Best scifi anthology I have read so far (and I have read plenty, I love anthologies since I think the best form of scifi is the short prose).
From 26 stories there were 4 I did not like (one as expected, since I never ever could like a Doctorow story no matter how often I try), and all the rest were 4 /5 or full 5/5s. That is amazing for me - I do not give 5 stars easily, but obviously Halpern is my doppelganger from beyond the seas in regard to scifi taste - they were EXACTLY the scifi I want (realistic, logical, tangible, facts first, surprizing points of view, varied, original but still credible, extra-dark sometimes - no dreamy hippie metaphors here).
I will look for more of Halpern's selections (if there are more) and buy them all! Thank you, scifi doppelganger! ( )

Alien contact
En novellesamling redigert av: Marty Halpern
Utgitt av: Night shade books (San Francisco, 2011-11-08)
ISBN: 978-1-59780-281-9
(english review at the end)
Denne novellesamlingen spenner fra kryptisk til bizarr
"Alien Contact" har endel fantasy historier men mange Harde science-fiction historier, som prøver å gi et svar på hva om...
Marty Halpern har valgt ut et godt knippe om møter mellom fremmede folk og kulturer.
Jeg likte "Exo-Skeleton town" og "Swarm" som kan tolkes som en advarsel om at man skal være varsom med å velge livsrolle. "I am the Doorway" ga derimot ingen mening.

4 av 5 stjerner * * * *
Lese#: Lest: 2012-06-01 → 2012-06-12 LAJ
Lese#: 105 Lest: 2018-10-15 → 2018-11-02 LAJ

Samlingen inneholder
Science Fiction / Fantasy noveller:
Sjanger -- Novellens tittel ---
Introduction: Beginnings
F The Thought War 2 stjerner **½
SF How to Talk to Girls at Parties 4 ½ stjerner****½
F Face Value 2½stjerner ** ½
SF The Road Not Taken 4 stjerner ****
SF The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything 4½ stjerner ****½
F I Am the Doorway 1 stjerner *
SF Recycling Strategies for the Inner City 4stjerner ****
SF The 43 Antarean Dynasties 5 stjerner *****
SF The Gold Bug 4½ stjerner ****½
SF Kin 4½stjerner **** ½
F Guerilla Mural of a Siren's Song 4½stjerner ****½
F Angel 4 stjerner ****
F The First Contact with the Gorgonids 4 ½stjerner ****½
SF/F Sunday Night Yams at Minnie and Earl's 4½stjerner ****½
F A Midwinter's Tale 5 stjerner *****
F Texture of Other Ways 2½stjerner ***½
SF To Go Boldly 4½stjerner ****½
SF If Nudity Offends You 4 stjerner ****
SF Laws of Survival 2½stjerner ****½
F What You Are About to See 3½stjerner ***½
SF Amanda and the Alien 3½stjerner ***½
SF Exo-Skeleton Town 5 stjerner *****
SF Lambing Season 4½ stjerner *****
SF Swarm 5 stjerner *****
SF MAXO Signals 3 stjerner ***
SF Last Contact 3½stjerner ***½

.............................................
The Thought War
En novelle av: Paul McAuley
Side 7 (8 sider)
Ekthetstest.

2½ av 5 stjerner * * ½
Lese#: 105.02 Lest: 2018-10-16 LAJ
..............................................

Alien Contact
An anthology by: Marty Halpern
Published by: Night shade books (San Francisco, 2011-11-08)
ISBN: 978-1-59780-281-9

This collection spans from the cryptic to the bizarre
"Alien Contact " contact contains a few fantasy stories but also a few Hard science fiction stories that tries to answer what if....
Marty halpern has selectet a nice bunch of tales on the subject of meetings strange between people andcultures.
I liked "Exo-Skeleton town" and "Swarm" which may be understood to be a warning that you should be careful what you choose as your role in life. "I am the Doorway" made, on the other hand, no sense.
I4 out of 5 stars * * * *
Read#: Read: 2012-06-01 → 2012-06-12 LAJ
Read#: 105 Read: 2018-10-15 → 2018-11-02 LAJ

This Collection Includes
Science Fiction / Fantasy short stories:
Gender – Title
Introduction: Beginnings
F The Thought War 2½stars**½
SF How to Talk to Girls at Parties 4½stars****½
F Face Value 2½stars**½
SF The Road Not Taken 4 stars****
SF The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything 4½stars****½
F I Am the Doorway 1 stars*
SF Recycling Strategies for the Inner City 4 stars****
SF The 43 Antarean Dynasties 5 stars*****
SF The Gold Bug 4½stars****½
SF Kin 4½stars****½
F Guerilla Mural of a Siren's Song 4½stars****½
F Angel 4 stars****
F The First Contact with the Gorgonids 4½stars ****½
SF/F Sunday Night Yams at Minnie and Earl's 4½stars****½
F A Midwinter's Tale 5 stars*****
F Texture of Other Ways 2½stars**½
SF To Go Boldly 4½stars ****½
SF If Nudity Offends You 4 stars****
SF Laws of Survival 2½ stars**½
F What You Are About to See 3½ stars***½
SF Amanda and the Alien 3½ stars***½
SF Exo-Skeleton Town 5 stars*****
SF Lambing Season 4½stars****½
SF Swarm 5 stars*****
SF MAXO Signals 3 stars***
SF Last Contact 3½stars***½

..............................................
The Thought War
A Short Story by:Paul McAuley
Page 7(8 pages)
E

2½ av 5 stars ****
..............................................

