| Another
Review at MyShelf.Com |
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The Inheritance Harper Valley Robin Hobb, who also writes under the name Megan Lindholm, has written a good collection of science fiction or alternate world stories in The Inheritance and Other Stories. Some of the stories have just enough science-fiction elements to qualify for that genre and proceed to tell a story that could easily fit in main line story telling. This is to say that the value of the stories do not rest entirely on the science-fiction. With slight changes the stories could easily be mainline short fiction. The author seems to have a deep affection for cats and two stories about cats appear in this collection: “Strays” and “The Fifth Squashed Cat.” The “Fifth Squashed Cat” certainly has enough other-world elements to please the most demanding science-fiction fan, but the theme of the story is one that touches the heart, especially for those who have a love for animals. “Homecoming” is the longest and perhaps the most science-fiction oriented story of the book and will please readers who like their stories filled with these elements. Still the story reveals qualities that speak to present-day situations. Many times readers wonder how a writer came up with a story—especially science fiction stories. The author precedes each story with information about how the story came into being. This is a helpful addition that shows readers that ordinary events can lead to good fiction if the events are coupled with a good dose of imagination. This is a good collection of science-fiction prose. Reviewer's Note: |
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| Reviewed
2011 |
