" A Song of Ice and Fire... Oops! A Song for Lya" is an anthology of short stories and science fiction tales written by George Martin before "A Song of Ice and Fire". However, it has that more youthful yet characteristic style of his. Each of the stories has its own strength and attraction, and they are stories that are well worth reading and rereading in some cases.

To conclude, I will leave the chronological order in which I suggest reading the stories, and the scores I gave to each of them based on 10:

1. "The Introduction" (8.9)

2. "For a Single Yesterday" (8.5)

3. "The Dark Darkness of the Tunnels" (8.8)

4. "That Other Kind of Loneliness" (8.7)

5. "Not Even the Multicolored Flames of a Stellar Ring" (7.2)

6. "The Fog Settles in the Morning" (8.6)

7. "The Hero" (8.5)

8. "And Seven Times I Say: Thou Shalt Not Kill" (8.4)

9. "A Song for Lya" (9.3)

Overall score: 8.5/10

This anthology offers a diverse range of science fiction stories that showcase Martin's unique writing style. From thrilling adventures in the tunnels to thought-provoking tales of loneliness and morality, there is something for every reader to enjoy. The stories are well-written and engaging, with vivid characters and imaginative settings. Whether you are a fan of Martin's work or simply a lover of science fiction, "A Song for Lya" is definitely worth checking out.

Nostalgic and with good reflections, but I expected a more intense introspective journey.

The morning mist sets in: One of the most nostalgic, a critique of how skepticism can kill the magic in life.

Just for one yesterday: A tragic story of the end of a love. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.

Not even the multicolored flames of a star ring: It is the most existential of all, reviewing the God complex in humans, questioning the existence and origin of all. It was one of the ones I liked the most.

A song for Lya: Although it was somewhat predictable, it was my favorite. It questions relationships, who we are, inside and outside a relationship, where the other ends and begins, and how two start and end as a couple.

The hero: One of the shortest, and perhaps you can quickly guess the end. It is also very nostalgic in one part, and on the other hand, it is cruel. It is cruel that often we do not have our destiny in our hands.

And seven times I say: you shall not kill man: Definitely this story I didn't like, it was tedious, I couldn't get hooked and almost skipped it. Here humans commit crimes where they want to find miracles.

That other kind of solitude: I was wrong when I said that "A song for Lya" was my favorite. This story was actually my favorite, the one that caught and enveloped me the most. With deep reflections on solitude and self-criticism and the best ending of all the stories.

The presentation: This is another one that I didn't enjoy as much. There is pride, frustration, a critique of the bureaucracy of society. But it wasn't enough for my taste.

The black darkness of the tunnels: At first it seemed interesting to me but I felt that it fell in the middle. It is a story with a sad ending triggered by appearances and differences.

Historias muy interesantes y que logran hacer pensar. These stories have the power to engage our minds and make us reflect on various aspects of life. They present unique perspectives and ideas that can开阔 our horizons. However, el gran fallo han sido los finales de prácticamente todos los relatos. The endings of almost all the stories have been a big disappointment. Just when we are hooked and expecting a satisfying conclusion, we are left with a sense of dissatisfaction. It's as if the authors couldn't quite figure out how to tie up all the loose ends and give the stories a proper ending. This has really detracted from the overall enjoyment of the reading experience. Despite the interesting beginnings and middles, the lackluster endings have left a sour taste in our mouths.

Excelente colección de relatos. Me he quedado con ganas de más, pero antes debo leer otros libros pendientes. Esta colección es verdaderamente fascinante y me ha cautivado desde el principio. Cada relato tiene su propia personalidad y me ha llevado a diferentes mundos y emociones.

Mis relatos favoritos fueron: "Por un solo ayer", que me hizo reflexionar sobre el pasado y el valor de los recuerdos. "Una canción para Lya", una historia conmovedora que habla del amor y la pérdida. "El héroe", que me demostró que un héroe no tiene que ser un superhéroe, sino alguien que actúa con valentía y compasión en situaciones difíciles. "Esa otra clase de soledad", que me hizo sentir la soledad de una manera diferente y me llevó a pensar sobre la importancia de la conexión humana. Y "La negra oscuridad de los túneles", un relato misterioso y aterrador que me mantuvo al borde de mi asiento.

