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Constellations edited by Peter Crowther
01/02/2005 . Source: Laura Kayne 
pub: DAW. 310 page paperback. Price: $ 6.99 (US), $ 9.99 (CAN). ISBN: 0-7564-0234-4. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.dawbooks.com
This is the third anthology of Science Fiction/fantasy short stories edited by Peter Crowther. This volume is a collection of fifteen tales from British writers all having some connection with the stars, a staple of Science Fiction and fantasy writing. The result is a weird and wonderful mixture from well-known authors such as Brian Aldiss, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds as well as some relative newcomers. Some are humorous, some are dramatic and some are merely thought-provoking. Many are very rich in character and content and all give a unique interpretation of the concept 'constellations'.
'Star' by Tony Ballantyne is particularly interesting. Not only is it a tale of what happens what you get what you wish for, but also of the character of human nature. James Lovegrove's 'The Meteor Party' is a delightful piece and perhaps less strictly Science Fiction than most of the other stories. It tells of a group of friends meeting to watch a meteor shower, with the meteor gradually gaining more and more significance as the evening progresses. Another philosophical tale is 'Written In The Stars' in which Ian McDonald considers the question of how the stars can mean so much here on Earth - perhaps too much - and questions whether human fate really is written in the stars. A somewhat similar but slightly eerie story is Adam Roberts' 'The Order Of Things' in which religion, fate and free-will are examined.
'The Little Bear' by Justina Robson, is unique in that it is the only one of the fifteen to link space and time, creating a bizarre mystery tale full of alternative dimensions and missing people. Meanwhile, Brian Aldiss presents an ironic and humorous take on human evolution. A handful of the stories are within the more traditional Science Fiction vein, linking 'constellations' directly with space exploration and alien-human interaction. These include a clever piece by Alastair Reynolds, 'Beyond The Aquila Rift', about the dangers of being too dependent on alien technology. A slightly confusing story, 'The Fulcrum' by Gwyneth Jones, where one can't be quite sure who are the aliens and who are the humans. Paul McAuley's 'Rats Of The System', wherein a spaceship commander must decide whether to run or stand and fight when under attack by hostile alien forces.
This is a satisfying and appealing collection, with sufficient variety for there to be something to suit most tastes. The theme is broad, but inspiring enough to engage both writers and readers. Some stories even likely to appeal to readers not usually Science Fiction or fantasy fans. With an interesting mixture of authors, characters and settings, this is a book useful for dripping in and out of; both enjoyable and thought-provoking in places. If you are a fan of at least a couple of the writers included in this anthology, it is well worth reading.
Laura Kayne
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