As a whole, it didn't really amuse me. It was difficult for me to concentrate and find what was important in the story. Considering how short they are, the stories are kind of pretentious, or I don't know, just hard for me to read, without some point that would catch me.

Maybe about two of them appealed to me in some way. Probably the one that appealed to me the most was "Blokátor". But for me, it's rather a one-eyed man among the blind.

I found it hard to engage with the stories as a whole. Their brevity didn't necessarily work in their favor for me. I struggled to find the significance and depth that I was hoping for. While a couple of them managed to pique my interest to some extent, like "Blokátor", it still felt like there was something lacking. It was as if I was searching for that one element that would truly make the stories come alive for me, but it remained elusive.

In conclusion, my experience with these stories was a bit underwhelming. I hope that in the future, I'll come across stories that are more captivating and fulfilling.

This is a collection of short stories, and overall, I truly relished it. I thought it would be more straightforward to go through and provide a brief synopsis of my thoughts and individual ratings rather than discussing the book as a whole.

"With Morning Comes Mistfall" - The writing was, without a doubt, excellent. I was intrigued by the premise of a mist containing wraiths that kill people! However, I was extremely disappointed with the ending. It simply failed to resonate with me. Story Rating: ★

"The Second Kind of Loneliness" - This was a really captivating story, and the twist at the end was superb. I didn't anticipate it, and it added a wonderful layer to the entire narrative. Story Rating: ★★★★

"Override" - The premise of "corpse handlers" was truly great, and the story itself was outstanding. There was an incredibly intense scene towards the end. Overall, it was a really excellent story. Story Rating: ★★★★★

"Dark, Dark Were The Tunnels" - This was a really good story set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, where a new evolution of man encounters an expedition from Luna. It was very well executed. Story Rating: ★★★★★

"The Hero" - This was a fairly good story with a nice twist at the conclusion, somewhat reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode. Story Rating: ★★★

"fta" - Another story with a Twilight Zone-ish feel. It's very short, yet again featuring a twist that is rather eerie. Story Rating: ★★★

"Run to Starlight" - I didn't actually finish this one as it was about football. Although I didn't mind the concept of the alien team and the associated tension, I simply got extremely bored. Sports aren't my cup of tea, and I really don't enjoy reading about them, so this story just wasn't for me. Story Rating: ★

"The Exit to San Breta" - A good ghost story that once again reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode. It was one of my favorites in the book. Story Rating: ★★★★★

"Slide Show" - An interesting story, but not one of my top favorites. Story Rating: ★★

"A Song For Lya" - A very good story, well-written with interesting characters and an engaging setting. The ending was bittersweet, but it was a very well-crafted story. Story Rating: ★★★★★

These Ci-Fi tales by GRRM have seemed fabulous to me.

This volume is the first of his collection of science fiction and horror stories.

They are written with all the characteristic creativity of the great George, gradually delving into the story and revealing more and more that makes you stick to its pages.

Really, they have transported me to other worlds and I have enjoyed each of these stories. I wouldn't be able to say which one I liked more, but "Disobedience" and "A Song for Lya" would be my favorites.

The stories are filled with unique characters, strange settings, and unexpected plot twists. They explore themes such as the nature of humanity, the consequences of technology, and the power of the unknown.

GRRM's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to get lost in these tales. Whether you're a fan of science fiction or horror, or just looking for a good read, this collection is definitely worth checking out.

**"A Song for Lya" Anthology Review**

I give it 4 for all the stories, although I have already read 2 of the best in the volume - "Song for Lya" and "Priority Command" in "The Nightflyers". However, in the original, in this first volume they also appeared and here they should be noted.

Worth mentioning are also "Blacks, Blacks Were the Tunnels" - a well-paced story with a superb ending about the encounter between 2 species of humans separated by distance and evolutionary adaptation to the environment, an unfortunate encounter, but well-described, and "The Exit to San Breta", a story seemingly written by Cortázar about time travel and an accident that challenges the rules of the game.

For the rest, rather simple stories, somewhat predictable and with subjects that didn't grip me very much.

Anyway, very good for a first volume.

The first ones are better than the last ones.

This statement holds true in many aspects of life. For example, in a race, the first runners to cross the finish line are considered the winners. They have shown greater speed, endurance, and determination compared to those who come in last.

In a classroom, students who achieve the highest grades are often regarded as the best. They have put in more effort, studied harder, and have a better understanding of the subject matter.

However, it's important to note that being the first or the last doesn't always define a person's worth or ability. There are many factors that can contribute to a person's success or failure, and sometimes those who come in last may have faced greater challenges or obstacles along the way.

Nevertheless, the idea that the first ones are better than the last ones is a common perception that exists in our society. It serves as a motivation for many to strive for excellence and be the best they can be.

My favorite story was "Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels". The atmosphere is very well crafted and when the moment of conflict arrives, one can clearly see the clash of the involved parties.

I also liked "Slide Show". There are several narrative lines there and it seemed to me a story that easily catches one.

