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Galileo's Children: Tales Of Science Vs. Superstition edited by Gardner Dozois
01/09/2005 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Prometheus Books. 343 page hardback. Price: $25.00 (US). ISBN: 1-59102-315-7. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.pyrsf.com
'Galileo's Children' is a compilation of 13 short stories which, as the full title should indicate, tackles the persecution of scientists by their less well-informed compatriots. The author selection covers a range of authors from across the past few decades. Some, like Keith Roberts (who wrote 'Pavane') and Ursula LeGuin are obvious examples while Greg Egan and Mike Resnick maybe less so.
The book's title harkens back to Galileo and the revelation that Earth was the not centre of the universe and had to recant or face torture. Many of the characters in these stories face similar kinds of opposition although mostly in the present or future day more than the past and with rare exception, very little torture. Editor Dozois appears to have gone for well-known authors more than stretching the extreme of this subject matter. Nothing wrong in that itself and most I haven't read before, but I couldn't help come away from this thinking he might have been playing too safe in selecting rather than having characters who do more than walk away from a situation at the end. Indeed, there are as many everyman as scientists in a pickle here.
This isn't to say that this isn't an interesting read. Of particular interest is Chris Lawson's 'Written In Blood' where a father has the Qur'an written into the DNA of his blood to find his god which is the only counter-culture tale here. Robert Silverberg's 'The Pope Of Chimps' where a colony of primates develop their own religion when interpreting human denial of death to them. Still a strong story even on second reading.
In many respects, I think this book is targeted more at the newer than die-hard SF reader and all authors are likely to encourage you to go out and try some of their other works. In other respects, it might suggest an opening for newer authors to further examine this situation to see if they can come up with more interesting variations on the theme.
GF Willmetts
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