Joachim Boaz is reviewing stories exploring the theme of generation ships in science fiction. He invited other bloggers to join him. If you are posting reviews too, let me know. Here are the posts so far:
- LIST OF GENERATION SHIP NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES – Boaz
- GENERATION SPACESHIP SHORT STORY REVIEW: CHAD OLIVER’S “THE WIND BLOWS FREE” (1957) – Boaz
- GENERATION SHIP SHORT STORY REVIEW: CLIFFORD D. SIMAK’S “SPACEBRED GENERATIONS” (VARIANT TITLE: “TARGET GENERATION”) (1953) – Boaz
- “Spacebred Generations” (AKA “Target Generation”) by Clifford N. Simak – MPorcius
- Would Generation Ship Crews Ever Forget Their Mission? – Harris
- “Wish Upon a Star” by Judith Merril – MPorcius
- GENERATION SHIP SHORT STORY REVIEW: JUDITH MERRIL’S “WISH UPON A STAR” (1958) – Boaz
- “Wish Upon A Star” by Judith Merril – Harris
- WISH UPON A STAR JUDITH MERRIL – Richard
- THE WIND BLOWS FREE CHAD OLIVER and LUNGFISH JOHN BRUNNER – Richard
- “Lungfish” by John Brunner – Harris
- GENERATION SHIP SHORT STORY REVIEW: JOHN BRUNNER’S “LUNGFISH” (1957) – Boaz
- “Thirteen to Centaurus” by J. G. Ballard – Harris
- GENERATION SHIP SHORT STORY REVIEW: J. G. BALLARD’S “THIRTEEN TO CENTAURUS” (1962) – Boaz
- BOOK REVIEW: THE SPACE-BORN, E. C. TUBB (1955) – Boaz
- “Tani of Ekkis” by Aladra Septama – Harris
- BOOK REVIEW: THE SPACE-BORN, E. C. TUBB (1955) – Boaz
- Ascension – Generation Ship TV – Harris
- SHORT BOOK REVIEWS: HARRY HARRISON’S CAPTIVE UNIVERSE (1969) – Boaz
- NIGHTSIDE THE LONG SUN – Gene Wolfe (1993) – @Bormgans
- LAKE OF THE LONG SUN – Gene Wolfe (1994) – @Bormgans
- NON-STOP – Brian W. Aldiss (1958) – @Bormgans
There are spoilers in some reviews, and definitely spoilers in some comments. It’s best to read the stories before reading the reviews. All stories have links to online reading.
This discussion is fun, and with every story, each new writer adds their twist to the theme. What’s weird is none of us have been able to find an anthology devoted to stories about generation ships. So I’m proposing our readings would make a good virtual one. Here are the stories so far, including some I’ve read on my own (*):
- 1930 – “Tani of Ekkis” by Aladra Septama *
- 1940 – “The Voyage That Lasted 600 Years” by Don Wilcox *
- 1941 – “Universe” by Robert A. Heinlein *
- 1947 – “Centaurus II” by A. E. van Vogt
- 1951 – “Survival Ship” by Judith Merril *
- 1953 – “Target Generation” by Clifford Simak
- 1957 – “Lungfish” by John Brunner
- 1957 – “The Wind Blows Free” by Chad Oliver
- 1958 – “Wish Upon A Star” by Judith Merril
- 1962 – “Thirteen to Centaurus” by J. G. Ballard
James Wallace Harris
Classics of Science Fiction 