I first heard about this book at Rick Robinson's blog, Tip the Wink. I loved the idea of space pirates. I haven't read a lot of science fiction, so I had not encountered space pirates in my reading. Rick also generously sent me his copy of this short story collection to read. The stories are very good so far.
Rousing adventure, derring-do, brave heroes battling scurvy galactic vermin: we have here a treasure chest of tales of the greatest pirate adventure grounds of all time—the unruly outer reaches of space itself!
Do ye long for adventure in the far reaches, matey? Do ye yearn for space and treasure? Well, come aboard! Your crewmates include Robert Silverberg, Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette, Larry Niven, Fritz Leiber, Sarah A. Hoyt, James H. Schmitz, and more.
Cosmic Corsairs was edited by Hank Davis and Christopher Ruocchio. There are 15 stories in this book. Seven were published for the first time after 2000, some of those published for the first time in this book. The other eight stories were published in the 1950's, 1960's, and 1980's. Thus, a lot of variety.
So far I have read only three of the stories.
"Boojum" by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette was first published in Fast Ships, Black Sails (2008). Black Alice Bradley is an engineer on the Lavinia Whateley, a pirate spaceship and a living creature. Alice feels protective towards the spaceship, and has nicknamed her Vinnie. After taking on risky cargo from another ship, the crew and the Lavinia Whateley are in danger from other alien ships. Alice tries to protect Vinnie and herself.
"A Relic of the Empire" by Larry Niven is part of Niven's Known Space Universe. Dr. Richard Schultz-Mann is a xenobiologist doing some research on a planet. Some pirates in an old spaceship stop by and try to extort some information from him. The pirates have superior manpower and weapons; Mann has knowledge of the planet and the environment on his side.
“Postmark Ganymede” by Robert Silverberg was first published in Amazing Stories, September 1957. This was a fun story, less serious than the other two. Preston has been moved from the Space Patrol Service to the Postal Service, and he is mad. He will be delivering mail to the colony on Gannymede. This becomes more challenging than he expected.
My favorite story of these three is "A Relic of the Empire." Lots of good stories left to read.
See George Kelley's review of Cosmic Corsairs for comments on more of the stories and a list of the stories.
14 comments:
As a sci-fi fan, I first knew about space pirates from watching Star Trek back in the late sixties. Blake's 7 after that, so it's very much a known thing for me. This anthology sounds very good, I've read a couple of novels from the Ringworld series by Larry Niven so can quite see why you like his story best so far.
I know pirates are hugely popular but the only one I ever got interested in was Captain Hook and that was because I loved Peter Pan and Wendy. All of their colorful costumes and practices have probably helped make them the stuff of fiction.
Patti, the fascination with pirates does seem strange. Peter Pan is a good example but I haven't seen that in forever. I did enjoy many of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. And I love The Pirates of Penzance. We have copies of the film with Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline (and Angela Lasbury!) and a version from Australian production with Jon English which we watch often.
Cath, I don't remember if I watched Star Trek in the sixties, but I know I watched the show in reruns in the 1970s. However I don't remember specific plots. Still love William Shatner though, and a lot of the other cast members.
I wracked my brain trying to remember some space pirates in my past reading, but nothing came to mind. I did read some Jack L. Chalker books about 15 years ago but none that mentioned pirates that I can remember.
I have read a little bit of Larry Niven, the Dream Park series that he wrote with Steven Barnes. I have The World of Ptavvs on my TBR shelves, and I want to read Ringworld. Looking forward to those someday.
Glad you’re enjoying it. Still good stories to read.
That's a really interesting concept - space pirates. I saw this on Rick's blog, too, Tracy, and thought it was so imaginative. I have to say I'm not well schooled in sci-fi, but the stories do sound. Glad you enjoyed what you've read.
Rick, I am enjoying it, and I look forward to more of the stories. Thanks so much for sending the book to me.
Margot, so far the stories are excellent. I like that the anthology has a mix of contemporary stories and stories from earlier decades.
I read COSMIC CORSAIRS a while ago and enjoyed it. You can check out my review here; http://georgekelley.org/forgotten-books-609-cosmic-corsairs-edited-by-hank-davis-christopher-ruocchio/
I've read about a dozen Hank Davis anthologies and found all of them entertaining. I particularly admire Davis's Introductions to the stories which reveal interesting information about the writer and the story. Excellent choice!
George, I have linked to your review in the post. I liked your comments on the shories, and the list of all the stories. I agree with you on the Larry Niven story even though I have more of the stories to read. And I do find the introductions to the stories and the information on the authors useful. Although I tend to read those after I read the story.
The kind of adventure sf that included the early space pirates was often the province of the "space opera"/"plantery romance" specialist magazine PLANET STORIES, which published such more sophisticated practitioners of the form such as Ms. Leight Brackett (also a notable crime-fiction and good western writer, with a novel in the Library of America reprint series), her student Ray Bradbury, and particularly toward the turn of the '50s, such then new writers as Poul Anderson and Charles Harness. Other magazines in the field might also touch on them, at least...nearly every magazine in the field, to one degree or another, satiric or otherwise...
And, of course, Caribbean pirates at least were up to some interesting, democratic to the point of socialist collective, behaviors back in their heyday...
Thanks, Todd. I had not heard of the magazine PLANET STORIES. I looked some up on abebooks.com, they do look interesting.
My husband reminded me of the Errol Flynn pirate movies that we also enjoy. Not space pirates of course, but lots of fun.
Probably not stories I will be reading. I'm glad you enjoyed them though.
I had a lot of fun with these, Col, and looking forward to reading the rest.
Post a Comment