Live Without a Net (Paperback)

by Lou Anders (Author), Pat Cadigan (Introduction) "Michael Swanwick is one of the most prolific and inventive writers in science fiction today..." (more)
Key Phrases: Lord William, Chief Computator, Wilhelm Two (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Taking a post-Internet, post-computerized world as its unifying theme, Anders's (The Making of Star Trek: First Contact) uneven anthology showcases 18 mostly male British authors (not all of whom will be familiar to U.S. readers), whose contributions range from disconnected, inconclusive pieces to delightful shaggy-dog stories. Most focus on sophisticated biological technologies, such as Charles Stross's provocative "Rogue Farm," about "multi-human beings" and Stephen Baxter's sad little tale about slave-drones and successive revolutions, "Conurbation 2473." Other established names include Michael Swanwick, David Brin, Rudy Rucker and S.M. Stirling. But the longest entry belongs to relatively obscure Brit John Meaney. In Meaney's entertaining novella, "The Swastika Bomb," bioform animals serve as tanks, airplanes, bombs and deadly viruses, against an alternative history of the Battle of Britain in which the Axis and the Allies race to develop a nucleic instead of a nuclear bomb. All the stories are competently written, but few leave a lasting impression.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
Wildly imaginative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking looks at a subject that is nearly unthinkable: a future free from the Internet. (Cory Doctorow, winner of the John W. Campbell Award)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Roc (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451459458
• ISBN-13: 978-0451459459
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,700,977 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Net Needed, July 1, 2003

By	James A. Owen (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Without A Net (Paperback)

This anthology was my first exposure to Lou Anders' work as an editor, and I found myself very, very impressed.

I'm a choosy SF reader, and anthologies in particular drive me nuts. I've been rereading DANGEROUS VISIONS for years, and the one bright spot annually is Windling and Datlow's BEST FANTASY AND HORROR - basically, I have to be force-fed anything new.

I was offered an advance copy of LIVE WITHOUT A NET, started reading with no small trepidation, and found myself devouring it. Anders' choices are stunningly good, and his taste in material impeccable. Swanwick, Roberson, and Meaney's contributions may be some of the finest short fiction I've ever read, and the rest of the material held a similar line of quality.

Quit reading this and just go buy the book. Trust me - it's worth the price and then some.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good collection, with some gems, July 1, 2003

By	Mark Watson (Colchester United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Without A Net (Paperback)

For me the best picks from this volume are those where the authors really get to grips with the idea of a future that has not followed the usual technological route, particularly Di Filippo and Rucker. On the more traditional SFnal front Melko and Del Stone Jr provide more than the bigger names of Brin and Baxter, and Resnick/Kenyon, Hutchinson, Meaney and Stross provide top quality stuff.

All in all, an interesting varied collection, and well worth the shelf-space....

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A snapshot of the future of Science Fiction, October 1, 2003

By	"causticcharmer" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Without A Net (Paperback)

This is an excellent compilation of stories. If you are interested in understanding how science fiction and fantasy are morphing into a new and facinating genre, then I highly recomend this book. It is a snapshot of the medium as it reaches a tipping point and shoots into the future. I have bought 4 books from authors whose short stories I read in this anthology. I highly recommend this book not only for the content, but also for the reading lists it will help you build.