Voyages by Starlight

by Ian R. MacLeod

The 10 stories included here combine elements of horror, fantasy, SF and realistic fiction as expressed by an assured literary voice. Includes the following stories: "Ellen O'Hara, " "Green, " "Starship Day, " "The Giving Mouth, " "The Perfect Stranger, " "Tirkiluk, " "Papa, " "1/72nd Scale, " "Marnie, " "Grownups."

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

269 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Ian R. MacLeod is the acclaimed writer of challenging and innovative speculative and fantastic fiction. His most recent novel, Wake Up and Dream, won the Sidewise Award for Alternate History, while his previous works have won the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, and the World Fantasy Award, and have been translated into many languages. His short story, “Snodgrass,” was developed for television in the United Kingdom as part of the Sky Arts series Playhouse Presents. MacLeod grew up in the West Midlands region of England, studied law, and spent time working and dreaming in the civil service before moving on to teaching and house-husbandry. He lives with his wife in the riverside town of Bewdley.

Reviews

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually bought this book in the 90s and have loved it ever since. It has survived many book purges. Like Michael Swanwick, who writes a good intro, MacLeod's name on anything will get me to buy it. He is a master of beautifully plotted short stories, each completely original. There is not a dud in the bunch, though my favorites are Starship Day and Grownups.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story collection from earlier in his career. Some were okay, especially when dealing with tragedy and regret and how future technology probably won't genuinely improve things but just make them prolonged. Not too many hopeful moments that aren't dashed as the stories progress. One deals with a time-traveler of sorts who can revisit his happiest moments but never change how they ended. Another a young couple in a time where human biology is very different and childhood and adulthood have very strict boundaries and even different sexuality. Another turns out to be about a long starship voyage spent in a virtual reality that hides the perpetual inability to find another viable planet. It all starts with a story set during The Troubles in Ireland and how someone might become a terrorist. In the end, though, I can't give it much more of a rating mainly because I just prefer the novel as a deeper, more immersive experience.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beatifully written short stories; not hard science fiction but all with fantastical elements, some jarring some gentle. They reminded a bit of Gene Wolfe's short stories "The Island of Dr. Death and Other Stories and Other Stories." Beautiful and moving.