The two parts of the book affected me in two separate ways. The first and last stories could be put together as a novella, “I’m Waiting for You” and “On My Way.” They show a separated engaged couple trying to get to each other so they can marry but faster than light travel adds years and decades to their quest. One spends their time alone and depressed and rather self-destructive, the other is surrounded by people who hate them yet works constantly to make life better. It's kind of like the problem of picking the wrong line at the supermarket but on a galactic scale. I loved these stories and would have given the book 5 stars if they were the only ones presented. Unfortunately, the other two connected stories could also have made a novella, one I would gladly ignore. “The Prophet of Corruption” and “That One Life,” are Buddhist world-building contrasting the need for oneness with individuality and wondering if pain and suffering or support offer a better environment for learning. I think they won a prize of some sort, but to me, they were senseless naval gazing. So, overall, 3 stars for the whole collection. ( )

The 1st story is about relativity and how people might think about time during different experiences of space travel and return to earth - starts off light-hearted but becomes somewhat melancholy as the returns to Earth show more and more devastation.
2nd story is a philosophical exploration of the nature of existence, using the Bhuddist metaphor of the bardo - a place between death and reincarnation where one can experience enlightenment or hallucination. It's interesting but goes on too long.
3rd story is the voice of the potential bride from story 1. More of a traditional tale of a disparate band of shipmates who gradually turn into a heirarchical totalitarian society.
The end notes of the author, translators, and the 2 people the bride and groom stories were originally written for give valuable insights. ( )

2 sets of short stories/novellas. The set about the couple travelling through space/time to meet for their wedding had an interesting conept, even if completely unrealistic. The fact that it was written on-demand is a nice touch. Could not get into the other set of stories, so only a partial read. ( )

Very interesting stories with good character development and unique premises. ( )

I loved half of this collection - the title story and it’s twin (4 stars), a charming love story in two acts that can only have gained resonance for being read after a year of life more or less on hold, and one I liked all the more for its theme of enduring hope. I persevered through the central story in the collection (The Prophet of Corruption) and found it rewarding in the end but not really to my taste - it’s more philosophical, an intellectual thought experiment that I found rather dry (3 stars)

3.5 stars

Full review

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )