Customer Reviews

Front Lines

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
on 12/21/2008

I said in an earlier review of a different anthology that reviewing an anthology of short stories has to be one of the hardest things a reviewer can do, especially if the stories are all written by different authors. My previous statement still holds true. Some of the authors in this anthology include Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Laura Resnick, Jody Lynn Nye, Jim Fiscus, J. Steven York.

In this book, we are given twenty-one different stories by different authors but with one theme uniting them all - in this case, being on the front lines in a war, whether against human, pixie, or "thing" and settings are all over the universe, from the intergalactic to a little boy's backyard. According to the introduction, "this book isn't about...what it means as a society to fight a war....it's all about the life of the people on the front lines of battle." What I find interesting about the book, is that more than half the writers are women. Surely a unique perspective in a hard science fiction book. The stories are thought provoking, funny, poignant, and sad. Everything an anthology should be.

Like all anthologies, there were some stories I liked, some I didn't care much for, but not because of the writing. Each story is well crafted and well-written. Overall, the tales were very good.

If you don't have a lot of time to invest in reading, anthologies are a good place to go. Each story is complete and is good for a quick read when you don't have time for a novel. I recommend this one for anyone interested in speculative fiction from the perspective of someone on the "Front Lines".



4-Books

I spotted this one as the latest in the line of "themed" short story collections and thought it looked interesting, but unfortunately I wasn't all that impressed. It has a slapdash feel to it, with some of the stories being VERY good ("The Battle for Trehinnick's Garden" kept me up WAY past my bedtime) to mediocre (I'm looking at you, "Thirty-Two Bullets"). Not a bad collection but not a mondo one either.

Recommended if you really love the subject matter or collect this type of thing. Otherwise just be aware that you'll probably be about 60% happy with your purchase.

"Front Lines" is a 5 star anthology! I love the concept for this collection, and the authors chosen to create are the perfect fit... talented and gifted with incredible imaginations! While the stories in this book belong together, they are also quite different from each other... which I enjoyed. I was given this book as a gift; I just wish I had begun the read sooner. I was definitely caught up, and in true escape from the mundane. There are stories in this book that I am truly glad I didn't miss. It was hard to put down, and I intend to pay it forward by buying copies of this book as gifts for other friends. Don't miss this one!!