Infinite Dreams

by Joe Haldeman

Book Overview

A Science Fiction novel of both a speculative and fantasy nature, with a bit of social interaction and technology thrown in, by a well respected author in the genre This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380476053
• ISBN13: 9780380476053
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Not Free SF Reader

A very solid, if mostly unspectacular collection of stories from the seventies. The award winning Tricentennial is certainly the best. Not quite making it to a 3.50 average, the old half point off. So, a good book overall (For the non-seppos among us, a Mason jar is apparently one with a metal lid for jam making, according to the spousal unit.) Infinite Dreams : Counterpoint - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : Anniversary Project - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : The Mazel Tov Revolution - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : To Howard Hughes: A Modest Proposal - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : A Mind of His Own - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : All the Universe in a Mason Jar - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : The Private War of Private Jacob - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : A Time to Live - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : Juryrigged - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : Summer's Lease [Truth to Tell] - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : 26 Days On Earth - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : Armaja Das - Joe Haldeman Infinite Dreams : Tricentennial - Joel Haldeman Death match. 3.5 out of 5 Literary analysis requires very old fashioned help. 3.5 out of 5 Billionaire rescue. 3.5 out of 5 Nuke 'em disarmament. 3.5 out of 5 Legless personality overlay therapy rejection. 3.5 out of 5 Alien lost takes a shine to us, civilising. 4 out of 5 Brain enhanced switch. 3 out of 5 Redo relativity misunderstanding. 3 out of 5 Lack of ambition cyborg oversight selection. 3 out of 5 Hot time to get some alien impersonation cash. 3.5 out of 5 Mutant superiority study session. 3.5 out of 5 Gypsy computer curse transfer contagion apocalypse. 3.5 out of 5 SETI success spurs space dwellers to sneaky space mission. 4 out of 5

Haldeman's First Short Story Collection

"Infinite Dreams" is Joe Haldeman's first short story collection ("Dealing in Futres" is the second), and while I'd give the nod to "Futures" in terms of more consistent quality, "Dreams" is a decent collection in its own right. Haldeman knows how to spin a good tale, much like Stephen King with his short stories. Haldeman's usually come from a science fiction angle, and he's one of that genre's more grounded authors, including here a war analogy story based upon his own experiences in Vietnam ("A Mind of His Own").Some of the other better stories in this collection include "The Mazel Tov Revolution," an example of Jewish science fiction; "All the Universe in a Mason Jar" a humorous story about aliens and moonshine; "26 Days, On Earth," a fine coming of age story; and "Summer's Lease," a poiniant philosophical story. Overall, any lover of science fiction should love this collection.

Another good short-story collection

Of the three collections by Haldeman that I've read, I'd have to put this after None So Blind, but before Dealing In Futures, even though I gave them all 4's. It contains a good number of stories, and as always, the first entry is excellent. Two of the reasons I love Haldeman's work are evident here - his descriptive ability, and the fact that his stories don't always end on an upbeat note. One problem with this collection in general, however: Haldeman is a combat veteran and has a graduate degree in physics... almost every story's main character has some advanced math/physics aptitude, is a vet, or both. I can understand putting yourself into your work, but this is too self-indulgent. If Haldeman weren't such a good writer, I would have tired of this very quickly. *Unfortunately, you'll have to haunt the used bookstores for this one.