SFF

Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories

by Hugh Howey
John Joseph Adams: Houghton Harcourt. Oct. 2017. 352p. ISBN 9781328767530. $28; pap. ISBN 9781328767523. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9781328764331. SF
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This debut short story collection from the author of Wool and Beacon 23 explores topics as vast as the universe and as focused as artificial intelligence. A number of these 21 selections have been previously published, such as "Glitch," in which a contradiction in a robot's programming may not mean it is actually broken. In "The Walk Up Nameless Ridge," a failed climb up a mountain on an alien planet reveals hidden truths. Two brand-new tales were written exclusively for the collection, three more take readers back into the world of Wool, but all are deftly crafted as they delve into issues of overcommunication, online gaming between sexes, and the eternal personal struggle of the individual. Each story is followed by an author's note explaining the background and origins of each tale.
VERDICT These captivating short works will please Howey's many fans as well as aficionados of thought-provoking sf. [See Prepub Alert, 4/10/17.]
Reviewed by Kristi Chadwick , Oct 15, 2017
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