Comments on Stanley Schmidt's books:
The Coming Convergence
"No one can show the opportunities and dangers of the future better than Stan Schmidt. The Coming Convergence should be read - and enjoyed - by anyone who wants to understand what tomorrow will be like."
Ben Bova, Author of the Grand Tour series of novels
"Stanley Schmidt's vision of the future manages to
steer a fine line between doom and gloom. He warns us
of the problems inherent in the
runaway growth of technology, but also describes the
almost unimaginable benefits that can occur when
different technologies come together in a
happy marriage. The overall effect is uplifting and
inspiring; if you think the world has changed a lot in
the past twenty years, as someone once said, 'You
ain't seen nothin' yet'."
John Gribbin,
University of Sussex and author of The Scientists: A History of Science Told Through the
Lives of Its Greatest Inventors
"In much the same way that James Burke showed us Connections between far-off fields of art and science, Stanley Schmidt now weaves a dazzling web, linking a myriad modern trends. The future may be bright. But only if we see -- with eyes wide open -- both the perils and the possibilities."
David Brin, author of The Postman and The Transparent Society
"Stanley Schmidt brings a broad intelligence and crisp
writing style to this lucid and necessary book. His
demonstration and analysis of how diverse
technological and social forces come together in
unexpected ways helps explain how we got to this
perilous stage in human history, and what dangers and
wonders we might expect just beyond the near horizon."
Joe Haldeman, MIT professor and author of The Forever War, Forever Peace and The Accidental Time Machine
"An accessible guide to the fascinating way we come to
remake our world and our lives via our technologies.
The Coming Convergence will inform and delight you
with its examples, and I predict it will become a
much-consulted handbook in years to come."
Paul Levinson, PhD, author of Cellphone: The Story
of the World's Most Mobile Medium and The Plot to Save
Socrates
"Stanley Schmidt is our advance scout, journeying
ahead to the glorious, complex future that awaits us
all, and he reports back in this fabulous book,
chock-full of the same kind of lucid and insightful
commentary that has made his ANALOG editorials
must-reading for three decades now. Schmidt gives us
the same kind of clear-headed thinking and cleanly
written prose that we associated with Asimov and
Sagan."
Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of
HOMINIDS
"People often say life is 'just one thing after
another.' But it isn't. It's a whole lot of things
after a whole lot of other things. Not change, but a
tapestry of change. Stan Schmidt has taken that idea
and projected it into the future, exploring not only
the effects of this or that innovation, but the
effects of all of them in concert. An exciting - and
cautionary - vision."
Michael F. Flynn, author of EIFELHEIM and THE
JANUARY DANCER
"James Burke's Connections traces the ways in which
diverse
technologies tumble together to form the world of
today. Here, Stan
Schmidt shows how comparably diverse technologies may
intertwine to
form the world of tomorrow."
Marc Stiegler, Hugo Award Finalist for Valentina
"A cogent, thoughtful primer on where our technology comes from, how it works, and where it might be heading."
Richard A. Lovett, J.D., Ph.D.
Science journalist and four-time AnLab Award winner
"Technological change is not slowing down, and Stan
Schmidt deftly outlines the promises--and perils--to
come. As has so often been the case, today's headline
issues are not the most important!"
Stephen L. Gillett, Ph.D., Nanotechnology Researcher
and Writer
ARGONAUT, available in Trade Paperback for $15.95 ($22.95 CAN)
“This is science fiction in the finest tradition of H. G. Wells. Stanley Schmidt knows how to capture the reader from page one, and then take her (or him) on a voyage to the stars.” Ben Bova
“A confrontation between a belatedly aroused government response team . . . and an alien force of unknown size and intentions–with surprises along the way worthy of one of the better 'Star Trek' episodes.” The New York Times
“Analog editor Stanley Schmidt's first book in sixteen years is good solid SF.” SFRevu.com
“Alien invasion stories are old hat in SF, but sometimes a writer comes along and gives it a new twist. Schmidt's story is one of those . . . [and] you're unlikely to anticipate Schmidt's plot.” Science Fiction Chronicle
“Analog editor Schmidt takes to heart Peter Graham's adage that the Golden Age of SF is twelve, in the best possible way, in his instructive tale of first contact. . . . The novel's straightforward expository style recalls classic-era SF. . . . Schmidt may teach his readers a didactic lesson, but it's one well worth learning.” Publishers Weekly
“Schmidt, an experienced editor, knows good SF, and he can write it . . . In a surprisingly enlightened dénouement that acknowledges immaturity and human and alien reactions to differences, both parties learn something from first contact.” Booklist
“I enjoyed it. It's a good traditional story of alien discovery, with imaginative twists and a thoughtful ending. The depiction of alien technology with a biological flavor is well done.” Joan Slonczewski
“Schmidt has cooked up the oddest alien invasion yet.” Michael Flynn
The Tor trade paperback edition of Argonaut (ISBN 0312877277) is available for $15.95 US, $22.95 Canadian.
WHICH WAY TO THE FUTURE?, a collection of editorials written for Analog, available in Trade Paperback for $15.95 US ($23.95 CAN)
“Well over half a century ago, I formed the habit of reading John Campbell's Astounding/Analog editorials first each month, lest there not be time to do the whole magazine. My policy has become the same for Stan Schmidt's. I don't always completely agree, but I am never able to disagree firmly without a lot of thinking—and usually at least one rereading.” Hal Clement
“Stan Schmidt's Analog editorials enlighten, enrage, entertain, and educate. He has an unerring ability to slice through political correctness and fuzzy thinking, shooting like a laser beam to the heart of the issue at hand.” Robert J. Sawyer
“Stan Schmidt is a fine one to ask the way to the future, because he's been out there personally and is sending back reports. His editorials have been intriguing and often as deliberately provocative as, say, dropping a hockey puck on the ice. We test products by subjecting them to extreme conditions, why not ideas as well?” Michael Flynn
“Stan Schmidt has always been far more interested in excellence than in any personal or political agendas. I've always found his editorials concise and thought-provoking.” L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
“A necklace of holographic lenses, each with a distinct, deftly carved interlocking angle on some facet of the future which is daily coming into being. Stan Schmidt's editorials are as delightful as they are informative and among the best entrées to tomorrow I know of.” Paul Levinson
The Tor trade paperback edition of Which Way to the Future? (ISBN 0765301059) is available for $15.95 US, $23.95 Canadian.