Customer Reviews

Muse of Fire

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

 

 

First off it's not a book really. Well, this edition is a book. But in normal type it's about 60 pages only. Not even a novella, only a mere story that would normally appear with another 10 or 12 stories. If you are like me and want to read all of Dan Simmons' work but don't want to pay big bucks for a collectible edition you are in luck. The exact same story appears in the SF Anthology NEW SPACE OPERA edited by Gardner Dozois. You can get it new for about 8 dollars, used for less, or maybe, like myself, free from your public library. The story itself is very good, everything we have come to expect from a Simmons SF story.

To those who bemoan word counts, I say that Mr. Simmons' writing is a bargain at twice the price. In this novella, Mr. Simmons successfully channels both Ray Bradbury and Gnostic mythology to bring us a story about creation and the meaning of life. It brings to mind the comment made by Lewis Thomas to Carl Sagan that if mankind were to broadcast Bach to the stars it would constitute bragging but it would be wise to put the best possible face on such an acquaintance. In Muse of Fire, Mr. Simmons posits that the creations of Shakespeare justify our creators' efforts entirely. Perhaps taking a page from Mr. Bloom, Mr. Simmons argues that Shakespeare, properly understood, transcends mere art and constitutes mankind's most valuable contribution to creation.

Mr. Simmons' love and admiration for Shakespeare pervades this story, which is worthwhile not only for its especially novel and creative take on our universe, but also because it encourages its reader to seek out and rediscover Shakespeare's infinitely rewarding art.

Worth every penny.

First, this novella is available in the collection THE NEW SPACE OPERA edited by Dozois and Strahan. It's a decent collection and cheaper by far than this volume.

Second, it's a well-written novella with good atmospherics -- a lot of tension, and a lot of wonder. On the other hand, the final punch line is probably going to be hard to buy for people who are not hardcore Shakespeare fans. I felt a little cheated, but obviously not so much that I felt like giving it a bad rating (although if given a finer-grained rating system, I'd give it a 3.6/5.0 rather than 4.0/5.0).

This story didn't grab me in the same way much of Dan's work does. Alien species really into Shakespeare? Can't see it. Too contrived.

I read this in The New Space Opera. I'm glad I didn't pay $US30+ (which was the price when I ordered it) and even more so given the state of the $AU. Plus I've got a heap of other stories to read.

On the other hand, I've still got Drood to read!!!

Dan Simmons is one of my favorite authors, and I pre-ordered this book way back in November. However I wish that I had paid more attention to the book description. This brief "novel" is 100 pages of large type and shorter than most children's fiction. That makes the per page cost 23 cents (at the reduced rate 35 cents per page full price) - which in my book is highway robbery.