The Best of Jim Baen's Universe (Hardcover)

by Eric Flint (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Top-Selling established writers and brilliant newcomers both appear regularly in the online magazine, Jim Baen's Universe, edited by Eric Flint, creator of the New York Times best-selling ?Ring of Fire? series. Now, editor Flint selects a generous serving of the best science fiction and fantasy stories that have appeared in the magazine. Hugo and Nebula Award winners, such as Mike Resnick and Gene Wolfe are on board, and so are best-selling writers David Drake, Gregory Benford, Esther Friesner and more. Jim Baen's Universe is already a resounding hit on the internet, and is certain to be equally popular in the uncybernetic realm of paper reading as well.

About the Author

Eric Flint, editor of the online magazine, Jim Baen's Universe, is the New York Times best-selling author of the Ring of Fire alternate history series, the first of which is 1632. His impressive first novel, Mother of Demons (Baen), was selected by Science Fiction Chronicle as one of the best novels of 1997. With David Drake he has written six popular novels in the Belisarius series, including the new novel The Dance of Time, and with David Weber collaborated on 1633, a novel in the Ring of Fire series, and on Crown of Slaves, a best of the year pick by Publishers Weekly. Flint received his masters degree in history from UCLA and was for many years a labor union activist. He lives in East Chicago, IL, with his wife and is working on more books in his New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Baen (July 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416521364
• ISBN-13: 978-1416521365
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #709,258 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Few from Baen's Universe, February 23, 2008

By	Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Best of Jim Baen's Universe (2007) is a collection of SF and Fantasy short stories from the online magazine. It contains sixteen SF stories and nine Fantasy stories as well as four articles and an Afterword.

Science Fiction Stories:

Dog Soldier by Garth Nix tells of the introduction of artificial DOG units into the military. The Girl With the Killer Eyes by B. B. Kristopher is about the first day of a rookie in the Atlanta office of the Federal Bureau of Superhuman Investigation. Bow Shock by Gregory Benford relates the discoveries of an astronomer analyzing a spatial anomaly. Decaf and Spaceship, To Go by Katherine Sanger depicts a strange day at the local coffee drivethru. All the Things You Are by Mike Resnick explains why some heroes face almost certain death.

A Time to Kill by S. Andrew Swann depicts the trials of a sniper with a time machine. Local Boy Makes Good by Ray Tabler provides a solution to the problem of an overpowering enemy. The Old Woman in the Young Woman by Gene Wolfe shows one way of achieving long life. Candy-Blossom by David Freer tells of an unusual way of powering a spaceship. What Would Sam Spade Do? by Jo Walton relates the story of the murder of a Jesus clone.

Giving It Fourteen Percent by A. S. Fox is an Irish tale at superluminal velocities. Every Hole Is Outlined by John Barnes is about ghosts in an STL interstellar freighter. Fishing by Thea Hutcheson relates the problems of an interdimensional fisher with survival troubles. Bob's Yeti Problem by Lawrence Person conveys the woes of a man who has Yetis dropping in, but not surviving the fall. Brieanna's Constant by Eric Witchey depicts the problems of a researcher trying to eliminate a glitch in his calculations despite her lack of cooperation. The Darkness by David Drake shows the effects of combat on a junior officer.

Fantasy Stories:

The Cold Blacksmith by Elizabeth Bear tells the story of a blacksmith who mends a broken heart. The Nature of Things by Maya Kaathryn Bohnoff teaches an Assistant District Attorney something new about household Things. Sisters of Sarronnym; Sisters of Westwind by L. E. Modesitt, Jr., expands upon the story of Creslin and Megaera in Recluce. The Opposite of Pomegranates by Marissa Lingen relates the experiences of a second generation changeling who slips out of underhill. As Black As Hell by John Lambshead recounts the trials of a British Army special operations unit that impresses a vampire into the service.

Benny Comes Home by Esther Friesner tells of a Jewish family that encounters a vampire. Femme Fatale by Jason Wittman is about a protection scheme that runs into a weather witch. A Hire Power by J. Simon depicts the dangers of checking the Inhuman Resources mail. Poga by John Barnes relates the romantic troubles of the daughter of a famous author.

