★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
(Hard SF) Roy heads into an unknown part of space when he gets a distress call from an old friend. (14,376 words; Time: 47m)
"Go Random, My Love," by Bill Johnson [bio] (edited by Trevor Quachri), appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact issue 09-10|18, published on August 16, 2018 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: It appears that Roy has managed to get rescue for himself and Alice, that he’s raised Cele to a higher level of intelligence, and (possibly) brought his own people closer to real peace.
There seems to be a very rich background universe that the story is set in.
Dialogue and narration are both very good.
Con: What sinks this tale is that it’s hard SF with really bad science. Something on almost every page pops me out of the story. Here are just a few:
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 09-10|18)
Bill Johnson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
There seems to be a very rich background universe that the story is set in.
Dialogue and narration are both very good.
Con: What sinks this tale is that it’s hard SF with really bad science. Something on almost every page pops me out of the story. Here are just a few:
- The solar wind can’t cause wind chill.
- Wind chill doesn’t affect freezing temperatures.
- Even modern AI software already makes extensive use of randomization.
- The technobabble is painful to read. (E.g. “my if-then.”)
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 09-10|18)
Bill Johnson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
No comments (may contain spoilers):
Post a Comment (comment policy)