I'm currently in the midst of Volume 1 of a compilation of Martin's short stories titled "Dreamsongs". However, I simply couldn't hold off until I'd finished the entire thing to pen down my thoughts on this particular story.

The fundamental story revolves around two telepathic lovers who are torn apart by an insatiable longing to be understood and truly loved for who they are. Set on a distant planet among an alien race that practices a religion which can be regarded as a cult, they progress through different stages of their lives as a community. This ultimately leads to the "Joining", a ritualistic form of suicide where the beings allow themselves to be devoured by a plasma-like parasite that erodes the flesh until it completely consumes the person. The catch is that these people go willingly, even happily, believing they are "joining" each other in a way unattainable in their current state. This non-living parasite "calls" to them, and they embrace their fate with smiles on their faces. There's more to it, but I won't delve into that in this review. What struck me about this story were the underlying themes.

The themes explored in this short story are profound, to say the least. God, love, human emotion, and neediness. I suppose it was the experience of human emotion and the walls we erect - for whatever reason - that hit me so strongly as I was reading this story. It's something I've grappled with in my own mind, heart, and relationships. I'm certain I'm not alone. The layers of emotion and the complexity of where, how, and why we build these walls are incredibly intricate and intimate. As I sit here writing this review, I struggle to find the words to describe them, but I think most people would understand what I mean when I say it's complicated and personal. And sometimes, it's related to gender. Bottom line: Martin definitely struck a chord.

This short story has effortlessly ascended to the top of my favorites list. It should be compulsory reading for anyone enrolled in a psychology class, if only to initiate a conversation on human psychological needs, sacrifice, and the indescribable emotion we term "love".

If you're in the market for a book of Martin's short fiction right now, you might as well go ahead and get 'Dreamsongs,' the much more comprehensive, 2-volume retrospective set that came out more recently.

However, just because this book doesn't have ALL THE STORIES doesn't mean that everything that's here isn't excellent. This was Martin's first published short-story collection. In my estimation, just about all of the stories here are 5-star-worthy.

The collection features a diverse range of stories. "With Morning Comes Mistfall" (Analog 1973) takes readers on a mysterious journey. "The Second Kind of Loneliness" (Analog 1972) delves into the complex emotions of its characters. "Override" (Analog 1973) presents a thrilling scenario. "Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels" (Vertex 1973) creates an atmosphere of mystery and danger. "The Hero" (Galaxy 1971) explores the concept of heroism in an unexpected way. "FTA" (Analog 1974) is filled with action and adventure. "Run to Starlight" (Amazing 1974) offers a vision of a distant future. "The Exit to San Breta" (Fantastic 1972) has a unique and engaging plot. "Slide Show" (Omega 1973) presents a thought-provoking story. "A Song for Lya" (Analog 1974) is a beautiful and touching tale.

Overall, this collection is a must-read for fans of Martin's work and for anyone who enjoys high-quality short fiction.

I would say that in almost all of his stories, Martin explores the same question: what kind of emotional problems would people have in a future full of space colonies, aliens, and colonized planets. What he seems to like most is to make two life systems collide. Romanticism versus skepticism, practical characters against others immersed in depression, science against poetry, moving forward or looking back, basic needs against the luxury of thought. And that's all well and good, they are interesting conflicts, but all the stories follow the same structure and that got a bit repetitive for me. In truth, the gentleman seems obsessed with those themes. It doesn't seem to me a masterpiece of science fiction, but among the stories there is a parade of interesting characters, several catch you and it all reads quickly. I'll remember "The Second Type of Solitude", a beautiful title and a very powerful ending.

This story, which took me only an hour to read, left a profound and haunting impression on me. It's one of those rare tales that linger in your mind for days on end.

Although the setting is in a distant future and on a newly discovered planet, this story defies the boundaries of science fiction. The protagonists embark on a journey that delves deep into the power of love and the profound meaning of God. These themes have a transformative effect on them, altering their lives forever.

It's important to note that this is not a religious book per se. In fact, some readers might find the discussion of God to be offensive. However, I personally found it to be incredibly thought-provoking and well worth the short investment of time. If you're interested, it's available on Kindle.

