I have to admit that I'm pretty jaded when it comes to Science Fiction. I grew up reading my way through the library shelves, moving from Asimov and Clarke to Pohl and Zelazny. I have pretty high expectations these days since my time for reading is limited so I often find my way back to one of the classics of my youth instead of reading some of the work that is currently being put out. So, it's a treat when I find something that I really like from a more recent author. This was the case when I picked up Alastair Reynolds' collection of stories GALACTIC NORTH.

When I started the first story in the collection, "Great Wall of Mars", I was a bit worried at first that I was stumbling into a sophomoric and stereotypical piece of pulp. The start to the first story is a bit rocky, but the reader is paid back 10-fold if they make it past the initial concerns. This turned into an engaging and nicely crafted story that sets the stage for further adventures in the series. While I have no evidence to support my theory, I'm sure that Mr. Reynolds must have been a Rod Serling fan. Most of the stories could have easily been part of the original Twilight Zone series if the budget and special effects had been up to the task.

While the settings are classic Sci-Fi, the stories are character driven and interesting. These are people that you want to know more about, not just the snapshot of their lives related in the story. There is a bit of mystery, the macabre and the fantastic in each. Serling's influence is shown in the morality play payoff -- we want the bad guys to get theirs, and we want the good guys win, and for the most part Reynolds delivers on our desires. This was a fun read that will take you back to the days when Pohl, Clarke and Niven were new to your eyes.