Budayeen Nights

Caution! Those who gave it 2 stars are right. This is like the cherry on the top of an ice cream sundae - much more enjoyable there than when it's sitting by itself on a plate. Effinger has the credentials to be considered ahead of William Gibson as the father of cyberpunk fiction. Effinger's When Gr......more

This book is the final piece in the Marîd Audran/Budayeen series. A collection of stories, both published and unpublished, included fragments of books that were never finished. Effingers' last wife, Barbara Hambly, wrote the forward as well as an introduction to each of the stories. Schrödingers Kitt......more

Very inconsistent collection. I skipped a number of these based on poor reviews, but of those I read the Hugo & Nebula award winning novella Schrödinger's Kitten, as well as Marîd Throws a Party, were clear standouts. The former, about a young Arab girl as she considers, with fear and trepidation, t......more

I couldn't find it in me to appreciate this book. It's a collection of science fiction short stories that attempts to be more than the genre is known for, but in my opinion falls flat. Most stories take place in an unnamed future muslim city. A prize-winning tale sees a young girl able to perceive p......more

Effinger's writing was always intriguing, investigative, serious, fun, and in all ways worthy. We could use his sensitivity he displays in his Budayeen Nights now. Highly recommended.......more