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Charlie Jane Anders
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Six Months, Three Days, Five Others Hardcover – October 17, 2017

by Charlie Jane Anders (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 563 ratings
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  1. Hugo AwardWinner, 2012
Next page

"A master absurdist...Highly recommended." ―The New York Times

Before the success of her debut SF-and-fantasy novel All the Birds in the Sky, Charlie Jane Anders was a rising star in SF and fantasy short fiction. Collected in a mini-book format, here―for the first time in print―are six of her quirky, wry, engaging best:

In "The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model," aliens reveal the terrible truth about how humans were created―and why we'll never discover aliens.

"As Good as New" is a brilliant twist on the tale of three wishes, set after the end of the world.

"Intestate" is about a family reunion in which some attendees aren't quite human anymore―but they're still family.

"The Cartography of Sudden Death" demonstrates that when you try to solve a problem with time travel, you now have two problems.

"Six Months, Three Days" is the story of the love affair between a man who can see the one true foreordained future, and a woman who can see all the possible futures. They're both right, and the story won the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.

And "Clover," exclusively written for this collection, is a coda to All the Birds in the Sky, answering the burning question of what happened to Patricia's cat.

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  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tordotcom
  4. Publication date
    October 17, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    4.55 x 0.78 x 7.02 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0765394898
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0765394897
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
563 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the stories well-crafted with an interesting premise. They describe the book as a fun, quick read with witty and creative writing style. Readers appreciate the great characters and author's exciting voice. However, some feel the content is somewhat depressing.

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Story qualityReadabilityWriting styleCharacter developmentAuthorDepressing content
24 customers mention "Story quality"20 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the well-crafted stories with an interesting premise. They find the characters engaging and the plots original. The stories are described as imaginative, with a sense of drama.

"...Anders does a great job of building an intriguing world in a couple paragraphs (THE CARTOGRAPHY OF SUDDEN DEATH), combining unlikely story tropes..." Read more

"Loved it! Great characters and I enjoyed the plot. Nice take on the clairvoyance issues, with both having a different variant on t he gift" Read more

"...a very quick read at only 30 pages, but somehow manages to be a well-rounded story that doesn't feel rushed or incomplete...." Read more

"Interesting idea. A brief romance between a precog who can see THE future and one who can see a wide range of possible futures. Fun read...." Read more

17 customers mention "Readability"15 positive2 negative

Customers find the book an interesting and enjoyable read. They describe it as a quick, easy read that leaves them with more questions than answers.

"Six Months, Three Days is a very quick read at only 30 pages, but somehow manages to be a well-rounded story that doesn't feel rushed or incomplete...." Read more

"...Fun read. I liked Anders first novel (which this short piece predates by a few years). I look forward to more novels from her in the future." Read more

"...You'll find these answers and more in this lovely little collection." Read more

"...That being said, it is a small quick read and I am glad I bought it." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find the stories witty, creative, and humorous. The writing is described as thoughtful, resonant, and perfectly paced.

"...I found each of these stories delightful, witty, creative and funny...." Read more

"...Her is writing is lively without feeling over-worked, funny without being the written version of a Keystone caper...." Read more

"...All the birds in sky" a couple of years ago and was charmed by her writing style and endearing characters...." Read more

"Charlie Jane Anders is a fantastic writer. This story, in particular, is full of interesting ideas as well as a satisfying storyline...." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's characters. They find the plot engaging and the author's voice exciting.

"Loved it! Great characters and I enjoyed the plot. Nice take on the clairvoyance issues, with both having a different variant on t he gift" Read more

"...Charlie Jane Anders is an exciting voice in fiction and I, for one, can't wait to devour her next offering. *..." Read more

"...Sci-fi with diverse, realistic characters. I have also enjoyed her full-length books and hope to meet her one day. Definitely worth reading." Read more

"Great fun unraveling the contradictions of precognition. Well drawn characters and settings." Read more

3 customers mention "Author"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's writing. They say he is one of the best young writers around.

"...One of the best young writers around." Read more

"Fun little book, great writing by an amazing author." Read more

"...and perfectly paced offering from Anders, who's really an author to watch." Read more

3 customers mention "Depressing content"0 positive3 negative

Customers dislike the depressing content. The well-crafted story is somewhat depressing.

"...But that also turns out to be why the well-crafted story is somewhat depressing. Or maybe that's because I can "feel" for the pessimistic guy." Read more

"...Their story became less interesting and more depressing, page by page, until at the end I couldn’t stand the sniveling male character at all...." Read more

"sad and predictable, premise is wonderfull, I guess could elaborate better." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • warburtonlabs
    5.0 out of 5 stars A handful of smart, sparkly gems
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Don't know what some of y'all are complaining about...
    I found each of these stories delightful, witty, creative and funny.
    Anders does a great job of building an intriguing world in a couple paragraphs (THE CARTOGRAPHY OF SUDDEN DEATH), combining unlikely story tropes (add one part apocalypse, two parts genie in a bottle and sprinkle in a character wanting to write a play that changes the world?! That's AS GOOD AS NEW), and building unlikely paradoxical romances (SIXTH MONTHS, THREE DAYS).
    That's the great thing about short stories...
    They're bite-size and give you a taste of something that might fill you up-- or leave you wanting more.
    Me?
    I'll take more if ya write 'em.

