Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Benchwarmer by Mike Resnick ISBN 13: 9781612423142. "This book will be remembered as one of the major collections of the decade."—Robert J. Sawyer "Standouts include. Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn’s beautifully sad “Benchwarmer,” which takes us into the world of imaginary friends, and introduces us to one friend who simply can’t let go of the boy who created him."—io9 "That’s [Soulmates] the second story that will be considered by me for next year’s Hugos; this one in the Novelette category."—SFRevu "In a classic example of cognitive estrangement, we learn the absurdity of our own cultural norms as seen by those on the outside. effectively played to humorous effect." (on :"Report from the Field")—SFSignal Multiple award-winning authors, Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn, get to the heart of the matter in Soulmates, which showcases all the words they have penned together over their years as collaborators (with a bonus solo piece by each). Whether a robot, alien, some kind of supernatural being or human, rising above our prejudices and ignorance allows us to make emotional connections that can have a profound effect on our lives. Each of these stories examine a facet of the simple, yet incredibly complex, concept of companionship. They will make you laugh; will make you cry. but most importantly they will make you look at the very basic notion of soul-mates in a different light. "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. According to Locus, Mike Resnick has won more awards for short fiction than any other science fiction author. This include 5 Hugos from a record 37 nominations. He is the author of 75 novels, 275 short stories, 3 screen plays and his work has been translated into 27 languages (as of December 2016). Lezli Robyn is an Australian writer (now living in the US) who was a finalist for the Campbell award for best new writer. She was also a finalist for the Aurealis award for best SF short story (Australia) as well as the 2010 Ignotus award for best foreign short story (Spain). "Soulmates," the short story (included in this collection) won the Cataln Best Foreign Translation award in 2011. This book will be remembered as one of the major collections of the decade. --Robert J. Sawyer. In this eclectic collection of reprints, all originally published between 1999 and 2011, veteran Resnick teams up with relative newcomer Robyn to deliver a handful of entertaining tales. Tone, style, and theme range all over the place: "The Close Shave" and "Making the Cut," both set at a barbershop that specializes in after-hours service to the supernatural crowd, aim for a light, harmless sort of humor and feature a henpecked vampire, a pacifist medusa with bad-tempered snakes for hair, and a world-weary Wandering Jew, among others. "Shame" and "Soulmates" are much more thought-provoking, philosophical works, exploring free will, friendship, euthanasia, and taking responsibility for one's mistakes. In "Benchwarmer", the authors look at imaginary friends who have been forgotten by their creators, and "Report from the Field" examines humanity's quirks through an alien lens; these are well-worn themes, but the skillful execution prevents them from feeling stale. The same can be said for "Anne-Droid of Green Gables," which revisits L.M. Montgomery's classic. The only solo Resnick story in the bunch is "Hunting the Snark," in which a safari on an alien planet goes horribly awry. This is a satisfying sampler of solid stories from a team that rarely disappoints. --Publishers Weekly. Standouts include. Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn s beautifully sad Benchwarmer, which takes us into the world of imaginary friends, and introduces us to one friend who simply can t let go of the boy who created him. --io9. Book Review: Benchwarmer by Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn. Benchwarmer by Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn is the story of where our imaginary friends, or “playmates,” as they’re called, go when we no longer need them. We first meet Mr. Paloobi, a teddy bear-like creature who befriends a young boy whose parents are rarely around. Mr. Paloobi teaches the boy to play chess, and together, the two have a wonderful time. But eventually, as all children do, the boy outgrows Mr. Paloobi, and he is pulled back to the “here and somewhere,” also known as the limbo where he will stay until he’s given a new charge. Although Mr. Paloobi has had other charges since the boy who created him, they have not had the same kind of relationship that he shared with the first boy, and Mr. Paloobi often reminisces about their time together nearly seventy years earlier. Finally, he and the boy—who is now an old man with a fading memory—are reunited, and they’re able to pick