The main story ("A Song for Lya") explores in a very interesting and intense way human emotions and sensations, the concept of loneliness and union. It is wonderful how despite the spoiler in the summary one can immerse so much in the story and desire to know more about that other culture. That said, I must say that the first-person narration took me by surprise.

In general, I think these stories are "philosophical" science fiction (so to speak) and I like that. It makes me think deeply about various aspects of life and human nature. The detailed descriptions and the unique perspectives presented in these stories truly engage my imagination and make me appreciate the beauty and complexity of science fiction as a literary genre.

I didn't expect this from George R. R. Martin.

These tales are truly awesome and extremely fun. Each story in this book leaves a certain kind of thought about the human kind. Their feelings, thoughts, lives, fears, loves, and even religions are all explored.

The most significant thing about these tales is how they are finished. Because none of them have a happy ending. It's not a fantastical end, but just a human end. When you read it, you will understand what I mean.

By the way, I use this social media for practicing my English, so I'm sorry if I wrote this wrongly.

I think George R. R. Martin has a unique way of presenting the human condition through these tales. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and shows the real and often harsh side of life. It makes you think deeply about our existence and the choices we make.

The lack of happy endings also adds a sense of realism to the stories. In real life, not everything turns out the way we want it to. Sometimes, we have to face difficult situations and accept the consequences.

Overall, I really enjoy reading these tales and I would highly recommend them to anyone who is interested in exploring the human psyche.

It has been good. There is a very good atmosphere in all the stories, but the endings have not convinced me.

The story that I have liked the most has been "The Hero", but all of them are written in a wonderful way.

I appreciate the efforts of the author in creating such vivid and interesting stories. The characters and settings are well-developed, and the plots are engaging.

However, I feel that the endings could have been more satisfying. They seemed a bit rushed or incomplete, leaving me with some unanswered questions.

Overall, it has been a pleasant reading experience, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Among all the generations of fantasy/science fiction authors who have led the bestseller lists in the past twenty years, perhaps George R. R. Martin is the one I most identify with a tough, sharp, and gloriously beautiful literature. That's why this book surprised me so much. The factor that all the stories have in common is the very close voice of the narrator. Some are more romantic, others more sad, even with flashes of adventure. They build worlds with their own logics in just four or five paragraphs, which at some point made me think of Asimov. I really enjoyed starting each story still with the echo of the previous one, knowing that I was facing a completely different story, in whose charm I would fall line after line. I keep it in the library knowing that when I open it again to read it, I will continue to find new things.

Our beloved George RR Martin surprised many readers (in the 70s to be precise) with his science fiction tales. These stories are a wonder as they have nothing to do with the A Song of Ice and Fire saga which is theoretically younger than his anthologies. In this first part, Martin narrates the adventures of many characters created by his extraordinary pen.

A Song for Lya, Science Fiction (Part I) contains 9 short stories, among which three stand out:

-That Other Kind of Solitude 4/5:

This story is written in the form of entries or logs by a crew member of a space station who supervises a ring whose center serves as a bridge to the other side of space. This crew member, whose name we don't know at any point in the story, experiences solitude in the space station and almost miraculously connects with the ring and the dark, lifeless space many light-years away. The ending of this story is an unexpected twist that you can't see coming at any moment. Without a doubt, one of the best in this book.

-And Seven Times Said: Thou Shalt Not Kill a Man 4.5/5:

A well-structured story with good characters but at certain moments weak (character and personality that is a bit hard to believe). A merchant named neKrol tries to help the natives of a planet in a war against the "Angels" who profess the extreme religion called the Sons of Bakkalon. The "Angels" have special methods to expand on the planet, and the ending is so George that you love and hate it but in the end, it's one of the best.

-A Song for Lya 5/5:

The name given to the book, "A Song for Lya" is without a doubt one of the best things George has. Its well-constructed characters and plot that hooks you and doesn't let go is highly deserving of the 1975 Hugo Award. Lyanna and Robb, two telepaths, arrive on the planet Shkae to investigate the religion (a recurring theme in George's book) that the Shkeen have, which wouldn't be relevant if it weren't for their definitive union with a parasite Greeshka that slowly consumes them until they die, and even more, the humans started to join the religion. The ending is so good that you want more, and the death of one of them is very sad.

A bonus that caught my attention were:

-The Fog Comes in the Morning

-For Just One Yesterday

-The Hero

-The Introduction

Difficulty: 2? (Varied as it is compiled from short stories)

In this compilation, it was worth it for about 4 stories that are in it. The others didn't really catch my attention. There are some where they present you with many races, characters, terms and planets. By the time you get familiar with them, the story is almost over, which makes it annoying to read.

Other stories I liked more, especially the first, second, "Song for Lya" and "The Hero". The others are not up to the level of what is expected from GRRM.

The ones that are good present you with the strength of GRRM, which is to give you a variety of excellent and unique characters that turn any plot into one that captures their essence. "Song for Lya" in particular, although it wasn't my favorite, has the best quality, which is why the name of the compilation is the same.

If it had maintained the quality of the stories after "The Hero", it would be a 7.5 for me. Instead, as a complete book, I would rate it a 6.5.