Customer Reviews

God is an iron and Other Stories

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

 

 

I have always enjoyed Spider Robinson's work, ever since a friend introduced me to his short story "Meloncholy Elephants" years ago. And now that story, and others, are reprinted in this spectacular hardbound edition.
Personl favorites include the title story (and the slight twist at the ending), Rubber Soul (a lyrical delight), Meloncholy Elephants (still a favorite), and Orphans of Eden, which is not quite as the publishers review puts it, wherein a character based on Spider is played. It's Spider, darn it.

You can find these stories in other places if you look, but it's nice to have them in hardcover, and this IS a fine edition. The cover is slick, and the same under the dustjacket.

The stories in this collection were mostly written in the 1970s and 80s, but they have held up well in most ways. You may have to ignore it when the story mentions current times and puts technology there that didn't happen, but just think of it as taking place in an alternate universe. It's the story that matters, not the dates. His style reminds me at times of Robert Heinlein, which is appropriate, given that Heinlein was the first author Robinson read as a child - and that he was chosen to finish a story outline that Heinlein left when he died.

Many of the stories deal with humanity- not just humanity as people, but the human soul and heart. Whether it's artists fighting to be allowed to keep creating, or a dancer fighting against both stereotypes and gravity, the problems to be solved aren't bug eyed aliens despite Robinson's grounding in the hard SF of the 60s. Add some humor and a lot of twists, stir and enjoy.

Some of Spider's earlier stuff, including the landmark Stardance (writtten with Jeanne). Not every story in this collection is worth raves, but every story is worth reading. A couple, like the title piece and Not Fade Away are pure Spider--twisty, and just when you think you've got it, he does a little shuffle and leads you away from wherever you thought you were going. Like someone once said: "Don't miss it if you can."