The Starry Rift
Author: James Tiptree, Jr. (Alice Sheldon)
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 1986
Rating: 7 of 10
This books was much lighter subject-wise than I was expecting. While it is loosely one story it read more light three novellas connected by a small and inconsequential fourth narrative. The three stories take place around the same star base and an area of space relatively free of stars called the Rift. Two of the tales are about first contact and one of them is about being torn between a clone of the woman you love and the real thing. One interesting thing about the book is that the stories are all from a library of infotainment that dramatizes human history for alien races, whereas human have perished sometime in the distant past. It also featured microscopic aliens that embed themselves into human physiology, loved that concept. Over-all it was a fun read but not amazing. I think I had higher hopes for Tiptree based on the short stories that I have read. I enjoyed the first two stories much more than the last, which was the longest of the three. If you’re looking for some fun light reading thins would be a good one to pick up.