up their relationship exactly where they left off. The authors do a fantastic job of showing that even as people grow older, they’re never really alone. Not only is this story wonderful because it addresses the common fears of loneliness that come with age, but also because it shows that true friendship, no matter the distance or time that separates the companions, can last a lifetime. Twilight Zone: 19 Original Stories on the 50th Anniversary. Twilight Zone: 19 Original Stories on the 50th Anniversary is a collection of short stories written by various authors and edited by Carol Serling, the widow of series creator Rod Serling. Each story was written with themes or styles similar to The Twilight Zone episodes, including narrated introductions and conclusions to each story. Authors who contributed a story include Twilight Zone veteran Earl Hamner, Alan Brennert and William F. Wu, and a previously unpublished story by Rod Serling. Reviewers [ who? ] listed some of the better stories as being Kelley Armstrong's "A Haunted House of Her Own", Alan Brennert's "Puowaina" and Mike Resnick and Lezli Robyn's "Benchwarmer". Contents. Background. This anthology of short stories was published to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the television debut of The Twilight Zone . Since the death of her husband, The Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling, Carol Serling had been acting as a consultant for a series of fiction anthologies and for the 1983 theatrical film. She contributed to or edited books including Journeys to the Twilight Zone , Adventures in the Twilight Zone , Return to the Twilight Zone , More Stories from the Twilight Zone , and the non-fiction book Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone: The 50th Anniversary Tribute . Among the authors solicited to write stories for the 50th anniversary book were Alan Brennert and William F. Wu, who worked on the 1980s The Twilight Zone series; Earl Hamner, who wrote episodes for the original series; and Rod Serling's older brother, Robert J. Serling. [1] Peter S. Beagle and Harlan Ellison were advertised as contributors but their stories did not make it into the book. [1] Synopsis and format. The book begins with an introduction by the editor Carol Serling and ends with brief biographies of all the authors. Each of the 19 self-contained short stories includes an introduction and conclusion with the same tone and style as Rod Serling's narration at the beginning and end of each Twilight Zone episode. [1] Adam Balm on Ain't It Cool News categorized the short stories into following four basic types of The Twilight Zone episode formats: the social revenge fantasies ("The Art of Miniature", "Family Man", and "The Good Neighbor") use unlikable characters who eventually suffer an ironic twist to their predicament; stories about paranoid characters trying to convince others that something is wrong ("The Street that Forgot Time"); stories with a war theme ("Genesis", "Puowaina", "Ghost Writer", and "The Soldier He Needed to Be"); and stories centered around a hitch-hiker ("On the Road" and "Truth or Consequences"). [2] Title Author Synopsis Genesis David Hagberg During World War II, an American platoon is under attack by the Japanese in the Philippines. As they strive to overtake the enemy position, one member of the platoon periodically suffers delusions that show him events in alternate times and places. A Haunted House of Her Own Kelley Armstrong A woman purchases a country inn to market as a haunted house to tourists. Though she does not initially believe in ghosts, a series of odd events and her husband acting possessed makes her re-examine her beliefs. On the Road William F. Wu In 1970 two hitchhikers meet by chance and promise each other to pursue their desired career paths. In the present, they unexpectedly meet again in a cafe in Texas, fulfilling a promise to meet again when one of them needs the others' help. The Art of the Miniature Earl Hamner A man obsessed with bonsai takes revenge on his pool cleaner who he suspects is damaging his prized plants. Benchwarmer Mike Resnick & Lezli Robyn An imaginary friend waits to play with his real-life friend. Truth or Consequences Carole Nelson Douglas While traveling to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, a retired librarian becomes paranoid about a hitchhiker who seems to keep ahead of her. Puowaina Alan Brennert A school girl in Hawaii foresees events, including her father's death and a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Torn Away Joe R. Lansdale A man separated from his shadow by a witch is detained by police. The man convinces the police chief to help him flee his shadow just before it attacks. Vampin' Down the Avenue Timothy Zahn An actor frustrated by the paparazzi starts taking drugs that make him invisible to cameras at night.