Customer Reviews

Moon Flights

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A collection of Elizabeth Moon's short stories. The contents are:
If Nudity Offends You
Gifts
Politics
And Ladies of the Club
Accidents Don't Just Happen - They're Caused
New World Symphony
No Pain, No Gain
Hand to Hand
Tradition
Fool's Gold
Judgment
Gravesite Revisited
Sweet Charity
Welcome to Wheel Days
Say Cheese
A deluxe limited edition also included the story 'Fencing In,' which was originally published in Ellery Queen August 1993 issue. Say Cheese takes place in the Vatta universe and involves Stavros and Gerard Vatta. It's pretty funny. It is the only previously unpublished story in this collection, but some of the others can be hard to find.

A collection of 15 short stories written between 1988 and 2007. It contains one previously unpublished story from the Vatta's war universe. There is also a limited edition that contains one extra story called Fencing In written in 1993. The limited edtidions isbn is 978-1-59780-108-9 (the first edition has just replaced tha last "9" with a "6"

The book contains a number of stories in different universes, but some universes are recurring in a couple of stories. Highly enjoyable, and her short fiction is at least as good as her long fiction.

Also has an introductory essay by Anne MacCaffrey, but that was nothing special, just a recommandation of Moons writings.

A good read with several stories that will linger for quite some time

As always, Moon excells at short fiction, however, buyers should be aware that two or three of the stories in this volume are repeated from an earlier compilation of short stories titles Phases.

I am always buying short story collections by mistake. I buy the author and title without reading about the book and expecting a novel, and am generally disappointed. Even the really great authors have trouble pleasing me in this format. This book is the exception. Each story has what it takes to stand on its own. Many have relatives in emoon,s novels, and some, I would love to see novel versions of. A great combination of sensitive character development and humor. Plenty of action to keep you turning pages. She's on my list of "I read anything with her name on it" authors.

I already knew I liked Elizabeth Moon's work before I read this collection, but this really is outstanding. It has a wide range of styles from serious to ridiculous. I liked them all.

More than a dozen various short stories. Anne McCaffrey wrote the intro... If EMoon writes it; Read It, & enjoy. You may find yourself reaching for more books by Moon, one after another. Like episodes of a popular tv program.

Moon Flights (2007) is third SF/Fantasy collection by this author. The others are Lunar Activity and Phases. This volume contains fifteen short stories and an introduction.

Introduction by Anne McCaffrey recounts her appreciation of the author's works.

If Nudity Offends You (F&SF, 1988) tells about strange neighbors in a trailer park.

Gifts (Masters of Fantasy, 2004) considers the gifts of love and respect.

Politics (The War Years, 1990) is about loyalty and the military.

And Ladies of the Club (Chicks in Chainmail, 1995) addresses taxes and magic.

Accidents Don't Just Happen--They Are Caused (Don't Forget Your Spacesuit, Dear, 1996) examines the frustrations of a woman walking in her mother's footsteps.

New World Symphony (F&SF, 1989) involves music and loneliness.

No Pain, No Gain (Did You Say Chicks?, 1998 ) exposes the problems caused by indolent aristocratic ladies and a rogue magician.

Hand to Hand (Women at War, 1995) relates the trials of the musically inclined in a military society.

Tradition (Alternate Generals, 1998) revisits the British pursuit of the Goeben and Breslau in 1914.

Fool's Gold (Chicks 'n Chained Males, 1999) presents a new look at the saving of a virgin from a dragon.

Judgment (The Dragon Quintet, 2003) exposes the perils of clinging to tradition.

Gravesite Revisited (Analog, 1988) discloses the response of primitives to time traveling graverobbers.

Sweet Charity (The Chick Is in the Mail, 2000) reveals the risks of presumption.

Welcome to Wheel Days (New Destinies, 1989) depicts the troubles of a Chamber of Commerce president during a big celebration.

Say Cheese (Previously unpublished) confronts two Vatta provisional officers with spoiled cheese.

Fencing In (Ellery Queen, 1993) is contained only in limited editions and thus was not included in my copy.

These stories draw from various backgrounds. Obviously "Say Cheese" is a prequel to the Vatta's War series. Several stories come from the Chicks In Chainmail anthologies. All say something about humanity.

Highly recommended for Moon fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of fun and failure, war and peace, and human folly.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A collection of short stories of Elizabeth Moon. They range from hard science-fiction to pure flights of fantasy. Never predictable, the plot twists will have you guessing. This is a delightful and desired collection if you like Elizabeth Moon.

Short story collections tend to be uneven, and this one follows the general rule. Some of the stories are better written than others, some of them have a better concept than others, and those two sets don't necessarily intersect.

If you like Moon's stand-alone novels you will probably like this book. It's more of a departure from her space opera series, however.

I did think that "New World Symphony" was particularly interesting, although I couldn't quite accept the premise required.

A pretty lighthearted collection, as you may be able to tell from some of the story titles, where Moon just sets out to amuse. A couple of the stories being from the various Chicks In Chainmail anthologies, for example.

There are a couple of more serious pieces on old fashioned naval battles, and science fiction military those in charge decisions.

Overall, a bit better than a 3.

Moon Flights : If Nudity Offends You - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Gifts - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Politics - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : And Ladies of the Club - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Accidents Don't Just Happen-They're Caused - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : New World Symphony - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : No Pain, No Gain - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Hand to Hand - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Tradition - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Fool's Gold - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Judgment - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Gravesite Revisited - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Sweet Charity - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Welcome to Wheel Days - Elizabeth Moon
Moon Flights : Say Cheese - Elizabeth Moon

Alien trailer trash.

3.5 out of 5


Paladin offcuts.

3.5 out of 5


Screwed up landing equals dead marines.

3.5 out of 5


A women's chest armour tax prompts some wizardly temporary plastic surgery shenanigans.

3.5 out of 5


Engineering genetics.

3 out of 5


Suitable local music.

4 out of 5


Gut wrenching solution.

3 out of 5


Music injury demonstration.

2.5 out of 5


Chain of command blame.

3 out of 5


Rockleberries.

2.5 out of 5


Backtime primitive understimation.

3.5 out of 5


Beauty queen piracy.

4 out of 5


Parade problems.

3 out of 5


Literally you know what it says space opera.

3.5 out of 5