Book Review: Microcosms

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Microcosms     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Gregory Benford
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction   [Short Stories]
Daw, Jan 2004, $6.99, 320 pp.

Fans of movies like Fantastic Voyage or The Incredible Shrinking Man/Woman will appreciate this collection of thirteen tales set in a wide variety of microscopic realms. Each tale is unique, but share in common that the perspective of micro is in the eye of the beholder. Using advances in physics that make the previously mentioned movies seem dated; the anthology furbishes the audience with delightful tales that run the gamut from micro-creator to sentient atoms. Besides strong interesting tales, the key to the collection is that these tiny worlds seem real due to physical symmetry in their design, no mean feat for any contribution let alone a Baker’s dozen. Fans of existing acceptable state of the science in their fiction will appreciate each contribution that not only provides effective insight into current theories and knowledge of inner space, but also does so within powerful tales that make these realms seem so real.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner