The best story in the book, by a good margin, and the one that gives the strongest impression of having been centrally influenced by and in dialog with Pohl’s own work, is Cory Doctorow’s novella ‘‘Chicken Little’’, which does an excellent job of updating and commenting on some of the themes that informed Pohl & Kornbluth’s classic novel The Space Merchants. Doctorow’s updated high-tech take on Pohl’s take on Jonathan Swift’s ‘‘struldbrugs,’’ creatures who have immortality but not eternal youth, continuing to age through their extended lives, is particularly ingenious. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one show up on an award ballot next year.
Gardner Dozois, Locus Magazine, on “Chicken Little”