How to talk to Girls at Parties
En novelle av: Neil Gaiman
Side 15 (14 sider)
Festgjester på dypt vann.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
Face Value
En novelle av: Karen Joy Fowler
Side 29 (14 sider)
Hvem studerer hvem.

2½ av 5 stjerner * * ½
..............................................
The Road Not Taken
En novelle av: Harry Turtledove
Side 43 (26 sider)
Teknologiens bakside.

4 av 5 stjerner * * * *
..............................................
The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything
En novelle av:George Alec Effinger
Side 69 (16 sider)
Universets bedrevitere og medaljens bakside.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
I Am the Doorway
En novelle av: Stephen King
Side 85 (14 sider)
En astronaut returnerer fra Mars med en uventet evne.

1 av 5 stjerner *
..............................................
Recycling Strategies for the Inner City
En novelle av: Pat Murphy
Side 99 (10 sider)
Å rømme fra en ubarmhjertig verden.

4 av 5 stjerner * * * *
..............................................
The 43 Antarean Dynasties
En novelle av: Mike Resnick
Side 109 (16 sider)
Stolt livsfilosofi .

5 av 5 stjerner * * * * *
..............................................

How to Talk to Girls at Parties
A Short Story by: Neil Gaiman
Page 15 (14 pages)
Party crashers in deep water

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
Face Value
A Short Story by:Karen Joy Fowler
Page 29 (14 pages)
Who's studying who

2½ av 5 stars **½
..............................................
The Road Not Taken
A Short Story by: Harry Turtledove
Page 43 260 pages)
The hidden face of technology.

4 av 5 stars ****
..............................................
The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean Everything
A Short Story by: George Alec Effinger
Page 69 (16 pages)
The besserwizzers of the universe and the rear side of the medallion.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
I Am the Doorway
A Short Story by: Stephen King
Page 85 (14 pages)
An astronaut returnes from Mars with an unexpected gift.
1 av 5 stars *
..............................................
Recycling Strategies for the Inner City
A Short Story by: Pat Murphy
Page 99 (10 pages)
To flee from a cruel world.

4 av 5 stars ****
Read#: 105.08 Read: 2018-10-22 LAJ
..............................................
The43 Antarean Dynasties
A Short Story by: Mike Resnick
Page 109 (16 pages)
Prideful philosophy of life.

5 av 5 stars *****
..............................................
The Gold Bug
En novelle av: Orson Scott Card
Side 125 (32 sider)
Nyttige hybrider utenfor rekkevidde.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
Kin
En novelle av: Bruce McAllister
Side 157 (12 sider)
En drapsmann finner sin likemann

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
Guerilla Mural of a Siren's Song
En novelle av: Ernest Hogan
Side 169 (12 sider)
Kraftig fantasi gir styrke til å favne en ny verden.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
Angel
En novelle av: Pa t Cadigan
Side 181 (16 sider)
En engel i blandt oss.

4 av 5 stjerner * * * *
..............................................
The First Contact with the Gorgonids
En novelle av: Ursula K. lL Guin
Side 197 (8 sider)
Turister på dypt vann.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * *
..............................................
Sunday Night Yams at Minnie and Earl's

En novelle av: Adam-Troy Castro
Side 205 (52 sider)
Evig godt selskap.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
A Midwinter's Tale
En novelle av: Michael Swanwick
Side 257 (16 sider)
Eventyr for unge utvalgte.

5 av 5 stjerner * * * * *
..............................................

The Gold Bug
A Short Story by: Orson Scott Card
Page 125 (32 pages)
Useful hybrids out of touch.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
Kin
A Short Story by: Bruce McAllister
Page 157 (12 pages)
An asassin meets his equal.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
Guerilla Mural of a Siren's Song
A Short Story by: Ernest Hogan
Page 169 (12 pages)
Powerful imagination gives strength to fathom a new world.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
Angel
A Short Story by:Pat Cadigan
Page 181 (16 pages)
An angel amongst us.

4 av 5 stars ****
..............................................
The First Contact with the Gorgonids
A Short Story by: Ursula K. Le Guin
Page 197 (8 pages)
Tourists out of their depts.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
Sunday Night Yams at Minnie and Earls's
A Short Story by: Adam-Troy Castro
Page 205 (52 pages)
Forewer good company.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
A Midwinter's Tale
A Short Story by: Michael Swanwick
Page 257 (16 pages)
Fairytale for chosen youngsters.

5 av 5 stars *****
..............................................
Texture of Other Ways
En novelle av: Mark W. Tiedemann
Side 273 (18 sider)
Sniktitt

2½ av 5 stjerner * * ½
..............................................
To Go Boldly
En novelle av: Cory Doctorow
Side 291 (20 sider)
Livets spill

4 av 5 stjerner * * * *
..............................................
If Nudity Offends You
En novelle av: Elizabeth Moon
Side 311 (12 sider)
Kraftshy.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
Laws of Survival
En novelle av: Nancy Kress
Side 323 (36 sider)
Livsmotto for hundetrenere.

