Edited by Peter Crowther, Forbidden Planets

Forbidden Planets

Edited by Peter Crowther

Daw, November 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0756403308

Paying homage to the landmark science fiction movie Forbidden Planet on the fiftieth anniversary of its release, these twelve tales focus on humans visiting other worlds or dimensions where they are unwelcome and unwanted. Each tale is fun to follow, as humans bravely go where they should not. The original movie is loosely based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, so the twist of using King Lear (Jay Lake's "Lehr, Rex") is a fascinating spin; others are just as good as mechanical sidekicks, like Robert the Robot (see "Forebearing Planet" by Michael Moorcock) and "The Singularity Needs Women" by Paul Di Filippo, which are fun twists from the film. The remaining tales, all new, are quality contributions that make for a fine collection. In addition to a dozen terrific entries, Ray Bradbury in the Introduction provides two shockers about the movie, and Stephen Baxter in the Afterward analyzes the impact on his work. This is an excellent short story collection, that reverently salutes a movie that many Trekkies know that Kirk and company should journey where no one did before, except Forbidden Planet.