Sunday eBook Review: Imperial Stars 2: Republic and Empire

Jerry Pournelle (editor), Imperial Stars 2:  Republic and Empire

Product Details from Baen's Books
Published 10/1/1987
SKU: 0671653598
Ebook Price: $4.00

1. Short review: 

2. Long review:
2.1. What I liked: Imperial Stars 2 (IS2) is a collection of short stories woven around a theme.  I like science fiction short stories.  This is one of the best sf collections I have ever read.  The editorial interludes add a great deal. 
Roller-coaster or walk-in-the-park? Mostly roller coaster.
This book gives great value for your money.
Ratings by story (????? out of *****):

1. Outward Bound ****
2. In the Realm of the Heart, In the World of the Knife ****
3. Litany for Dictatorships ****
4. Doing Well While Doing Good ****
5. The Last Department ****
6. Constitution for Utopia ****
7. Minor Ingredient ****
8. The Turning Wheel ****
9. Reactionary Utopias ****
10. These Shall Not Be Lost ****
11. Data vs Evidence in the Voodoo Sciences ****
12. Nicaragua:  A Speech to My Former Comrades on the Left ****
13. The Gods of the Copybook Headings ***** (I have read this poem many times, but on this reading I understood it.)
14. Custom Fitting ****
15. Conquest by Default ****
16. The Skills of Xanadu ****
17. Into the Sunset ****
18. Shipwright ****
19. Empire and Republic:  Crisis and Future ****

2.2. What I did not like:  Baen's Books has done its best to hide this book and its brothers.  It is not listed under Jerry Pournelle or by title.  To find the book, use the links on this blog.  If you insist on plowing through Baen's Books website to find the book, I wish you luck and patience.  I make the odds 3 to 2 that you fail.

2.3. Who I think is the audience:  Science fiction fans.  Jerry Pournelle fans.

2.4. Is the book appropriate for children to read?  Yes.

2.5. On the basis of reading this book, will I buy the author's next book?  Yes.  Already bought IS3.

2.6. Other: At its very best, fiction entertains and enlightens.  This book does both.

2.7. Links:
Baen's Books, Imperial Stars 2:  Republic and Empire
Baen's Books, Imperial Stars 1:  The Stars at War
http://jerrypournelle.com/jerrypournelle.c/chaosmanor/

2.8. Buy the book: Baen's Books, Imperial Stars 2:  Republic and Empire