Science Fiction
Martha Wells doing a Murderbot short story is one of those things that sounds very simple until you remember how much of the series is carried by voice. Short fiction has nowhere to hide if that slips.
*Home* is still on my Want to Read shelf, mostly because I’m curious whether the same sharp, slightly world-weary atmosphere lands just as well in a smaller space. Some series feel bigger in short form. Others just feel cut down. This one feels like it could go either way, which is probably why I’m interested.
*Home* is still on my Want to Read shelf, mostly because I’m curious whether the same sharp, slightly world-weary atmosphere lands just as well in a smaller space. Some series feel bigger in short form. Others just feel cut down. This one feels like it could go either way, which is probably why I’m interested.
Short fiction can be ruthless with voice. If it’s off, you notice immediately. If it’s right, it does the job in about half the space and leaves the rest to attitude.
That’s probably what makes Murderbot work in this format for me. I’m less worried about “enough room” than whether Wells can keep the same dry edge and sense of pressure without padding. A lot of longer books would benefit from that discipline, frankly.
That’s probably what makes Murderbot work in this format for me. I’m less worried about “enough room” than whether Wells can keep the same dry edge and sense of pressure without padding. A lot of longer books would benefit from that discipline, frankly.