En general, esta colección de relatos es una joya y la recomendaría a cualquier amante de la literatura. Me ha dado muchas horas de disfrute y ha ampliado mi perspectiva sobre el mundo y la humanidad.

I bought 'A Song for Lya' completely by accident as I clicked the wrong button on my Kindle.

Reluctantly, I began reading it simply because I had spent money on it.

However, it ended up being far superior and much more thought-provoking than I had ever anticipated. I finished reading it in just over an hour, yet the fundamental plot themes have remained in my mind for days. I highly recommend it, not only for science fiction enthusiasts!

GRRM truly has a penchant for the names Robb and Lyanna! It's interesting how these names seem to hold some significance in his works. Maybe there's a deeper connection or story behind them that we haven't fully uncovered yet.

Overall, 'A Song for Lya' was a pleasant surprise, and I'm glad that my accidental purchase led me to discover this engaging and thought-provoking piece of literature.

Just for the story that gives the book its title, it is worth reading. Although from the first lines you know perfectly well how it will end, and it doesn't matter because what it poses and the development of the story is wonderful. It is a song to all that it means to be human: the flaws and virtues, love, loneliness, and fear.

All the stories are quite fatalistic and revolve around the evolution of the human being and feelings such as loneliness, fear, or faith. There are a couple of stories in which religion is very present, but with the incentive that it is an alien religion and that makes it very interesting.

To highlight as my favorites, apart from the one that gives the book its title, the stories "the hero", "that other kind of loneliness", and especially "the black darkness of the tunnels", the story that ends the book and that is spectacular.

Very well-written stories that give a lot to think about.

I really like the way Martin writes. His writing style is so captivating that it always draws me in. However, some of his stories are extremely short, which means there isn't enough time to fully immerse oneself in the story.

My favorites so far have been:

- "A Song for Lya": I absolutely loved this story. The world that Martin creates in just a few pages is amazing. He explains everything so well that you immediately feel like you know the characters (especially since they are named Lyanna and Robb, of course...). The whole theme of religion and how those people "sacrifice" themselves at such a young age for nothing, or what means nothing to us, really impressed me. Now that Martin has so much prestige, it would be great if he could make a miniseries based on this story.

- "The Mists Come In the Morning": The idea of the castle in the mists really won me over. I think it tells a bit about how humans destroy things without thinking about whether those things are important to others. And the part about the ghosts in the mists reminded me of Mistborn...

The other stories weren't bad, but in my opinion, they are not as good as these two.

*3½⭐️ / 5*

What has surprised me about this book is that, although all the stories involve spaceships, alien worlds, apocalyptic futures, and are set in space and such, the focus is on the very existential themes they deal with. These are stories that make you think and have more depth than I expected. The story that gives the book its name, "A Song for Lya", even won the Hugo Award in 1975. It's clear that the author really knows how to create worlds and explore genres. And while some stories are better than others and a few fall a bit short, it can't be denied that George R. R. Martin was demonstrating his talent many years ago.

I understand that these stories were written decades ago, so there's an obvious difference in the author's writing (I haven't read "A Game of Thrones", but I've seen comments that confirm this). Anyway, I've enjoyed this book, I liked it. It's my first time reading George R. R. Martin and I'm interested in reading more of his stories.

By the way, there are nine stories in this book; however, there's no opinion (for now) for the sixth one: "And Seven Times Never Kill Man". This story almost gave me a reading block. It's the second longest and, in my opinion, the most boring. I tried to read it three times, and each time I got further than the previous one, but I still didn't finish and preferred not to force it.

•• THE MIST RISES IN THE MORNING ••
("With Morning Comes Mistfall")
A journalist settles in the Cloud Castle to write about the research led by Dr. Charles Dubowski, with the purpose of discovering if the World of the Specters really hides unknown creatures among the fog that covers the planet. The owner of the castle, Sanders, has his own opinion on the matter.

