Machine Learning

August 28, 2017
Bestseller Howey (the Silo trilogy) assembles 21 thoughtful science fiction and fantasy stories (two previously unpublished) that explore real and virtual worlds through human, alien, and artificial senses. Many of Howey’s tales, such as the title story, “The Box,” “Glitch,” and “Second Suicide,” are told from the points of view of nonhuman characters. “The Walk Up Nameless Ridge” and “Deep Blood Kettle” question human arrogance in alien circumstances. Unusual love affairs—a failed romance in “Promises of London” and a relationship between a human and an android in “The Automated Ones”—deliver old-fashioned emotional punches. Characters exploit virtual worlds in “The Plagiarist” and “Select Character.” Fans of Howey’s novel Wool will enjoy “In the Air,” “In the Mountain,” and “In the Woods,” set in the same universe. Author’s notes at the end of each story provide thoughtful background. Howey’s writing is taut and immersive, and his characters’ perspectives will fascinate, no matter how inhuman they are. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary.

August 1, 2017
Twenty-one new and previously published stories are gathered loosely by subgenre in this collection from sci-fi author Howey (Sand, 2017, etc.).The first four stories deal with alien places and cultures. "Second Suicide" stands out, with stereotypical alien invaders (they're even tentacled) that at first seem comical--but their unique struggle with mortality is quite serious. "Nothing Goes to Waste" packs a gruesome, concise punch, highlighting the sacrifices made for art and sport. In the second section, Artificial Intelligences, the most charming of the four stories, "Glitch," explores the moment when an arena battle-bot learns how not to fight. The next three stories are set in Howey's Silo universe, a post-apocalyptic world where select survivors repopulate the planet after a global purge. Though the stories reference characters from other Silo works, they stand alone well and proceed from the initial disaster to the tragic conclusion of the quest for justice (or revenge) of two people who saw their world end. The fantasy section includes "The Good God," a blackly humorous look at how evil might defeat good via spam overcommunication; it's all too timely in our era of fake news. Howey explores discrimination with "The Automated Ones" and its heart-rending sequel, "WHILE (u> i) i - -;" a bittersweet love story between a woman and an android. "Select Character" follows a housewife who plays her husband's video games out of boredom--but plays them her way, unlocking a more hopeful definition of victory. The last story, "Peace in Amber," is the most personal, incorporating Howey's own experiences of 9/11 while also paying homage to Slaughterhouse-Five. Each story is followed by insightful author's notes. A thoroughly engaging collection with a dark sense of humor but its finger always on the pulse of genuine human concerns.

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October 15, 2017

This debut short story collection from the author of Wool and Beacon 23 explores topics as vast as the universe and as focused as artificial intelligence. A number of these 21 selections have been previously published, such as "Glitch," in which a contradiction in a robot's programming may not mean it is actually broken. In "The Walk Up Nameless Ridge," a failed climb up a mountain on an alien planet reveals hidden truths. Two brand-new tales were written exclusively for the collection, three more take readers back into the world of Wool, but all are deftly crafted as they delve into issues of overcommunication, online gaming between sexes, and the eternal personal struggle of the individual. Each story is followed by an author's note explaining the background and origins of each tale. VERDICT These captivating short works will please Howey's many fans as well as aficionados of thought-provoking sf. [See Prepub Alert, 4/10/17.]--KC

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