Wednesday, March 2, 2016

2015 Tor.com-Puppies Ratings

Here are reviews of short fiction from 2015 that came to RSR’s attention late. Two are non-free Tor.com novellas. Most are recommendations from the Rabid Puppies and Sad Puppies. The rest were other original stories from the anthology There Will Be War, Volume X. (We'd like to thank Jerry Pournelle for arranging a free copy for us.)

Because they are coming so late, we're keeping these reviews are separate from the 191 reviews of the most recommended stories in our 2016 Hugo Awards page. Otherwise no one will see them.

We're aware of the controversy associated with the Puppies, but we are trying to be even-handed and treat them like any other significant recommendation list.
Greg Hullender and Eric Wong
March 21, 2016
Update 3/21/16: Made changes to reflect the final Rabid Puppies list.


Recommended By Stories: 25 Unique
Estimated Time: 25h:47m (464K words)
Total Stories: 45 Unique (44 reviewed by RSR)
Estimated Time for RSR-reviewed Stories: 35h:14m (634K words)

Tor.com Novellas

(SF "Magic") Demane is a young "sorcerer" whose magic is half-forgotten high-tech. He's helping guard a caravan which needs to pass through the Wildeeps, a place with dangerous magic of its own.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell  Time: 1h:40m (Novella)  IssueWitches of Lychford 2015
(Modern Fantasy) An English village contains a barrier between worlds, and three very different women must work together to protect it from destruction by a new supermarket.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5

Rabid Puppies – Best Novella

Fear and Self-Loathing in Hollywood by Nick Cole  Time: 1h:00m (Novella)  IssueTales of Tinfoil: Stories of Paranoia and Conspiracy 2015
(Gonzo Journalism) Doc Midnite (aka Travis Bickle) is determined to make his name in Hollywood by proving that some stars really do sell their souls to the devil.
Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold  Time: 2h:04m (Novella)  IssuePenric's Demon 2015
Penric, age 19, is accidentally possessed by a demon meant for someone else. Demons can be useful, but they are dangerous, and Penric has no idea what to do with one.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Perfect State by Brandon Sanderson  Time: 1h:00m (Novella)  IssuePerfect State 2015
(SF) Kai has conquered his whole world, but he's starting to get bored with it. There are other worlds, but the concept gives him the creeps. And sometimes they won't be ignored.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Slow Bullets by Alastair Reynolds  Time: 2h:19m (Novella)  IssueSlow Bullets 2015
Scur, a soldier in an interstellar war, wakes up from hibernation on a prison ship. The ship is failing, they don't know where they are, and the prisoners are trying to kill each other.
*NOTE: Alastair Reynolds asked to be left off the Sad Puppies list (link).
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFEP
The Builders by Daniel Polansky  Time: 1h:42m (Novella)  IssueThe Builders 2015
(Military Fantasy) The Captain gathers his old team together to mount an assault on the traitors who beat them five years ago.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5

Rabid Puppies – Best Novelette

Flashpoint: Titan by Cheah Kai Wai2  Time: 39m (Novelette)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Military SF) A Japanese torch ship paying a visit to Titan gets a request for help from the colony, which is under attack.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang  Time: 54m (Novelette)  IssueUncanny 2
(Science Fantasy) Lao Dao processes trash in a fantastic future "third-space" Beijing. To get money for his daughter's education, he makes a dangerous trip to first-space--a city that unfolds when his own Beijing sleeps.
Hyperspace Demons by Jonathan Moeller  Time: 56m (Novelette)  IssueHyperspace Demons 2015
(SF) Malcolm a navigator-commander for the Castakaran empire, is travelling on an ordinary troop carrier when it's attacked by the enemy.
Obits by Stephen King  Time: 28m (Novelette)  IssueThe Bazaar of Bad Dreams 2015
(Horror) Mike writes snarky, disrespectful celebrity obituaries for a sleazy webzine. Then one day he gets the idea to write an obit about a living person.
What Price Humanity by David VanDyke  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Military SF) When Vango, a top pilot for EarthFleet, awakens in virtual reality following a battle against the aliens invading the solar system, he figures they're repairing damage to his body. But something seems wrong.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5

