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Don Sakers
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Carmen Miranda's Ghost Is Haunting Space Station 3 Paperback – February 1, 1990

by Don Sakers (Editor)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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A collection of stories from authors including Ann McCaffrey and C.J. Cherryh, inspired by a song by Leslie Fish, explores what life in space is like
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  1. Print length
    305 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Baen
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 1990
  5. ISBN-10
    0671698648
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0671698645
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The inspiration for this anthology of 19 tongue-in-cheek science fiction stories is a song penned by one of the contributors, Leslie Fish, that imagines intergalactic extracorporeal shenanigans by Carmen Miranda and teasingly asks "what it means for the Human race / That ghosts of generations past are taking off for space." Answering this question are well-knowns, less-experienced writers and a couple of novices. The results are a mixed bag of whimsy, farce and melodrama--few entries are memorable but most furnish several laughs. The standouts are "If Madam Likes You . . . ," a sweetly romantic story by Anne McCaffrey; "Confessional Booths," a tale of spiritual hunger by Susan Shwartz; "In the Can," a daffy murder melodrama by Esther Friesner; and "The Entertainer," by Eric Blackburn, about a Scottish con man who finds a meal ticket in Carmen Miranda. Sakers wrote The Leaves of October.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Author

From beginning to end, this book was a hoot to put together. You're sure to find something here that will leave you with a smile.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baen; First Edition (February 1, 1990)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0671698648
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671698645
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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Don Sakers

Don Sakers

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Don Sakers was launched the same month as Sputnik One, so it was perhaps inevitable that he should become a science fiction writer. A Navy brat by birth, he spent his childhood in such far-off lands as Japan, Scotland, Hawaii, and California. In California, rather like a latter-day Mowgli, he was raised by dogs.

As a writer and editor, he has explored the thoughts of sapient trees (The Leaves of October, Baen 1988), brought ghosts to life (Carmen Miranda's Ghost is Haunting Space Station Three, Baen 1989), and beaten the "Cold Equations" scenario ("The Cold Solution," Analog 7/91, voted best short story of the year.)

In 2009, Don took up the position of book reviewer for Analog Science Fiction & Fact, where he writes the "Reference Library" column in every issue.

In his day job, Don works for the Anne Arundel County Public Library. His actual job title -- "Library Associate" -- makes it sound like he gives lots of money to the Library, but in fact it's the other way around.

Don lives at Meerkat Meade in suburban Baltimore with his spouse, costumer Thomas Atkinson.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
16 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

