<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A note from the publisher
Review: One of the main threads of science fiction has long been the dramatization of scientific and technological ideas, especially those of physics and astronomy and their effects on human lives. The purpose of this book is not to survey all of sicence fictoin, nor all of hard science fictoin, but to present a few stoires that illuminate some of the issues discussed in courses on science, technology, and society, which are currently served by nonfiction books and anthologies.This book's title, Gedanken Fictions, refers to a basic tool of science, the gedanken or thought experiment that must be used when laboratory experiments are not practical or possible. Dr. Thomas A. Easton is Professor of Life Sciences at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. He is also the author of Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Science, Technology and Society.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great collection!
Review: This past weekend I finished the "Gedanken Fictions", which is a collection of short stories edited by Thomas Easton. All the stories in this collection are first rate - - Easton is, after all, a book reviewer. Some stories are thought provoking, others moving and still other ones are funny. In particular I enjoyed "Out Of Copyright" by Charles Sheffield. It is a story about cloning individuals from the past when the copyright on their genetic material expires. It just so happens that this past weekend, a controversy erupted over profiting from the sale of Ted William's DNA. Even more strange is that ever since I read "Sparrowhawk", I have developed a curiosity about what Easton is up to. One of the reasons I read the "Gedanken Fictions" is because after reading "Sparrow Hawk", I was shocked to hear the media reports about the remote control rats being developed for search and rescue work. In "Sparrowhawk", Easton envisions animals being genetically engineered organic machines used to replace the internal combustion engines that are destroying our environment. He has another unique story along those lines in this book as well. Wildside Press are doing a great service of taking risks and keeping valuable work available.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great collection!
Review: This past weekend I finished the "Gedanken Fictions", which is a collection of short stories edited by Thomas Easton. All the stories in this collection are first rate - - Easton is, after all, a book reviewer. Some stories are thought provoking, others moving and still other ones are funny. In particular I enjoyed "Out Of Copyright" by Charles Sheffield. It is a story about cloning individuals from the past when the copyright on their genetic material expires. It just so happens that this past weekend, a controversy erupted over profiting from the sale of Ted William's DNA. Even more strange is that ever since I read "Sparrowhawk", I have developed a curiosity about what Easton is up to. One of the reasons I read the "Gedanken Fictions" is because after reading "Sparrow Hawk", I was shocked to hear the media reports about the remote control rats being developed for search and rescue work. In "Sparrowhawk", Easton envisions animals being genetically engineered organic machines used to replace the internal combustion engines that are destroying our environment. He has another unique story along those lines in this book as well. Wildside Press are doing a great service of taking risks and keeping valuable work available.
<< 1 >>
| 
