Beaker's Dozen
Registered by gypsysmom of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on 5/6/2008
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
I took a walk at noon hour today to see if Aqua Books, Winnipeg's nicest used book store, was open in their new digs on Garry Street yet. The answer was "partially" as the City won't issue them an occupancy permit for part of the space that has a wonderful old pressed tin roof because of fire concerns. However, they had a fine, if small, selection of used books and I was thrilled to find this one. I just read my first book by Nancy Kress a few weeks ago and I was hungering for more. This trade paperback looks like it is in great shape and it was only $6.
Science fiction writers often write short fiction and Nancy Kress is one of the best at it. This collection of 13 short stories was published in 1998 and all of the stories were written in the last decade of the twentieth century. So some of these stories are more than 20 years old but they are not dated.
In her introduction Kress acknowledges the fact that it is significant that these stories were written in the 1990s. She says"...strange and wondrous things are happening in science labs around the world." She mentions cloning and pharming and genetic engineering. Eight of the stories are "concerned with what might come out of the beakers and test tubes and gene sequencers of microbiology." She also says "The twenty-first century...will transform our knowledge of biology in the same way that the twentieth century transformed physics." I would say she was remarkably prescient; genetics has almost become mainstream and there are still over 80 years to go in this century.
I don't know that I have a favourite story in this collection because they are all good but the last story "Dancing on Air" will probably be the one that stays with me longest. It deals with how genetic engineering could transform ballet dancers; but then is it still an art form if performance is dependent upon who has the best doctors?
I love the way Kress writes. Note to self: read more of her work.
In her introduction Kress acknowledges the fact that it is significant that these stories were written in the 1990s. She says"...strange and wondrous things are happening in science labs around the world." She mentions cloning and pharming and genetic engineering. Eight of the stories are "concerned with what might come out of the beakers and test tubes and gene sequencers of microbiology." She also says "The twenty-first century...will transform our knowledge of biology in the same way that the twentieth century transformed physics." I would say she was remarkably prescient; genetics has almost become mainstream and there are still over 80 years to go in this century.
I don't know that I have a favourite story in this collection because they are all good but the last story "Dancing on Air" will probably be the one that stays with me longest. It deals with how genetic engineering could transform ballet dancers; but then is it still an art form if performance is dependent upon who has the best doctors?
I love the way Kress writes. Note to self: read more of her work.
Passed this book on at our BookCrossing get together in Assiniboine Park to welcome JudySlump612 and DrSlump612 to our fair city. Great food, great company and great weather; we had it all.
When you find a BookCrossing book it is yours to do with what you like. You can read it and keep it or pass it on or if you don't think it is your kind of book pass it on to someone who might like it or release it in a spot for someone else to find like you just did. Whatever you choose it would be great if you could write a short note letting us know what new adventures the book is on.
When you find a BookCrossing book it is yours to do with what you like. You can read it and keep it or pass it on or if you don't think it is your kind of book pass it on to someone who might like it or release it in a spot for someone else to find like you just did. Whatever you choose it would be great if you could write a short note letting us know what new adventures the book is on.
Thank you for sharing such a good book, gypsysmom, along with the hospitality you've been showing us this week. Every time I read 'Dancing on Air' I'm sure to remember the evening with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Ballet in the Park!
An excellent collection. Some of the stories were new to me, so I had fun exploring them. And of course, some of Kress' great classics deserve much re-reading. Not all of the stories are great, but "Always True to Thee, in my Fashion" struck me as quite original and funny. Here are the best three, in my opinion:
"Flowers of Aulit Prison" won the 1998 Nebula and the 1997 Sturgeon Memorial awards. It's a powerful story, and I especially like the phrase 'shared reality' to describe a worldview.
"Dancing on Air,' another powerful story with a lot of parallel but contrasting threads. Part of it is narrated by a bioenhanced dog, which adds a lot of interest. But it wasn't until after several readings that I spotted the zinger about why he's so important: a main character says to him "You didn't choose what you are, either, did you, Angel?" There are a lot of issues going on here, but Kress blends them perfectly into the story.
And finally, "Beggars in Spain," winner of the 1991 Nebula and 1992 Hugo, an absolute masterpiece. If you're a US citizen reading this during the 2016 presidential campaign, you'll be wincing at the contempt for intelligence, and the hatred of anyone perceived as 'different' shown here, and wishing Kress weren't such a good observer. With a lot of sf, you get to wonder if the author's predictions could come true. In this case, there's no room for doubt.
And finally, another heartfelt 'thank you' to gypsysmom for that glorious picnic at Assiniboine Park, and the ballet performance. An evening DH and I will never forget!
But this is all just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?
"Flowers of Aulit Prison" won the 1998 Nebula and the 1997 Sturgeon Memorial awards. It's a powerful story, and I especially like the phrase 'shared reality' to describe a worldview.
"Dancing on Air,' another powerful story with a lot of parallel but contrasting threads. Part of it is narrated by a bioenhanced dog, which adds a lot of interest. But it wasn't until after several readings that I spotted the zinger about why he's so important: a main character says to him "You didn't choose what you are, either, did you, Angel?" There are a lot of issues going on here, but Kress blends them perfectly into the story.
And finally, "Beggars in Spain," winner of the 1991 Nebula and 1992 Hugo, an absolute masterpiece. If you're a US citizen reading this during the 2016 presidential campaign, you'll be wincing at the contempt for intelligence, and the hatred of anyone perceived as 'different' shown here, and wishing Kress weren't such a good observer. With a lot of sf, you get to wonder if the author's predictions could come true. In this case, there's no room for doubt.
And finally, another heartfelt 'thank you' to gypsysmom for that glorious picnic at Assiniboine Park, and the ballet performance. An evening DH and I will never forget!
But this is all just one person's opinion. Future readers, what do YOU think of this book?
Journal Entry 6 by JudySlump612 at Dunn Bros Coffee - E Lake & W River in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Thursday, September 29, 2016
Released 7 yrs ago (9/29/2016 UTC) at Dunn Bros Coffee - E Lake & W River in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
On bookshelves next to fireplace
