The New Space Opera 2http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/New-Space-Opera-2-Gardner-Dozois-Edited-by-Jonathan-Strahan-Edited-by/9780061562358?isbn=0061562351
Some of the most beloved names in science fiction spin all-new tales of interstellar adventure and wonder. Neal Asher; John Barnes; Cory Doctorow; John Kessel; Jay Lake; John Meaney; Elizabeth Moon; Garth Nix; Mike Resnick; Justina Robson; Kristine Kathryn Rusch; John Scalzi; Bruce Sterling; Peter Watts; Sean Williams; Tad Williams; Bill Willingham; Robert Charles Wilson; John C. Wright.
Reviews
The new space opera shares with the old the interstellar sweep of events and exotic locales, but Dozois and Strahan's all-original anthology shows how the genre's purveyors have updated it, with rigorous science, well-drawn characters and excellent writing. Many of the 18 stories play with the scope that characterizes classic space opera. In Greg Egan's "Glory," creatures embody themselves as aliens to perform archeological research, only to get caught up in a struggle between two worlds. Robert Reed's "Hatch," limited in locale to the hull of a giant ship, proves that the scope of the struggle for life is always epic. Stephen Baxter's "Remembrance" walks a line between the personal and the global as resisters against Earth's conquerors remember one man's struggle against the alien invaders. Kage Baker's humorous "Maelstrom," in which an acting troupe on frontier Mars puts on a Poe story for the miners there, tells a personal story in an epic setting. The new space opera teaches us that despite the bizarre turns humanity may take to conquer these outre settings, a recognizable core of humanity remains. (June) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
"Highly recommended!"--Greg Bear
Award-winning editors Dozoi (editor of Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine) and Strahan (reviews editor of Locus and coeditor of Science Fiction: The Best of- and Fantasy: The Best of ... anthology series) have put together an exceedingly fine set of stories written specifically for this collection by some of the best sf authors writing today. These 18 tales run the gamut from technologically centered hard science (think exploding comets and artificial intelligence) to character-driven soft science (settling on new worlds). Alien perspectives are balanced by humanistic introspection. Many of the stories mine the genre's favorite nuggets by exploring political and ethical questions from varied and unusual points of view. In the great tradition of space opera-not to be confused with soap opera, although there is some similarity in the epic sprawl of the underpinnings-the collection shows both remarkable diversity and cohesiveness. Standouts from Kage Baker, Paul J. McAuley, Nancy Kress, Gregory Benford, and Dan Simmons, among others, make this a solid purchase for public libraries with sf and/or short story collections.-Charli Osborne, Oxford P.L., MI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
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Reviews
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The second volume has turned out about how I expected, not as good as the first. This is to be expected when the best exponents of the form are mostly excluded - these authors are all different to the first book. So no Reynolds, Baxter, Reed, Egan, McDonald, Simmons, etc.
So, rather than being outstanding, this anthology is excellent. Which is still a great result. A 3.68 average as opposed to 3.83. The high end not being there, as such. Still, a bunch of good stories to be found, in a fair variety.
It would seem at the moment you could order a Black Beauty, Superman, or any other sort of story from Bruce Sterling, and you'd end up getting an urban planning screed, currently. No idea why they kept this one, other than Sterling's name probably sells books. It is just an ok story, and neither space opera or adventure.
The pick of this lot is John Barnes layered con story, then Watts, Rusch, Lake, (doing a passable Alastair Reynolds style - and apparently the same setting for a novel he is working on, which would appear to be very promising), Williams and Williams.
A class anthology, just not one for the 5 star best ever list. A right on 4.5, in fact.
New Space Opera 2 : Utriusque Cosmi - Robert Charles Wilson
New Space Opera 2 : The Island - Peter Watts
New Space Opera 2 : Events Preceding the Helvetican Renaissance - John Kessel
New Space Opera 2 : To Go Boldly - Cory Doctorow
New Space Opera 2 : The Lost Princess Man - John Barnes
New Space Opera 2 : Defect - Kristine Kathryn Rusch
New Space Opera 2 : To Raise A Mutiny Betwixt Yourselves - Jay Lake
New Space Opera 2 : Shell Game - Neal Asher
New Space Opera 2 : Punctuality - Garth Nix
New Space Opera 2 : Inevitable - Sean Williams
New Space Opera 2 : Join The Navy and See the Worlds - Bruce Sterling
New Space Opera 2 : Fearless Space Pirates of the Outer Rings - Bill Willingham
New Space Opera 2 : From the Heart - John Meaney
New Space Opera 2 : Chameleons - Elizabeth Moon
New Space Opera 2 : The Tenth Muse - Tad Williams
New Space Opera 2 : Cracklegrackle - Justina Robson
New Space Opera 2 : The Tale of the Wicked - John Scalzi
New Space Opera 2 : Catastrophe Baker and a Canticle for Leibowitz - Mike Resnick
New Space Opera 2 : The Far End of History - John C. Wright
Dark matter universe jumping Invisible Enemy Rapture, go fast, kid.
3.5 out of 5
Gate Mission live Dyson sphere violence Chimp conflict.
4 out of 5
Monk play nicking folded soldier escape.
3.5 out of 5
Space navies? You guys are crazy. No to mention inefficient.
3.5 out of 5
We'll find the right conman for this Empress thing, yet.
4.5 out of 5
Son's a killer combo.
4 out of 5
One posthuman captain ahead of another, Ship.
4 out of 5
Straightening out an alien religious conflict revenge.
3.5 out of 5
There's a gene for the intergalactic transport version.
3.5 out of 5
I'm safe till we loop, enemy woman.
4 out of 5
Just not in this story.
3 out of 5
No human bosses, so now superheroes.
4 out of 5
Spying sneaky Pilot stuff for you, Candidate.
4 out of 5
Dad, filthy rich or not, hiring bad men = bad.
3.5 out of 5
Construct killer space libretto.
4 out of 5
Ghost energy Forged daughter hunt.
3.5 out of 5
Ship Brain independence spread.
3.5 out of 5
Voluptua playing around.
3 out of 5
A new mental model for lots of the two of us via the Atkins methods.
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