Customer Reviews

Cryptic: The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevitt

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I enjoyed Jack McDevitt's previous book of short stories, Standard Candles, because it captured a similar range of subjects and style as his novel-length fiction. The thirty-eight stories in this volume provide much the same experience. Many deal with familiar McDevitt themes such the rediscovery of space travel, whether humanity is alone in the universe, and the emotional consequences of scientific discovery. Some are startling and brilliant; only a few disappoint.

My seven favorites are described below.

"In the Tower" follows the grieving lover of a dead artist as she investigates his former life, friends and paintings for clues about his terminal unhappiness. The story she uncovers invades the heart and mind with Lovecraftian horror.

"Dutchman" takes us on board an abandoned Dellacondan starship thought to have been destroyed in battle long ago. Hugh Scott and the captain of the Tenandrome make discoveries that play a central role in McDevitt's novel A Talent For War. There are some spoilers...

In "Promises to Keep" a member of an historic expedition to Callisto shares personal recollections of the voyage and the voyagers. His story is a little different from the official version.

"Report From the Rear" shows the kind of reporting necessary to cover a fast-breaking war and get the story told on time. And the material this process produces.

In "Black to Move" we land on the first living world Earth's explorers have ever found and contemplate the empty city left by its former inhabitants. A first contact specialist uses a chess-like game to understand their psychology--and perhaps their intentions.

"Gus" is a departure from McDevitt's often less-than-friendly treatment of religion. Monsignor Chesley disapproves of the seminary's AI simulation of Saint Augustine. After many long evenings of private discussion, Chesley begins to have doubts. As does St. Augustine.

"Cruising Through Deuteronomy" raises questions about a time traveler's faith in his technology, in important events of the past, and in those around him.

McDevitt fans should read this collection to enjoy their author's storytelling in its briefer form and for the added perspective on McDevitt's novels. The novella version of "Time Travelers Never Die," for example, is differs interestingly--and is superior to--the Time Travelers Never Die novel. The book is a good place to make first contact with this author, too. And discover that you are not alone.

There's simply no science fiction writer like Jack McDevitt. Even the seemingly ephemeral stories here are thought-provoking. And my favorite ones: 1983's Cryptic, 1984's Promises to Keep, and, especially, 1991's Gus, are memorable long after the first or second reading.

An interview in a recent edition of Lightspeed Magazine shows McDevitt's grown more cynical in his old age. Maybe that's why the older stories here are so appealing. Most of them aren't imbued with contemporary politics. Only a few towards the end. Buy this book. You don't want to miss it.

Science Fiction, like many other genres, have die-hard supporters as well as vociferous critics. The critics too often criticise the stories for having wooden characters, absurd science, and excessive fascination with spaceships & stars (is it co-incidental that these two components make up the logo of the Galactic Empire conceived by Isaac Asimov, in his "Foundation"-saga?). The supporters, with equal vehemence, emphasise the action-driven plots, the sense of wonder conveyed by the scenario where often the lone warrior (again, mostly man, and hence criticised by feminists) fights for the destiny of mankind. In the tussle between these two, we have often had compromises where good old story-telling had to be severely compromised through super-slow character building and heady philosophy, perfected by Robert Silverberg and Kim Stanley Robinson, but mostly mediocre works like those being endorsed by even respected editors like Gardner Dozois. Otherwise, there were editors who were not ready to go beyond the ABC (Asimov-Bradbury-Clarke) regime and denounced everything else as pulp-era throwbacks. There were exceptions, but too few amidst all the morass.

Fortunately, Jack McDevitt, who has built up an impressive collection of sci-fi novels, got an opportunity to showcase his story-telling art through shorter works via this beautiful hardback collection brought out by the good people at Subterranean Press. The best thing about these stories are that they compell you to think like the protagonist, and often the others as well. They would drive you up against pretty disturbing notions (although nothing deviant, he is very proper in that sense), and can generate a few nightmares that would stay with you fro quite some time. But the best thing about this collection was that there were hardly any outright clunkers in here, while each story had challenged my notions about several things that we generally take-for-granted. If you prefer your science fiction to be of thoughtful-yet-enjoyable variety, this is the right book for you.

If you have read any of Jack McDevitt's books, add this to your collection. Great short stories.