ENDANGERED SPECIES by Gene Wolfe

Evelyn C. Leeper · 26 Apr 1990, 16:28 · from sf-lovers.1990.mbox

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From: ecl at cbnewsj.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper)
Subject: ENDANGERED SPECIES by Gene Wolfe
Date: 26 Apr 90 16:28:46 GMT
Message-ID: <sflovers-v15-153-11 at digest.sf-lovers>
X-Digest-Issue: SF-LOVERS Digest V15 #153
X-Urthmirror-Source: https://archive.org/details/sf-lovers-digest-vol-15a

ENDANGERED SPECIES by Gene Wolfe
		   Tor, 1990 (1989c), ISBN 0-812-50718-5
		     A book review by Evelyn C. Leeper

   This collection of thirty-four stories by one of the leading literary
science fiction authors of today is billed on the cover as "one of the most
important collections of the decade" (FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION) and "the
best single-author collection you will see this year" (ANALOG).  For a
change, the blurbs are not just hype.

   First of all, this is a much larger collection than one usually sees -
almost twice the usual number of stories.  The result is that we can see a
much wider range of Wolfe's talent than a normal-length collection would
show us.  Secondly, though all the stories have been previously published
elsewhere, they are not what you would call readily available.  For
example, "Our Friend by Charles Dickens" appeared in ROOMS OF PARADISE
edited by Lee Harding.  Try finding that at your local Waldenbooks, or even
Forbidden Planet!

   Notable stories include the aforementioned "Our Neighbor by David
Copperfield," an excellent story to give your friend who loves Dickens's
style.  "In the House of Gingerbread" is a wonderful twist and re-twist on
the classic children's story; "The War Beneath the Tree" also takes an
interesting turn at the end.

   Unfortunately, even such a literary work as this is not free of typos;
in "The God and His Man" the sword is named either "Maser" or "Master,"
depending on what sentence you're in.

   These stories cover the range of science fiction, horror, and fantasy.
My only quibble is the omission of "Slaves of Silver," Wolfe's foray into
Sherlockiana, but that's a minor objection.  If you're interested in seeing
where science fiction concepts meet mainstream literary values, buy this
book.

Evelyn C. Leeper

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