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Collected Stories
12 previously uncollected stories by writer and teacher Marta Randall, including Lapidary Nights, The Dark Boy, Lazaro y Antonio, Big Dome, Sea Changes, On Cannon Beach, and Nebula Award finalist Dangerous Games.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 7, 2023
This is a collection of 13 science fiction stories which, for me, were not particularly inspiring. Several of the stories were a bit confusing and most had inconclusive 'endings' so this was heading for a 2-star rating for me until it partly redeemed itself toward the end, especially with the last story 'Dangerous Games', which was also quite a lot longer than any of the others.
So, ultimately, 2.5 stars to rounded up to 3* - 5/10.
So, ultimately, 2.5 stars to rounded up to 3* - 5/10.
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December 16, 2022Jo Walton liked it:
"Terrific collection of science fiction stories by Randall, thought-provoking and effective, though best read spaced out with other things. Randall really is an amazing writer, with the kind of skill and imagination you’d think would have made her better known. The only disappointment here was that the last chunk of the book is “Dangerous Games,” the start of the novel of the same name, which I’ve read."
https://www.tor.com/2022/11/11/jo-wal...
"Terrific collection of science fiction stories by Randall, thought-provoking and effective, though best read spaced out with other things. Randall really is an amazing writer, with the kind of skill and imagination you’d think would have made her better known. The only disappointment here was that the last chunk of the book is “Dangerous Games,” the start of the novel of the same name, which I’ve read."
https://www.tor.com/2022/11/11/jo-wal...
April 13, 2020
This uneven and poorly edited collection of mostly sci-fi stories contains the following works:
“Lapidary Nights” is a sci-fi short concerning a lost spacer on a planet where everything crystallises outside at night and then putrifies. Anything encased in crystals and preserved becomes valuable for some reason. The lost spacer escapes an abusive relationship with a dealer of artefacts. Intriguing, but not enthralling: 3/5.
“The Dark Boy” concerns a fearful bereaved middle aged woman who goes to see the whales off the coast of Baja California, and experiences something akin to magic. Somewhat muddled: 2/5.
“The Scarab in the City of Time” is another sci-fi short about an interloper lost in a domed City isolated from a world which has recovered from environmental catastrophe. Somewhat bland: 2/5.
“Lazaro y Antonio” is a space opera treasure quest story with quite a lot of depth and flavour including musings on memory and identity. Lots of neat ideas if no conclusion to tie up the events and themes. Much more fun nevertheless: 4/5.
“Haunted” is a classic short story with a twist in the last short sentence, which speaks volumes. Very well done: 4/5.
“Secret Rider” tries very hard to be a kaleidoscope of psychedelic time travelling sensation, but tries too hard. There’s lots of good ideas, but they feel wasted. It’s full of bravado, but as a story it has a very disappointing anticlimactic ending which makes all the shimmering detail feel very empty. All glitter and no substance: 2/5. There seems to be random words missing from the text in this one, as it reads awkwardly in places.
“The State of on Alyssum” provides narration by one very alien creature describing three others just as alien to it as it is to the reader. This is done very well. However the punchline of this short story falls somewhat flat. These creatures declared themselves intelligent but clearly aren’t much. More conceited than anything else. Overall: 3/5.
“Big Dome” is a rather dull story about devolved humans living inside a habitat on Venus. It is written in cod pidgin to represent the speech of the savage protagonist, but this is just poor, an exercise in stereotype and maybe even prejudice. The plot is non existent. This is very amateurish: 2/5 and I’m being generous.
“Sea Changes” has a number of annoying malapropisms, showing that this text has been cheaply OCR’ed rather than properly typeset. Where’s the editor? That’s a shame as this story of alien body swap (I think) is atmospheric, intriguing and strangely sinister. It uses the short story format very well and is one of the best of the collection so far: 4/5.
“The View from Endless Scarp”: again a number of typos spoil what is a very good survival story, with lots of depth, emotion, and contemplation. Very intriguing characters make this a very good read: 4/5.
“On Cannon Beach” is a lovely story full of emotion and humanity, set in an apocalyptic commencement of a new ice age in the very near future on the US Pacific coast. A very good use of the short story format: 4/5.
“Circus” is ... kinda incomprehensible. Experimental? Not a pleasant read, but intriguing: 3/5.
“Dangerous Games” is the longest piece in this collection, a novelette rather than a short story. It was a Nebula nominee. Set in the same tech universe as “Lazaro y Antonio” and “Secret Rider”, this story has a much stronger worldbuilding foundation and an intriguing joint lead character (the actual protagonist is a bit meh in comparison) who has a vital need to use the protagonist’s ship to get off a dystopian space station. It’s rather good, a fair 4/5, but it is again marred by bad OCR and poor editing - there’s a whole bit missing, replaced by the word “[illegible]”. Can you credit it?
