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Roger McBride Allen



"The Depths of Time" (nv)
(Time series # 1)
© 2000, Bantam Spectra
--/ fourth place time sf novel
--/ wonder award

"A Hole in the Sun"
© 1987, Analog
--novelette : 1988 Locus /14
--/ fourth place space sf novella
--/ wonder award
--/ adventure award
--/ rare find


"The Ring of Charon" (nv)
(Hunted Earth series # 1)
© 1990, Tor Books
--sf novel : 1991 Locus /10
--/ third place space sf novel
--/ idea award
--/ wonder award
--/ adventure award
--/ awesome scale


"The Shattered Sphere" (nv)
(Hunted Earth: Ring of Charon # 2)
© Tor Books, 1994
--1995 -The Shattered Sphere Nebula Award nom.
--/ third place space sf novel
--/ idea award: wormhole entity etc
--/ wonder award
--/ awesome scale
--/ adventure award
--/ shock value

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Winged Mysteries—The Soviet Shuttles
© Far Frontiers, Dec 1986
--/ cool article
--/ rare find

This is the most entertaining and interesting account of America's groping in the dark about the current (in 1986) Soviet space shuttle technology (as Roger McBride Allen points out "They steal nothing but the best technology") Well, the shuttles are no longer a mystery, of course, and we know how the whole shuttle era ended (see the detailed account in this DRB article: Rare Photos of the Russian "Buran" Space Program) - but this is very rare, paranoid take on the subject, and thoroughly enjoyable.

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"Young As You Feel"
© Far Frontiers, Dec 1986
--/ cool "mad scientist" sf story
--/ wonder award
--/ rare find

The hilarious opening of that extremely rare story had me laughing, as it describes a two-year old kid "attacking" the parents in the most innocent way - the mess, the bother, the overall so-familiar situation... What develops next, is one of the more entertaining "mad scientist" plots in recent SF. Mind you, they don't write like that any more - this would be perfectly at home in the 1940s Astounding or "Thrilling Wonder" pulp: a youthfulness plague and "responsibility" cure. Good stuff, enjoyable.

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EXPLANATION OF THE RATING SYSTEM:

"SF&F Reading Experience" is part of "Dark Roasted Blend / Thrilling Wonder" family of sites. We try to highlight the most entertaining and rewarding science fiction and fantasy, with emphasis on memorable reader experience, not necessarily general acceptance by the critics. Have fun, and delve into our extensive ratings and reviews!

Most reviews are written by Avi Abrams, unless otherwise noted. Reviews also appear on our unique historical retrospective page Wonder Timeline of Science Fiction. Feel free to submit your own review, if a particular story is not listed here.


All major OFFICIAL AWARDS are highlighted in BLUE
("winner" has a letter "W" by it, otherwise it is a runner-up only)

Our PERSONAL AWARDS (ratings) are highlighted in RED and PURPLE:
--/ first place :
--/ second place :
--/ third place :

--/ fourth place :

--/ cool : (equal to fifth place)
ALL "BEST OF" LISTS ARE LOCATED HERE

These awards are given in the following categories:
- novel :
- series :
- novella :
- story :
- collection :

Also, there are our personal STYLE / GENRE SPECIFIC AWARDS. These reflect the story's content and the lasting impression on the reader:

--/ wonder award
sense-of-wonder, "visual intensity" and inventiveness

--/ idea award
originality of idea / concept

--/ adventure award
exhilarating plot, excitement / action

--/ style award
outstanding literary qualities, inimitable style

--/ romance award
intense and beautiful love / relationships

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funny and cool

--/ emotion award
touching, lasting impression, sensitivity

--/ shock value
altogether wild

--/ awesome scale
mind-boggling; further enhances sense-of-wonder

--/ rare find
very hard to locate, mostly from old pulps, never reprinted, etc.

Again, please feel free to leave your own review or comment under every writer's entry; also recommend us other stories you liked.