Book Review: American Beauty

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

American Beauty     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Allen Steele
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction   [Short Stories]
Five Star, Jun $25.95, 242 pp.

Any anthology that introduces the content as Mishegos (the Yiddish word for "a collection of things") can be looked upon as a warning for genre specialists or a delight for generalists. The AMERICAN BEAUTY consists of ten science fiction tales mostly from the last five years, but none earlier than 1992, that run the gamut of science fiction, but share several traits. The stories center on present or future America, but through a weird looking glass. Each contribution is fun to read and typically turns on its head via opening the jugular inside a value or a famous novel. Oy! vey! Alternate universes where marijuana flows legally, Tom Swift rids rockets again, and romantic robots courting aside, Allen Steele displays his chutzpah with this delightful book.

Harriet Klausner

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