The Breath of Suspension [Hardcover]

Alexander Jablokov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1994

A collection of ten stories creates a realm of ""irrelevant miracles,"" where civilization-building is a pastime and death is an art, and offers unique interpretations of fear, love, guilt, greed, obligation, and obsession. Reprint. K. NYT. PW.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Darkly suave competence" is how The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction refers to Jablokov's first novel, Carve the Sky, and the phrase could easily apply to many of the stories in this, Jablokov's first short story collection. Ranging from time travel to artificial intelligence, Jablokov covers a lot of ground in the ten stories here, although readers will quickly notice recurring themes both of art and self-identity amidst colorful, retro-decadent future worlds. Although his technique and consistency vary, Jablokov shows with his powerful, dynamic prose that he's a writer worth watching. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

These 10 short stories by Jablokov ( Carve the Sky ) won't be new to most SF devotees, since versions of each have appeared in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine over the past nine years. But reading them together is an exciting experience. Tales of widely differing lengths address various alternative near futures. All share a reverence for myth and remembrance, from the title story, about an ancient and ambivalent monk whose patron saint is the never-dying astronaut blasting away from Earth at light speed, to the tale of a lunatic dolphin messiah "swimming" through the atmosphere of Jupiter ("A Deeper Sea"). A 20th-century mathematician in the early stages of Alzheimer's imprints his personality, with its moral qualms and aesthetic indulgences, on a computer so that it may remember his values and survive his dissolution ("Living Will"). In a comic vein, interstellar time-travelers track down "Religion Pushers" by jaunting through the centuries in pursuit of an Artifact Junkie ("Many Mansions"). And in yet another universe, trench warfare continues in France for much of the 20th century as soldiers refuse to give up combat ("Beneath the Shadow of Her Smile"). Jablokov's canvas is broad, but through it all there runs a tint of lyricism and a regard for mind and spirit that could extend the collection's appeal.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 318 pages
• Publisher: Arkham House Pub; 1st edition (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870541676
• ISBN-13: 978-0870541674
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,497,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alexander Jablokov writes science fiction for readers who won't give up literate writing or vivid characters to get the thrills they demand. He is a natural transition for non-SF readers interested in taking a stroll with a dangerous AI or a neurosurgeon/jazz musician turned detective, while still giving hardcore SF fans speculative flash, incomprehensible aliens, and kitchen appliances with insect wing cases.

From his well-regarded first novel, Carve the Sky, an interplanetary espionage novel set in a culturally complex 25th century, through the obscenely articulate dolphins with military modifications of a Deeper Sea, the hardboiled post-cyberpunk of Nimbus, the subterranean Martian repression of River of Dust, and the perverse space opera of Deepdrive, he has come to Brain Thief, a contemporary high-tech thriller with a class clown attitude.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Breath-taking collection, February 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Breath of Suspension (Hardcover)

This diverse collection of stories runs the gamut from sly humor to dark melancholy. Like all collections, some of these stories are better than others, but the best ones are awe-inspiring. The title story, in particular, is brilliant and haunting. This man is a masterful writer.

One of the best things about Jablokov's writing is the infusion of ideas that elevates great characterization and imagination. His novels, though I love them, can ramble. His short stories, however, distill his best points and this collection is a rewarding read.