Morning Child and Other Stories

by Gardner Dozois

An alternative cover for this edition is here

A collection of over a half-dozen classic science fiction stories by Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author and editor Gardner Dozois.

Contents
vii • Introduction (Morning Child and Other Stories) • essay by Gardner Dozois
1 • Morning Child • (1984) • shortstory by Gardner Dozois
10 • A Special Kind of Morning • (1971) • novelette by Gardner Dozois
59 • The Hanging Curve • (2002) • shortstory by Gardner Dozois
73 • A Kingdom by the Sea • (1972) • novelette by Gardner Dozois
103 • A Dream at Noonday • (1970) • shortstory by Gardner Dozois
119 • Ancestral Voices • (1998) • novella by Gardner Dozois and Michael Swanwick
191 • Fairy Tale • (2003) • shortstory by Gardner Dozois
210 • The Peacemaker • (1983) • shortstory by Gardner Dozois
230 • Machines of Loving Grace • (1972) • shortstory by Gardner Dozois
237 • Chains of the Sea • (1973) • novella by Gardner Dozois

Genres: Short Stories, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Post Apocalyptic

305 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Gardner Raymond Dozois was an American science fiction author and editor. He was editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine from 1984 to 2004. He won multiple Hugo and Nebula awards, both as an editor and a writer of short fiction.
Wikipedia entry: Gardner Dozois

http://us.macmillan.com/author/gardne...

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to Morning Child on LeVar Burton Reads and this short story with an apt title sucked me in immediately. The world-building was strong and the particular situation with John reminded me of the fantasy novel A Spell for Chameleon (I was a huge fan of Piers Anthony's Xanth series in middle school- although I find them very problematic now). The ending was obviously melancholy as you wonder how William will cope with John's untenable condition long term.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enjoyable, but I will admit I got distracted by my toddler and so was confused for a portion of it.

But all in all, it was enjoyable. LeVar really knows how to make a story come to life.

[Michelle Love-Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to Morning child. It was a quick listen on LeVar Burton reads. I will have to get the other stories as well. This one was just weird. It didn't explain why the situation of where the two characters was the way it was. Left me wondering if the other stories are connected.

[Jen St · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I perfectly understood it, but I loved it! Will be recommending to many people.

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is best known for editing a zillion SF anthologies, but it turns out he wrote a few of his own stories.

He has sort of an unusual style that grew on me after a while.

Some of the other reviewers complain about his 'twist endings' that don't make any sense. 'A Kingdom By The Sea' falls into this category, and yet this was probably my favorite story in the book.

In a couple of the stories, you're never sure whether the stuff being described is happening, or is the protagonist mentally ill.

[Shelly]

Review of 'Morning Child' by Gardner Dozios only - 5 stars

Listened to this on the Levar Burton Reads podcast. It struck me as very lyrical in the beginning with the descriptions and the slow build up. I would say it was lyrical all the way through to the end, nothing was ever really explained, but the feeling was understood. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and I so wanted to know more. Simply haunting.

[David Blaylock · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Gardner Dozois.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much like reading a dystopian Ray Bradbury, a Dandelion Wine and Martian Chronicles combo.

[Betsy Gant · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh. Only heard the "Morning Child." Audiobook from LeVar Burton Reads. Short and not sweet. I guess I don't see the point in writing this dribble.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read title story only, from Levar Burton Reads

[Mars · Rating 2 out of 5]

Objectively, it's not bad, and I can see why it won all those awards, but subjectively I find myself not enjoying this book at all.

Every story feels like a joke that's waaaay too long, with an interesting story and interesting characters, at the end of which you're slapped with an incredibly disappointing punchline. (speaking of which: http://longestjokeintheworld.com/ )


From A Dream at Noonday, a clip which ideally describes childhood (the rest of the story is barely coherent rambling)
"... I remember that as a kid I was nuts about finding a magic cave and I used to think that there was a cave under every rock, and I would get a long stick to use as a lever and I would sweat and strain until I had managed to turn the rock over, and then when I didn't find any tunnel under the rock I would think that the tunnel was there but it was just filled in with dirt, and I would get a shovel and I would dig three or four feet down looking for the tunnel and the magic cave and then I would give up and go home for a dinner of beans and franks and brown bread. And I remember that once I did find a little cave hidden under a big rock and I couldn't believe it and I was scared and shocked and angry and I didn't want it to be there but it was and so I stuck my head inside it to look around because something wouldn't let me leave until I did and it was dark in there and hot and very still and the darkness seemed to be blinking at me and I thought I heard something rustling and moving and I got scared and I started to cry and I ran away and then I got a big stick and came back, still crying, and pushed and heaved at that rock until it thudded back over the cave and hid it forever. And I remember that the next day I went out again to hunt for a magic cave."

[bluetyson]

Morning Child and Other Stories by Gardner Dozois (2004)

[Cheryl]

http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...