Curated by JJ: [Quoting from JJ’s explanation of the 2016 Hugo Finalist Review Roundup.] …I tried to select both positive and negative reviews, from a wide selection of reviewers, which were substantive and actually provided analysis of and commentary on the story, rather than merely summarizing the plot.
…Be Aware that many of these Reviews contain Spoilers!!! Don’t click on them if you don’t want to be Spoiled!
Each category begins with links to articles that review all the nominees collectively, and follows with links to single-story reviews.
Retro Novel
Gray Lensman by E.E. “Doc” Smith (Astounding Science-Fiction, Jan 1940)
- Steve Wright, LiveJournal
- James Davis Nicoll Reviews
- Aaron Pound, Dreaming About Other Worlds
- Patrick Baker, swordscrollandscreen
The Ill-Made Knight by T.H. White (Collins)
- Jane Smiley, The Guardian
- Andrew Liptak, Kirkus Reviews
- Mitch Edgeworth, Grub Street Hack
- Steve Wright, LiveJournal
Kallocain by Karin Boye (Bonnier)
- Serdar Yegulalp, Genji Press
- Linda, The Reader Diary
- Richard B. Vowles, Prometheus (Newsletter of the Libertarian Futurist Society)
- Steve Wright, LiveJournal
The Reign of Wizardry by Jack Williamson (Unknown, Mar 1940)
Slan by A.E. Van Vogt (Astounding Science-Fiction, Dec 1940)
- James Killus, Unintentional Irony
- Ted Gioia, Conceptual Fiction
- Steve Wright, LiveJournal
- Ian Fowler, Amazon
Retro Novella
- Nicholas Whyte, From the Heart of Europe: Novellas: 2016 and 1941
- David Kilman, Amazing Stories: Retro Novellas
“Coventry” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science-Fiction, July 1940)
“If This Goes On…” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science-Fiction, Feb 1940)
“Magic, Inc.” by Robert A. Heinlein (Unknown, Sept 1940)
“The Mathematics of Magic” by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt (Unknown, Aug 1940)
“The Roaring Trumpet” by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt (Unknown, May 1940)
Retro Novelette
- Nicholas Whyte, From the Heart of Europe: Novelettes: 2016 and 1941
- David Kilman, Amazing Stories: Retro Novelettes
“Blowups Happen” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science-Fiction, Sept 1940)
“Farewell to the Master” by Harry Bates (Astounding Science-Fiction, Oct 1940)
- Rusty and Rachel, How to Survive Alien Invasion Novels
- Steve Wright, LiveJournal
- Alice Lee, GoodReads
“It!” by Theodore Sturgeon (Unknown, Aug 1940)
“The Roads Must Roll” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science-Fiction, June 1940)
“Vault of the Beast” by A.E. Van Vogt (Astounding Science-Fiction, August 1940)
Retro Short Story
- Nicholas Whyte, From the Heart of Europe: Short Stories: 2016 and 1941
- David Kilman, Amazing Stories: Retro Short Stories
“Martian Quest” by Leigh Brackett (Astounding Science-Fiction, Feb 1940)
“Requiem” by Robert A. Heinlein (Astounding Science-Fiction, Jan 1940)
“Robbie” by Isaac Asimov (Super Science Stories, Sept 1940)
“The Stellar Legion” by Leigh Brackett (Planet Stories, Winter 1940)
“Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius” by Jorge Luis Borges (Sur, 1940)
Plus, if anyone is interested, there are discussion threads for every retro category at the Hugo Rcommendation blog. This upcoming week, we will have a thread each weekday for the novels.
There are some interesting thoughts from several fans, and feel free to chime in its your opinions!
And over on the 2016 Hugo Finalist Review Roundup, more reviews have been added from Rich Horton, Lisa J. Goldstein, and Steve Wright.
I think Heinlein’s short stories: If This Goes On and Coventry, remain VERY relevant to today’s politics- sadly–
Maybe I’ve just read those stories too often, but I’m a little surprised at the poor command of detail in many of those notes on Heinlein.
Thank you for including my reviews.
James Davis Nicoll: Thank you for including my reviews.
Thank you for writing them.
Sometimes when I read a work, I have difficulty identifying and describing what I liked or did not like about it, or what thoughts it evoked. I appreciate being able to get other peoples’ perspectives, and not infrequently, getting an “aha!” moment when someone puts their finger on what I was not able to articulate. 🙂