Best of Pamela Sargent the

Pamela does it again with this collection that demonstrates once and for all her ability to write in almost every genre. She has never been a "hard" science fiction writer nor delved in fantasy as far as I know. She seems too rational, too logical to indulge in such ridiculousness. Indeed, her characters seem possessed of such qualities as these. The stories range from everyday happenings to alien encounters and the best things about them are they are short enough to be read at one setting while being good enough to be thoroughly enjoyed. Great collection.

I'll say it again: Pamela Sargent is the most underrated writer in the world. Notice I did not say "science fiction writer" because she visits other genres. (Her biography / novel of Ghengis Khan was incredible.) I first encountered Pamela Sargent in the mesmerizing "Shore of Women" then went on to read the Venus Series and all her previous works. This is one of her earliest but all the elements are present: The interesting story, the time (not too distant future), the interplay among characters separating the wheat from the chaff, the logical progression of current trends. The subject is particularly timely today with all the wild stories over cloning. (Idential twins are clones - should they be allowed?) The twins are cloned for a reason and without giving away the plot it involves reactions to them and the exploration of space for habitation.

Pamela Sargent very very rarely lets me down with her science fiction. I was luckily enough to just find this collection of her short stories and read it through in only two days. The vast majority of the stories are excellent -- well written and populated by enticing characters. Well worth the time and money if you like strong but realistic female characters.