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Starlady and Fast-Friend
Two novelettes by the award-winning author of the SONG OF ICE AND FIRE series, bound back to back, like the Ace Doubles of yesterday.
71 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1976
226 people want to read
About the author
George R.R. Martin
1,505 books119k followersGeorge Raymond Richard "R.R." Martin was born September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His father was Raymond Collins Martin, a longshoreman, and his mother was Margaret Brady Martin. He has two sisters, Darleen Martin Lapinski and Janet Martin Patten.
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
Martin attended Mary Jane Donohoe School and Marist High School. He began writing very young, selling monster stories to other neighborhood children for pennies, dramatic readings included. Later he became a comic book fan and collector in high school, and began to write fiction for comic fanzines (amateur fan magazines). Martin's first professional sale was made in 1970 at age 21: The Hero, sold to Galaxy, published in February, 1971 issue. Other sales followed.
In 1970 Martin received a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, graduating summa cum laude. He went on to complete a M.S. in Journalism in 1971, also from Northwestern.
As a conscientious objector, Martin did alternative service 1972-1974 with VISTA, attached to Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. He also directed chess tournaments for the Continental Chess Association from 1973-1976, and was a Journalism instructor at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, from 1976-1978. He wrote part-time throughout the 1970s while working as a VISTA Volunteer, chess director, and teacher.
In 1975 he married Gale Burnick. They divorced in 1979, with no children. Martin became a full-time writer in 1979. He was writer-in-residence at Clarke College from 1978-79.
Moving on to Hollywood, Martin signed on as a story editor for Twilight Zone at CBS Television in 1986. In 1987 Martin became an Executive Story Consultant for Beauty and the Beast at CBS. In 1988 he became a Producer for Beauty and the Beast, then in 1989 moved up to Co-Supervising Producer. He was Executive Producer for Doorways, a pilot which he wrote for Columbia Pictures Television, which was filmed during 1992-93.
Martin's present home is Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (he was South-Central Regional Director 1977-1979, and Vice President 1996-1998), and of Writers' Guild of America, West.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/george...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 29, 2020
Starlady and Fast-Friend were both first published in 1976.
I like the setting of Starlady, the gloomy, foul Thisrock, but the characters are almost cartoonish. And why is Starlady’s only way of survival prostitution?
Fast-Friend has an interesting premise: Humans can only achieve fast interstellar travel by merging with the Darks, but by doing so they lose part of their humanity. The characters were so-so, but the story is entertaining.
I like the setting of Starlady, the gloomy, foul Thisrock, but the characters are almost cartoonish. And why is Starlady’s only way of survival prostitution?
Fast-Friend has an interesting premise: Humans can only achieve fast interstellar travel by merging with the Darks, but by doing so they lose part of their humanity. The characters were so-so, but the story is entertaining.
December 24, 2022
Starlady and Fast-Friend
Martin, George R.R.
Starlady and Fast-Friend
Martin, George R.R.
two stories in one, and not for children despite their short length. Starlady is about prostitution and war on a planet that has seen war and infighting. Starlady shows the disgruntled edge of space travel and how people no mater how intelligent can go back to their base needs. Fast friend shows the relationship between a race of alien entities and humanity. How they merge to find themselves a new race. and how one man afraid of his dreams has to change his choice in life and live a new life because he can not follow his love. Very dynamic stories and a lot to learn about the struggles of man, spirit and body. and the illusion of love, and happily ever after.
Martin, George R.R.
Starlady and Fast-Friend
Martin, George R.R.
two stories in one, and not for children despite their short length. Starlady is about prostitution and war on a planet that has seen war and infighting. Starlady shows the disgruntled edge of space travel and how people no mater how intelligent can go back to their base needs. Fast friend shows the relationship between a race of alien entities and humanity. How they merge to find themselves a new race. and how one man afraid of his dreams has to change his choice in life and live a new life because he can not follow his love. Very dynamic stories and a lot to learn about the struggles of man, spirit and body. and the illusion of love, and happily ever after.
May 19, 2016
Luckily this was a quick read because the stories weren't really that good. I'd give both of them 2/5 stars. The biggest problem with both of these stories is that nothing happens, and then at the end when it seems like it's building towards something, the last pages fizzle out. Both endings were very disappointing, and felt rushed, as if he'd met his page count so didn't have to write anymore.
I don't have much experience with SF stories so I hope if I choose to dabble in it again that I'm not as disappointed as I was with these. With that being said, it's GRRM, so everything was superbly written. He has a style that just makes you say, "Okay, this is how a professional writer crafts a sentence. I think I'll stick with his fantasy works though.