“Lapidary Nights” is a sci-fi short concerning a lost spacer on a planet where everything crystallises outside at night and then putrifies. Anything encased in crystals and preserved becomes valuable for some reason. The lost spacer escapes an abusive relationship with a dealer of artefacts. Intriguing, but not enthralling: 3/5.
“The Dark Boy” concerns a fearful bereaved middle aged woman who goes to see the whales off the coast of Baja California, and experiences something akin to magic. Somewhat muddled: 2/5.
“The Scarab in the City of Time” is another sci-fi short about an interloper lost in a domed City isolated from a world which has recovered from environmental catastrophe. Somewhat bland: 2/5.
“Lazaro y Antonio” is a space opera treasure quest story with quite a lot of depth and flavour including musings on memory and identity. Lots of neat ideas if no conclusion to tie up the events and themes. Much more fun nevertheless: 4/5.
“Haunted” is a classic short story with a twist in the last short sentence, which speaks volumes. Very well done: 4/5.
“Secret Rider” tries very hard to be a kaleidoscope of psychedelic time travelling sensation, but tries too hard. There’s lots of good ideas, but they feel wasted. It’s full of bravado, but as a story it has a very disappointing anticlimactic ending which makes all the shimmering detail feel very empty. All glitter and no substance: 2/5. There seems to be random words missing from the text in this one, as it reads awkwardly in places.
“The State of on Alyssum” provides narration by one very alien creature describing three others just as alien to it as it is to the reader. This is done very well. However the punchline of this short story falls somewhat flat. These creatures declared themselves intelligent but clearly aren’t much. More conceited than anything else. Overall: 3/5.
“Big Dome” is a rather dull story about devolved humans living inside a habitat on Venus. It is written in cod pidgin to represent the speech of the savage protagonist, but this is just poor, an exercise in stereotype and maybe even prejudice. The plot is non existent. This is very amateurish: 2/5 and I’m being generous.
“Sea Changes” has a number of annoying malapropisms, showing that this text has been cheaply OCR’ed rather than properly typeset. Where’s the editor? That’s a shame as this story of alien body swap (I think) is atmospheric, intriguing and strangely sinister. It uses the short story format very well and is one of the best of the collection so far: 4/5.
“The View from Endless Scarp”: again a number of typos spoil what is a very good survival story, with lots of depth, emotion, and contemplation. Very intriguing characters make this a very good read: 4/5.
“On Cannon Beach” is a lovely story full of emotion and humanity, set in an apocalyptic commencement of a new ice age in the very near future on the US Pacific coast. A very good use of the short story format: 4/5.
“Circus” is ... kinda incomprehensible. Experimental? Not a pleasant read, but intriguing: 3/5.
“Dangerous Games” is the longest piece in this collection, a novelette rather than a short story. It was a Nebula nominee. Set in the same tech universe as “Lazaro y Antonio” and “Secret Rider”, this story has a much stronger worldbuilding foundation and an intriguing joint lead character (the actual protagonist is a bit meh in comparison) who has a vital need to use the protagonist’s ship to get off a dystopian space station. It’s rather good, a fair 4/5, but it is again marred by bad OCR and poor editing - there’s a whole bit missing, replaced by the word “[illegible]”. Can you credit it?
November 10, 2022
3.5. Almost all of these were excellent sci fi stories - a couple were a bit too convoluted to be really satisfying, but on the whole, awesome.
April 9, 2020
I do not typically care for short stories as the often leave me unsatisfied. This collection by Marta Randall, an author I've never read before, changed my mind. Each story is tightly woven and complete. They are masterfully written and, for the most part, drew me completely into the characters and their environments.
March 8, 2020
Thoughtful, entertaining and informative.
While most stories had a surprise twist or two, the narrative and flow are what was most entertaining. The focus on character and story line was great.
While most stories had a surprise twist or two, the narrative and flow are what was most entertaining. The focus on character and story line was great.
November 5, 2019
One hell of ride
Really, this is a story collection from hell, it really messed up with your mind, your feelings, and putting everything you know and felt upside down.
Really, this is a story collection from hell, it really messed up with your mind, your feelings, and putting everything you know and felt upside down.
November 6, 2019
Ok
Interesting stories, though I am losing some of my interest in science fiction. I will have to try a few other authors.
Interesting stories, though I am losing some of my interest in science fiction. I will have to try a few other authors.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews