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A Good Old-fashioned Future
Seven dystopian tales from one of cyberpunk's founding fathers
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A Good Old-fashioned Future
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By Bruce Sterling
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Bantam Spectra
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$6.99/$9.99 Canada
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Paperback, June 1999
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ISBN 0-553-57642-9
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Review by Clinton Lawrence
 nlike most short story collections, Bruce Sterling's A Good
Old-fashioned Future is built from stories with thematic
similarities. Of the seven stories in the collection, all but two involve
an explicit futuristic undercover operation of some kind, and the two that
don't involve intentional concealment by the protagonists (in one case, of a
technological innovation, and in the other, of the protagonists' location
from tax authorities). It's also a collection that's global in scope--the stories
are set in almost every region of the world.
The collection begins with "Maneki Neko," which tells a story of
intrigue in a Japanese hotel featuring an American agent, a mysterious New
Zealander, and a Japanese video upgrader. "Big Jelly," a collaboration with
Rudy Rucker, is a comedy about a young Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has
invented artificial jellyfish and a Texas oil tycoon/venture capitalist, who is
not only interested in investing but who has discovered some primeval slime
with very interesting properties. In "The Littlest Jackal," Russian
mobsters, a mercenary terrorist, a renegade lawyer, and Finnish
revolutionaries team up to try to create an independence movement for some
small Finnish islands so they can exploit the situation for political or
financial gain.
In "Sacred Cow," most of Western civilization has been devastated by mad
cow disease. In a Britain now dominated by India, a filmmaker travels around
making his films while avoiding the tax authorities. In "Deep Eddy," a
member of a NAFTA civil liberties underground organization becomes smitten
with his icy German bodyguard as he smuggles data into a riot zone.
"Bicycle Repairman," a sort of sequel to "Deep Eddy" but with a different
protagonist, involves a strange set-top cable box and a break-in
at a bicycle repairman's shop in a Chattanooga, Tenn., slum
neighborhood. The final story, "Taklamakan," is about two spies who enter a
remote region of China to investigate rumors that the Chinese have built
starships.
Strong stories true to Sterling's roots
If there's anything A Good Old-fashioned Future proves, it's that
Sterling hasn't abandoned his cyberpunk roots. Information technology is
pervasive throughout most of these stories, and they all feature a dark view
of the future combined with the smirking paranoia and ethical oblivion that
characterized cyberpunk stories. In addition to being suspenseful, several of these pieces
are also quite funny, particularly "Big Jelly" and "Sacred Cow." As a
critique of human institutions, science fiction the way Sterling writes it
here does one of the things it's most effective at doing.
Although "Big Jelly" is the funniest story, it's somewhat plagued by a
lack of realism about how venture capitalists really evaluate investments.
"Taklamakan," on the other, might be the best story in the collection. Sterling applies all his inventiveness to the strange
discovery his protagonist spies make, while maintaining suspense throughout
the piece. "The Little Jackal" is remarkable for its believability, in
spite of the absurdity and humor of the situation Sterling creates. "Deep
Eddy" is another strong story, with its protagonist's familiar
obsession with a beautiful bodyguard juxtaposed against a surreal
future Europe. "Bicycle Repairman," which takes place in an equally surreal
Chattanooga, isn't quite as strong, but is still entertaining.
"Maneki Neko" suffers in the first pages from some dialogue that could be
improved, but evolves into a strangely beautiful tale that suggests a
rejection of the cyberworld for a more pastoral life, a bit of a surprise
from its author.
Sterling is a major talent, and A Good Old-fashioned Future is a
fine collection that aptly displays his strengths. But despite the title,
none of these futures are ones most of us would choose to live in.
There are few little things about Sterling's writing that annoy me, but I
think he's one of the best in science fiction at zeroing in on issues of
importance and illuminating them in a way that's both illuminating and
entertaining.
-- Clint
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Through Alien Eyes
Achieving harmony with humans is imperative. It may also be impossible.
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Through Alien Eyes
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By Amy Thomson
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Ace Books
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$13.95/19.99 Canada
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Trade Paperback, July 1999
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ISBN 0-441-00617-5
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Review by Susan Dunman
 r. Juna Saari expects to die on the newly discovered planet of Tiangi.
As the sole survivor of a marooned survey expedition, she loses hope when
the filters on her environment suit begin to fail. Soon she falls unconscious. But much to her
astonishment, Juna wakes up in a leathery cocoon, halfway up a
tall tree. She learns that she was rescued by the Tendu, an intelligent and resourceful
native race that has somehow changed her physiology to adapt to their environment.
Four years later it is the Tendu's turn to learn new adaptation
techniques when another survey expedition arrives at Tiangi and makes
contact with Juna. She decides to return to Earth, along with her adopted
Tendu son, Moki. The Tendu also insist that Ukatonen, one of their
respected elders, travel aboard the human "sky raft" and become the first
alien emissary on Earth. The two jungle-dwelling Tendu barely survive the
sterile, four-month voyage to Earth and soon learn that the vastness of
space reflects the incredible differences between the two worlds.
It doesn't take long for the diminutive, primitive Tendu to experience
prejudice and condescending arrogance among their human hosts. Then Juna
reveals the Tendu's use of alla-u, a mental and emotional linking into the
inner metabolic world of another individual to achieve emotional
equilibrium. This procedure corrects abnormalities at the cellular level,
eliminating disease and promoting healing in injured patients. Humans
struggle to cope with challenges presented by the aliens while the Tendu
make equally astounding discoveries about humanity. Both races must decide
how their new knowledge will be used, and what the consequences will be.
The story comes alive
It can be a pleasant change of pace to meet aliens without devious plans
to annihilate Earth. Author Amy Thomson has created a primitive, yet complex alien
society that strongly influences every action made by its members. The
petite, tree-dwelling Tendu display the agility of monkeys when traveling
through rain forests. Their smooth, moist skin changes color more
frequently than a chameleon, but the color is determined by mood and emotion
rather than physical surroundings. Moki and Ukatonen are engaging
personalities who effectively demonstrate their culture's ideals and
accomplishments.
An overriding goal of the Tendu is to achieve harmony among individuals
and with the environment. Naively expecting to share this type of
harmony with humans, the optimistic aliens are mortified to observe the rampant
destruction of Earth's natural resources. They also cannot comprehend the
lack of communication between individuals and the acceptance of unresolved
differences as a normal state of affairs. Thomson uses this story to
comment on topics ranging from population control, abortion, and ecology, but her
approach is never heavy-handed.
The entire book is an interesting study in sociology. The recognition and
acceptance of different values is a trait that must be acquired by both
species for a successful interchange of ideas to take place. Neither the humans
nor the Tendu are painted as entirely good or bad, and each group has something
to share and learn from the other. The overall plot may concern itself
with broad social concepts, but it is the thoughtfully crafted aliens who
make this story come alive.
The Tendu adventure is more cerebral than adrenaline-based, but that doesn't
make it any less interesting.
-- Susan
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