Novel Ideas: Science Fiction

by Brian M. Thomsen (Editor)

For the first time in one volume, seven classic, award-winning stories which were the genesis for some of the most memorable novels and series in the field of science fiction.

Contents:
Ender's Game (1977) by Orson Scott Card
Fire Watch (1982) by Connie Willis
Air Raid (1977) by John Varley
Lady in the Tower (1959) by Anne McCaffrey
The Postman (1982) by David Brin
Blood Music (1983) by Greg Bear
Beggars in Spain (1991) by Nancy Kress

Genres: Science Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 4, 2006

About the author

Brian Thomsen was a founding editor of the Questar Science Fiction line of books, and served as managing fiction editor at TSR, Inc.; he also wrote over 30 short stories, and collaborated with Julius Schwartz on Schwartz's autobiography. He also worked as the publisher for TSR's Periodicals Department at one point. He was a consulting editor at Tor Books; as an author he was a Hugo Award nominee.

He died on September 21, 2008, at his home in Brooklyn at the age of 49. He was survived by his wife, Donna.

Reviews

[Ryun · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a certain purity in the art of the short story: Beginning, middle and end are never far apart, and ideas can be conveyed with more immediacy and impact than they ever could in longer forms. The Brian M. Thomsen-edited NOVEL IDEAS: SCIENCE FICTION illustrates this point swimmingly, taking original short works that inspired longer, more well-known (or infamous, as the case may be) siblings and letting the authors write introductions that set the stage for the stories’ beginnings.

Some of these stories are hints of later success (Anne McCaffrey’s “Lady in the Tower,” Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game,” Greg Bear’s “Blood Music” and Connie Willis’ “Fire Watch”). Others are known mostly by their celluloid accompaniments (John Varley’s “Air Raid,” which became the novel and movie MILLENNIUM, and unfortunately, David Brin’s “The Postman”). And at least one (Nancy Kress’ “Beggars in Spain”) provides a more recent testament to the survival of the short story.

More: http://www.bookgasm.com/reviews/sci-f...

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed from my mother out of interest in reading the original short story "Ender's Game." Other stories in the compilation included "Fire Watch" by Connie Willis (historian has to go back in time to complete his history degree--to London during the Blitz), "Air Raid" by John Varley (falling apart future beings kidnap humans who would have died in an airplane crash to continue the species), "Lady in the Tower" by Anne McCaffrey (depressed telepath finds romance in space), "The Postman" by David Brin (post-apocalyptic tale, with the USPS riding to the rescue), "Blood Music" by Greg Bear (completely weird human mutation), and "Beggars in Spain" by Nancy Kress (children engineered not to need sleep grow up facing persecution). I liked the chance to sample different authors, and the Willis and Kress stories were my favorite, aside from "Ender's Game."

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't get to finish this, but I think it is a good book and series to read on the go (trains, planes, Dr. offices,etc.). It was helpful to how stories can grow from a core idea.

[Bryan]

Fictionwise has this download working once again, so I can now read the book I purchased!

[Dimitri Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the stories start slow but they all build quickly. It is obvious why these novellas went on to become whole books and in some cases entire series.