I would highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a unique and engaging read that challenges their perspectives and makes them reflect on the deeper aspects of life.

Give it a try and see for yourself if it has the same impact on you as it did on me.

Primera antología que leo de relatos de George R.R. Martin y las sensaciones no pueden ser mejores.

Creo que es una de las colecciones de cuentos que más amena se me ha hecho por su constancia y su ritmo.

Solo hay un relato malo, el resto son notables con varios sobresalientes.

Martin despliega unas inquietudes líricas y existencialistas que ya habíamos visto en otras obras suyas de ciencia ficción y lo hace con el dominio de la prosa que le caracteriza.

Entre los mejores relatos, "Cuando llega la brumabaja" es brillante por su estructura y por las ideas políticas que contiene.

"Esa otra clase de soledad" es poético y tiene un final demoledor.

"Oscuros, oscuros eran los túneles" es mi preferido, por su worldbuilding y por cómo conmociona al lector.

Y la novela corta que da título al libro, "Una canción para Lya", es una historia de ciencia ficción preciosa, especulativa y que analiza el alma humana con precisión.

No le doy cinco estrellas por una cuestión estadística, pero las sensaciones globales son muy positivas.

I have read George R.R. Martin's first anthology of short stories, and the feelings couldn't be better. I think it is one of the most enjoyable collections of stories I have ever read because of its consistency and rhythm. There is only one bad story, and the rest are remarkable, with several outstanding ones. Martin displays lyrical and existential concerns that we have already seen in his other science fiction works, and he does it with the mastery of prose that characterizes him. Among the best stories, "When the Low Men Come Down" is brilliant for its structure and the political ideas it contains. "That Other Kind of Solitude" is poetic and has a devastating ending. "Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels" is my favorite, for its worldbuilding and how it shocks the reader. And the short novel that gives the book its title, "A Song for Lya", is a precious science fiction story, speculative and that analyzes the human soul with precision. I don't give it five stars for a statistical reason, but the overall feelings are very positive.

I was really surprised. Truly, the stories are very good.

I have my favorites, but in general, I enjoyed everything and it made me think a lot.

Each story seems to have its own unique charm and message. Some made me laugh, while others made me feel a deep sense of emotion.

The way the author crafted the characters and the plots was remarkable. It was as if I was living in their world, experiencing their joys and sorrows.

I would highly recommend these stories to anyone who loves to read and be inspired. 4.5⭐

Each story is completely different, and George's pen remains in all of them, and it is poetic.

There were all kinds, some that I loved, others that I didn't like, and others that I found passable.

My favorite was: The fog comes in the morning.

This story had a certain charm that drew me in from the very beginning. The way George described the fog was so vivid that I could almost feel it creeping in around me.

The characters in the story were also well-developed, and I found myself really caring about what happened to them.

Overall, I thought this was a wonderful story, and it definitely stood out among the others.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading short stories with a touch of poetry.

Quick thoughts:

This is truly a real mixed bag. There are elements that might not be to everyone's taste, but one cannot deny the fact that all the ideas presented here are quite imaginative.

It's as if the author has delved deep into the recesses of their mind and brought out a plethora of unique concepts. Some of these ideas are like precious gems, shining brightly amidst the rest.

They have the potential to inspire and spark new thoughts and discussions. While the overall collection may not be perfect, it definitely has its moments of brilliance.

It makes one wonder what other wonderful ideas the author might have hidden up their sleeve. Overall, it's an interesting and thought-provoking piece that is worth taking a closer look at.

The Sense of Transcendence in "A Song for Lya"

How much can a human being know about life when their perception of it is so limited?

George R. R. Martin won the 1975 Hugo Award for Best Short Novel for "A Song for Lya." It is a wonderfully written existential science fiction story that can transport the reader into the arduous task of questioning oneself about their ability to perceive the world around them.

This novel is set in a futuristic context where humans have managed to locate and populate different planets throughout the universe, even sharing habitats with the native races of these planets. However, a particularly notable case is that of the planet Shkae, where humans have been limited in understanding the behavior of the shkeen, mainly due to a religion that has managed to capture the faith of some of the humans settled on that planet.

