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Human For A Day
by
Martin H. Greenberg,
Jennifer Brozek (Goodreads Author) , Laura Resnick , Jean Rabe , Tim Waggoner (Goodreads Author) , Eugie Foster , Jody Lynn Nye , Kristine Kathryn Rusch
,
more…
Paperback, 307 pages
Published
2011
by DAW Books
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Human for a Day is a theme anthology that covers various beings becoming human, corporeal, incarnate, animate, or mortal for a limited period of time. The topics range from statues made animate to vampires swapping bodies with teenagers to steampunk machines gaining free will. There are also two stories about pets becoming humans, in case you wanted to revisit the old saw.
The stories are almost universally good, with a nice editing job, excellent length, and reasonable accessibility (though the...more
The stories are almost universally good, with a nice editing job, excellent length, and reasonable accessibility (though the...more
The Mainspring of His Heart, The Shackles of His Soul' I would give 3 stars. I enjoyed reading about Jax and his bittersweet ending. I just wish there was more, I would love you read other stories about this would that Ian Tregillis created for this short story.
The Blade of His Plow- 2 stars. I didn’t really get this story, maybe it’s because I war stories have never held my attention.
Cinderella City- ill also have to give this one 2 stars. I think if I had read Seanan McGuire’s books, this sto...more
The Blade of His Plow- 2 stars. I didn’t really get this story, maybe it’s because I war stories have never held my attention.
Cinderella City- ill also have to give this one 2 stars. I think if I had read Seanan McGuire’s books, this sto...more
What would it mean to be human (or even to exist) for exactly one day? To live among us, not as an outsider looking in, but as one of us in truth? What would it mean to go back, having lived as one of us? This excellent collection explores these questions from a variety of angles, and the answers aren't always what one would expect.
For some of the characters herein, becoming human is a gift deeply desired, for others a curse. To some, humanity is a curse to be remedied as quickly as possible, an...more
For some of the characters herein, becoming human is a gift deeply desired, for others a curse. To some, humanity is a curse to be remedied as quickly as possible, an...more
A varied mix of short stories (and these are short, despite the tendency of some anthologies to include mini-novellas) from authors such as Tanith Lee, Jody Lynn Nye, Jay Lake. Each story portrays one being who gets the chance to be human for a short time, whether by choice or misadventure. Some revel in it, enjoying every second, while some are horrified and can't wait to get back. There was only one I didn't read, and one I didn't like - pretty good for this sort of anthology - and a few autho...more
Human for a Day
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg & Jennifer Brozek
The title of this anthology pretty much says it all: the stories all surround what might or could happen if something non-human had the chance, or was given the curse, of being human for a day. It’s a great idea for an anthology theme (wish I’d thought of it), and those included here used that theme to its greatest extent. There’s a wide variety of interpretations on the theme, as well as a wide variety of tones for the stories. S...more
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg & Jennifer Brozek
The title of this anthology pretty much says it all: the stories all surround what might or could happen if something non-human had the chance, or was given the curse, of being human for a day. It’s a great idea for an anthology theme (wish I’d thought of it), and those included here used that theme to its greatest extent. There’s a wide variety of interpretations on the theme, as well as a wide variety of tones for the stories. S...more
This collection examines what it means to be human, with all the hope and heartbreak this entails.
From robot slavery (complete with an underground railroad) to how do you spend your final hours when trapped and you know you will die?
Like any really good story, these take the basic premise and expand upon the theme.
This volume is filled with tales that manage to take the step further.
Martin H. Greenburg will be sorely missed, this anthology adds to an impressive legacy.
© Night Owl Reviews
From robot slavery (complete with an underground railroad) to how do you spend your final hours when trapped and you know you will die?
Like any really good story, these take the basic premise and expand upon the theme.
This volume is filled with tales that manage to take the step further.
Martin H. Greenburg will be sorely missed, this anthology adds to an impressive legacy.
© Night Owl Reviews
There were only a few stories that were worthwhile in this collection, but I would definitely recommend:
The Mainspring of His Heart, The Shackles of His Soul - Ian Tregellis
Cinderella City - Seanan McGuire
The Dog-Catcher's Song - Tanith Lee
The Destroyer - Kristine Kathryn Rusch
I suppose looking back through the stories there were more I enjoyed than didn't, but I found some stories like The Blade of His Plow and The Very Next Day that I found cliched and trite. And then there were some in betwee...more
The Mainspring of His Heart, The Shackles of His Soul - Ian Tregellis
Cinderella City - Seanan McGuire
The Dog-Catcher's Song - Tanith Lee
The Destroyer - Kristine Kathryn Rusch
I suppose looking back through the stories there were more I enjoyed than didn't, but I found some stories like The Blade of His Plow and The Very Next Day that I found cliched and trite. And then there were some in betwee...more
Jan 02, 2012
Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Snail in Danger (Sid) by:
Mira Grant's blog ... I think
A pretty good anthology. I only skipped one of the stories because it wasn't grabbing me. I think Jody-Lynn Nye's was the one that grabbed me the most. Could have been cloying and twee but managed not to be. I also liked the Seanan McGuire, David Levine, and Ian Tregillis stories.
I wrote a story in this, so I won't remark on that, but the others in here--particularly Jim Hines's piece, which is my favorite--are not to be missed. I think they really get at the heart of what it is to be human: how precious and terrifying that really is.
The short stories all feature some sort of being that become human for just one day. I adored Ian Tregillis' golem-robot love story, _The Mainspring of his Heart, the Shackles of his Soul_. Seanan McGuire's _Cinderella City_ is a love story to San Francisco, and has some a lovely magic of a place. Quite a change from her shambling zombies! David D. Levine's _Into the Nth Dimension_ pulls a fun change-up, making me look at things in a different way (I'm avoiding a spoiler here), and works in a lo...more
This one promises to be good: an anthology of beings attempting to transition from their original forms to that of being human. I picked this one up primarily for the promise of a short story with Tim Waggoner's 'Matt Richter', but the more I perused the stories collected, the more I became intrigued; Steampunk robot, vampire, angel, even a statue, all wishing to become human for at least a little while. And might not want to switch back. These are going to be more than just simple Pinocchio Syn...more
Surprisingly for an anthology, all but one of the stories was outstanding. Excellently imaginative.
As the editor of this anthology, I am proud of it and believe it is an excellent book.
Read this because of Seanan's story, which was pretty good.
Highlights were "Cinderella City" by Seanan McGuire, "The Dog-Catcher's Song" by Tanith Lee, "Mortal Mix-Up" by Laura Resnick, "Into the Nth Dimension" by David D. Levine, and "Epilogue" by Jim C. Hines. Though honestly, I just don't think I'm an anthology reader.
A few really good stories, but a number that didn't appeal or were just not that engaging. I liked the premise for the anthology.
Better than most UF short story collections, not as good as a Zelazny collection. Did get a bit tired of the theme by the end.
May 11, 2013
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“But I should not have to explain to you how important it is for science and simplicity to coexist. One must not fear to be a little child again, when times of wonder are at hand.”
—
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