Sailing to Byzantium

Rating:
Summary: Excellent collection of stories from a SF master
Review: "Sailing to Byzantium" gathers together five of Robert Silverberg's most accomplished novellas, accompanied by introductions describing their conception. There is not a weak story in the collection; in fact, each is so compelling that the reader will find himself chafing against the boundaries of the novella format, repeatedly asking, Why didn't Silverberg devlep this topic more? Why couldn't I see more of this character? The inclusion of the introductions allows the reader to attempt the disturbing task of reconciling Silverberg's beautiful, poetic writing with his prosaic and sometimes downright mercenary explanations of how a story came into being.

Fans of Silverberg's work should purchase this attractive (the cover features a very nice painting) anthology; fans of SF and fantasy unacquainted with his work should remedy this oversight, and this collection is a good place to start.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent collection of stories from a SF master
Review: "Sailing to Byzantium" gathers together five of Robert Silverberg's most accomplished novellas, accompanied by introductions describing their conception. There is not a weak story in the collection; in fact, each is so compelling that the reader will find himself chafing against the boundaries of the novella format, repeatedly asking, Why didn't Silverberg devlep this topic more? Why couldn't I see more of this character? The inclusion of the introductions allows the reader to attempt the disturbing task of reconciling Silverberg's beautiful, poetic writing with his prosaic and sometimes downright mercenary explanations of how a story came into being.

Fans of Silverberg's work should purchase this attractive (the cover features a very nice painting) anthology; fans of SF and fantasy unacquainted with his work should remedy this oversight, and this collection is a good place to start.

Rating:
Summary: Five Pieces That Define The Science Fiction Novella
Review: I read "Sailing to Byzantium" about six months ago. I saw a reference to it the other day and I was surprised how vividly some of the stories still stuck out in my mind. Sadly, I have read little of Silverberg's work, but this book definitely made me want to dig out more of his novellas and short stories.

The two that stuck out the most admittedly were those with ties closest to my interests: ancient history and invertebrate zoology. The novella for which the book was named, "Sailing to Byzantium", sets the stage for what becomes a selection of wildly different and surprising stories. In "Sailing to Byzantium", Silverberg does a surprisingly good job of meshing ancient history and culture clash with classic science fiction concepts and plot twists. "Homefaring", on the other hand, lays out most of the plot surprises right off and spends a great deal of time exploring the implications of the setting: a civilization of intelligent lobsters. Aside from minor evolutionary-morphological quibbles, the story was a wondrously bizarre surprise. The other three stories were equally as deft in mixing plot and setting, but possibly through my own prejudices, they don't stick nearly as well in my brain.

Silverberg discusses in his introduction that he enjoys working in the novella format and it really shows. In all five stories, Silverberg really gets the chance to sit down and enjoy the worlds that he's working in. Each have their own impressively creative spark that really make you wonder how one can come up with such ideas.

If you're looking for good, classic science fiction, then Silverberg's work is one that you should definitely pick up. If you want a good example of what the genre has evolved from in the last twenty or thirty years, it is still well worht reading. Either way, I think anyone looking to broaden their field of science fiction reading should try this book.

Rating:
Summary: Five Pieces That Define The Science Fiction Novella
Review: I read "Sailing to Byzantium" about six months ago. I saw a reference to it the other day and I was surprised how vividly some of the stories still stuck out in my mind. Sadly, I have read little of Silverberg's work, but this book definitely made me want to dig out more of his novellas and short stories.

The two that stuck out the most admittedly were those with ties closest to my interests: ancient history and invertebrate zoology. The novella for which the book was named, "Sailing to Byzantium", sets the stage for what becomes a selection of wildly different and surprising stories. In "Sailing to Byzantium", Silverberg does a surprisingly good job of meshing ancient history and culture clash with classic science fiction concepts and plot twists. "Homefaring", on the other hand, lays out most of the plot surprises right off and spends a great deal of time exploring the implications of the setting: a civilization of intelligent lobsters. Aside from minor evolutionary-morphological quibbles, the story was a wondrously bizarre surprise. The other three stories were equally as deft in mixing plot and setting, but possibly through my own prejudices, they don't stick nearly as well in my brain.

Silverberg discusses in his introduction that he enjoys working in the novella format and it really shows. In all five stories, Silverberg really gets the chance to sit down and enjoy the worlds that he's working in. Each have their own impressively creative spark that really make you wonder how one can come up with such ideas.

If you're looking for good, classic science fiction, then Silverberg's work is one that you should definitely pick up. If you want a good example of what the genre has evolved from in the last twenty or thirty years, it is still well worht reading. Either way, I think anyone looking to broaden their field of science fiction reading should try this book.

Rating:
Summary: Unsettingly fascinating
Review: I think Silverberg's stories are masterpieces of the imaginations,absolutely intriguing,and at the same time deeply unsettling.We don't know when in the future "Sailing to Byzantium"is set;we are also totally in the dark as to who is in charge of the whole works.Who has read (or is reading)Tad William's Otherland series will find a similarity whit the dicotomy puppets-citizen in the distinction between citizens and "temporaries". The story is fascinating in the details,the strange levity of descriptions,the questions it arises .Think also of H.G. Wells Time Traveler.Eloi whitout Morlocks?Silverberg is not only a great S.F. writer,but a learned connoisseur of history.

Rating:
Summary: Unsettingly fascinating
Review: I think Silverberg's stories are masterpieces of the imaginations,absolutely intriguing,and at the same time deeply unsettling.We don't know when in the future "Sailing to Byzantium"is set;we are also totally in the dark as to who is in charge of the whole works.Who has read (or is reading)Tad William's Otherland series will find a similarity whit the dicotomy puppets-citizen in the distinction between citizens and "temporaries". The story is fascinating in the details,the strange levity of descriptions,the questions it arises .Think also of H.G. Wells Time Traveler.Eloi whitout Morlocks?Silverberg is not only a great S.F. writer,but a learned connoisseur of history.