Iterations

Joanne Wotypka is a branch library assistant in the Cameron Library at
the University of Alberta.

Having (somehow) never heard of Robert J. Sawyer, I was somewhat
skeptical of the book cover’s boast that he is “Canada’s Top
Science Fiction Author.” However, I soon became a convert.

Sawyer’s tales range in size from the 250-word “If I’m Here,
Imagine Where They Sent My Luggage” to much larger offerings, such as
“Lost in the Mail,” which explains why some of us seem to be in the
wrong occupation. Sawyer’s range of subjects is impressive as well,
despite his slight preoccupation with dinosaurs. Though, like all
fiction, the nub of every offering is an insight into the human (or
alien) soul, Sawyer’s stories are inventive, fresh, and wonderfully
readable.

The best story in this collection is “Last But Not Least,” which is
not only not science fiction, but could have been lifted from the lives
of any of us who suffered through the ritual of being picked last for
teams in gym class. Indeed, Iterations has something for everyone,
whether you are looking for dinosaurs, robots, flying chickens, or
phys-ed angst.

Almost as enjoyable as the stories are Sawyer’s introductions to
each, explaining not only the honours accorded to these stories, but
also his own feelings behind each work. And, of course, who would have
thought that it would take a dwarf T. Rex’s robotic invention to solve
the problem of the lack of wheelchair-accessible buildings? This is an
amazing collection of stories, and a worthy addition to any library’s
collection.