[⭐️⭐️⭐️½]
This is a very solid story that tells us how skepticism ruins the magic that mystery can hide; how our need for answers makes the beauty of the unknown be snatched away. Although it's not the most powerful story in the book, it sets the tone and atmosphere that each of them will follow, despite taking place in such different worlds and contexts. A very beautiful scenario to imagine and an added plus for the book that the cover is an illustration of this story.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

•• FOR A SINGLE YESTERDAY ••
("... For a Single Yesterday")
Four years have passed since the Explosion, and since then the community where Gary lives enjoys the nostalgic music that Keith plays every night. However, contrary to the others, Keith doesn't want to let go of the past, which is why he uses a drug that allows him to relive the best moments of what used to be his life. Neither Gary nor the others have a problem with this, but perhaps Lieutenant Winters, who has just arrived, doesn't think the same.

[⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½]
One of my favorite stories. It's not healthy to live on memories, but Keith manages to make you connect with him. It's a story where there are no good or bad guys, and you understand the position of each side. It's probably the most nostalgic story, and although the ending left a hole in my heart, it's undeniable that it's some kind of love story that made me fall and long for happiness for this character.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

•• NOR THE MANY-COLORED FIRES OF A STAR RING ••
("Nor the Many-Colored Fires of a Star Ring")
A space team explores the anti-space, studying nothingness itself, while Kerin da Vittio, one of the crew members, starts to question that, nothingness and the void.

[⭐️⭐️⭐️]
One of the stories that I liked the least. I think its rhythm is even irregular, and I didn't connect with either the characters or the story, despite how existential it becomes and what it has to say about the void, darkness, loneliness, and the unknown.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

•• A SONG FOR LYA ••
("A Song for Lya")
A couple with telepathy tries to discover the secret of the apparent lack of evolution of the shkeen people and their fervor for the greeshka, a deadly parasite. Meanwhile, their relationship and the deep love they have always had seem to be at risk.

[⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️]
This one seemed to me to be the most existential of all. How much do we really love? This story uses a pair of "talents" who can perceive emotions and ideas to tell a story about the connection between them. It also narrates about religions and how disconcerting they can be for outsiders, and then moves on to that need for belonging and the fear of not being or receiving enough. The characters are quite interesting, and this story just shows that each character is capable, and it's difficult to understand the world that each individual is, no matter how strong the bond between them is.
The longest story, but well deserving of its recognition.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

•• THE HERO ••
("The Hero")
John Kagen, a field officer, has requested to be transported to Earth to start a new life after twenty years of service. However, Commander Carl Grady is not very happy with this decision.

[⭐️⭐️⭐️½]
It's difficult for me not to see its first pages as an obstacle for this story to achieve a higher rating. I understand why they are there, but it's still an action scene where I felt completely out of place. It's the ending that makes this story one that's worth it. It's raw and frustrating, and since it's also a fairly short story, it manages to be quite decent.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

•• THE SECOND KIND OF LONELINESS ••
("The Second Kind of Loneliness")
In the Cerberus Star Ring, ten million kilometers from Pluto, a man has been working in the vortex of the space well for four years. There are only three months left until his relief arrives and he can return to Earth, and perhaps this time things will work out with a past love.

[⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½]
Another one of my favorites, and perhaps the most tragic of all. In just a few pages, through entries in a "diary", the author manages to make us empathize with a man who struggles with loneliness, silence, and a lot of free time to overthink about a life that was tormenting him. A person's worst enemy is themselves, and the loneliness of living in space with no other company but the stars is the least painful. It has the most heartbreaking plot twist in the whole book.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

•• THE PRESENTATION ••
("Slide Show")
While silently cursing, Commander Becker presents the wonders he witnessed on board the Starwind star exploration ship, with the aim of getting a group of wealthy ladies to finance new expeditions and him to recover the stars that have been snatched from him.

[⭐️⭐️½]
A critique of bureaucracy and a story where arrogance reigns.
What the whole presentation seemed to me was more an exhibition of haughtiness and frustrated dreams that, although it serves to show us why Becker is here looking for funds to return to where he thinks he deserves to be, it made it difficult for me to be interested in this character.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

•• THE DARK DARKNESS OF THE TUNNELS ••
("Dark Dark Were the Tunnels")
Almost 500 years after life on Earth was extinguished, the inhabitants of Luna City consider the possibility of returning and restoring life on the planet. Cliffoneto and Von de Stadt explore and evaluate the conditions but without much expectation; after all, almost half a millennium has passed and the radiation wouldn't allow there to be survivors... right?