2½ av 5 stjerner * * ½
..............................................
What You Are About to See
En novelle av: Jack Skillingstead
Side 359 (16 sider)
Valgets kval.

3½ av 5 stjerner * * * ½
..............................................
Amanda and the Alien
En novelle av: Robert Silverberg
Side 375 (18 sider)
Å velge sin utkårede.

3½ av 5 stjerner * * * ½
..............................................
Exo-Skeleton Town
En novelle av: Jeffrey Ford
Side 393 (18 sider)
Dømt av rollen.

5 av 5 stjerner * * * * *
..............................................

Texture of Other Ways
A Short Story by: Mark W. Tiedemann
Page 273 (18 pages)
Sneak peak

2½ av 5 stars **½
..............................................
To Go Boldly
A Short Story by: Cory Doctorow
Page 291 (20 pages)
The game of life

4 av 5 stars * * * *
..............................................
If Nudity Offends You
A Short Story by: Elizabeth Moon
Page 311 (12 pages)
Power shy.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
Laws of Survival
A Short Story by: Nancy Kress
Page 323 (36 pages)
Lives motto for dog trainers

2½ av 5 stars **½
..............................................
What You Are About to See
A Short Story by: Jack Skillingstead
Page 359 (16 pages)
The hard choice.

3½ av 5 stars ***½
..............................................
Amanda and the Alien
A Short Story by: Robert Silverberg
Page 375 (18 pages)
To chose your hearts desired.

3½ av 5 stars ***½
..............................................
Exo-Skeleton Town
A Short Story by: Jeffrey Ford
Page 393 (18 pages)
Doom by character

5 av 5 stars ****
..............................................

Lambing Season
En novelle av: Molly Gloss
Side 415 (14 sider)
En nysgjerrig gjeter.

4½ av 5 stjerner * * * * ½
..............................................
Swarm
En novelle av: Bruce Sterling
Side 429 (24 sider)
Slaveri og viljestyrke.

5 av 5 stjerner * * * * *
..............................................
MAXO Signals
En novelle av: Charles Stross
Side 453 (4 sider)
Himmelfall fra stjernene.

3 av 5 stjerner * * *
..............................................
Last Contact
En novelle av: Stephen Baxter
Side 457 (16 sider)
Verdens undergang i godt selskap.

3½ av 5 stjerner * * * ½
..............................................

Lambing Season
A Short Story by: Molly Gloss
Page 415 (14 pages)
A nosy herder.

4½ av 5 stars ****½
..............................................
Swarm
A Short Story by: Bruce Sterling
Page 429 (24 pages)
Slavery and the power of will.

5 av 5 stars *****
..............................................
MAXO Signals
A Short Story by: Charles Stross
Page 453 (4 pages)
Manna from the heaven.

3 av 5 stars ***
..............................................
Last Contact
A Short Story by: Stephen Baxter
Page 457 (16 pages)
The end of the world in good company.

3½ av 5 stars * * * ½
.............................................. ( )

I'm not normally much for short story collections, but something about this book just spoke to me, so I couldn't resist taking the chance to read it, especially after seeing such a stellar (if you'll encuse the pun) list of contributing authors. Neil Gaiman, Ursula K LeGuin, Stephen King, and yet more. There's all kinds of talent evident in this collection, and I'll say right off the bat that this is a book that no sci-fi fan should really be without.

The stories contained within the book's pages don't keep to one tone or theme beyond "there are aliens, and we know about it." There are stories about people accidentally running across extraterrestrials while on vacation, scientists meeting them for the first time, or cases far into the future where we've been collaborating with aliens for decades. The aliens themselves range from anything that we can recognise in a humanoid shape, which is sometimes disturbing enough, to completely unlike anything we've seen, where the aliens are more blobby insectoids with a hive mind. Sometimes, such as in Stephen King's tale, the aliens are not so much seperate entities as things that possess and twist humans into something new again. The variety here is rich and highly demonstrative of the varying degrees of creativity that can come when a dozen brilliant literary minds look at the same basic concept in a dozen different ways. Sometimes amusing, sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes deeply disturbing, always entertaining.

The fun thing that I find about alien encounter stories is that they end up saying more about humanity than about any alien culture we can dream of. Whether it's displaying our own human arrogance about the universe and all within it, or displaying our sheer curiosity about what lies beyond us, all stories I've found that involve humans and some unknown sentient life form end up showcasing humanity in ways that a human-only cast of characters just couldn't. There's suddenly contrast, something to compare ourselves to, which brings out our innate traits in ways that are more difficult in other settings or stories. I find that more than a little fascinating.

As I said previously, this is a book that no science fiction fan can afford to be without. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book, and considering my usual dislike for short story anthologies, I like to think that says a great deal about not just the writers or the editor, but the book as a whole, being more than the sum of its parts. When this one hits the shelves, don't wait to grab a copy for yourself. You won't be disappointed! ( )