Daleks, Cylons, the Terminator, the Borg and their immense cube, the machines of the Matrix, and the Death Star most likely all owe their existence to this book. That being said, this collection of stories about Berserkers, a fleet of ancient moon-sized machines predisposed to destroying every “life-unit” in their path often feels slight, if not preposterous. I did not read the last two of the twelve stories.
Fred Saberhagen can surely write. The introductions to each story, written by pacifistic alien observers, is written with an “alien” syntax, and each story changes timbre slightly, to reflect the voice of differing protagonists. Every once in a while, there is a truly thoughtful line: When I remember the truth, it will be terrible. Still, when the Berserker inadvertently cures a man’s cancer was my only favorite story. Saberhagen wrote the first story in 1963, and had made a franchise of novels and stories that exists to this day. I’ll pass.
Writers need to write valuable stories. Even if they are silly, stories need to be of value to the reader. Remember what Michael Swanwick, Kelly Link, and Holly Black all said? “Your story is about the most important day of the character.” Don’t write slight stories.
Fred Saberhagen can surely write. The introductions to each story, written by pacifistic alien observers, is written with an “alien” syntax, and each story changes timbre slightly, to reflect the voice of differing protagonists. Every once in a while, there is a truly thoughtful line: When I remember the truth, it will be terrible. Still, when the Berserker inadvertently cures a man’s cancer was my only favorite story. Saberhagen wrote the first story in 1963, and had made a franchise of novels and stories that exists to this day. I’ll pass.
Writers need to write valuable stories. Even if they are silly, stories need to be of value to the reader. Remember what Michael Swanwick, Kelly Link, and Holly Black all said? “Your story is about the most important day of the character.” Don’t write slight stories.
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