Puss Reboots: Blog: August 2010: Science Fiction And Alternate History

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Alida's Song by Gary Paulsen
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Bird by Rita Murphy
Border Town (边城) by Shen Congwen
Catwings Return by Ursula K. LeGuin
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Good Morning, Gorillas (Magic Tree House #26) by Mary Pope Osborne
Guy Wire by Sarah Weeks
Harold's ABC by Crocket Johnson
High Tide in Hawaii (Magic Tree House #28) by Mary Pope Osborne
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Jane on Her Own by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Kids' Guide to Digital Photography by Jenni Bidner
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
Mary Modern by Camille Deangelis
The Octonauts and the Great Ghost Reef by Meomi
Ottoline Goes to School by Chris Riddell
Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood by Tony Lee
A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander
Pirates Past Noon (Magic Tree House #4) by Mary Pope Osborne
Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault
Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez
Receive Me Falling by Erika Robuck
Science Fiction and Alternate History by David Scholes
Size Eight in a Size Zero World by Meredith Cagen
The Tarot Cafe Volume 2 by Sang-Sun Park
Tea for Ruby by Sarah Ferguson
Uncle Andy's Cats by James Warhola
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Un Lun Dun by China Mié
Walter Wick's Optical Tricks by Walter Wick
When Teachers Talk by Rosalyn Susanne Schnall

Science Fiction And Alternate History: 08/11/10

If you're a regular of my blog, you know I like reading science fiction short stories. When I read short stories, I prefer them short and to the point. Science Fiction and Alternate History by David Scholes seemed like a perfect fit.

I wish it were. Frankly I'm not sure what to make of it or how to review it. The stories are extremely short, mostly a page or two. The longest ones run three to four pages.

There really isn't much to any story except a punchline. As individual stories there's not much there except for a surprise ending. Except being so short, the surprise doesn't really hold up. There's not enough development or set up to make the twist a twist.

As a whole book though, there is a hint at a plot progression. I know the book is presented as a collection of short stories but it really works better as a speculative fiction novel containing extremely short chapter.

I received the book for review.