Vaster Than Empires

Originating from a writing workshop focusing on the human dichotomy of experiencing short lifetimes within the long timeline of the universe, this solid anthology of 15 original speculative stories intermingles old and new forms of science fiction. Some take on traditional SF tropes of humans circumventing universal eons by traveling to the stars in generation ships (Caroline M. Yoachim’s “The Shipmind Paradox,” Kate Elliott’s “Seedbank,” and Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Slow Boat”), using hibernation to extend their lives (Karl Schroeder’s “The Invitation”), or meeting aliens who experience past, present, and future simultaneously (Aliette de Bodard’s “Lifechance”). Sam J. Miller’s cli-fi “Every Seed a Bullet” imagines a flooded future, while Greg Egan’s “Osculation Point” speculates on how artificial intelligence might aid in a first contact scenario. Tochi Onyebuchi’s stirring “Fauna for Algernon” takes the form of a series of desperate responses to the prompt “convince me to spare your life.” The contributor list is impressively international and studded with big names, all of whom find fascinating ways to explore the impact—or lack thereof—that individual humans can have on the universe. The result is sure to move SF fans.