Advertisement

Stories about the future, where we're going, how we get there, and whether the journey was a good idea in the first place have been written and suggested since man came to the understanding that there WAS something that would happen 'later.' Over the centuries, some stories have taken a positive outlook, but the most intriguing are those that present us a dark tone of warning, and few manage to write them as consistently captivating as Mike Resnick.

The Incarceration of Captain Nebula and Other Lost Futures, Resnick's most recent collection of 13 stories, covers the gamut from humor to darkly depressing. The title story (placed at number 12 within the book) takes the stereotypical space hero and places him trying to play his Flash Gordon-like heroic role in the actual world we live in today, specifically, a mental asylum.

The other stories feature a modern/ancient retelling of the boy who cried wolf (featuring dragons!), a new take on the inner workings of Dr. Frankenstein's wife, and even a heart-wrenching story of man's best friend during his last days on earth. Of notable mention is the never before seen story "Six Blind Men and an Alien," a near-future retelling of the Four Blind Men and an Elephant fable, in which six separate people develop their own unique history about why an alien has been found frozen on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Resnick's deep love for Africa gave rise to his Nebula and Hugo (among others) winning tale "Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge" shows humanity's seemingly ended legacy through the eyes of bizarre aliens. Covering the early evolution of our species, to the proud defiance in the face of our own mistakes, the story is truly award-worthy, while pointing out that humans may just be the most dangerous race this universe has ever known.

Ranging from true short stories to novelettes, the book is an entertainment and thought-provoking read. Resnick covers the full range of human experience and condition, even when telling a story through alien perspectives and from the point of view of animals. Check this one out.

Science fiction enthusiast David Maddox has been Star Trek characters, the Riddler in a Batman stunt show and holds a degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University. He has written several articles for various SF sites as well as the Star Wars Insider and the Star Trek Communicator. He spends his time working on screenplays and stories while acting on stage, screen and television. He can sometimes be seen giving tours at Universal Studios Hollywood and playing Norman Bates.