mr_bandit
5.0 out of 5 stars Great filk and stories
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2020
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I first heard the filk many years ago at SF cons - from Leslie Fish herself.
(I goto SF cons several times a year.)
This is a collection of short stories (2..8 pages) from a variety of SF authors, plus the lyrics and music.
They all have the theme of Carmen Miranda and fruit. Other than that, the stories are wildly variable in details, but all are well written.
Enjoyable read
One person found this helpful
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Buck Duane
5.0 out of 5 stars I need this for my kindle.
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2018
I need this for my kindle. I have my original copy in my display case because it is old and fragile but still intact
One person found this helpful
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Shanshad
5.0 out of 5 stars It Started with a Song . . .
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2002
This is one of those books that is chiefly written for SF & Fantasy fandom by the SF& Fantasy fandom. As such, readers new to the genre may find it puzzling why anyone would love a book with such a strange title and theme chosen for its short stories. The origin of this anthology is a song written by famous filk (SF music, for those who are unfamiliar with the term) singer Leslie Fish. Apparently the song came about after "too much turkey and eggnog . . . and a table centerpiece decoration . . . and space age music on the hi-fi that just happened to swing into a rhumba". To get the full story, you'll have to read the Afterword in this anthology.
It's an unexpected anthology, with a wide range of tones and styles. "Provisional Solution" by B.W. Clough is a very light toned, lively take on the manifestation of Carmen and her trademark fruits. "Basket Case: Or:The Grapes of Wrath" by Bruce B. Barnett interprets the themes into a hard SF detective story with delightful success. Don Sakers, the editor of this anthology, has two short stories in this collection. The first is "The Man Who Travelled in Rocketships" a touching story that's meant as a memorial to Heinlen. The second is "Tarawa Rising" about an aging drag queen coming to terms with themselves with a little ghostly help. Other authors include, Anne McCaffrey, Esthner Friesner, C. J. Cherryh and, of course, the woman who started it all, Leslie Fish.
Why would anyone have 19 stories and a song about Carmen Miranda's ghost on a space station? SF writers having fun would have to be my main interpretation. And that's no bad thing, there are some brilliant stories within this anthology, some hysterical giggles, some thought provoking moments, and even some bittersweet memories. For the filksong fans, the sheet music for the song that Leslie Fish wrote is included at the end of the anthology. In some ways, I guess I'd say that this is sort of an in-joke anthology, since the folks most likely to pick it up are fans, but I highly reccomend it to any SF or Fantasy reader! Here's just a bit of Leslie's song:
"Carmen Miranda's Ghost is haunting
Space Station Three.
Half the staff has seen her,
plus the Portmaster and me.
And if you think we've had too much
Of Cookie's homemade rum,
Just tell me where these basket hats
of fruit keep coming from!"
Happy reading! ^_^ shanshad
10 people found this helpful
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Mike Archcraft
2.0 out of 5 stars Meh
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2019
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Wish it was as good as the filk song.
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Amanda M. Hayes
4.0 out of 5 stars Ghosts of Generations Past Are Taking Off For Space
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2011
Am I going to surprise you when I say an anthology titled _Carmen Miranda's Ghost Is Haunting Space Station Three_ is a mixed bag? Most anthologies are, and it seems to me like the more specific the theme, the greater the chance you'll get a lot of dubious fare but a few flashes of brilliance. The ghost of Carmen Miranda in space is about as specific as I've seen. Some of the stories inspired by Leslie Fish's wonderful filksong are indeed dubious, but few are bad, five or six are good, and one is truly excellent. All of them share a certain charm, regardless of quality.

"The Carmen Miranda Gambit" is my hands-down favorite. Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett must have seen the musical 'Chess,' or they were inspired by the same events. Either way they manage to combine chess, sports celebrity, and a long-dead flamenco dancer in a clever and entirely serious manner. I would keep the book on my shelves for this story alone.

Nothing else measured quite so high, but "Basket Case" (Bruce B. Barnett), a space station murder mystery; "Shadows On the Wall" (Ron Robison), a series of statements from crewmen explaining their station's unusual luxury; "Bertocci's Proof" (Leslie Fish herself), a story speculating on what comes after death; "Wings" (C.J. Cherryh), dealing with a similar theme in a lighter way; and "And Now the News:" (Betsy Marks and Anne G. DeMaio), in which the dead of the past return to steer the present, were each a kind of treat. The offerings from Anne McCaffrey and Susan Shwartz also stand out.

What remains is harmless fun, mostly--I probably won't remember them two weeks from now but they moved well enough and did homage to the premise. Of course, this is all personal taste. Maybe your favorite would be one I didn't much care for, or you'd yawn through the Scott and Barnett piece, who knows? Regardless of which stories you liked, I think if the premise got you to pick up the book in the first place, you'd find something inside to make you laugh, or think, or hunt down a recording of Ms. Fish's song.

Now I just wish someone would base an anthology on "Popeye the Sailor's Ghost Is Haunting Space Station Four." (No, really, that exists. Look it up!)
3 people found this helpful
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Pat Patterson
5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure you just can't find anywhere
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019
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First, the title called to me.
Then, the history of how the story came about.
The stories are good, and some are excellent.
The best part for me is that this book contains the VERY FIRST E-SUBMISSION of a story, ever. Today, everything gets submitted electronically. But, this volume contains the very first story ever submitted that way!
2 people found this helpful
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