Excellent anthology. The first story, James Tiptree, Jr.'s, "Beam Us Home" is model sf.   posted Jun 13, 2007 at 7:56AM

Yikes...this is not like the PBS Mystery of old. Very graphic and disturbing...good, but "adults only" for sure.   posted Jun 11, 2007 at 6:25PM

Author John Shannon expresses strong, thoughtful views on race throughout all his Jack Liffey mysteries. While I often don't agree with his perspective, I always find it worth serious consideration. And the mysteries themselves...strong characters, unbeatable settings, strong (although sometimes unevenly paced) plotting...Shannon is worthy of the critic's comment naming him the heir to Chandler's title. Be sure to check out www.JackLiffey.com for all kinds of extra goodies about Jack Liffey and LA. And don't miss the John Shannon interview here: http://www.januarymagazine.com/profiles/jshannon.html   posted Jun 10, 2007 at 7:17AM

Shannon grew up in San Pedro, CA -- the primary setting for this story (Terminal Island is a small, man-made island in the port of Los Angeles connected to San Pedro by the Vincent Thomas Bridge pictured on the front cover). I met Shannon at the San Pedro library shortly before this novel came out, and lived in San Pedro myself for a number of years.   posted Jun 10, 2007 at 7:06AM

Though the movie has its merits for what it is, the book is a far more serious take on war. One of Heinlein's best. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and "Stranger in a Strange Land" are also excellent.   posted Jun 9, 2007 at 2:54AM

Still one of the best introductions to science around. (How can you have Cosmos without the music from the series, though???)   posted Jun 9, 2007 at 2:52AM

Like "Hitchhiker's Guide"? Vonnegut does it even better. Try "Hocus Pocus" and other Vonngegut, too!   posted Jun 7, 2007 at 8:56PM

Robinson gets my vote for best, most literary sf author writing today. His climate change trilogy has characters of extraordinary depth, an astonishly detailed and believable depiction of science as it plays out in Washington, and (a bonus for ex-Californians) some of the most loving descriptions of the California coasts and Sierra-Nevada back-country you’re likely to find anywhere. There is a good audio interview of Robinson on the Planetary Society website at www.planetary.org (in the Planetary Radio section).   posted Jun 7, 2007 at 8:54PM

Remarkable evidence for esp aside, this book is one of the best discussions of the proper role of skepticism in science you'll find.   posted Jun 7, 2007 at 8:50PM

Best time-bender story I've read so far, although I hear Stephen Baxter's "Manifold: Time" is also excellent.   posted Jun 7, 2007 at 8:50PM