Rabid Puppies – Best Short Story

Asymmetrical warfare by S.R. Algernon  Time: 03m (ShortStory)  IssueNature 519
(Military SF) Earth is invaded by starfish-like creatures who seem a bit confused about us.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
If You Were an Award, My Love by Juan Tabo2 and S. Harris1  Time: 02m (ShortStory)  IssueVox Popoli 2015
(Satire) The narrator speaks to his politically-correct girlfriend as if she were a Hugo award.
Seven Kill Tiger by Charles W. Shao2  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Near-future SF) Zhang Zedong directs Chinese investments in Africa, but productivity is so poor his superiors are threatening him, so he considers drastic action.
Space Raptor Butt Invasion by Chuck Tingle  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueSpace Raptor Butt Invasion 2015
(SF Erotica) Lance dreads spending a year alone on a lifeless planetoid, so when an intelligent dinosaur drops in, he's happy to accommodate him.
The Commuter by Thomas Mays  Time: 15m (ShortStory)  IssueThe Commuter 2015
(Military Fantasy) Jack's daughter, Abby, forges his name on a permission slip and ends up stranded in Faerie. So he goes on a quest to fetch her back.

Sad Puppies – Best Novella

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor  Time: 1h:07m (Novella)  IssueBinti 2015
(SF Fantasy) Binti sneaks away from her home in a future Namibia so she can attend the galactic university. The Himba never leave home, so her parents disapprove, and the universe isn't quite ready for her either.
Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold  Time: 2h:04m (Novella)  IssuePenric's Demon 2015
Penric, age 19, is accidentally possessed by a demon meant for someone else. Demons can be useful, but they are dangerous, and Penric has no idea what to do with one.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Perfect State by Brandon Sanderson  Time: 1h:00m (Novella)  IssuePerfect State 2015
(SF) Kai has conquered his whole world, but he's starting to get bored with it. There are other worlds, but the concept gives him the creeps. And sometimes they won't be ignored.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Slow Bullets by Alastair Reynolds  Time: 2h:19m (Novella)  IssueSlow Bullets 2015
Scur, a soldier in an interstellar war, wakes up from hibernation on a prison ship. The ship is failing, they don't know where they are, and the prisoners are trying to kill each other.
*NOTE: Alastair Reynolds asked to be left off the Sad Puppies list (link).
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: SFEP
Speak Easy by Catherynne M. Valente  Time: 1h:45m (Novella)  IssueSpeak Easy 2015
(1920s Urban Fantasy) In a 1920s Harlem hotel, the party never stops. Frankie wants to be a writer, and he wants Zelda. Zelda finds a door to another world and thinks she'll find what she wants down there.
The Builders by Daniel Polansky  Time: 1h:42m (Novella)  IssueThe Builders 2015
(Military Fantasy) The Captain gathers his old team together to mount an assault on the traitors who beat them five years ago.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5
Not reviewed by Rocket Stack Rank. John Scalzi has said he will decline any Hugo nomination.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [] 

Sad Puppies – Best Novelette

Rhye a bitter ex-supersoldier, fights to rescue Rack, her hacker partner in crime, after the criminals they're working for kill Rack's body while his mind is in cyberspace.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: RHorton:5
Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang  Time: 54m (Novelette)  IssueUncanny 2
(Science Fantasy) Lao Dao processes trash in a fantastic future "third-space" Beijing. To get money for his daughter's education, he makes a dangerous trip to first-space--a city that unfolds when his own Beijing sleeps.
If I Had No Head and My Eyes Were Floating Way Up In the Air by Clifford D. Simak  Time: 25m (Novelette)  IssueI Am Crying All Inside and Other Stories 2015
(SF) An accident on another planet destroys Charlie's body, but the local aliens rebuild him in a strange and different way. A very strange and different way.
Obits by Stephen King  Time: 28m (Novelette)  IssueThe Bazaar of Bad Dreams 2015
(Horror) Mike writes snarky, disrespectful celebrity obituaries for a sleazy webzine. Then one day he gets the idea to write an obit about a living person.
Our Lady of the Open Road by Sarah Pinsker  Time: 54m (Novelette)  IssueAsimov's 06|15
One of the last live bands struggles to do performances in a mostly-online world.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5 SFRevu:4 SFEP
Pure Attentions by TR Dillon2  Time: 43m (Novelette)  IssuePure Attentions 2015
(YA Urban Fantasy) Max hates having to wait while his mom sees the doctor. The cafe where he waits is usually deserted, but today two strange little men show up. Men who're supposed to be invisible.

