Denver Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Club

THE ATROCITY ARCHIVES
by
CHARLES STROSS
Atrocity Archives hardback cover

The Atrocity Archives (2001, 2004)

2004 Golden Gryphon Press hardcover
cover art by Steve Montiglio
253 pages +afterword +glossary (left)

Ace Trade paperback
cover art by Mark Fredrickson
368 pages (right)

Atrocity Archives trade paperback
From the inside flap of the US hardcover
       In the world of "The Atrocity Archive," Alan Turing, the Father of Modern Computer Science, did in fact complete his theorem on "Phase Conjugate Grammars for Extra-dimensional Summoning."  Turing's work paved the way for esoteric mathematical computations that, when carried out, had side effects that would leak through the platonic realm of pure mathematics underlying the structure of the Cosmos.  Out there in the multiverse there were "listeners" -- and sometimes these listeners could be coerced into opening gates.  Small gates through which minds could be transferred and, occasionally, large gates through which objects could be moved.
       In 1945, Nazi Germany's Ahnenerbe-SS, in a attempt to escape the Allied onslaught, performed just such a summoning on the souls of more than ten million.  They opened a gate to an alternate universe through which the SS could move men and matériel.  But their summoning brought forth more than the SS had bargained for -- an Evil, patiently waiting for countless eons, now poised to lunch on our galaxy, on our very Earth....

Read for group discussion on May 9, 2007
RATINGS:
How we each rated this book
Dan - Amy 8.5 stack of books 10   Wow! Don't miss it
8-9  Highly recommended
7    Recommended
5-6  Mild recommendation
3-4  Take your chances
1-2  Below average; skip it
0    Get out the flamethrower!
U    Unfinishable or unreadable
-    Skipped or no rating given
Cheri 9 Barb -
Aaron 7 Cynthia 7
Jackie - Ron 7
Christine - Stephanie -
Patty -
Our book group has also read the following books by Charles Stross:
-- Singularity Sky  in August 2004
-- Halting State  in September 2008
Bibliography:
Charles Stross (1964-    ) is a UK (Scottish) writer of science fiction and fantasy short fiction and novels.

Awards:
2005 Hugo Award for novella "The Concrete Jungle"
2007 Prometheus Best Novel Award for Glasshouse

Eschaton series, post-singularity space opera:
--Singularity Sky (2003), 2004 Hugo Award nominee
--Iron Sunrise (2004), 2005 Hugo Award nominee
--Timelike Diplomacy (omnibus, 2004), SFBC omnibus of Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise

More science fiction novels:
--Accelerando (2005), based on works published in Asimov's SF magazine, 2006 Hugo Award nominee
--Glasshouse (2006), same universe as Accelerando, 2007 Hugo Award nominee
--Halting State (2007)
--Saturn's Children (2008), a future with robots, inspired by late-period Heinlein

Merchant Princes science fantasy series:
--The Family Trade (2004)
--The Hidden Family (2005)
--The Clan Corporate (2006)
--The Merchants' War (2007)
--The Revolution Business (forthcoming in 2009)

Bob Howard or Laundry science fantasy/spy thriller/Lovecraftian horror series:
--The Atrocity Archives (2004), contains novella "The Concrete Jungle"
--The Jennifer Morgue (2006), contains the extra story "Pimpf"
--On Her Majesty's Occult Service (omnibus, 2007), SFBC omnibus of The Atrocity Archives and The Jennifer Morgue

Stand-alone story and story collections:
--Toast (2002), contains 10 stories
--Missile Gap (2006), novella in anthology One Million AD and hardcover stand-alone from Subterranean Press

Other stuff:
--The Web Architect's Handbook (1996), according to Stross, "now a historical document"

Links:
Our book club's page for Singularity Sky by Charles Stross
Our book club's page for Halting State by Charles Stross
Charlie's Place - Charles Stross' official website
Charles Stross - Wikipedia
BBC NEWS | Technology | The Tech Lab: Charles Stross
The SF Site Featured Review: The Atrocity Archives
The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross - an infinity plus review
NESFA: The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
Charles Stross interviewed - infinity plus non-fiction
infinity plus: "A Colder War" - a novelette by Charles Stross
Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: "Nightfall" by Charles Stross (novelette)
Science Fiction Weekly Interview - Charles Stross (2003)
Locus Online: Charles Stross interview excerpts (2003)
Locus Online: Charles Stross interview excerpts (2005)
Locus Online Features: Russell Letson reviews Charles Stross (2008)

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 This page was last updated October 14, 2008