Futures Imperfect

Each of the three short novels/novellas in this collection has a different "feel", yet they all investigate some aspect of what it means to be human in an imperfect world. In "Uncharted Territory," the struggle to ensure a low-level culture isn't exploited by human greed is the backdrop for exploring friendship, love, and desire. "Remake" delves into the lengths to which people will go to fulfill a passion. And "Bellwether" explores both the herd instinct and the extent to which we often deceive ourselves about our own motivations, against a backdrop of corporate misunderstanding of science. Recommended for anyone interested in the human side of SF!

I am a huge Connie Willis fan--The Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, Lincoln's Dream, Impossible Things...are just amazing. Connie Willis has won more awards than just about anyone in the science fiction genre but is not nearly as well known as she should be. Her works (books and short stories) tend toward extremes of hilarity or devastation--sometimes even in the same book. The stories in this collection are a bit like that, and I like them all in varying degrees--although I don't personally think that any of them are representative of her best work. (I do love Remake, and a lot of people really like Bellweather.) If you've never read Connie Willis before, I recommend you start with To Say Nothing of the Dog and then read The Doomsday Book. If you're not hooked after that, maybe Connie Willis isn't for you. If you are, welcome to the club!

My 2 favorite stories by Connie Willis are in this 3-book-in-one collection: Bellweather and Uncharted Territory. The middle book, Remake, is okay. Yes, Bellweather or Uncharted Territory might be found at your local library--but if you're like me, the best books should always be found close at hand. You can't beat a cheap, hardback, 3-book-in-one edition!