Review of The Science Fiction Tarot

[Hazel Arnaiz]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Science Fiction Tarot" by Brandon Butler.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Aliens, robots, space exploration, and time travel come to mind when I think of science fiction. As I went through the book, I discovered that science fiction had more subgenres to offer. Mind uploading was intriguing, as were stories about uplifted species and theological science fiction. I will leave the other subgenres to the readers to explore.

Brandon Butler edited The Science Fiction Tarot, a collection of short science fiction stories. The title of the book instantly drew my attention. To me, science fiction and tarot appear to be opposites. The first is scientific, whereas the second is supernatural. I got curious about the connections between these seemingly unrelated thoughts.

The presentation is similar to a tarot deck but only contains the major arcana. A tarot deck also has minor arcana. It will be a separate volume, which is on the way. A sneak preview of the upcoming collection is in the last part of the book. I am looking forward to seeing what it has in store. Separating the entire deck worked for me, and the volume did not feel overwhelming. The major arcana consists of twenty-two cards, as do the stories in this collection. A fully illustrated page introduces each tale. It has a Roman number, a title, and an illustration, similar to a tarot card. The title appears to be the subgenre of science fiction that describes the story. There is no particular order in which to go through the collection. Choosing what to read is similar to picking a card at random from a deck.

The diverse collection has twenty-two authors from all across the globe. It is also a showcase for the various subgenres of science fiction. It will appeal to the large fan base of the genre. The variety entices readers to read all of the stories. What I liked best was the variety.

Despite the diversity, several elements tie the collection together. The uniformity of the visuals is a prominent factor that unites the selections. Furthermore, the likeness of their layout to a tarot card reinforces the parallel with science fiction. The topics are all socially significant, examining the conditions of humans and other beings.

Tarot reading is associated with fortune-telling. But the interpretation of the cards comes with a disclaimer. They are not set in stone and serve solely as guides. Predictions are opportunities to reflect on the past and present and strive for a better future. The same is true for science fiction. It is futuristic, speculating on the effects of technology on society and the environment. It looks at the past and the present to see if there are any solutions to reoccurring problems. What happens if humans continue to disregard climate change? What happens to identity when the brain or memories transfer to another body? Does the deployment of machines on the battlefield alter perceptions of war? Will there be equal and fair labor practices if other species evolve to dominate the world? These are a few of the thought-provoking questions raised by the stories.

There is nothing I dislike about the book. I do have some stories that are not my favorites. One of them was repetitive, but it appears to be intentional. However, the selections are adequate examples of the subgenres as a whole. The graphics at the beginning and end of the story act as frames. However, not all of the tales conclude with visuals. Those without the concluding illustrations do not diminish the enjoyment. But the uniformity of the presentation adds to the consistency of the book. I came across a few acronyms that did not include the whole phrase. Providing the complete term the first time it appears in the story will aid individuals unfamiliar with the acronyms.

The language is conversational. Some words required me to reference the dictionary, but they are welcome additions to my vocabulary. Editing issues are more than a handful. There are swear words. Erotic scenes are not explicit. There are some references to same-sex sexual behaviors, so sensitive readers should exercise caution. The content is not offensive to any religious group. It will appeal more to fans of soft science fiction. Those who prefer scientific and technological details may wish to explore elsewhere. Book clubs might want to include this on their reading lists. Identifying and discussing the various subgenres in the collection will be engaging.

The book cleverly connects seemingly unrelated concepts to showcase the various subgenres of science fiction. The collection provides stimulating insights to revisit and reflect on what is already known and understood. For these reasons, the book deserves a perfect score. However, I must deduct one star due to editing issues. I give it a rating of four out of five.

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The Science Fiction Tarot
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[Umesh Bhatt]

Science fiction stories related to supernatural activities, change in human race, mind replacement and bizzare things like that would definitely amuse the science fiction readers.
Thanks for an exhaustive review.

[NetMassimo]

A collection of diverse short stories that showcase the various subgenres of science fiction is interesting to me, so I hope the authors or the editor will do another round of proofreding to make it excellent. Thank you for your great review!