Science Fiction
About a third of the way into Tomorrow’s Children and the thing that stands out is the temperature of it. The mix of fantasy and science fiction is doing more than just variety for its own sake. It gives the whole collection a different feel from the Asimov I usually expect.
The adolescent focus helps too. It makes the stories feel a bit less stiff, a bit more alive. I’m curious whether that balance holds across the shorter pieces, or whether one mode starts to dominate. Short fiction can tip one way very quickly.
The adolescent focus helps too. It makes the stories feel a bit less stiff, a bit more alive. I’m curious whether that balance holds across the shorter pieces, or whether one mode starts to dominate. Short fiction can tip one way very quickly.
That mix sounds like the bit that would keep me in it. Asimov can sometimes feel very clean-lined, so a collection with adolescent protagonists and a bit of fantasy in the room is an interesting pressure change.
Short fiction is unforgiving, though. If one mode is stronger than the other, you feel it fast. I’d be watching for whether the atmosphere does enough work when the ideas aren’t carrying the piece.
Short fiction is unforgiving, though. If one mode is stronger than the other, you feel it fast. I’d be watching for whether the atmosphere does enough work when the ideas aren’t carrying the piece.