“One kickass good anthology […] Every one of these stories is, as advertised, far-future, galaxy-spanning, and involves people confronting huge problems caused by technology, in some cases so advanced as to be, as Arthur C. Clarke said, “indistinguishable from magic.” […] Highly recommended.” –File 770, on COSMIC POWERS [review]
“Astonishingly good […] Rich in great stories.” —Rocket Stack Rank, on COSMIC POWERS [review]
The reviewer singled out “Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance” by Tobias S. Buckell as the best story in the book, giving it 5/5 stars. They also highly recommended the stories by Charlie Jane Anders, Adam-Troy Castro, Seanan McGuire, and Yoon Ha Lee. Each story gets a minireview at the link.
“The newest short story collection edited by Adams resonates with a buoyancy that can often be lost in contemporary science fiction, reminding us that futuristic doesn’t always have to mean gritty. But don’t take that to mean that these stories lack depth or feeling. The authors deftly balance the adventure and sense of wonder with solid worldbuilding and characters who quickly become familiar friends by the time their tales end. This collection will prove to be great reading for fans of the space cowboy antics of Guardians of the Galaxy, Firefly and Cowboy Bebop.” —RT Book Reviews [review]
“The wide range of styles, genres, and themes in What the #@&% Is That? make it perfect for finding a new favorite author or discovering upcoming voices in fiction. The three stories mentioned [in our review] are from three newer writers, yet they are some of the strongest and most original in the collection. Anthologies of such high quality are rare gems.” —New York Journal of Books, on WHAT THE #@&% IS THAT? [review]
“Brings a unique, refreshing perspective to this curated collection of the year’s best sci-fi and fantasy short stories [that] offer[s] up some of modern genre’s best writing and most intriguing ideas.” —Barnes & Noble, Editor’s Pick as one of The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Collections and Anthologies of 2016 [review]
“Old and new favorites trying to break new and bizarre ground here, making it an incredibly enjoyable read from the dedication page (“For Cthulhu…”) on.” —Barnes & Noble, on WHAT THE #@&% IS THAT; Editor’s Pick as one of The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Collections and Anthologies of 2016 [review]