If at First . . .

First - this is primarily a marketing device for one of Hamilton's other books, [b:Mindstar Rising 45253 Mindstar Rising (Greg Mandel, #1) Peter F. Hamilton https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312047772s/45253.jpg 1296209], an excerpt from which constitutes about 2/3 of the book.If at FirstGene Wolfe introduces one of his stories (in [b:The Best of Gene Wolfe 4395088 The Best of Gene Wolfe A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction Gene Wolfe https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312049390s/4395088.jpg 4443205]) by suggesting that aspiring authors rewrite it in their own words. I haven't read the [b:The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction 95562 The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction George Mann https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376325427s/95562.jpg 92105] that this Hamilton story is drawn from, but I hope that rewriting stories by SF masters is its theme. The story is decent, but it is very reminiscent of a George Martin story (“Unsound Variations”, I think - Nebula nominee 1983), if not as well done. The concept is so very close that I couldn't get Martin's story out of my mind the whole way through, and Martin's is simply better. I'm afraid I have to recommend reading that instead.Mindstar RisingSince the novel excerpt was such a big part of this book, I felt I should say something about that as well. It's a mildly interesting look at a future Earth that's gone through upheaval in the form of rising oceans, cults, and socialist revolutions. In Britain, religious people (of all religions) live on kibbutzim. Some people have ESP. It's a sort of post-not-quite-apocalyptic time. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be neither believable nor interesting.All in all, I recommend letting this one go, even though it's free. Hamilton has written some good stuff, but little of it is in here.Merged review:First - this is primarily a marketing device for one of Hamilton's other books, [b:Mindstar Rising 45253 Mindstar Rising (Greg Mandel, #1) Peter F. Hamilton https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312047772s/45253.jpg 1296209], an excerpt from which constitutes about 2/3 of the book.If at FirstGene Wolfe introduces one of his stories (in [b:The Best of Gene Wolfe 4395088 The Best of Gene Wolfe A Definitive Retrospective of His Finest Short Fiction Gene Wolfe https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312049390s/4395088.jpg 4443205]) by suggesting that aspiring authors rewrite it in their own words. I haven't read the [b:The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction 95562 The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction George Mann https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376325427s/95562.jpg 92105] that this Hamilton story is drawn from, but I hope that rewriting stories by SF masters is its theme. The story is decent, but it is very reminiscent of a George Martin story (“Unsound Variations”, I think - Nebula nominee 1983), if not as well done. The concept is so very close that I couldn't get Martin's story out of my mind the whole way through, and Martin's is simply better. I'm afraid I have to recommend reading that instead.Mindstar RisingSince the novel excerpt was such a big part of this book, I felt I should say something about that as well. It's a mildly interesting look at a future Earth that's gone through upheaval in the form of rising oceans, cults, and socialist revolutions. In Britain, religious people (of all religions) live on kibbutzim. Some people have ESP. It's a sort of post-not-quite-apocalyptic time. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be neither believable nor interesting.All in all, I recommend letting this one go, even though it's free. Hamilton has written some good stuff, but little of it is in here.