I first read Michael Swanwick back in the 80s, when he was regularly featured in the Gardnor Dozois World’s Best annual anthologies.
I had thought I had gone off the short story, as so many I have read (or tried to read) recently left me impatient and bored (I’m looking at you Someone in Time). But it turns out I was just missing decent writing.
Michael Swanwick has a masterful ability to drop you into the middle of a world, give you exactly what you need to get started, and then deliver the rare, the unusual, the unexpected, in a deceptively easy way. Two pages, max, is what it takes to deliver enough back story, or information, to have you hooked on whatever current story you’re reading.
An eclectic mixture of science fiction, fantasy, time travel, and the simply strange, this is thought provoking, easy-reading, entertainment.

I opened The Universe Box expecting what I would out of any sci-fi collection: dark themes of a far flung future, echoes of human civilization long lost, machinery corrupted into evil by the hands of its creators-

What I got, however, was the most unexpected series of stories ranging from stories that made me feel like I was watching events unfold through the bright orange lens of an 80s film, a fantasy tale with elements of time travel and folklore, heartache and wonder learned and loved by a machine, and so much more.

I loved and couldn't get enough of the anachronistic elements throughout the stories in The Universe Box, it being one of my favourite themes already, Swanwick does an incredible job at seamlessly creating these encapsulated worlds that, while having their feet on the ground, explode with abstract elements that at some points have me feeling like I've been dreaming.

Thank you to net galley for the ARC of this book. I look forward to the release date!

The universe box by Michael Swanwick, this was a pretty enjoyable short story collection for the most part, a good mix of sff with some engaging tales, the many twists and turns caused by the creation of time travel was a particular favourite,

There was however one or two of the tales that I,couldn't help but feel stuck out, not in a really negative way to be clear,, for a 16 tale collection there is a impressive amount of hits and even those I felt didn't quite reach the same height were still enjoyable enough stories, the ending just didn't quite hit perhaps or there was parts I wished were explored more.

But the ones that felt off just didn't feel 'sff' enough to me, like the elements I'm used to seeing didn't turn up strong enough to stop them from sounding like real world stories and it drew me out too much when I noticed.

But overall a strong collection and a good start to my net galley experience, out of 5 I would give 3.5 rounded up to a 4, my thanks to Tachyon Publications and publicist Kasey Lansdale for this opportunity, best of luck to the universe box upon its release.