Eclipse One : New Science Fiction And Fantasy (v. 1) [Paperback]

Jonathan Strahan (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

An eclipse is a rare and unusual event, when the world is transformed and the sky becomes a dark eldritch thing. It's a time when anything could happen, when any kind of story just might be true. That sense of the strange and wonderful guides Eclipse: New Science Fiction and Fantasy, the first volume in an exciting new annual anthology series edited by acclaimed anthologist Jonathan Strahan.
Set to become a major event on the science fiction and fantasy calendar,Eclipse: New Science Fiction and Fantasy gathers together new science fiction and fantasy stories by the best writers working today. You can see that in Eclipse 1, which features extraordinary tales by Peter S. Beagle, Jack Dann & Paul Brandon, Terry Dowling, Andy Duncan, Jeffrey Ford, Kathleen Ann Goonan, Eileen Gunn, Gwyneth Jones, Ellen Klages, Maureen F. McHugh, Garth Nix, Lucius Shepard, Bruce Sterling and Ysabeau S. Wilce.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Night Shade Books (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597801178
• ISBN-13: 978-1597801171
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,648,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars So - So reading... March 25, 2008

By J. D. Mason VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am more of a fan of "hard" science fiction, but bought this kind of on a whim. It wasn't really for me. I'm willing to take a risk on anthologies because if a writer's style or whatever doesn't grab me, I can just go to the next story. The problem with this book was that most of the stories didn't work for me. Make sure you are familiar with a few of the writers before you buy this, if you like their work I'm sure you will like the book. Oh well, live and learn...

3.0 out of 5 stars disappointing gleanings February 21, 2008

By W Boudville HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

After decades of reading science fiction anthologies, this is the first I've seen from an editor in Perth Australia. The stories are drawn from all over the world. With a few set in Australia, which American or British readers might not typically encounter.

But the overall impression is disappointing. To be sure, the editor states that he includes both science fiction and fantasy; as ecumenical as can be. However, there was nothing in any of the selections that seemed memorable to me. One example was a story set in the near future [2014 or so], in the aftermath of dirty bombs exploding in an American city. Where a kid became separated from his family and then developed an amensia, totally forgetting them. Banal and boring. What did the editor see in this tripe?

The most interesting was a horror-type scenario of grave robbers and teeth robbers, in escapades spanning decades. It has some evocations of the classic "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" by Robert Bloch. Alas, it fell far short in drama. Granted, it may be unfair to compare a story with Bloch's timeless tale, but I am comparing to the best.

Yes, the authors of this book include some first rank writers, like Bruce Sterling and Lucius Shepard. But their contributions might well disappoint their fans.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Original Stories in Some Time March 3, 2008

By Kathryn Daugherty

Format:Paperback

This is one of the best original anthologies that I have read in some time. Several of the stories here made my Hugo nominations ballot. I am not a huge fan of fantasy, but I loved "The Last and Only, or Mr. Moscowitz Becomes French" by Peter S. Beagle, "In the Forest of the Queen" by Gwyneth Jones, and "Larissa Miusov" by Lucius Shepard. Considering all the bad short fiction that I have read in other anthologies, this one is head and shoulders above the rest. Bravo, Johnathan!