Short Reviews: Michael Swanwick

"Ancient Engines" [permanent link]. What does it take to be immortal? Really immortal? Two people in a bar have a discussion over what such a person would do to survive hundreds, thousands even millions of years, through the rise and collapse of civilisations, further evolution of mankind and even possibly outliving the universe itself. The ending will make you wonder whether such a person is possible...or has it happened?
Get from Fictionwise
"The Dog Said Bow-Wow" [permanent link]. An unusual and fascinating tale about a future where various animals have been reshaped into intelligent beings but where communication is, strangely, not done electronically. The reason for this mystery would be revealed, along with a plot to steal from the Britain's Buckingham Labyrinth.
Found in Oct/Nov 2001 Asimov's Science Fiction
"'Hello,' said the Stick" [permanent link]. An unusual, quirky story involving a stick that can talk and a soldier that can walk. In the ensuring conversation, the stick shows it knows more than the man.
Found in March 2002 Analog Science Fiction & Fact
"Letters to the Editor" [permanent link]. A short but funny series of 'letters' written by Swanwick to the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, answering requests for the author's bio usually published before the author's story in the magazine. The answers get more and more hilarious as time goes by.
Found in Oct/Nov 2001 Asimov's Science Fiction
"Moon Dogs" [permanent link]. A strange story about a man who meets a futuristic woman hunter in the woods who hunts with mechanical dogs. As he finds out more about her, he begins to suspect that something is not right but will he find out the fatal truth in time?
Get from Fictionwise |
"Scherzo with Tyrannosaur" [permanent link]. This is a time-travel story with plenty of twists. Set in a resort during the late Cretaceous period, it tells the story of a man who manages the resort but who knows about events in his personal 'past' and some events in his personal 'future' which will happen. To avoid paradoxes, he must follow a scripted interaction with a family with an amorous daughter. The end result would shake his whole world to its foundation and leave him to contemplate causing a time paradox. An interesting story with plenty of twists.
Get from Fictionwise | Read from Asimov's Science Fiction website

[Home Page][Index by Author][Index by Title][Kathy A. Svitil][Cecilia Tan]