Home > Categories > Books > Sci-Fi > The Mammoth Book of Extreme Science Fiction review

Extreme Science Fiction means what it says. SF is at its best when it's pushing the boundaries, beyond what we would normally think or even dream, and taking us into worlds we might never imagine.
Here, twenty of today's greatest science-fiction creators take us on journeys of vast imaginings, from the simplest of beginnings to the most complex of finalities.
What happens when...
... inanimate objects are given the gift of life
... there's an error in the universe and it tries to correct itself
... we break out of the universe and discover the creator
... a machine creates a choice of alternate Christs
... murder is committed in virtual reality
... an immortal ventures to the end of time
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In my heart of hearts, I am a wanderer through time and space, a seer of sights unseen, a listener to the song of the spheres... a sci-fi junkie for my earliest days. So to get a chance to read some stories by many of my favourite authors at their best, with a hard twist thrown in for good measure... how could I turn it down.
As I dived into this fine collection of works, I marvelled at how the human mind can dream up a story that can have no real frame of reference in common with our everyday lives, yet still remain something we can read and rebuild in our minds, worlds to wander, vistas to see... and these people do what they do better than anyone could really imagine.
Stephen Baxter, Greg Egan, Greg Bear, Gregory Benford and Pat Cadigan feature in this anthology, and are all included on my "Top of the Line" bookshelf... and as such made the price of this book worthwhile in my eyes... and if they had been able to squeeze in some new Peter F Hamilton I would have happily paid twice the price! Any contemporary sci-fi lover is going to know many of the authors included here anyways, but those new to sci-fi will find this a great taste-tester.
Overall, if you really do love sci-fi, you should make room on your shelves for this one, plus any others that come out... you won't regret it, and may find some stunning new talent you had been missing... I know I did... Lawrence Person's short story, 'Crucifixion Variations' was a real stunner for me, and I will be looking out for more stories by him.
Random listing from 'Books'...
Cedric is a dragon like no other. He lives at the zoo, adores children, and is quite possibly the most spectacular dragon Tig has ever known. But when the real reptiles insist he is not a true dragon, Cedric begins to doubt himself. With Tig on his back, he soars far away to find somewhere he belongs, leaving the zoo in chaos. It will take a murmuration of birds, a zoo full of worried animals, and a big apology to bring their beloved dragon home ... more...
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