New Frontiers: A Collection of Tales about the Past, the Present, and the Future

This strong collection by SFWA Grand Master Bova (Transhuman) achieves an unusually satisfying fusion of varied settings with a consistent humane vision. The frontiers presented include the challenges of human/robot relationships in “Waterbot,” the interconnections of virtual technology and the romantic triangle in “Duel in the Somme,” and a nearly 140-year-old man’s rediscovery of love through sacrifice in “A Country for Old Men.” “The Question” resolves an opportunity to achieve wisdom from well-meaning aliens with a sardonic comment on human obtuseness. Though the overall atmosphere is optimistic, darker elements are found in a few stories: in “In Trust,” for example, a moral clash between traditional values and technological innovation is resolved through a sinister plot twist. Through engaging characterization and a smattering of science, Bova melds typical otherworldly locales with the resonance of traditional human themes. Agent: Barbara Bova Literary Agency. (July)