THE YEAR'S TOP TEN TALES OF SCIENCE FICTION 3

In this impressive collection, some of science fiction’s unique and enduring themes are approached with new voices and fresh perspectives. The topics of the stories range from sentient machines in “Alone,” by Robert Reed, to the erasing of history in “Flower, Mercy, Needle, Chain,” by Yoon Ha Lee, to deep-space madness in “The Emperor of Mars,” by Sean McMullen, and to steampunk in “Eight Miles,” by Sean McMullen. Throughout, these top-flight, award-winning stories are narrated with professional, neutral deliveries. That style works to the best advantage in “The Thing,” by Peter Watts. Kate Baker delivers the first-person narration with such single-note intensity and conviction that the alien protagonist sounds more human than a human. Isn’t that the way it is with the best in cutting-edge speculative fiction? B.P. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2011]