I would like to thank Sarah from Titan for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Titan Books

Published – Out Now

Price - £8.99 paperback £4.74 Kindle eBook

Celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of cutting-edge science fiction from the hit podcast, Escape Pod. Featuring new and classic stories from Cory Doctorow, Ken Liu, Mary Robinette Kowal, Ursula Vernon and more.

From editors Mur Laffterty and S.B. Divya comes the science fiction collection of the year, bringing together bestselling authors in celebration of the publishing phenomenon that is, Escape Pod.

I strongly believe science fiction should be forward looking. Build on the past don’t wallow in it about the good old days of interminable old-school fans (phew flashback to the Hugos averted). The podcast Escape Pod has been living up to exploring what science fiction could be for 15 years gaining a well-deserved reputation for promoting short fiction and a host of new writers – many as this collection explains are now very much the leading lights of the genre. For the fifteenth anniversary the anthology Escape Pod has been specially created with editors Mur Lafferty and S B Divya providing a great collection of tales exploring what science fiction has to say about today’s world and demonstrates it can tell amazing tales in any style or format.

Amongst the tales I really enjoyed are

Citizens of Elsewhen by Kameron Hurley – A very strong opener with time travelling squads roaming through the past to fix history. We know this type of story but how about this time finding out that they specialise in saving women and children in childbirth. Not a comfortable story but reminding us of the huge gaps in healthcare through the ages and how many lives have been lost as a result. Powerful, thought-provoking and a refreshing take.

Report of Dr Hollowmas On the Incident at Jackrabbit Five by T Kingfisher – This was one of my favourites a very unique doctor explains an unusual incident to a very literal minded piece of AI. Humour in SF is difficult, but this has a wonderful sense of interplay between the two characters and yet gives you a fascinating picture of the worlds they operate in. Smart, funny, and memorable.

A Princess of Nigh-Space by Tim Pratt – I like a good left turn in a story and this starts sinister then goes SF noir with a cruel smile. Never goes where you think it is going and manages to have a sense of menace all the way through.

An Advanced Reader’s Picture Book of Comparative Cognition by Ken Liu – this is a stunningly well-crafted story where snippets of how alien races live, love and die is mixed with a personal tale of a human family. Science, evolution, love, and entropy combine into a truly powerful tale.

Tiger Lawyer Get Its Right by Sarah Gailey – A future court case where a powerful ruthless corporation is being sued by an alien race whose planet has been severely damaged. Their hope relies on a fairly poor lawyer. His solution is unique and refreshing. A tale of just sometimes saying enough is enough.

Alien Animal Encounters by John Scalzi – a fun set of talking heads to a tv station are talking about alien animals. Well crafted tales of daftness that should raise a smile or two.

Jaiden’s Weaver by Mary Robinette Kowal – A young girl wants a pet not a dog or kitten but a teddy bear spider. I liked how this tale took the idea of child wanting a pet and by making it on alien world gets to show us a touch of sf spectacle and also remind us that humans can be kind.

The Machine That Would Rewind Humanity by Tobias Buckell – Humanity is extinct and there is a huge debate on should we return. Partly humorous but this tale looks at our culture and what it tells people about how humans think. Even SF doesn’t get away without a hard look at itself. Thought-provoking.

Starship October by Greg Van Eekhout – a generational spaceship ploughs onward but despite the high technology we see inequality and evil from a child’s eye. This is a tale that reminds us there are always a group that want more for themselves at the cost of others. Sometimes a change is required…really liked this one.

Give Me Cornbread or Give Me Death by N K Jemisin – a strong finishing tale that in a few pages creates a whole dystopia world where revolution blooms. Satire about certain tyrants of today, a reminder that those oppressed will work together to help and fight back and just for good measure dragons. Deliciously punchy.

A strong anthology that showcases some of the best writers of today and that science fiction is broader and more diverse than its been and hence stronger than ever. Hugely satisfying and well worth your attention.