Georgia on My Mind and Other Places

by Charles Sheffield

Includes the NEBULA & HUGO wining novelette.A collection of some of the finest short stories penned by a master of hard science fiction, this anthology includes Charles Sheffield’s highly acclaimed novelette, Georgia On My Mind.Georgia On My Mind won both the Hugo and Nebula when originally published in 1993. The accompanying stories were written by the author between 1987 and 1994.“Sheffield, a physicist, proves to be one of the most imaginative, exciting talents to appear on the SF scene in recent years.”—Publishers Weekly

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Ebooks, Collections

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Charles A. Sheffield (June 25, 1935 – November 2, 2002), was an English-born mathematician, physicist and science fiction author. He had been a President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and of the American Astronomical Society.

His novel The Web Between the Worlds, featuring the construction of a space elevator, was published almost simultaneously with Arthur C. Clarke's novel about that very same subject, The Fountains of Paradise, a coincidence that amused them both.

For some years he was the chief scientist of Earth Satellite Corporation, a company analysing remote sensing satellite data. This resulted in many technical papers and two popular non-fiction books, Earthwatch and Man on Earth, both collections of false colour and enhanced images of Earth from space.

He won the Nebula and Hugo awards for his novelette "Georgia on My Mind" and the 1992 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for his novel Brother to Dragons.

Sheffield was Toastmaster at BucConeer, the 1998 World Science Fiction Convention in Baltimore.

He had been writing a column for the Baen Books web site; his last column concerned the discovery of the brain tumour that led to his death.

He was married to writer Nancy Kress.

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories with commentaries by the late Charles Sheffield. I bought the collection on the strength of the title story alone. "Georgia on My Mind" won the Hugo and Nebula for best short story in 1994. It is based on a real event, the discovery of drawings and parts for a Babbage difference engine on a farm in New Zealand in the 1970's.
I also find the book quite melancholic. In the commentary on the short story "Health Care System", Charles discussed his good health and that he looked forward to many a decade of long life. Sadly, he passed away in 2002 from a brain tumour.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of fourteen short stories about a diversity of topics and setting. Sheffield has a way of portraying distant lands and places so they seem vivid and clear despite the descriptive limits of the short story. I especially enjoyed Beyond the Golden Road. The intrigue and philosophical discourse make for an entertaining tale. If you have ever wondered where writers get their ideas, the afterword following each story gives a glimmer of the history and situations that led to the writing of the story.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another noteworthy collection from Sheffield. The title story won both a Hugo and the Nebula in 1994. Other stories and the collection were also nominated for awards. Here's the complete TOC, reprint history and awards: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?1...

I do see some unfamiliar stories here , which would explain my old 3-star rating. But there's good stuff here too. 3.4-ish stars, I'm guessing, and likely time for a reread.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

7 out of 5 stars. Some stories were an 8: Beyond the Golden Road, Trapalanda, Georgia on My Mind. Sheffield writes an afterword after each story. In Humanity Test he reveals another author already had the idea and wrote the classic story, so he had to 'push it one step forward'. That's what makes every story memorable. I'd already read Trapalanda in another collection of sci-fi short stories, so rereading it revealed the mastery of the author, fine details, deep insight into the characters, and descriptions of Patagonia that paint an impossible landscape with stupendous weather (katabatic winds). It's also about 2 failed marriages and where people call home. Readers hardly ever find an author who understands real world physics AND people's motivations and frailties. He died at age 67. I'm going to look for everything he ever wrote before Destroyer of Worlds becomes a true story.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories was less variable than many are. I found most of the stories good, and a few very good. That said, I thought ""Fifteen-love" was silly, and "Health Care System" a bit too macabre for my taste. The title piece was an interesting walk down memory lane, featuring computers in the 1950's. I think the most powerful and shocking story for me was "Humanity Test," but I also thought "Destroyer of Worlds" was excellent.

What most of the stories shared is that they weren't just about science, but about people and their relationships. Playing with the science is just what gave Sheffield the ability to create novel situations for his characters to experience. Another strength of many of the pieces is that Sheffield often holds back a little bit of the characters' back-story, revealing it at the point when it will have the most impact.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long, meaty stories with plots. There's a slightly old-fashioned feel, but women are written as complex characters. Some problems with race, however. There's a lot of excellence here, in characterization and phrasing; "Georgia On My Mind" details well one of those literally breathtaking moments of grief that can overtake you years after the loved one has died.

(Where on earth did I get this? Probably not Smashwords. And I remember having to reformat the thing. Mysteries, mysteries, mysteries ...)

[Vit Zapolini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double twisted plot, a bit heavy on IT details, however far from the level of M.Crichton, and hardcore programmers for sure appreciate them.
Book tells the story every scientist would be glad to take part in, moreover you can recall it some day saying "well, why not, it might be not a fiction at all!"
Author interweaves his storyline with multiple references to prominent historical (and contemporary) figures and events nudging reader to jump to Wikipedia to refresh memory and complete picture.

It was too short, frankly, I wanted more, but it is just right, author knows well where to stop.

[Chris Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of short stories by Charles Sheffield is, in my view, not his best work. He seems to write better in novel format; perhaps that allows him to focus on character and plot development more and include more science. I enjoy Sheffield's novels for their hard science, and the science seemed a bit lacking in most of the works. It's not a collection of awfulness, just not my cup of tea.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

My personal favorites were:
Millennium
Obsolete Skill
Georgia On My Mind

...although these were hard to separate from:
15-Love on a Dead Man’s Chest
Deep Safari
Beyond the Golden Road
Health Care System
Humanity Test
Trapalanda

...but that’s over half the book, so I had to set the cut off point somewhere.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly my favorite collection of scifi stories. I still find myself thinking about it, despite having read it four years ago.

[Joanne Pascoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story collection of varying lengths. I savored the stories one at a time, between other books. These aren't formulaic or connected -- independent gems. A definite keeper.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of stories, though I primarily bought it for the title piece. Georgia on my Mind has nothing to do with the US state, nor of the Eastern European country, but with the small British Island off the coast of South America. This story covers the discovery of letters and remaining parts of a working Babbage Difference Engine in a farm house in New Zealand. I only discovered recently that this was in fact based on a true event. However, the fictional story relays the account of a couple who have been exiled from England as it is implied that they're half-brother and sister. But in addition to making a working Engine, they've also made contact with an non-human intelligent race. The last letter in the collection makes reference to their immanent departure for the South Georgia Island.

Some very well written stories. I'll have to track down some more of Sheffield's work.

[Arun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories, stories that are earthly but science fiction, that are grandiose but concise, that are epic but heartfelt. Some of them moved me to tears - like the Humanity test, some made me shudder - the Bee's kiss, but the mega ending was for the last short story - Georgia on my mind.

[Rafael Ontivero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Debo ser yo que ando como raruno con esto de los cuentos ya que el libro, salvo el último de todos, no vale una castaña pilonga.

El último fue el que se llevó varios premios.

Siempre se ha dicho que los escritores de cuentos crean novelas malas, y viceversa. No he leído más cuentos de este hombre, pero creo que la regla se cumple a la perfección.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like short stories. The title story was not fave, although good. The Feynman Saltation is almost a horror thriller. The Bees Kiss is that category too. Millennium was just pure fun. As aw Fifteen-Love on a Dead Man's Chest. And on it goes. All sci fi, but usually an extra genre twisted in.

[Richard Magahiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories in this collection come across as somewhat old-fashioned tales, enjoyable enough for what they have to offer. The award-winning title novelette has its moments though I don't really buy the ending.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of short stories by Charles Sheffield. The Georgia on my Mind novella is a great read. Some of the stories are very disturbing in only that they are very much a real chance to occur.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/geor...

[Jeff Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice collection of SF short stories with the Hugo winning "Georgia on my mind" being the best of the collection.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classy anthology of old school science fiction. When the emphasis in science fiction writing was more on the "science" and less on the "fiction writing". Still a good read and fun stories.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant collection of stories, from short shorts to novelettes including the title story which I remember reading when it came out originally but had completely forgotten.

[Jeff Wetherington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice collection of stories, some with similar plot basis or points.

[Bruce Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful writer of speculative fiction. Particularly good w short stories.

[Lee Belbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

SS: The quest for a legendary Babbage computer (and aliens) from a hut near Dunedin to "Georgia" of the title is the remote South Georgia Island. Nice bit of history thrown in. Well written.

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. Good stories!