Book Description
Word count: 4412. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Not Free SF Reader
A very fine collection, polished off with the most excellent thriller novella Press Enter.In fact, the average here is a rather high 3.75, which is very fine.

A couple of the stories are related being in the same future history and sharing a character or two, also consecutive, Blue Champagne being the first.

One writing joke piece that is perhaps more of interest to those at least vaguely related to the industry, but entertaining enough.

Award nominations and Year's Best inclusions happened for 3/4 of these stories, so again, quality stuff this collection.

Blue Champagne : The Pusher - John Varley
Blue Champagne : Blue Champagne - John Varley
Blue Champagne : Tango Charlie and Foxtrot Romeo - John Varley
Blue Champagne : Options - John Varley
Blue Champagne : Lollipop and the Tar Baby - John Varley
Blue Champagne : The Manhattan Phone Book (Abridged) - John Varley
Blue Champagne : The Unprocessed Word - John Varley
Blue Champagne : Press Enter - John Varley

Little girl story.

3.5 out of 5


Golden Gypsy s3xtape sidekick shocker.

4 out of 5


Station disease girl dogshow.

4 out of 5


Transgender tryouts.

4.5 out of 5


Mother love hunt black hole sneaky convo.

3.5 out of 5


Nuked list.

3 out of 5


Typing production discussion.

3 out of 5


Electronic entity killer discovery.

4.5 out of 5




4.5 out of 5

Sip Carefully
Like most short story collections, this is something of a mixed bag. But as it contains some examples of Varley at his best, and his best is at the top of the field, it is an important collection for any serious fan of his, and good reading for everyone.

"The Pusher" is a very quiet story that will bring to the fore some unconscious assumptions most people have when hearing about an adult male interacting with an pre-adolescent female. In this case, those assumptions are exploded by the story's middle, and there is a serious investigation of just what types of emotional stress a near-light speed traveler would be subjected to, and what he can do about it. A unique look at a problem that just might be somewhere in humanity's future.

The title story, "Blue Champagne", didn't do very much for me, though it shows a remarkable imagination in its construction of a very unique champagne 'glass' and a very different approach to help for nerve damage that the medical profession is only now beginning to attempt. But it should be read before the next story "Tango Charlie and Foxtrot Romeo" both for some common background elements and a shared character. "Tango" is the best story here, an achingly emotional story about a girl raised in isolation by a computer on a space station that had been decimated by a plague so virulent that it was projected to wipe out all human life if it ever escaped from the station. Now the station's orbit is deteriorating and it must be destroyed, and the girl can't be rescued. Finely written, with some twists that are not expectable, and not overplayed.

"Press Enter " is the Hugo and Nebula Award winning story that will make all the believers in world-wide conspiracies, mystery fans, and the computer nerds very happy. This is a more plot driven story than some of the others here, but with more than enough character to engage your heart as well as your mind.

The only truly insignificant story here is "The Manhattan Phone Book (Abridged)", which is a compilation of very short vignettes of representative people from that book, who no longer exist. Happily it's a really short story. The rest of the stories are what I call average; quite readable and enjoyable, but not ones that will make you sit up and take notice or remember for very long.

There is something of a theme that runs through many of the stories here, that of the alienated, isolated individual trying to cope with the world, which gives these stories a feeling of darkness, a somberness tempered by Varley's resolutions to his character's problems.

A good introduction to Varley for those who haven't read any of his other work, with enough excellent stories to make you want to come back for more, and will repay your time spent reading with an expanded view of both the world and the human condition.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

a title
Some Science fiction has great ideas, others have great characterizations.The best stories in Blue Champagne stand out in my mind because they have both.Real emotional depth of character and a well-formed extrapolation of technology and its related issues.There are a couple stories which are throw aways/filler - manhattan phone book and varley yarns - but even these 'stories' are amusingly ironic and worthy additions

All his short stories are must-reads; novels are optional
I've read almost all John Varley's books and give my highest recommendation to ALL his collections of short stories: this one, Tango Charlie, Barbie Murders, etc. I loved the world he created and the way he continued it throughout all his short story collections. Read together, they present such regular features as symbs, an alien lifeforce that enters its human, after which the two coexist symbiotically in a most tender and intimate manner; their thus-transformed biochemistry is how both can work around Saturn's moons, where there's a continuing subplot of eco-monkey-wrenchers who are painting the rocks. Characters in the culture change their sex, not without soul searching, and experience their surroundings and relationships in enlightening new ways, and sometimes change back. I read everything I could get my hands on in one stream, and recommend your doing the same with all his short stories. They are wonderful read collectively. A couple of stand outs:Blue Champagne, about a gold cybernetic prostetis body for a paraplegic; Press Enter, about a unrelentingly evil computer; Tango Charlie, about a child who for years, with her pets, is the sole survivor on a space ship.(And it's been a decade since I read them). Enjoy!

