Swift Thoughts [Hardcover]

George Zebrowski (Author), Gregory Benford (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Ranging from hard science fiction (“Gödel’s Doom”) to alternate history (“Lenin in Odessa”) to first alien contact (“Bridge of Silence”), this collection delineates one of the unique voices writing science fiction today. In the tradition of Stanislaw Lem, each of the stories in this collection confronts the big questions of human existence. The detailed notes that follow each story provide insight into the author’s influences and include commentary from other noteworthy authors in the field.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The 24 highly regarded stories of this brilliant collection span 30 years of John W. Campbell Memorial Award winner Zebrowski's (Brute Orbits) career in fundamentally philosophical hard SF. Convinced that the genre best "rehearses possible futures," Zebrowski succinctly exhibits a wide range of gritty, postmodern, impeccably disciplined glimpses into futures far and near, as well as alternative histories, like the intriguing "Number of the Sand" and "Let Time Shape" from the History Machine series he began in the early 1970s. All probe the innermost reaches of human frailty. Like Kafka, Zebrowski follows each wrenching "what if" opener with remorseless logic to a closing as stark and inevitable as the utter cold of outer space, often a direct result of humanity's violent and spiritually fatal pursuit of power. Most disturbing are Nebula Award nominee "The Eichmann Variations," which questions whether that murderer is capable of remorse and redemption; "Bridge of Silence," an alien contact that cuts to the essence of human hubris; and the shattering "Lesser Beasts," which lays bare the tragic delusional aftermath of the Vietnam War. Humanity's saving grace of humor, which the author sees as a weapon against totalitarianism, dominates "Stooges," an alien encounter via a comedy jam session. Though Zebrowski notes that several of his stories "got away" from him, all demonstrate impressive discipline, logic and mastery of his craft; as his conclusion, "Holdouts," suggests, there is a human need to "rewrite reality itself." Few SF writers have done so with such mathematical elegance. (Apr.)Forecast: Possibly too demanding for some, especially younger readers, this quality collection should nonetheless quickly sell out its first printing.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Science fiction's most philosophical talent here offers 24 stories, some of them landmarks in the field. "Godel's Doom," for instance, attempts the difficult task of turning a classic mathematical problem into fiction, in the process meditating on determinism versus free will. In what is actually his most conventional piece, "Lenin in Odessa," Zebrowski enters the mind of Joseph Stalin to conjure an extraordinarily detailed alternative history. Some tales, though based on serious philosophical conceits, are like cartoons: in "Word Sweep," for instance, the words characters speak form in the air and crash to the ground, slowly filling up the world; and the wry "Stooges" features Curly of the Three Stooges. "Sacred Fire" is a wrenching consideration of violence as a necessary component of being human. "This Life and Later Ones" demonstrates how awful a man-made immortality might be. Zebrowski is outrageously didactic but so polished a stylist and so original that the reader is sure to be mesmerized. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Golden Gryphon Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930846088
• ISBN-13: 978-1930846081
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,355,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Intellectual, March 8, 2007

By 

Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swift Thoughts (Hardcover)

Swift Thoughts (2002) is a collection of twenty-four SF short stories. These short works were originally published between 1973 and 2001 in a variety of venues. While most first appeared in the science fiction (and fantasy) magazines and anthologies, some were written for nontraditional publications such as a Japanese AI journal, Popular Computing, and Nature.

In this collection, The Word Sweep speculates on the consequences of words becoming physical objects upon utterance. Starcrossed concerns a probe ship guided by a cyborg brain. The Eichmann Variations considers an unusual form of mental torture. This Life and Later Ones is a cautionary tale about downloaded personalities. The City of Thought and Steel tells of the afterthoughts and nightmares of a mass murderer.

Godel's Doom conveys a way to prove Godel's Theorem and the possible aftereffects. Lenin in Odessa is an alternate history tale or is it? Sacred Fire is a story about future generations and the way they differ from their parents. Stooges introduces a novel means of first contact. Bridge of Silence conveys the frustrations of first contact with a truly alien creature.

Swift Thoughts is about a Moses who cannot enter the Promised Land. The Idea Trap relates the tale of a misfit who is perfect for a supporting role. Behind the Night provides new insight on immigration policies. Wound the Wind asks whether people should be forced to do something for their own good. Rope of Glass is about a man who isn't sure of what he is doing or why.

In the Distance and Ahead in Time is a side story of the Macrolife chronicles, telling of the differences between those on planets and those who travel the stars. Lesser Beasts concerns a Vietnam War veteran who kills alien invaders. The Number of the Sand is about the alternate histories of Hannibal and Scipio the Elder. Let Time Meet tells of the settlement of the New World by Carthagean refugees. Shrinkers & Movers is a tale of moving to a new home and the problems that can occur.

Augie concerns the problems of raising an Artificial Intelligence. The Last Science Fiction Story of the 20th Century is about difficulties of SF writers in the future. Catch the Sleep Ship: The First Science Fiction Story of the 21st Century tells of the demise of SF and one way of bypassing the problem. The Holdouts is about the results of a paradigm shift in physics.

This collection has an introduction by Gregory Benford and Author Notes following each story. These notes contain a good deal of musing on SF writing and philosophy, as do some of the stories themselves. One most unsettling thought is the decline of SF after a theory of everything is introduced. Naturally, this reviewer must disagree since SF would then absorb every other form of fiction (except pure fantasy) as biology, psychology, sociology and all other natural sciences are reduced to physics.

This collection is not for everyone. The author tends to excessive intellectualization in his short works. Sometimes they are way over almost everybody's head and interests. Too much Zebrowski can be hazardous to your mental health (at least for short works, but his novels are more commonplace). It is time for me to return to more active and less cognitive science fiction and fantasy.

Highly recommended for Zebrowski fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of high concepts, mental conundrums and other intellectual fare.

-Arthur W. Jordin

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed from cover to cover with unexpected twists, June 5, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swift Thoughts (Hardcover)

This new collection presents original stories which focus on the theme of evolving artificial intelligences and the questions about humanity versus machine which evolve. From the question of whether a clone of Adolf Ecihmann will ever show remorse for Nazi history to the rationing of speech when words begin to take physical form, [Swift] Thoughts is packed from cover to cover with unexpected twists which will delight both seasoned fans and those who are newcomers to Zebrowski's art.

5.0 out of 5 stars none, May 18, 2002

By 

Gary S. Potter (Mount Pleasant, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swift Thoughts (Hardcover)

Zebrowski is SF's thinking man's writer, a writer who can mix and mingle and weave science, law, humor, and philosophy throughout his stories that range from hard SF to Alternate History to first alien contact. Zebrowski is a modern master of SF and "Swift Thoughts" is a thought-provoking collection of 24 masterful tales... Gary S. Potter Author/Poet