Books: The Year`s Top Hard Science Fiction Stories Vol. 3

(Drivebycuriosity) -   I love science fiction. But I get often disappointed. Most of the so-called sci-fi books and movies tell just fantasy stories about wizards, dragons & princesses or post-apocalyptic horror stories. It became increasingly challenging to find real "science fiction", stories & novels which have science in it and are not pure fairy tales. So I am searching for hard science fiction which blends entertainment with sciences like physics, chemistry, biology, evolution and more.

Fortunately I found the anthology series "The Year`s Top Hard Science Fiction Stories" edited by Allan Kaster (amazon).  I just finished reading Vol. 3 which presents 11 stories originally published in the year 2018 (326 pages). Many stories are optimistic and deliver a "we can do it" message. They are pro science, pro technology and pro progress.

My favorite is the story "Umbernight" by Carolyn Ives Gilman - a thrilling adventure. Human settlers on an inhospitable planet are hiking through unknown land to capture something they need. The hikers have to deal with a bizarre & deadly environment. A masterpiece!

But there is more to like:

In "Ice Fall" by Stephanie Gunn two women arrive on a planet which is totally covered by ice. One of them ventures a dangerous climb on a peak where nobody before had succeeded. The author describes a fascinating world, the risks & thrills of extreme mountain climbing and a romance between 2 women spiced with an amazing technology. I enjoyed the ideas & style of the novella.

"Cosmic Spring" by Ken Liu presents cutting edge cosmology experienced by an AI who is the brain of a star ship on an extremely long lasting travel.

"The Spire" by Alec Nevala-Lee is set on Alaska in the era of the Great Depression. A pilot flies 2 passengers to a remote bay where his customers want to explore a strange phenomena.

"Providence" by Alastair Reynolds is a very short & crisp story.  A group approaches their target after a long travel through space.

"Nothing Ever Happens on Oberon" by Paul McAuley. A woman has a lonely job on Oberon, a moon of Uranus, overseeing some mining machines. Suddenly a capsule arrives with one passenger in it which starts a chain of events.

I really enjoyed the book and I learned a lot. I am looking forward to read the next volume of this series. In the moment of writing the Kindle version costs just $4.99 - a bargain.