Description:
Ben Bova has always been an idea man. Like Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, Bova writes stories that sit close to the heart of science fiction, with plot and characterization orbiting (and sometimes secondary to) a central notion. The stories in Twice Seven are built this way. Highlights include "Inspiration," a time-travel story involving H.G. Wells and young Albert Einstein; "Conspiracy Theory," in which scientists and governments hide evidence of real live Martians; and "Re-Entry Shock," one woman's efforts to return to her home. Bova's style is plain, his plots simple, his futures bright and pleasant. In the introduction, he writes, "Because I try to write clearly and tend to believe that the human mind can solve the problems it faces, I fear that my work is often regarded as simplistic, or lacking style, or less 'literary' than some others'." While it's true that he's not one to embellish a sentence or characterize beyond the basics, Bova's ideas are what we're here for, and he delivers in fine style. These stories, many of which were originally published in Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine, span the late 1990s. --Therese Littleton
|
