The Mammoth Book of Futuristic Romance

Prolific editor Telep (The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance) makes a convincing argument that love (or at least sex) will still be essential in the far future and the distant reaches of space. The 19 selections cover time travel, cyborgs, space battles, sleeper ships, clones, aliens, and just about every other SF trope that comes to mind. Cathy Clamp's exciting "Star Crossed" follows an unusual duo on a vital mission. Bianca D'Arc's "End of the Line" is a wishful confection in which a female space pilot encounters an alien culture that reveres women. Linnea Sinclair gets two entries: the tense "Seven Months of Forever", about Sass and Kel-Paten from Games of Command, and the reprinted "Tales of the Second Chance Saloon: Macawley's List," a charming twist on the opportunity to go back and set things right. These authors impressively demonstrate the ability to quickly build chemistry and a believable couple in romantic short fiction, on top of creating credible SF. While there are a few clunkers, this anthology mostly succeeds. (Jan.)