Frankenstein Dreams: A Connoisseur's Collection of Victorian Science Fiction (The Connoisseur's Collections) - Softcover

Frankenstein Dreams, an anthology of mostly-Victorian science fiction edited by Michael Sims . . . is more interested in how that novel fits the wider scope of Shelley's century, and shaped the genre after it . . . While several stories are familiar explorations of psychology and morality (see Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), some of the most interesting selections in Frankenstein Dreams aim for something more ambiguous . . . all of them are illuminating. That ends up being the greatest strength of Frankenstein Dreams. (NPR.org)

The 1890s may have been the time when sci-fi really took off. But were there no forerunners, no hints of what was just about to come? Michael Sims's anthology "Frankenstein Dreams" brings the issue into focus. (Wall Street Journal)

At a time when the world can seem ever more like science fiction, there is something intensely charming and even refreshing about Frankenstein Dreams. (January Magazine)

In this magnificent collection, Sims has chosen authors that range from the mighty Poe to the infamous Kipling to the beloved H.G. Wells . . . Every story is a perfect choice for the topic. (Suspense Magazine)

Even the most devoted science fiction reader will find unfamiliar treats in this assemblage of foundational fiction. (Publishers Weekly)

A highly entertaining fusion of visionary speculation and primordial terror, the stories included [in Frankenstein Dreams] merged cutting-edge science with fiction and essentially created a new category that explored what it means to be human in a world irrevocably changed by technological innovations and conceptual advancements . . . It's the lesser-known short stories that make this anthology so thematically compelling . . . A thought-provoking and undeniably entertaining read. (Kirkus Reviews)

The 20 works collected by [Michael Sims] highlights the importance of Victorian sf literature, both in its rich contributions to the genre and its exploration of the deeper themes that are still relevant today. (Library Journal)

Sims includes a lot of great stories . . . They, along with the brief introduction Sims provides for each, are fun to read. Still--what might be most interesting, though, is reading them as a collection and attempting to see what's changed--and what hasn't . . . 8/10. (PopMatters)

Editor Sims has amassed a historical and interestingly diverse example of the speculative writing of the Victorian Era. With an Introduction explaining some of the scientific discoveries and theories of the day and linking them to specific stories, the anthology sets the mood for what is to come . . . This volume contains a fascinating cross-section of those tales that become the forebears of the many science fiction/fantasy stories of our 20th and 21st centuries. (The New York Journal of Books)

Michael Sims has another stunning anthology to his name . . . I can't recommend Sims' work enough--both his curated collections and his own creations. Add this to your Halloween reads, or indeed, your anytime of the year reads. (Meaghan Walsh Gerard)