Customer Reviews

Quantum Musings: Selected works from the editors of Quantum Muse.

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These writers are crazzy, they are just the kind of people I would love to hang out with and talk about everything. I could not put this book down, and I highly recomend it to anyone who not only wants a good laugh, but wants to read what is lacking in many of writings of our day...wit, and intelligence. Do yourself a favour and read something that wont let you down...this collection of stories. Good job Muse!

The publishing world is changing - slowly, perhaps so slowly that it's hard to notice - but trust me, it is. POD (that's "Publishing on Demand" for you non-biz people) is really starting to become a viable means of presenting the work of both established and up-and-coming authors in an easy, efficient, and, best of all, cheap manner. So don't scoff at Internet publishing just because it doesn't smell of binding glue. Keeping this in mind, checking out this book is a must if you want to see the future of science fiction. Brought to you by the three men who brought you www.quantummuse.com (one of the top-rated new sites for science fiction), "Quantum Musings" is a wonderful collection of stories from the website. What makes them such great stories, in my not-so-humble opinion, is that not only are these men writers, they're gigantic fans of the genre, and that helps a lot - they know what works and what doesn't, and their critical minds and knowledge of convention help make for great stories. Of course, sometimes convention gets tossed out the window, and that's all right as well - every genre needs a little shaking up on occasion. And, in the midst of all this, they don't take themselves too seriously, which is an utter blessing. The humor is rampant through the book, both in the stories and sidenotes - trust me, you'll spend a lot of time laughing when you pick up this volume. I guess my only complaint is that it isn't bigger - but I guess that if you take my advice and buy this book, we can expect to see more volumes in the future of some of the best new voices in sci-fi, fantasy, and alternative literature.

Funny! Charming! Gripping! Witty! I can't say enough good things about this book. A MUST HAVE for any serious fantasy and sci-fi enthusiast.

Written by three talented, yet "real" authors, Quantum Musings puts their collective literary genius together into one terrific read. I couldn't put it down and I've already read it twice.

Where else will you read about a dinner with God, learn about Government "conspiracies" and how sometimes problems can be solved with large powerful handguns all in one book?

Fabulous fantasy adventures with realistic, not rehashed, characters. Tales of gritty intergalactic warfare and mystery. All the while exuding a cutting and witty repartee' that would make Dumas (of "The Three Musketeers" fame) proud...Buy the book! You won't be sorry you did!

I enjoyed almost all the stories in this collection. They were surprisingly well-written, too. Some make you think, other make you laugh, and many do both. The authors' styles meshed well together to create an interesting whole. If you're looking for something fun and different, try out this book!

You might think self-published works are not as "good" as traditionally published books, but that's just not the case. Mainstream publishers churn out masses of books that, while well-written, conform to what they think will sell. Writers lose a lot of freedom of expression. They can't experiment. Self-published authors can say what they want. If the work is a tad less polished at times, so what?

The only question I have is... where's the sequel?

While we wait for the editors to put out another book, check out the magazine these three edit, Quantum Muse. It's still around.

When's the last time you just had a really good time reading a book? Have you ever finished an anthology and thought, "I'd really like to hang out with those guys!"? If it's been far too long -- for instance, if your answer was something like never -- you're long overdue for a treat. Fortunately, if you're in the mood for a bit of fun, Quantum Musings is just what you need.

Gallant, Coulombe, and Goyette are the minds behind the monthly web-zine Quantum Muse, a particular favourite among internet denizens. This is the hip side of science fiction, fantasy, and alternative fiction -- a judgement that is borne out by Rebecca Kemp's sassy portrait of their Muse that graces the site and the cover of the collection. One look at that tongue-in-cheek graphic and you know in an instant that you are not setting out on your standard genre venture.

That's putting it mildly.

Take a look at Michael Gallant's offerings. "God Picks Up the Tab." Come to think of it, I'd say that title speaks for itself as well as Gallant's slightly twisted sense of humour does. The dry wit and fatalistic attitude of the narrator makes "Staring at Bruno, Waiting to Die" far more poignant than a quick synopsis could possibly convey. The story stands out as one of the most impressive selections in the book. "Alternative" tales would appear to be Gallant's true calling, outshining even his science fiction and fantasy in Quantum Musings.

Now, Raymond M. Coloumbe has a decidedly wicked and skewed way of looking at the world. What he sees is not like Gallant's view, or Goyette's, or yours, or mine. What it does seem most similar to is the way life actually is, if we had the guts to really examine it and see the truth for ourselves. Who really wants to dig deeper into something like "Government Myths"? If you're not going to appreciate the answer, Coloumbe points out, maybe you shouldn't ask the question. If "Death in Haiti" leaves you with one less thing to blame for your troubles, maybe you shouldn't venture there.

In the science fiction portion of Quantum Musings, Timothy O. Goyette's "The Swami of Time" is the showpiece. The interplay between the relatively human hero and the much more likeable squib is a priceless glimpse of the "odd couples" possible when we finally meet up with someone or something completely unlike ourselves. "Human Factors" takes an unflinching look at our all-too human characteristics. Only "The Wishmaker's Magic Box" hints that there might be some of us worth the trouble of saving.

Three different authors with their own styles and outlooks, but the joining is almost seamless. Like their quirky Muse, none of them takes life too seriously, or dismisses it too lightly. The combination makes for a captivating read and a thought-provoking after-read. Not to mention just barely whetting your appetite for more of the same...