I don't have much experience with SF stories so I hope if I choose to dabble in it again that I'm not as disappointed as I was with these. With that being said, it's GRRM, so everything was superbly written. He has a style that just makes you say, "Okay, this is how a professional writer crafts a sentence. I think I'll stick with his fantasy works though.
March 15, 2009
For the price, a total disappointment. George R.R. Martin released a book of short stories a little more than a year ago in his two volumes of "Dreamsongs," and it's apparent why these two - written more than 30 years ago - didn't make the cut. Both stories are 30-some odd pages long, and while "Fast-Friend" is a decent, unique sci-fi story, Starlady was a pain to read and an overall bore.
Hopefully Martin is out of short stories to publish and will focus on new stories and books instead.
Hopefully Martin is out of short stories to publish and will focus on new stories and books instead.
August 1, 2013
Starlady was an interesting read, but I found no great joy in it. On the other hand, Fast-Friend was a short but encompassing journey, exploring love, morality, loss, and lost dreams.
December 27, 2017
All kinds of weird in all the wrong ways.
February 9, 2020
Disgusting themes. Hard to stomach.
January 3, 2017
This is a mini- collection of two novellas. Starlady was sf story about a slum society in which a traveler gets robed, loses here ship status, and has to stay with a pimp to survive in this crappy new environment. This story is almost gang-like in style where Starlady and the pimp must survive against the bosses in the slums, and was really mostly an action story.
Fast-Friends is a heavier story as it has a original idea of how humans figure out how to travel to the stars. They found these dark creatures in space that can be joined with humans, and then the humans become these Fast-Friends and travel the stars for the humans. It tells the story of a couple where the female becomes a Star-Friend but then the man chickens out, and this tales is his story in how he deals with his shame, fears, and obsession with the Star-Friends.
Both of these stories are very early Martin, written in the mid 70's and it shows. These are not great stories, nor are they researched science fiction, but what they are is fun entertaining reads. Even though the quality isn't there because of the young age Martin that wrote these, they were still fun reads. I liked both stories.
Fast-Friends is a heavier story as it has a original idea of how humans figure out how to travel to the stars. They found these dark creatures in space that can be joined with humans, and then the humans become these Fast-Friends and travel the stars for the humans. It tells the story of a couple where the female becomes a Star-Friend but then the man chickens out, and this tales is his story in how he deals with his shame, fears, and obsession with the Star-Friends.
Both of these stories are very early Martin, written in the mid 70's and it shows. These are not great stories, nor are they researched science fiction, but what they are is fun entertaining reads. Even though the quality isn't there because of the young age Martin that wrote these, they were still fun reads. I liked both stories.
November 30, 2022
En conjunto le doy un 2.5 al libro sin embargo calificare ambas historias por separado
Starlady: sin duda alguna la peor de las 2, más que una historia parece el resumen o el primer borrador de una historia más larga, los personajes son super planos y en general la historia es muy aburrida, le doy 2 estrellas, sin embargo fue interesante ver al que puede ser el primer Targaryen
Fast-Friend: esta es mucho mejor, sin embargo es igualmente poco desarrollada el final se siente apresurado, pero la trama es mucho más interesante que la anterior, creo que si tuviera más páginas podría ser una excelente historia, le doy 3.5 estrellas
Starlady: sin duda alguna la peor de las 2, más que una historia parece el resumen o el primer borrador de una historia más larga, los personajes son super planos y en general la historia es muy aburrida, le doy 2 estrellas, sin embargo fue interesante ver al que puede ser el primer Targaryen
Fast-Friend: esta es mucho mejor, sin embargo es igualmente poco desarrollada el final se siente apresurado, pero la trama es mucho más interesante que la anterior, creo que si tuviera más páginas podría ser una excelente historia, le doy 3.5 estrellas
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October 12, 2016PIMPS AND SHIET
April 21, 2018
The world which both stories takes place was interesting enough to kept me reading until the very end together with unusual characters. All would have ended up great with 5 stars rating if the stories hadn't been so rushed. The ending in both stories was abrupt, perplexing and much was left unresolved; leaving me unsatisfied.
June 11, 2025
I enjoyed fast friends more than starlady. Both were short reads and the endings were a little off putting but fast friends made more sense in my opinion than starlady. I got the book on a whelm from the library and thought the two books in one seemed interesting. Even though space isn’t my thing.
September 8, 2023
Odličan stari Martin iz sedamdesetih, kada je još pisao, ali stvarno kvalitetan sf.
Uživao sam čitajući obje novele, ne znam koja je bolja.
Uživao sam čitajući obje novele, ne znam koja je bolja.