    Thanks for the fun, Charlie Jane!

    Mr. Warburton
    aka Numbuh Eleventy Billion
    Supreme Leader, Kids Next Door
    (decommissioned)
    End Transmission
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ms.ScoutKitty
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Loved it! Great characters and I enjoyed the plot. Nice take on the clairvoyance issues, with both having a different variant on t he gift
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  • Stormi Clouds
    5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting Quick Read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Six Months, Three Days is a very quick read at only 30 pages, but somehow manages to be a well-rounded story that doesn't feel rushed or incomplete. The concept of two people who are both clairvoyant, but in different ways, choosing to date even though they know how their relationship will end is so unique. I am impressed with the amount of depth and story Anders managed to pack into these few pages that held my attention from start to finish.
    One person found this helpful
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  • D. Smith
    3.0 out of 5 stars Love among the precogs
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting idea. A brief romance between a precog who can see THE future and one who can see a wide range of possible futures. Fun read. I liked Anders first novel (which this short piece predates by a few years). I look forward to more novels from her in the future.
    Helpful
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  • Indiana O.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fate or freedom ?
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The premise is that the heroes can tell the future. The boy thinks he's fated to act out a sequence of actions, the girl can see multiple futures leading to different endings. From the very first, their love story is overshadowed by the knowledge it will/may end badly. Will the girl have time to convince the boy that he's free to disobey his vision ? Will the boy stubbornly cling to it and refuse a happy ending ? Is the girl deluding herself that she's free ? In the end one wonders if the author is not painting a very realistic picture of optimism vs. pessimism, showing how a purely negative image of the future can be a powerful performative of doom, while optimism allows one to get a second chance at happiness. A very cogent demonstration.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Epic_Maus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Priceless - Failure to buy this book will doom your immortal soul
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    That I'm the first reviewer for this collection of short stories is a travesty.

    After reading the first chapter of Anders' All the Birds in the Sky, I knew that I'd look forward to devouring anything else she wrote. Her is writing is lively without feeling over-worked, funny without being the written version of a Keystone caper. Each of the stories in this collection is set against a different back drop - space, post-apocalyptic world, etc. - and each brings something fresh to those tired old chestnuts. Perhaps not in dénouement, but certainly in execution and presentation; my funny bone is difficult to tickle, and I found myself laughing out loud at several points while reading "The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model." But don't worry - if you're not looking for humor, you'll find other emotions here as well.

    The long and the short of it is that I'm not well spoken enough to describe my reaction to this book. It was a breath of fresh air after 20 years in a port-a-potty. It was waking up one day, 20 years old again, but with all your 40-year-old memories and a perfect plan for how to do everything just right. It was opening and discarding a hundred books full of trite, overwrought writing, pandering plots, and boring/loathsome characters, and having a Ray of Enlightenment shine out of the 101st.

    And no, I'm not overreacting.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Michelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars An unexpected delight
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    What a fabulous little collection of gems! I stumbled upon the authors work "All the birds in sky" a couple of years ago and was charmed by her writing style and endearing characters. So much so in fact, that I often would think of passages from that book months later, or remember quips from the snappy dialogue.
    I read on average 4-5 books per week. For one to stay with me so long is really unusual.
    I'm happy to report that each story in this collection maintains that same impact. All are wildly different in content, but hold an otherworldly charm that pulls you in close and leaves you hungering for more.
    Charlie Jane Anders is an exciting voice in fiction and I, for one, can't wait to devour her next offering.

    *one of the stories is a previously published work, six months, three days.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • CyberDad
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent even if depressing
    Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    It's obvious why this won an award. Delving into the lives of clairvoyants is intriguing. But that also turns out to be why the well-crafted story is somewhat depressing. Or maybe that's because I can "feel" for the pessimistic guy.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Perceptive Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Unmissable
    Reviewed in India on January 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is the Coolest (yes, with a capital C) SFF book that I have read. It's really small in size, not too thick either. But the worlds within are incredibly vast and rich in all types of details.
    The stories are:
    1. The Fermi Paradox is Our Business Model
    2. As Good As New
    3. Intestate
    4. The Cartography of Sudden Death
    5. Six Months, Three Days
    6. Clover
    I just can't summarise any of the above-mentioned stories into 'catchy' one-liners. They are too weird, too genre-bending, rich with too many possibilities— some actualised and lot more left for our minds to expand upon. In short, they are just too good!
    TOR has done us, the readers of Science Fiction and Fantasy a terrific service by bringing out this book. I only hope that there were more.
    Highly Recommended.
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  • Sofia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent short story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I really really enjoyed reading this. The characters and their quite special situation (the sci-fi aspect of the story) were very well thought out and the author managed to make their story feel very real and compelling. Definitely worth a reading and the Hugo Award it won! Bravo to the author!
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
    Reviewed in Australia on February 5, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    An intriguing premise that unfortunately seemed to go nowhere.
    Report
  • Louise
    4.0 out of 5 stars Urious read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    You know what’s going to happen, yet you read it anyway - much like the two main characters. Quick read - 30mins but worth it!
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