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Title: Redshift: Extreme Visions of Speculative Fiction by Al Sarrantonio ISBN: 0-451-45904-0 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: December, 2002 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.99

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Average Customer Rating: 3.8 (10 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: An eclectic and entertaining collection
Comment: "Redshift: Extreme Visions of Speculative Fiction," edited by Al Sarrantonio, brings together 30 pieces of fiction of varying lengths; in his intro the editor breaks the pieces down as 22 short stories, 3 novellas, and 5 novelettes. Mainly science fiction, the collection also encompasses fantasy, horror and satire.

In his intro, Sarrantonio notes that he was inspired by Harlan Ellison's important 1967 anthology "Dangerous Visions." Many of the stories in this book deal with adult themes: rape, addiction, bondage, war, etc. There is some graphic sex and violence, but I did not find these elements to be gratuitous.

Some of the most memorable pieces in the collection include Laura Whitton's "Froggies," about the difficulty of interspecies communication; Harry Turtledove's "Black Tulip," a stylish tale set during the Soviet-Afghan conflict; Robert E. Vardeman's "Feedback," a stunning tale about telepaths and illicit sexuality; Rudy Rucker & John Shirley's "Pockets," a story of higher dimensions which draws on the classic "Flatland"; and Joe Haldeman's "Road Kill," about "a serial murderer with an interesting specialty."

Other authors represented in the anthology include Michael Moorcock, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Joyce Carol Oates. Overall, this is a solid collection. There are some vivid characters, intriguing sci-fi concepts, and memorable scenes.

Rating: 2
Summary: Few Diamonds, Mostly Coal
Comment: I was quite disappointed with this anthology. The stories written by acknowledged "masters" of the genre such as Le Guin, Disch, Kelly and Niven read like the kind of material these talented authors would never dream of submitting. Joyce Carol Oates "Commencement," her first sci-fi story, is extremely well-written but pointless. If I were the editor of this collection, I would have sent the majority of stories back to the authors for rewrites. There are a few gems, however. New writer Laura Whitton's vibrant and challenging "Froggies" shows us what might happen if we come to care for another alien species a little too much, and Rucker and Shirley's "Pockets" is both mind-bending and terrifying. I just wish Mr. Sarrantonio would have been a bit more discriminating in accepting stories for this collection. Gardner Dozois' yearly collection is the one to read; even on off years, his choices are better than these.

Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent Collection of Sci-Fi
Comment: Great stuff, a little on the fantasy side at times. The title of the book "Redshift" apparently refers to the measure of planets and the solar systems moving apart from each other, and though I didn't see anything in the collection on that particular subject really, it's a great collection.