Sad Puppies – Best Short Story

(SF Humor) Eight magic pills, each with a different ability. Eight people who take those pills. And a whole universe to try to save.
A Flat Effect by Eric Flint  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueOnward, Drake! 2015
(High Fantasy) King Bertrand wants to celebrate the millennium of a great general, sparing no expense. Garrick, his childhood friend, will perform, but Garrick's style is rather odd.
Asymmetrical warfare by S.R. Algernon  Time: 03m (ShortStory)  IssueNature 519
(Military SF) Earth is invaded by starfish-like creatures who seem a bit confused about us.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Cat Pictures Please by Naomi Kritzer  Time: 11m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 100
Entertaining tale of a modern search engine that achieves real artificial intelligence by accident and decides it wants to be helpful to people.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4 RHorton:5 NClarke
Daedelus by Niall Burke2  Time: 07m (ShortStory)  IssueHoldfast 6
(SF AI) The town's new computer system is working awfully well. The public have never been happier with their city government. Something is too good to be true.
Damage by David D. Levine  Time: 24m (ShortStory)  IssueTor.com 01/21/15
An intelligent, patchwork fighter ship struggles to help the last of the Free Belt fight off the Earth Force.
*NOTE: David Levine asked to be left off the Sad Puppies list (link).
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [2]  Recommended By: NClarke
Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers by Alyssa Wong  Time: 23m (ShortStory)  IssueNightmare 37
(Horror) Meimei dates really bad guys. Who want to use her. Who don't know what they're in for.
(SF Humor) Graalnak, alien conqueror of Earth,  does an ask-me-anything session on Reddit.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [3]  Recommended By: KTB
Today I Am Paul by Martin L. Shoemaker  Time: 16m (ShortStory)  IssueClarkesworld 107
Alzheimer's patient's family can't visit her very often, so they buy a robot to fool her into thinking they're visiting her. The robot tells the story.
Tuesdays With Molakesh the Destroyer by Megan Grey  Time: 13m (ShortStory)  IssueFireside 19
(Slipstream) The teen narrator's mother makes her shovel the drive for their aged neighbor--despite his being a retired demon from Hell.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5

There Will Be War: Volume X

Flashpoint: Titan by Cheah Kai Wai2  Time: 39m (Novelette)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Military SF) A Japanese torch ship paying a visit to Titan gets a request for help from the colony, which is under attack.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [4]  Recommended By: RSR:4
Seven Kill Tiger by Charles W. Shao2  Time: 17m (ShortStory)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Near-future SF) Zhang Zedong directs Chinese investments in Africa, but productivity is so poor his superiors are threatening him, so he considers drastic action.
The Fourth Fleet by Russell Newquist2  Time: 26m (Novelette)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Military SF) Pirates preying on shipping in the outer solar system keep evading capture with a mysterious stealth drive, but the US Space Navy is determined to get them.
The Last Show by Matthew Joseph Harrington  Time: 14m (ShortStory)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Alternate History) In a POW camp in 1943 Germany, a new prisoner shakes things up with his escape plans.
What Price Humanity by David VanDyke  Time: 34m (Novelette)  IssueThere Will Be War: Volume X 2015
(Military SF) When Vango, a top pilot for EarthFleet, awakens in virtual reality following a battle against the aliens invading the solar system, he figures they're repairing damage to his body. But something seems wrong.
Other Reviews  RSR Mini-Review [5]  Recommended By: RSR:5


6 comments (may contain spoilers):

  1. I give you guys credit for including the puppies here, especially the rabids. I don’t agree with their politics at all, but they have just as much right to be heard as anyone else. Democracy sucks sometimes, and freedom of speech can be difficult, but they are never nearly as bad as trying to silence and suppress a group of people (no matter how unsavory you might find their beliefs).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. We appreciate it. We're really trying, as much as humanly possible, to evaluate stories on their own merits.

      Delete
    2. And you're doing a fantastic job!

      I only found this site a few months ago. Since then I always check back here after I finish a magazine to get your take. I especially like when you point out the scientific inaccuracies (I'm a total hard sci fi fan with a science background, but you often catch things I miss).

      Once again, good job taking the principled path. I'm sure it isn't the easiest thing to do.

      Keep up the good work!

      Delete
  2. Hopefully readers know that just because a story is recommended by one faction or another doesn't necessarily mean the story's author is a dittohead and agrees with everything the various factional spokespeople say. Sometimes the author simply has a story to tell and it resonates with people of a certain mindset. In my case, I was excited to see Jerry Pournelle's There Will Be War series revived and I wanted to be part of that, regardless of the controversy.

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    Replies
    1. Even if you were, I'd have still given "What Price Humanity" five stars.

      Delete
    2. I appreciate your sense of fairness, sir. It's a rare quality.

      Delete