Beaker's Dozen

Rating:
Summary: A Great Collection
Review: "Beaker's Dozen" contains a "baker's dozen", that is 13, short stories, from the author of the award winning "Beggar's Trilogy" (Beggars in Spain, Beggars & Choosers, Beggar's Ride).

The book is primarily concerned with the impact of emerging biotek on day to day life. Written the trademark flair of strong female characters and emphasis the social implication on the "ordinary" citzens.

The collection begins with the Hugo Winning Novella "Beggars in Spain", for those who have read the novel, this piece needs no introduction. For those that haven't: In the near future, Leisha Camden is the beautiful protagonist, intelligent and needs no sleep. A great introduction into the writing style of Ms Kress, her defining work as a SF author.

The collection ends with another novella, "Dancing on Air", again dealing with the possibilities of biotechnologies as applied to ballet dancers.

Other unforgettable pieces are "Margin of Error" and "Unto Daughters" the Garden of Eden story like you have never heard it before.

Rating:
Summary: Trite, bleak plots; dull writing
Review: I loved Nancy Kress's "Beggars" series and was looking forward to reading this short story collection. I was quite disappointed. What attracted me to her novels -- strong ideas, persuasive plot, interesting characters -- are absent in this collection of stories. Even her commentaries add little to understanding her writing process or the stories.

Casting a critical eye on science and its purveyers has its place. Yet I felt Kress offers nothing new in these stories. "Evolution" takes a very serious topic, antibiotic-resistance in bacteria, and turns it into a bland, Shirley Jackson-esque tale of people becoming uncivilized. I kept thinking after the first few pages, "Ok, I get it. Why should I keep reading?"

I really enjoy stories that immerse me in unfamiliar milieus or occupations. However, "Dancing on Air" gives a minimal treatment of the world of professional ballet. One could replace "ballet" with "figure skating" or "piano competition" and it would have made no difference. Again, after the few first pages found myself thinking "Why should I keep reading?"

Only the "Beggars" novella was somewhat interesting from a historical perspective. For "Beggar" fans, nibble the novella but don't eat the whole dozen.

Rating:
Summary: Trite, bleak plots; dull writing
Review: I loved Nancy Kress's "Beggars" series and was looking forward to reading this short story collection. I was quite disappointed. What attracted me to her novels -- strong ideas, persuasive plot, interesting characters -- are absent in this collection of stories. Even her commentaries add little to understanding her writing process or the stories.

Casting a critical eye on science and its purveyers has its place. Yet I felt Kress offers nothing new in these stories. "Evolution" takes a very serious topic, antibiotic-resistance in bacteria, and turns it into a bland, Shirley Jackson-esque tale of people becoming uncivilized. I kept thinking after the first few pages, "Ok, I get it. Why should I keep reading?"

I really enjoy stories that immerse me in unfamiliar milieus or occupations. However, "Dancing on Air" gives a minimal treatment of the world of professional ballet. One could replace "ballet" with "figure skating" or "piano competition" and it would have made no difference. Again, after the few first pages found myself thinking "Why should I keep reading?"

Only the "Beggars" novella was somewhat interesting from a historical perspective. For "Beggar" fans, nibble the novella but don't eat the whole dozen.

Rating:
Summary: The well intentioned folly of genetic engineering.
Review: It's been a while since I read good SF book, so I was little hesitant ordering Beaker's Dozen. The novella Beggars in Spain just blew my mind. It has an excellen idea - and great philosophical beliefs. After I read it - I was completelly taken away - and had a feeling of great satisfaction!

Rating:
Summary: Just Finished This Collection
Review: This collection has been around for awhile, but I just found it. I highly recommend it to all fans of Nancy Kress

Rating:
Summary: Just Finished This Collection
Review: This collection has been around for awhile, but I just found it. I highly recommend it to all fans of Nancy Kress

Rating:
Summary: Highly Entertaining, Highly Intelligent Writing
Review: You don't have to be a science-fiction fan to enjoy the stories of Nancy Kress. In fact, you don't even have to know anything about science-fiction. If you enjoy well written, intelligent writing with remarkably believable characters, Kress is for you.

This collection starts off with a bang. "Beggars in Spain," the Hugo and Nebula winning story deals seriously with genetic engineering and prejudice when a group of "sleepless" children are born. Also outstanding are "Ars Longa" (about what it may have been like to have been Walt Disney's grade-school teacher) and "Flowers of Aulit Prison." All of the stories are very, very good, but these three are my favorites. If you like great characters and great writing, they may be yours also.

Kress has the amazing ability to communicate complex scientific ideas (like genetic engineering, microbiology, and cloning) and make them very understandable. Combine this skill with the ability to create characters that the reader really cares about, and you've got a collection of entertaining and thought-provoking stories.

Rating:
Summary: Highly Entertaining, Highly Intelligent Writing
Review: You don't have to be a science-fiction fan to enjoy the stories of Nancy Kress. In fact, you don't even have to know anything about science-fiction. If you enjoy well written, intelligent writing with remarkably believable characters, Kress is for you.

This collection starts off with a bang. "Beggars in Spain," the Hugo and Nebula winning story deals seriously with genetic engineering and prejudice when a group of "sleepless" children are born. Also outstanding are "Ars Longa" (about what it may have been like to have been Walt Disney's grade-school teacher) and "Flowers of Aulit Prison." All of the stories are very, very good, but these three are my favorites. If you like great characters and great writing, they may be yours also.

Kress has the amazing ability to communicate complex scientific ideas (like genetic engineering, microbiology, and cloning) and make them very understandable. Combine this skill with the ability to create characters that the reader really cares about, and you've got a collection of entertaining and thought-provoking stories.