[⭐️⭐️⭐️]
Although this last story isn't bad and the ending is one of those that leaves you cold because of its desolate nature, I did feel it was a story that was a bit short for what it could have been. It has some intrigue and suspense, and the narration from two perspectives creates that uncertainty about what's really happening, but for lack of more information and not going further, this story fell short.

When I grow up, I want to create worlds like Martin. In just about 50 pages, he manages to create amazing worlds that are much better than many great novel sagas. Without a doubt, the best work is the one that gives the book its name. Martin truly stands out in the science fiction genre and shouldn't be remembered only for "A Song of Ice and Fire".

His works have a unique charm and creativity that吸引 readers from all over the world. The vivid descriptions and complex characters make the stories come alive. Whether it's the strange creatures or the mysterious landscapes, everything is so detailed and believable.

You can see the full review on my blog http://cuevadeterciopelo.blogspot.com.... I highly recommend you to check it out and discover the wonderful worlds created by Martin.

The level of many of the stories in this collection is extremely high.

I have found true masterpieces that have fascinated me, such as “Cuando llega la bruma baja” (When the Low Fog Arrives), “Pase de diapositivas” (Slide Show), or the very short novel “Una canción para Lya” (A Song for Lya).

These works offer what I look for in a good science fiction story: a sense of wonder, the construction of worlds, and the ability to impact the universal values of human beings.

The detailed descriptions and imaginative plots transport the reader to different dimensions and make them question their own beliefs and perspectives.

It is truly a pleasure to explore this collection and discover the hidden gems within it.

Desde el principio empezó a marcar uno de sus sellos de identidad.

The book "Una canción para Lya" (original publication: "A song for Lya", 1976) is a compilation of the early works of George R. R. Martin. These works were written between 1969 and 1973 but published between 1971 and 1974 in various magazines. It takes us on a journey to discover the collection of funds for space exploration, an alien religion that involves death by a parasite, the implication of sports in the relationship of our species with an alien race that was fought against in a previous war, or the search for ghosts on a fog-covered planet, among other things.

Do you want to know more about this book without spoilers? Visit:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

This book offers a fascinating glimpse into Martin's early writing style and the diverse range of ideas he was exploring at that time. It is a must-read for fans of science fiction and those interested in the evolution of Martin's work. Each story within the collection presents a unique and thought-provoking concept that will keep readers engaged from beginning to end. Whether it's the exploration of the unknown in space or the examination of the human psyche in the face of strange and otherworldly phenomena, "Una canción para Lya" has something for everyone. So, don't miss out on this opportunity to discover the early works of one of the most renowned science fiction authors of our time.

I have to confess that I haven't read "A Song of Ice and Fire". Every year I propose to read the books and every year I fail. So I was more than interested in getting to know George R. R. Martin and what better way to do it than through short stories? I have discovered a certain fascination with short stories and the ability of different authors to convey so much with so little. The author conquered the world with an unfinished saga, but with huge books full of descriptions. So I wanted to find out if he could do the same with less "space".

He did it. From the first story I felt completely in love and attracted by the printed words. Each one was able to catch me from the beginning and quickly pull me out of the hangover left by the previous one. My favorite science fiction is that which talks about humanity without using only humans (like "Doctor Who" does in each chapter), it is that which takes us to the limits, be they scientific, moral, human and spiritual. With each of Martin's stories I saw different facets of what makes us human.

And these stories tell us about the magic of mystery, about the absence of the need to know everything. About love, God, emptiness, attachment to the past, etc. In all of them, and I mean literally in the nine stories of this part, I felt identified in some aspect. Some doubt that I have always had, some fear, concern, way of seeing the world and that is because they are human stories in science fiction worlds. The only downside has to do with the editing. At times it felt a bit careless. Not so the translation, in my opinion it is very well done. But sometimes there were missing tildes, letters, dashes, etc. I know it's minor, but it was strange to find so many errors in such a short book.

To finish, I don't know how else to tell you to be encouraged with "A Song for Lya". They are wonderful and beautiful within their own sadness and doubts. This is not the Martin who fills with descriptions with very careful prose, this is a Martin who is full of feelings and concerns and who shares them with the readers.