December: SFFFKIT Short Fiction

Hello December! Our theme for December is short fiction. Here's the definition of short fiction; n. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a prose narrative of shorter length than the novel, esp one that concentrates on a single theme.



Here are some lists of recommended short fiction for SFFF
https://bookriot.com/science-fiction-short-stories/
https://www.tor.com/2020/06/15/must-read-speculative-short-fiction-may-2020/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science_fiction_short_stories

Happy reading and don't forget the wiki.

I have Neutron Star, a book of short stories by Larry Niven.

I'm planning to read Doctor Who: The Twelve Doctors of Christmas.

I may read the next Murderbot on my list!

I am going the Murderbot route as well. I have both Rogue Protocol and Exit Strategy on deck and after I read them, I will be ready to tackle the full length novel Network Effect next year.

I'm planning on Connie Willis's new Christmas novella, Take a Look at the Five and Ten, and I'll probably reread some of her stories from A Lot Like Christmas too!

I'llread Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury for this one. This is a short story and is about time travel back to do safari hunts of dinosaurs. It also involves the butterfly effect. And maybe I can read some other Bradbury.

I think I may pull out Carbide Tipped Pens from my shelves. I'm in the mood for a collection.

>7 Kristelh: Oh, I remember this one! It was worth reading.

I have a bunch of short sci fi/fantasy from Baen Books. I'm not sure which I will read yet.

I read The litany of earth by Ruthanna Emrys, the short story that her novels Winter Tide & Deep roots grew from

I've read a 140 page novella from China Miéville called This Census-Taker. It's quite a dark and atmospheric little tale which doesn't always answer the questions that it raises.

I finished reading I, Robot (by Isaac Asimov) which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a set of nine related short stories that show the evolution of artificial intelligence from non-speaking nanny robots through to machines that run mankind. Written in 1950, it has a now-retro feel in terms of language and technology (e.g. vacuum tubes) but the underpinning moral dilemmas as postulated by the Three Laws of Robotics were really interesting.

>13 Tanya-dogearedcopy: that's my favorite Isaac Asimov, glad you enjoyed it.

I have completed my first short read with Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells. I am a big fan of this Murderbot Series and I am glad that I have the next one ready to read as it appears the story doesn't pause but simply carries on to the next book.

>15 DeltaQueen50: ooh! That's the one I have lined up to read this month. Thanks for the warning...

I have been dipping into my "Free Stories 20xx" from Baen books - I have these anthologies from 2011-2019 (though for some reason 2017 seems to be missing at the moment). I have read the following stories, picked for various KITs and CATs, so far:

RandomCAT December: Titles with numbers in them
"71" by David Brin, "Free Stories 2016", finished 12/7, 3.5*
"Seven Miles" by T.C. McCarthy, "Free Stories 2013", finished 12/7, 4*
"The 100 MPG Carburetor and Other Self-Evident Truths" by Robert Buettner, "Free Stories 2015", finished 12/7, 4*
"Pawn to King Four" by Timothy Zahn, "Free Stories 2011", finished 12/8, 3.5*

AlphaKIT December: W & N
"Wise Child" by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, "Free Stories 2016", finished 12/7 (reread), 4*
"Waiting for the Talisman" by P.C. Hodgell, "Free Stories 2019", finished 12/8, 3*
"New Moon Wolf" by David B. Coe, "Free Stories 2015", finished 12/8, 3*

COMPLETED Neutron Star by Larry Niven

My review:
Collection of short stories with lots of appearances from one of my favourite alien races, Pierson's Puppeteers.

I have now completed Exit Strategy by Martha Wells and am now looking forward to reading the full length novel Network Effect next year.

I have finished a handful of more short stories (and figured out where my 2017 Baen Free Stories anthology had disappeared to):

"The night don't seem so lonely" by Sharon Lee, "Free Stories 2014", finished 12/9, 3*
"When the Lion Feeds" by John Lambshead, "Free Stories 2015", finished 12/9, 2.5*
"Long Nights Moon" by David B. Coe, "Free Stories 2014", finished 12/9, 3.5*
"Honorverse Tech Bu9" by David Weber, "Free Stories 2011", finished 12/9, 2.5*

"Cutting Corners" by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, "Free Stories 2017", finished 12/10, 3.5*
"Block Party" by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, "Free Stories 2017", finished 12/10 (reread), 4*
"The Grimnoir Chronicles: Detroit Christmas" by Larry Correia, "Free Stories 2011", finished 12/10, 3*

Reading the Liaden short stories by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller reminded me of how much I love that series!

Last week, I saw someone had A Study in Emerald (by Neil Gaiman) in graphic novel form on their wish list and, I ended up buying a copy for myself! I read it first many years ago (online?) and then had a free copy of the audio (narrated by Neil Gaiman) in my iPod library for a long time. It's an alternate reality tale of Victorian England-- one in which a certain detective and his sidekick on Baker Street are entangled in a case very much like, but very different from the A Study in Scarlet. There are elements of mystery and horror involved and, in this case some great artwork (but get Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman out of your head!) It's not a complicated story, but it is one that always bemuses me a bit and I never refuse the opportunity to take another look or listen to it!

#100 Rogue Protocol: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Another entertaining installment of the Murderbot series in which our protagonist takes the initiative to investigate an abandoned terraforming facility. Good, fun read.

I read Winterfair Gifts by Lois McMaster Bujold, published in February 2004 as part of the short story collection Irresistible Forces is a novella in the universe of the Vorkosigan Saga. It has also been collected as part of the Miles in Love omnibus. This is part of the free library choices that Audible is offering.

I finally returned to the Bookburners series to read Bookburners Season 2, Episode 5: Debtor's Prison by Mur Lafferty. It was fun!