Zion's fiction A treasury of Israeli speculative literature

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Though science fiction and fantasy were regarded with disdain in Israel until the late 1970s (as elucidated in the editors' informative introduction), this anthology showcases an impressive array of 16 speculative stories by Israeli authors. Most show clear evidence of the author's ethnicity and nationality; for example, Lavie Tidhar's "The Smell of Orange Groves," a moving account of a man's efforts to be remembered by his descendants, includes references to the question of which robots are to be considered Jewish, mirroring a current real-world controversy, and also addresses continued Israeli economic dependence on foreign workers. Elana Gomel's "Death in Jerusalem," a dark fantasy with elements reminiscent of Isaac Bashevis Singer's occasional flights of fancy, features a woman who learns that her husband is one of multiple tangible incarnations of means of death, along with one responsible for the Nazi genocide. Those that focus on other themes, such as Guy Hasson's stellar "The Perfect Girl," are still thought-provoking and imaginative. The high quality of work makes this anthology enjoyable and accessible for any fan of speculative fiction. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

---

Review by Library Journal Review

This first English-language collection of Israeli speculative fiction fills a hole in the literature of international sf that readers might not have realized needed filling. Although the stories, some originally published in Hebrew or Russian, don't all have an Israeli "feel" to them, they present fascinating futures from another culture. Standouts include Guy Hasson's "The Perfect Girl," about the dangers of telepathically connecting with the deceased; Rotem Baruchin's "In the Mirror," a Twilight Zone-type story about changing one's fate; and Gail Hareven's "The Slows," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for aspects of modern Israel. A historical survey of Israeli sf contextualizes the works for new readers, and a foreword by American Jewish sf Grand Master Robert Silverberg sets the stage. An afterword by Aharon Hauptman, editor of the first Israeli sf magazine that included original stories (the now-defunct Fantasia 2000), and illustrations by Katz round out the volume. VERDICT This notable anthology is appropriate for all sf fans and a valuable resource for any library.-Michael A. Burstein, Brookline, MA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

---