Conversely, I found his trilogy to be mediocre, tolerable, okaysci fi fare. Fun if you need something to read.

Steel Beach gave me an ache. Without knowing a thing about the author's personal life, my immediate hit on it was that he's had too much psychotherapy, or something. I missed the brilliant voice of the short stories and could sense it there throughout Steel Beach, but it was as if the creative metaphors had been analyzed too much, taking most of the life out of them, or the talking cure wasstill going on but now in writing. The remaining glimmers and my respect for his past work kept me reading.

Still and all, a great sci fi writer. Don't miss the short stories, one more time!

Varley at his peak, don't miss Titan and Wizard as well.
When I read the Titan trilogy some years ago I was bowled over by Varley's creativity. His complex metaphors based on biblical images, his mathematical logic with the Titanide runes and reproduction, and his development of relationships that transcended like-species.These things and more all combined to make me scour the bookstores for more of his work.When I found Blue Champagne, I was delighted.It is, as the previous reviewer mentioned on the down-side, but haunting.The title-piece has stayed in my memory and continued to tease me with unanswerable questions.From that time on I watched for new Varley releases.Steel Beach ended my watching for new works.The title is apt, it was a grey/grey book.Strange beyond sad, no one to care for, and the sorrow for this reader was very real. Savor the Blue Champagne. It is a fine vintage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Mixed bag of misanthropy, male-bashing and brilliance
Varley can be an incredible author, when he reins in his hatred of humanity and men in particular.Unfortunately, he doesn't always succeed here.Beyond that, as fun and kaleidoscopic as his work is, it's missing something ineffable -- a soul if you will.Varley tears down the redwood of humanity and with its naked timbers he constructs...a gaudy shack.But enough of my irrelevant psychobabble.Let's take a look at his short stories, taking place in and around Luna 300 years or so in the future.

Bagatelle.A disgruntled misfit turns himself into an atomic bomb; it's up to the intrepid A.L.Bach to stop him.Varley uses a cheap trick in this story that I must point out: Bach falls asleep and dreams that the bomb has exploded.Then she wakes up and Wow, what an awful dream! Then she proceeds to defuse the bomb.I don't like being tricked; Heinlein would have said that it's the equivalent of ending a story by writing "and the little boy fell out of bed and woke up." Okay, it's not quite that bad, but it's not appreciated (actually, Varley actually DOES pull the Heinlein stunt in "The Funhouse Effect").Score: Satisfactory.

The Funhouse Effect.Boy is hypnotized to think that an asteroid cruise ship is being taken over by militants; various hijinks ensue.This story reminded me of "Total Recall" in its plot device.As I mentioned, Varley actually has the audacity to pull Heinlein's stunt of "and the little boy fell out of bed and woke up." But audacity has always been Varley's strong suit.Just look at the first sentence of "Steel Beach." Rating: Satisfactory.

The Barbie Murders.Ms Bach has to track down a killer living among a cult of identical females.Even though Varley seems to ride this storyline only to offer the trite observation that sin is so craved by humans it must be created, it's still so interesting I have to give it a Good rating.

Equinoctial.Interesting story of a human-alien symbiote bushwhacked out in the rings of Saturn, and her search for her children.Despite its religion-bashing undertones, this is the best story of the bunch.Varley shows us humanism in a very unexpected place.Rating: Very Good.

Manikins.A female shrink interviews a man-killer who is so convincing the shrink deludes herself into thinking the maniac is telling the truth about men's private parts being parasites.At least, that's what I think the story is about.To me, it seems more a feminist hate rant.Rating: Unsatisfactory.

Beatnik Bayou.Boy encounters difficulties adjusting to a new teacher; gets in trouble unexpectedly.Interesting ideas, sort of mushy plot.Rating: Good.

Good-by Robinson Caruso.Man, regressing to boyhood on a tropical island facsimile, is nearly killed by unexpected technical difficulty.Interesting yarn.Rating: Good.

Lollipop and the Tar Baby.Cloned "daughter" deep in space is told by a black hole that her mother is going to kill her.She decides to strike first.For some indescribable reason, I really liked this story.Rating: Excellent.

Picnic on Nearside.Boy and his friend ditch home, go live with hermit in an abandoned part of the Moon.Pretty good yarn, but Varley riding his anti-clerical horse gets a little old.Once again we're treated to the observation that people crave sin.Rating: Satisfactory.

Mixed bag of misanthropy, male-bashing and brilliance
Varley can be an incredible author, when he reigns in his hatred of humanity and men in particular.Unfortunately, he doesn't always succeed here.Beyond that, as fun and kaleidoscopic as his work is, it's missing something ineffable --a soul if you will.Varley tears down the redwood of humanity and with its naked timbers he constructs...a gaudy shack.But enough of my irrelevant psychobabble.Let's take a look at his short stories, taking place in and around Luna 300 years or so in the future.