Articles:

The Legacy of Jim Baen by Eric Flint is an appreciation of the works of Jim Baen. Why Die? by Jim Baen is about the genetic improbabilities of immortality. A Genetic Model for Eternal Life as an Evolutionary Strategy by Karl Inne Ugland is a mathematical explication of the previous article. A Personal Remembrance of Jim Baen by John Lambshead is an elucidation of Baen's genius in regard to this article.

This collection is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys SF and Fantasy in the style of Jim Baen. In his years as an editor and publisher, Baen bought a wide range of stories, but he also developed a certain style. This book well portrays his preferences.

-Arthur W. Jordin

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Meeting of the Society of Expert Mountain Climbers, June 17, 2007

By	Geoffrey Kidd (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The late and much missed Randall Garrett once used a marvelous
metaphor: "There is a Society of Expert Mountain Climbers that meets
every so often at the top of Mount Everest. Anyone who makes it to the
meeting is automatically a member." That metaphor fits this marvelous
volume perfectly.

It's an anthology of material from the first issues of the online
magazine "Baen's Universe" (baens-universe.com). It is also a rare
collection of science fiction, fantasy, science fact, art, metaphor,
wisdom, folly, laughs, tears, sorrow and absolute joy.

Most anthologies, no matter how well edited, are like record albums.
There are one or two stories/songs which justify getting the whole
album. THIS book set a personal record for me of having FIVE stories,
any ONE of which justified my buying it. And of the rest of the set,
there is not one story I would give fewer than five stars on Amazon's
rating scale. I had the privilege of reading this book as an Advanced
Reader Copy. My personal copy has finally arrived. I plan to re-read
it all, and then keep this treasure in my heart and on my shelves to
the end of my days.

I'm going to end this review with a list of the stories and their
authors. I urge you to get this book, read these stories and, among
the names on the list, I'm sure you will find, as I did, some new
people to go on your personal "Must buy and read list."

Welcome to a reader's paradise.

------------------------

SCIENCE FICTION STORIES
Dog Soldier - Garth Nix
The Girl with the Killer Eyes - B. B. Kristopher
Bow Shock - Gregory Benford
Decaf and Spaceship, To Go - Katherine Sanger
All the Things You Are - Mike Resnick
A Time to Kill - S. Andrew Swann
Local Boy Makes Good - Ray Tabler
The Old Woman in the Young Woman - Gene Wolfe
Candy-Blossom - Dave Freer
What Would Sam Spade Do? - Jo Walton
Giving It Fourteen Percent - A. S. Fox
Every Hole Is Outlined - John Barnes
Fishing - Thea Hutcheson
Bob's Yeti Problem - Lawrence Person
Brieanna's Constant - Eric M. Witchey
The Darkness - David Drake
FANTASY STORIES
The Cold Blacksmith - Elizabeth Bear
The Nature of Things - Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
Sisters of Sarronnyn; Sisters of Westwind - L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
The Opposite of Pomegranates - Marissa K. Lingen
As Black as Hell - John Lambshead
Benny Comes Home - Esther Friesner
Femme Fatale - Jason D. Wittman
A Hire Power - J. Simon
Poga - John Barnes
IN REMEMBRANCE: Jim Baen (1943-2006)
The Legacy of Jim Baen - Eric Flint
Why Die? - Jim Baen
A Genetic Model for Eternal Life as an Evolutionary Strategy - Karl
Inne Ugland
A Personal Remembrance of Jim Baen - John Lambshead
Afterword - John Lambshead

About The Magazine

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous collection, December 1, 2007

By	Norvan K. Allen "Sci Fi Nut" (Albuquerque) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Eric Flint, himself a best selling science fiction author from Baen's stable has compiled a wonderful tribute to Jim Baen. I thoroughly enjoyed this eclectic collection of most diverse stories. They range from the hardest science based science fiction to the traditional fantasy to the wildest dream stuff. Not to mention the occasional foray into main stream fiction, with subtle, (okay, not so subtle) twists.

Heartily recommended!