Packing Fraction: And Other Tales of Science & Imagination

by Julie E. Czerneda (Editor)

Packing Fraction is a companion volume to No Limits, but also a stand-alone anthology. It contains original science fiction short stories, verse, and art commissioned specifically for this project. Each story explores a particular scientific "what if?" premise. For example, the title story by Charles Sheffield explores the consequences of being able to decrease inter-molecular distance, to literally pack more atoms into the same space. The talented authors who contributed to Packing Fraction have succeeded in providing a variety of stories sure to intrigue and stimulate readers.

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2002

About the author

Having written 25 novels (and counting) published by DAW Books, as well as numerous short stories, and editing several anthologies, in 2022, Julie E. Czerneda was inducted in the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Her science fiction and fantasy combines her training and love of biology with a boundless curiosity and optimism, winning multiple awards. Julie's recent releases include the standalone novel To Each This World, her first collection Imaginings, and A Shift of Time, part of her Night's Edge fantasy series. For more visit czerneda.com Julie is represented by Sara Megibow of Megibow Literary Agency LLC.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short book of even shorter short stories. This one I believe is targetted towards teens, with the goal of getting them into science fiction. The stories are interesting enough and deal with a few real issues alongside cool SF ideas, but both are made somewhat milder... not so much to match the sensibilities of teens, but so that parents might not complain.

There are also short interviews with the author and directions for where to go for more of their work or what stories they like, which adds to the sense of an earnest attempt to interest the younger generation in not just reading science fiction but writing it as well.

Of the stories, most of them fell into the category of "mildly enjoyable but left no lasting impression." The one that I'd single out as a little more interesting than the rest, to my tastes, at least, is Robert J. Sawyer's "Stream of Consciousness."

I got this for about a buck at an online store. I'm not sure it'd be worth paying much more than that (more because of the short page count than quality reasons). But at that price, I'm not disappointed at least.