Bagatelle.A disgruntled misfit turns himself into an atomic bomb; it's up to the intrepid A.L. Bach to stop him.Varley uses a cheap trick in this story that I *must* point out: Bach falls asleep and dreams that the bomb has exploded.Then she wakes up and Wow, what an awful dream!Then she proceeds to defuse the bomb.I don't like being tricked; Heinlein would have said that it's the equivalent of ending a story by writing "and the little boy fell out of bed and woke up."Okay, it's not quite that bad, but it's not appreciated (actually, Varley actually DOES pull the Heinlein stunt in "The Funhouse Effect").Score: Satisfactory.

The Funhouse Effect.Boy is hypnotized to think that an asteroid cruise ship is being taken over by militants; various hijinks ensue.This story reminded me of "Total Recall" in its plot device.As I mentioned, Varley actually has the audacity to pull Heinlein's stunt of "and the little boy fell out of bed and woke up."But audacity has always been Varley's strong suit.Just look at the first sentence of "Steel Beach."Rating: Satisfactory.

The Barbie Murders.Ms. Bach has to track down a killer living among a cult of identical females.Even though Varley seems to ride this storyline only to offer the trite observation that sin is so craved by humans it must be created, it's still so interesting I have to give it a Good rating.

Equinoctial.Interesting story of a human-alien symbiote bushwhacked out in the rings of Saturn, and her search for her children.Despite its religion-bashing undertones, this is the best story of the bunch.Varley shows us humanism in a very unexpected place.Rating: Very Good.

Manikins.A female shrink interviews a man-killer who is so convincing the shrink deludes herself into thinking the maniac is telling the truth about men's private parts being parasites.At least, that's what I think the story is about.To me, it seems more a feminist hate rant.Rating: Unsatisfactory.

Beatnik Bayou.Boy encounters difficulties adjusting to a new teacher; gets in trouble unexpectedly.Interesting ideas, sort of mushy plot.Rating: Good.

Good-by Robinson Caruso.Man, regressing to boyhood on a tropical island facsimile, is nearly killed by unexpected technical difficulty.Interesting yarn.Rating: Good.

Lollipop and the Tar Baby.Cloned "daughter" deep in space is told by a black hole that her mother is going to kill her.She decides to strike first.For some indescribable reason, I really liked this story.Rating: Excellent.

Picnic on Nearside.Boy and his friend ditch home, go live with hermit in an abandoned part of the Moon.Pretty good yarn, but Varley riding his anti-clerical horse gets a little old.Once again we're treated to the observation that people crave sin. Rating: Satisfactory.

Publishers need to get a clue
Varley is one of the greatest writers of SF of the last 20 years. Why is it that major book publishers let what amount to classic short stories go out of print?! Shame on you! If you can find a used copy of this book, buyit! You will not be disappointed, Varley's vision of the future is sharp,haunting, and intelligent! ... Read more

Book Description
& 8-page color section & 23 b/w photos & 5 maps & 8 x 11.A comprehensive guide to Yellowstone fish and their habitat & Full-color plates of all species in the park & Historic black and white photos & Appendix with hundreds of lakes and streams Praise for the first edition of Yellowstone Fishes ". . . the best reference to date for anglers plying the waters of this popular and much-visited park."--Sports Afield This richly illustrated, thoroughly researched book covers all the species of fish and every aspect of their existence in one of the most famous sport fisheries in the world. First published in 1983 as Freshwater Wilderness, it was hailed as one of the finest works ever done on the National Parks, and appealed to anglers, naturalists, and lovers of fine nature writing. This edition includes much new material, including the impact on fish of the 1988 forest fires and the introduction of non-native species; an expanded chapter on angling; updated taxonomy; and an assessment of recent management policies. It also provides an overview of the entire Yellowstone watershed, from backcountry streams to the major rivers and lakes. Watercolors of fish species by Michael Simon. John D. Varley, a fisheries biologist, is former chief of research for Yellowstone Park and current director of the Yellowstone Center for Resources. Paul Schullery, a former Yellowstone Park ranger and executive director of the American Museum of Fly Fishing (1977-1982), is senior editor at the Yellowstone Center for Resources. He has published widely on fly fishing, including Stackpole's Shupton's Fancy. "Though the average angler has little reason to notice any changes yet, and though today's fishing is if anything better than it was in 1983, a variety of threats to the integrity of these extraordinary resources have emerged since we wrote the first edition of this book."-- from the introduction to Yellowstone Fishes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Free SF Reader
In the second book of this series, it has been discovered that the
satellite that they are wandering around on is actually an honest to
goodness live sentient alien being, with a rather warped view of
humanity through the electromagnetic dreck we spew out into the void.

So the human characters, and this creature called Gaea are
antagonists, and the humans must deal with her mind. Who, exactly is
insane here though?


... Read more

Product Description
To Louise Baltimore and her fellow citizens of Earth in the 99th century, life offers bleak prospects. The world is on its deathbed,, dying from the accumulated poisons of one too many wars. ... Read more