Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present
Encyclopedia
Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present (Thunder's Mouth Press, 2007, ISBN 1-56025-981-7) is a collection of previously published science fiction
short stories
and novellas by Cory Doctorow
. This is Doctorow's second published collection, following A Place So Foreign and Eight More
. Each story includes an introduction by the author.
It opens with "Printcrime", a piece of microfiction originally published in the January 2006 issue of Nature
.
The next story, "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth" was originally published in Jim Baen's Universe
, an online magazine, and also was serially released on Doctorow's own podcast, as it was written. Doctorow says this process "kept me honest and writing"..
"Anda's Game", the third piece was selected by Michael Chabon
for The Best American Short Stories 2005
after being published on Salon
. Doctorow chose the name to sound like Ender's Game
, another science fiction story by Orson Scott Card
.
Following in the vein of naming stories after well-known works, Doctorow's "I, Robot
" comes next, originally published in The Infinite Matrix, winner of the 2005 Locus Award
and nominee for the Hugo Award
and British Science Fiction Award. The title was originally used by Isaac Asimov for a collection of short stories, all about robots. Doctorow wrote the story to address "one of the thin places in Asimov's world-building," citing the lack of competition in Asimov's world's robot industry .
The similarly titled "I, Row-Boat" was originally published in the webzine, Flurb.
The final story, "After the Siege" was first published in Esli, a Russian language
science fiction magazine. The first English publication was in The Infinite Matrix. The story was influenced by Doctorow's grandmother's experience in the Siege of Leningrad
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
and novellas by Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow
Cory Efram Doctorow is a Canadian-British blogger, journalist, and science fiction author who serves as co-editor of the blog Boing Boing. He is an activist in favour of liberalising copyright laws and a proponent of the Creative Commons organization, using some of their licences for his books...
. This is Doctorow's second published collection, following A Place So Foreign and Eight More
A Place So Foreign and Eight More
A Place So Foreign and Eight More is a collection of short stories by Cory Doctorow. Six of these stories were released electronically under a Creative Commons license. A paperback edition was issued in New York by publisher Four Walls Eight Windows in 2003 with ISBN 1-56858-286-2...
. Each story includes an introduction by the author.
It opens with "Printcrime", a piece of microfiction originally published in the January 2006 issue of Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
.
The next story, "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth" was originally published in Jim Baen's Universe
Jim Baen's Universe
Jim Baen's Universe was a bimonthly online fantasy and science fiction magazine created by Jim Baen . It is recognized by the SFWA as a Qualifying Short Fiction Venue. JBU began soliciting materials in January 2006 and launched in June 2006...
, an online magazine, and also was serially released on Doctorow's own podcast, as it was written. Doctorow says this process "kept me honest and writing"..
"Anda's Game", the third piece was selected by Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
for The Best American Short Stories 2005
The Best American Short Stories 2005
The Best American Short Stories 2005, a volume in The Best American Short Stories series, was edited by Katrina Kennison and by guest editor Michael Chabon.-Short Stories included:-Other notable stories:...
after being published on Salon
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
. Doctorow chose the name to sound like Ender's Game
Ender's Game
Ender's Game is a science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. The book originated as the short story "Ender's Game", published in the August 1977 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact. Elaborating on characters and plot lines depicted in the novel, Card later wrote additional...
, another science fiction story by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
.
Following in the vein of naming stories after well-known works, Doctorow's "I, Robot
I, Robot
I, Robot is a collection of nine science fiction short stories by Isaac Asimov, first published by Gnome Press in 1950 in an edition of 5,000 copies. The stories originally appeared in the American magazines Super Science Stories and Astounding Science Fiction between 1940 and 1950. The stories are...
" comes next, originally published in The Infinite Matrix, winner of the 2005 Locus Award
Locus Award
The Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
and nominee for the Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
and British Science Fiction Award. The title was originally used by Isaac Asimov for a collection of short stories, all about robots. Doctorow wrote the story to address "one of the thin places in Asimov's world-building," citing the lack of competition in Asimov's world's robot industry .
The similarly titled "I, Row-Boat" was originally published in the webzine, Flurb.
The final story, "After the Siege" was first published in Esli, a Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
science fiction magazine. The first English publication was in The Infinite Matrix. The story was influenced by Doctorow's grandmother's experience in the Siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
.