concept for a world and weird and savage. Dodkin's Job kept me a little on my seat and made me laugh at the end. Alfred's Ark was somewhat predictable but funny as well. Sulwen's Planet was a little contrived, but good. Rumfuddle was also funny and mysterious.
I'm undecided on The Moon Moth. I liked it, but the end was too silly.
Ullward's Retreat and Green Magic were duds for me. Ullward's Retreat was a great concept, but the execution really irked me. People acted naturally (that's the point of the story) but developed unnaturally. They were too extremely out of character. The progression was missing.
I liked many of the stories: The New Prime had a really satisfying resolution and very interesting vignettes. The Men Return was a great concept for a world and weird and savage. Dodkin's Job kept me a little on my seat and made me laugh at the end. Alfred's Ark was somewhat predictable but funny as well. Sulwen's Planet was a little contrived, but good. Rumfuddle was also funny and mysterious.
I'm undecided on The Moon Moth. I liked it, but the end was too silly.
Ullward's Retreat and Green Magic were duds for me. Ullward's Retreat was a great concept, but the execution really irked me. People acted naturally (that's the point of the story) but developed unnaturally. They were too extremely out of character. The progression was missing.
Vance has a knack for taking the germ of a "what if" idea and building a story around it. He expresses what he imagines so well that at times I have to just sit back and reflect on how well he's communicated his vision. Many of his stories are invitations to explore ideas in psychology, sociology, and philosophy. I could easily see them serving as the core for discussion in a classroom.