Soulmates
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
“…a satisfying sampler of solid stories from a team that rarely disappoints.” —Publishers Weekly
"This book will be remembered as one of the major collections of the decade."—Robert J. Sawyer
"Standouts include…Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn’s beautifully sad “Benchwarmer,” which takes us into the world of imaginary friends, and introduces us to one friend who simply can’t let go of the boy who created him."—io9
"That’s [Soulmates] the second story that will be considered by me for next year’s Hugos; this one in the Novelette category."—SFRevu
"In a classic example of cognitive estrangement, we learn the absurdity of our own cultural norms as seen by those on the outside…effectively played to humorous effect." (on :"Report from the Field")—SFSignal
Multiple award-winning authors, Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn, get to the heart of the matter in Soulmates, which showcases all the words they have penned together over their years as collaborators (with a bonus solo piece by each). Whether a robot, alien, some kind of supernatural being or human, rising above our prejudices and ignorance allows us to make emotional connections that can have a profound effect on our lives.
Each of these stories examine a facet of the simple, yet incredibly complex, concept of companionship. They will make you laugh; will make you cry…but most importantly they will make you look at the very basic notion of soul-mates in a different light.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this eclectic collection of reprints, all originally published between 1999 and 2011, veteran Resnick teams up with relative newcomer Robyn to deliver a handful of entertaining tales. Tone, style, and theme range all over the place: "The Close Shave" and "Making the Cut," both set at a barbershop that specializes in after-hours service to the supernatural crowd, aim for a light, harmless sort of humor and feature a henpecked vampire, a pacifist medusa with bad-tempered snakes for hair, and a world-weary Wandering Jew, among others. "Shame" and "Soulmates" are much more thought-provoking, philosophical works, exploring free will, friendship, euthanasia, and taking responsibility for one's mistakes. In "Benchwarmer," the authors look at imaginary friends who have been forgotten by their creators, and "Report from the Field" examines humanity's quirks through an alien lens; these are well-worn themes, but the skillful execution prevents them from feeling stale. The same can be said for "Anne-Droid of Green Gables," which revisits L.M. Montgomery's classic. The only solo Resnick story in the bunch is "Hunting the Snark," in which a safari on an alien planet goes horribly awry. This is a satisfying sampler of solid stories from a team that rarely disappoints.
