Unidentified Funny Objects 3

Science fiction often takes itself seriously, addressing social issues or trying to predict the future, but Shvartsman’s anthology series proves that humorous SF can work just as well, especially when it skewers the genre’s own clichés. In James Miller’s “The Right Answer,” a down-on-his-luck man has a chance to access alien technology, but first he has to pass a test. Jody Lynn Nye pairs a pregnant detective with a symbiotic alien in “Infinite Drive.” Karen Haber’s “That Must Be Them Now” depicts aliens awaiting the arrival of a new species. In nonalien news, Jeremy Butler uses gene testing to help people find their place in society in “The Full Lazenby,” while James Beamon offers a young android assistant to a nursing home resident in “The Discounted Seniors.” Out-and-out jokes make very few appearances; these tales could be standard SF, but they look at their ideas with a humorous twist, bringing a smile, if not a laugh, to the reader. [em](BookLife) [/em]