Says The Guardian…
In this new and exclusive short story, the science fiction writer Alastair Reynolds considers the ways in which the pressures of war shape those who fight them
This is Alastair Reynolds’ first foray into militaristic SF. In it, he explores the transformations war imposes on soldiers as his hero Nico’s mission evolves into something stranger than he could have possibly imagined.
Scales
By Alastair Reynolds; Read by Alastair Reynolds
1 |MP3| – Approx. 11 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Podcaster: The Guardian Book Podcast
Podcast: June 19, 2009
A new recruit is sent out to battle in an interstellar war. This is Alastair Reynolds’ first foray into militaristic SF. In it, he explores the transformations war imposes on soldiers as his hero Nico’s mission evolves into something stranger than he could have possibly imagined.
Podcast feed:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/series/books/podcast.xml
[via FreeSFblogspot.com]
Posted by Jesse Willis
What the heck is “militaristic sf”? SF used by the Guardian to recruit paramilitary teams of paperboys? :)
Of course, Reynolds could well be doing that. Apparently he has a book deal for one million pounds, which led immediately to me picturing him as Dr. Evil extorting money from Basil Publisher.
There is a whole subgenre of “Military SF” – basically as a result of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers. Kind of like what Lord Of The Rings did to Fantasy.