October 7, 2010
...Martin's success in recent years with his fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire has eclipsed most of his earlier projects. At the same time it has also created opportunities to reissue some of his older works. I've read quite a few of Martin's short stories and all of his other novels by now and I think some of his best writing is in his short fiction. Whenever I read one Martin’s short stories I am amazed by how much he can put into so few words. Starlady and Fast-Friend is not a particularly cheap book, it is listed for 20 US$ at the Subterranean website, but for that you do get two stories by a master of the craft as well as a good quality hardcover with good artwork by Martina Pilcerova (who did some fine Ice and Fire artwork as well). I don’t think I ever read anything by Martin that disappointed me and these stories are no exception. Good stories, interesting format, good artwork, what more could we ask for?
Full Random Comments review
Full Random Comments review
November 3, 2016
Starlady
Read as part of Preston Jacob's Thousand Worlds book club, "this story has no hero in it."
Instead, it's about a pimp and his ladies of the night, plus a strange, alien called "Golden Boy." Together, the pimp struggles alongside (kind of) his... employees... to keep his nominal place in society in the face of a competing group of thugs. But he is taught to strive for more by "Golden Boy's" lover, "Starlady."
Ultimately, though, no one gets what they want. Not really. :)
~*~
Fast-Friend
This story was about a man called Brand and his love for a woman who surrendered herself to the stars, to become a symbiotic creature called a "Fast-friend."
The story speaks of a man's refusal to let go of his unrequited love, but it's also a story about science/ambition, and humanity in space, and the sanctity of person-hood.
Read as part of Preston Jacob's Thousand Worlds book club, "this story has no hero in it."
Instead, it's about a pimp and his ladies of the night, plus a strange, alien called "Golden Boy." Together, the pimp struggles alongside (kind of) his... employees... to keep his nominal place in society in the face of a competing group of thugs. But he is taught to strive for more by "Golden Boy's" lover, "Starlady."
Ultimately, though, no one gets what they want. Not really. :)
~*~
Fast-Friend
This story was about a man called Brand and his love for a woman who surrendered herself to the stars, to become a symbiotic creature called a "Fast-friend."
The story speaks of a man's refusal to let go of his unrequited love, but it's also a story about science/ambition, and humanity in space, and the sanctity of person-hood.
May 30, 2013
Very nice production (as always with Subterranean Press) but overpriced (as always with Subterranean Press) and at less than an hour for the two stories, a very quick read.
Both the new (2008) and the old (1976) story demonstrate the great skill of George R.R. Martin to set the stage and introduce the characters almost casually through the story itself and not as an info dump, but both narratives leave you with the feeling that there should/could have been more. Maybe that's good.
Both the new (2008) and the old (1976) story demonstrate the great skill of George R.R. Martin to set the stage and introduce the characters almost casually through the story itself and not as an info dump, but both narratives leave you with the feeling that there should/could have been more. Maybe that's good.
January 10, 2017
Starlady:
3/5. Story is great and doesn't stick around too long. Could have easily been an entire novel. Only criticism is that the characters have an odd way of talking and it can take a while to get used to. 25 minute read.
Fast-Friend:
3/5. Great story with a cool concept. The universe created was interesting and well worth a visit. A criticism is that there is a little chunk of dialogue that sticks out that is designed to explain to the reader about what Fast-Friends are. It kinda stood out. 15 minute read.
3/5. Story is great and doesn't stick around too long. Could have easily been an entire novel. Only criticism is that the characters have an odd way of talking and it can take a while to get used to. 25 minute read.
Fast-Friend:
3/5. Great story with a cool concept. The universe created was interesting and well worth a visit. A criticism is that there is a little chunk of dialogue that sticks out that is designed to explain to the reader about what Fast-Friends are. It kinda stood out. 15 minute read.
May 10, 2009
This special flipper book from Subterranean Press collects two of Martin's sci-fi stories not found in his two Dreamscape volumes. The first, "Starlady", concerns a a bunch of space pimps and space whores and really feels underdeveloped and unfinished. It was disappointing. The other story "Fast-Friends" is definitely better and concerns some neato space beings. Still, it does seem to be lacking something, but I still quite enjoyed it. Honestly, I recommend this for Martin completists only.
January 5, 2012
Thick world-building, fast-paced story. It's early GRRM, but you can get glimpses of what's to come in these short pieces.
December 11, 2012
These were superb stories. Wish they had been turned into novels though.
May 1, 2013
Starlady and Fast-Friend is a book modeled after the Ace Doubles. There are two short fantasy stories, both great treats, and a super quick read.
September 20, 2015
Two great novellas set the a future where humans have reached the stars. Interesting characters, great writing. Recommended for anyone who wants a great little story to occupy them for an afternoon.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews