TY - ABST T1 - “Sigh No More” Y1 - 2023 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) ED - Jonathan Strahan (b. 1964) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

The story takes places in London after a Carrington Event (a massive solar storm) knocks out all electric power. Satellites falling from the sky at night are popular viewing. The main focus of the story is the struggle to mount a previously planned performance of Much Ado about Nothing. The point is made that “If the pandemic pushed people apart and tech together, the Event blew tech apart and brought people tech together in mutual aid and community” (48). For an analysis of this response to disaster, see Rhiannon Firth, Disaster Anarchy: Mutual Aid and Radical Action. London: Pluto Press, 2022.

JF - Communications Breakdown: SF Stories About the Future of Connection PB - The MIT Press CY - Cambridge, MA SN - 9780262546461 U2 -

Illus. Ashley Mackenzie.

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ER - TY - ABST T1 - Luna: A New Moon Y1 - 2015 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

Dystopia of a future settled moon where a feudal system has been established with various dynasties fighting for control of the moon’s resources. First volume in a series. The second volume is Luna: Wolf Moon. London: Gollancz, 2017. U.S. ed. New York: Tor, 2017, which follows the complexities of the fighting among the dynasties. The third volume is Luna: Moon Rising. London: Gollancz, 2019. U.S. ed. New York: Tor, 2019, in which continues the struggles with an apparent resolution at the end.

PB - Tor CY - New York N1 -

U.S. Ed. New York: Tor, 2017. The U.K. ed. was published a week before the U.S. one.

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Merril

ER - TY - ABST T1 - Brasyl Y1 - 2007 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

Brazil in three times, past (mid-18th century), present, and near future (2032-33). All three are dystopian. The past dystopia is concerned with a rogue Jesuit establishing an empire in the interior. The present dystopia is simply contemporary Brazil. The future dystopia is one where everything is completely controlled and documented. 

PB - Pyr CY - Amherst, NY U5 -

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ER - TY - ABST T1 - River of Gods Y1 - 2004 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

Massive future history of India seen through the eyes of a number of different protagonists. Both eutopian and dystopian elements. India is both high tech and very traditional. Related stories include “The Little Goddess.” Asimov’s Science Fiction 29.6 (353) (June 2005): 102-34; “The Djinn’s Wife.” Asimov’s Science Fiction 30.7 (366) (July 2006): 102-32; rpt. in The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year: Volume 1. Ed. Jonathan Strahan (San Francisco, CA: Night Shade Books, 2006), 445-78; and in The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Fourth Annual Collection. Ed. Gardner [Raymond] Dozois (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007), 81-111; “Sanjeev and Robotwallah.” Fast Forward: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge. Ed. Lou Anders (Amherst, NY: Pyr, 2007), 226-43; Rpt. in The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twentieth-Fifth Annual Collection. Ed. Gardner Dozois (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008), 297-308 with an editor’s introduction on 297; and in Mithila, no. 2 (April 2016) http://mithilareview.com/mcdonald_04_16/; “The Dust Assassin.” The Starry Rift: Tales of New Tomorrows. An Original Science Fiction Anthology. Ed. Jonathan Strahan (New York: Viking, 2008), 236-71 with a note on the author and the author’s note on the story (272-73); rpt. in The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 3. Ed. Jonathan Strahan (San Francisco, CA: Night Shade Books, 2009), 97-117; and “An Eligible Boy.” Fast Forward 2. Ed. Lou Anders (Amherst, NY: Pyr, 2008), 241-72; rpt. in The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Twentieth-Sixth Annual Collection. Ed. Gardner Dozois (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009), 120-39 with an editor’s introduction on 120; and in Rpt. in Stories of Hope and Wonder in Support of the UK’S Healthcare Workers. Ed. Ed. Ian [George] Whates (Weston, Eng.: NewCon Press, 2020). EBook. These stories plus “Vishnu at the Cat Circus” are rpt. in his Cyberabad Days. Amherst, NY: Pyr, 2009. U.K. ed. London: Gollancz, 2009. A film was said to be in process but has not appeared.

PB - Simon & Schuster CY - London U1 -

Cover adds August 15, 2047--Happy Birthday, India.

ER - TY - ABST T1 - "The Days of Solomon Gursky" Y1 - 1998 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

Sequel to his Necroville (1994) but with eutopian possibilities.

JF - Asimov's Science Fiction VL - 22.6 (270) U5 -

Merril

ER - TY - ABST T1 - Sacrifice of Fools Y1 - 1996 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

The novel is primarily concerned with alien contact, but as a background it has a future Northern Ireland with new political and judicial institutions.

PB - Victor Gollancz CY - London N1 -

Rpt. London: Vista, 1997

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ER - TY - ABST T1 - Necroville Y1 - 1994 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

Dystopia with the dead revived. 

PB - Gollancz CY - London N1 -

U.S. ed. as Terminal Cafe. New York: Bantam Books, 1994.

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U.S. ed. as Terminal Cafe

ER - TY - ABST T1 - Scissors Cut Paper Wrap Stone Y1 - 1994 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

Future dystopia set mostly in a Japan with corporate protective services.

PB - Bantam Books CY - New York U5 -

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ER - TY - ABST T1 - Hearts, Hands and Voices Y1 - 1992 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

Eutopia and dystopia. The eutopia is a village in which people get along with each other and with nature and even religious differences do not cause conflict. The dystopia comes about when the divided nation within which the village exists brings its conflicts to the village.

PB - Victor Gollancz CY - London N1 -

U.S. ed. as The Broken Land. New York: Bantam Books, 1992.

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U.S. ed. as The Broken Land.

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ER - TY - ABST T1 - Out On Blue Six Y1 - 1989 A1 - Ian [Neil] McDonald (b. 1960) KW - Male author KW - Northern Ireland author AB -

The attempt to achieve a perfect society creates a dystopia.

PB - Bantam Books CY - New York U5 -

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