This is the May 2004 update of my New Year’s Resolution.


QUICK STATS:

   STARTING SF-POINTS©: 149

   SF-POINTS©EARNED THIS MONTH: 41 (QUOTA: 31)

   YEAR-TO-DATE SF-POINTS©: 190 (YTD QUOTA: 152)

PREVIOUS MONTHS:
Jan  
Feb  
Mar  
Apr  

DATE READ STORY AUTHOR YEAR WRITTEN SOURCE RATING TYPE POINTS YTD POINTS
05/01/04 The Peacemaker Gardner Dozois 1983 Armageddons edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois 3/5 SS 1 150
05/04/04 The Screwfly Solution Alice Sheldon writing as Raccoona Sheldon (a.k.a. James Tiptree, Jr.) 1977 5/5 NV 2 152
05/05/04 A Pail of Air Fritz Leiber 1951 5/5 SS 1 153
05/07/04 Inconstant Moon Larry Niven 1971 4/5 NV 2 155
05/07/04 The Last Sunset Geoffrey A. Landis 1996 2.5/5 SS 1 156
05/07/04 Down in the Dark William Barton 1998 2/5 NV 2 158
05/11/04 Agents of the Moon Jack Williamson 2000 Terraforming Earth and Science Fiction Age – March 2000 2/5 NA 4 162
05/12/04 The Ultimate Earth Jack Williamson 2000 Terraforming Earth and Analog Science Fiction & Fact – December 2000 2/5 NA 4 166
05/14/04 The Missing Mass Larry Niven 2000 Analog Science Fiction & Fact – December 2000 3/5 SS 1 167
05/17/04 Black Destroyer A.E. van Vogt 1939 The Voyage of the Space Beagle 5/5 NV 2 169
05/18/04 Descending Thomas M. Disch 1964 SCI FICTION 4.5/5 SS 1 170
05/18/04 War of Nerves A.E. van Vogt 1950 The Voyage of the Space Beagle 4/5 NV 2 172
05/19/04 Paying It Forward Michael A. Burstein 2003 Analog Online 5/5 NV 2 174
05/19/04 Discord in Scarlet A.E. van Vogt 1939 The Voyage of the Space Beagle 4/5 NV 2 176
05/20/04 M33 in Andromeda A.E. van Vogt 1943 2/5 NV 2 178
05/21/04 Diamond Dogs Alastair Reynolds 2002 Diamond Dogs & Turquoise Days 5/5 NA 4 182
05/23/04 The Dandelion Girl Robert F. Young 1961 SCI FICTION 4.5/5 SS 1 183
05/26/04 Snowball in Hell Brian Stableford 2000 Analog Science Fiction & Fact – December 2000 3.5/5 NV 2 185
05/27/04 Among the Wild Cybers of Cybele Christopher L. Bennett 2000 2/5 NV 2 187
05/29/04 Eden Tag Stephen L. Burns 2000 4/5 NV 2 189
05/31/04 Robots Don’t Cry Mike Resnick 2003 Asimov’s Online 5/5 SS 1 190

KEY:VI=Vignette (.25 points), SS=Short Story (1 point), NV=Novelette (2 points), NA=Novella (4 points)

NOTES:

  • Miscellaneous reviews follow

Descending by Thomas M. Disch
[Read: 05/18/04]
[Rating: 4.5/5]
[Source: SCI FICTION]

  		•  Synopsis: A down-on-his luck man rides a descending escalator for which there is no bottom.
  		• Review: This reads like one of the old twilight Zone episodes. The descent is a metaphor for the man’s life as well as survival. Good stuff.

    Paying It Forward by Michael A. Burstein
    [Read: 05/19/04]
    [Rating: 5/5]
    [Source: Analog Online]

  		•  Synopsis: An aspiring SF writer receives writing advice through email from his favorite author?who just happens to be dead.
  		• Review: Excellent, clear writing; an interesting premise and a dash of poignancy to boot. This is good writing. Well done.
  		• Note: Nominated for the 2004 Hugo for Best Short Story

    The Dandelion Girl by Robert F. Young
    [Read: 05/23/04]
    [Rating: 4.5/5]
    [Source: SCI FICTION]

  		•  Synopsis: A man falls in love with a time-traveling woman from the future.
  		• Review: Another (I also read Thirty Days Had September) nicely-done and memorable poignant story from Young. Slightly predictable surprise ending, but so what – the writing takes the reader along for a good ride.

    Robots Don’t Cry by Mike Resnick
    [Read: 05/31/04]
    [Rating: 5/5]
    [Source: Asimov's Online]

  		•  Synopsis: A space scavenger and his alien partner find a 500-year-old and robot who feels emotion but is unable to express it.
  		• Review: Good story with a touch of humor. A fun, quick read reminiscent of Isaac Asimov’s story Robbie.
  		• Note: Nominated for the 2004 Hugo

    Related posts:

    1. UPDATE: My New Year’s Resolution
    2. UPDATE: My New Year’s Resolution
    3. UPDATE: My New Year’s Resolution
    4. UPDATE: My New Year’s Resolution
    5. New Year’s Resolution

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