COVER ARTWORK BY SAM KENNEDY
Am I tipping my hand when I say the best thing about Going Interstellar (2012) is the cover artwork? Going Interstellar presents a mixed bag of fiction and non-faction. The editor, Lee Johnson, writes that these stories could NOT use faster-than-light drives, no wormholes, no portals.
The result is that these stories all concern generational spaceships whose crews spend hundreds of. years in suspended animation pods. And, of course, stuff goes Wrong.
I was not that interested in the non-fiction articles included in Going Interstellar involving various propulsion systems.
My favorite two stories in this anthology were “LUCY” by Jack McDevitt and “THE BIG SHIP AND THE WISE OLD OWL” by Sarah A. Hoyt. Both stories involve mysteries. In “LUCY” a spaceship run by Artificial Intelligence is sent out to Deep Space–and disappears. Another spaceship run by another Artificial Intelligence–LUCY–is sent to find out what happened.
In “THE BIG SHIP AND THE WISE OLD OWL” Sarah A. Hoyt presents a generational spaceship that has been traveling for hundreds of years. But three young travelers question how the spaceship is run by those in charge and investigate some troubling anomalies.
Sadly, I found Going Interstellar very average. GRADE: C
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
FOREWORD By Lee Johnson — 1
INTRODUCTION — Lee Johnson & Jack McDevitt — 3
A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Ben Bova — 27
ANTIMATTER STARSHIPS
Dr. Gregory Matloff — 79
LUCY
Jack McDevitt — 103
LESSER BEINGS
Charles E. Gannon — 141
FUSION STARSHIPS
Dr. Gregory Matloff — 197
PROJECT ICARUS
Dr. Richard Obousy — 219
DESIGN FLAW
Louise Marley — 233
TWENTY LIGHTS TO THE LAND OF SNOW
Michael Bishop — 263
SOLAR AND BEAMED ENERGY SAILS
Les Johnson — 351
THE BIG SHIP AND THE WISE OLD OWL
Sarah A. Hoyt — 367
SIREN SONG
Mike Resnick — 407
Anthologies that mix science fact and speculation with science fiction have their place, but it’s not at the top of Mount TBR. I don’t read much modern science fiction, so I am not familiar with some of the authors, but Ben Bova, Michael Bishop, and Mike Resnick are always worth a go.
Jerry, generational spaceship sagas are not my favorite genre. Sadly, Bova, Bishop, and Resnick underperformed in this anthology.
I’m guessing this is a Baen Books release? If we’re now only getting back to (and not even on) the Moon after a 50 year hiatus, we’re a long way from interstellar travel, AI-piloted or otherwise.
Fred, your guess was right on the money! Yes, GOING INTERSTELLAR is a BAEN Books anthology. There are two other volumes in the series, but I doubt if I will be reading them.
I’m not a fan of SF
Maggie, the two stories I liked best in GOING INTERSTELLAR were basically mystery stories.
Not all Masons can be!
A C from George is definitely not encouraging, so pass.
Jeff, I was disappointed in GOING INTERSTELLAR. The non-fiction articles didn’t grab me. Only two of the stories were good.
Baen books are often more task-driven than art- or fun-focused.
Tod, most BAEN BOOKS anthologies I’ve read have been sub-par. The author collections are very good.