Iterations

I am not usually a big fan of the short story. There are some really good ones in this collection by Sawyer who in my opinion is the current best at the scifi novel. Each tale is presented with an introduction as to how Sawyer came up with the idea for the tale. There is an excellent tale involving Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson being drawn into the future to solve a puzzling riddle. There is also a tale about high school student who is kind of nerdy but smart. He is always the last one picked (or not even picked) for sports teams in school. He gets the ultimate revenge against the jocks that wronged him. There is are several tales that deal with parallel universes and dinosaurs. All in all I really enjoyed about half the tales and the other half were just so-so. Since you can skip over the tales that you don't care for, I give the book 4 stars based on the really good ones.

Science Fiction fans everywhere will find something to enjoy in "Iterations and Other Stories", a collection of short stories from Hugo and Nebula award winner Robert J. Sawyer. With a vast array of subjects, the short stories range in perspective from that of a T-Rex to that of the pope, and many of the tales are award winners or finalists in their own right. "Iterations and Other Stories" is a fine addition to any short fiction collection focusing on science fiction. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Iterations The dictionary defines iteration - as doing or saying again; a repeated performance repeating, repetition, the act of doing or performing again. I say Iterations (2002) by Robert J. Sawyer is a mighty fine collection of his short stories. It contains: An Introduction by James Alan Gardner The Hand You're Dealt Peking Man Iterations Gator (possibly the birthplace of the Quintaglio Ascension The Blue Planet Wiping Out Uphill Climb (per the author the first Quintaglio story) Last but Not Least If I'm Here, Imagine Where They Sent My Luggage Where the Heart Is Lost in the Mail Just Like old Times The Contest Stream of Consciousness Forever The Abdicatation of Pope Mary III Above It All Ours to Discover You See But You Do Not Observe Fallen Angel The Shoulders of Giants Publication History About the Author Treat yourself and read this book. I highly recomend this book. Gunner May,2007

Sawyer in short-story form is as engaging as he is in novel form. There isn't one story in the book that didn't hook me, and I'm a pretty tough audience. First of all, Sawyer simply knows how to lay down words. I'm sure he gets as much editing as the next guy, but edits can't save a bad story. Sawyer doesn't write bad stories. Secondly, Sawyer has a unique talent for going where others have gone, and finding the new twist that no one has thought of. In the eponymous story, the author tackles the old "parallel universe" theme and turns it 90 degrees from the path everyone else has taken. Every story has something just as fresh to offer, which I imagine is getting harder and harder to do as memes are explored and exhausted by other writers. The book is a worthy addition to Sawyer's body of work, and a worthy addition to any science-fiction fan's bookcase.

I will forever be jealous of anyone finding Mr. Sawyer for the first time and experiencing the amazement that is an inevitable aspect of each new encounter with his work. It's an expensive taste though, because once you've read him, you don't borrow his books- you buy them, and you become selfish about lending them out. Therefore he has made me jealous and selfish and very, very impressed and intertained. I can live with that. "Iterations" is a collecion of his stories with the value added free bonus of a short historical commentary at the beginning of each. I have read the entire who's who of sf short fiction, and even compared to the 20th century greats, these stories are awe inspiring. There's not a clunker in the bunch. If there were a six star rating, this book and nearly everything he's ever published would easily deserve it. I buy him immediately at publication and I don't bother reading the jacket because it doesn't matter what the book's about. It will be wonderful.