The shkeen live their lives around the idea of the Final Union, which consists of fusing with a Greeshka, a parasite that slowly absorbs them over time until they voluntarily give themselves completely to it and die.

This deep religiosity of the shkeen challenges human understanding, and for this reason, Robb and Lya, two human telepaths who are also a couple, have been sent to the planet Shkae to investigate everything about the culture and religion of the shkeen. This is where the moral conflict begins that leads the reader to a point of no return.

Although Robb and Lya are telepaths and can perceive the emotions and thoughts of others, Lya has a much deeper and more developed telepathy than Robb, which makes her more sensitive and can lead her to experience the emotions of people as if they were her own. While Robb can recognize emotions but without such an intense connection, something that allows him to remain emotionally distant and avoid the overwhelming burden that affects Lya. Nevertheless, the connection between them as a couple is extremely deep for human understanding, as they make known in their conversations. They are able to understand each other and feel fully in all aspects. But for Lya, that understanding, which rose to the limit of human comprehension, is not a pinnacle of anything for her. Because for her, with her better-developed perception ability, there is something much more beyond the love she has and feels for Robb. And while Robb does feel full and satisfied with the love he develops for Lya, Lya manifests that she still feels a void after that love.

The difference in their telepathic abilities makes it Lya who becomes more involved with the thinking and feeling of the shkeen, and while Robb does not lose the perspective of the investigation, Lya understands that the relationship between the shkeen and the parasite is transcendental to the concept of life as humans conceive it.

At this point, the concept of love that Robb and Lya hold is fundamental. Since in the most significant dialogue of the novel, Lya reveals to Robb that love for her goes beyond an emotional or physical connection, and what she really understands by love is a longing for transcendence. Something that harks back to Simone de Beauvoir's reflection in "The Second Sex" (1949) where she mentions that love is a tension between individual freedom and the desire for an emotional fusion with the other, arguing that love can be both a source of mutual enrichment and a way of losing oneself if the fusion with the other is taken to the extreme. And for this reason, for Lya, to love is to transcend, and transcendence implies a definitive union.

But to love also implies for Robb to let go. Because, although he himself is capable of loving beyond human limits, he never ceases to be human, while Lya completely understands the meaning of the Final Union. Because Lya is indeed capable of overcoming the absurdity of life as proposed by Albert Camus' philosophy, where the human desire to find meaning in life is countered by the irrationality of the universe that offers no answers or comfort. And then the figure of this religion emerges as the main fan of answers, with a very clear answer: transcendence.

When Lya becomes completely involved in shkeen culture and accepts the Union with the parasite, the reader is completely broken and unleashes the hardest questions about what life really is. Because, although Robb continues with the investigation and understands that the shkeen are a millenary society that has not advanced in its traditions, he understands that it is because they do not need humans to feel fulfilled. Since their main relationship is with their religion and the transcendence it provides them.

"A Song for Lya" can be a great starting point for those people who have not yet read anything by the already very well-known George R. R. Martin. But it also implies a challenge for the reader, as they face a short novel that poses important points in the history of humanity, its human condition, and its place in the universe.

Regarding this writer, apart from some novels, I had read a short story collection and liked it a lot, which is why I got this one. What a big mistake.

Except for a short story and the one that gives the anthology its name, which is rather a short novel, the rest of the stories seemed very weak and almost cowardly to me. They end when the plot twist is presented, as if the author is afraid to face the development of the story, leaving these as simple possible inspirations for other writers.

The stories are not badly written, but they do not have the quality to be published, at least not together and not interspersed with others of higher quality.

Now moving on to the short novel at the end, things seem to improve. Many interesting mysteries are raised, but then it turns out that most of them will remain unresolved, with the end of the story being rushed again, as if the author can't wait to get rid of it.

I truly need to delve deeper into the sci-fi stories and novels of George RR Martin. This particular collection was nothing short of amazing. Strangely, "A Song for Lya" wasn't my top pick in this bunch, despite being really good. "The Exit to San Breta" had a feel similar to a "Twilight Zone" episode, perhaps mainly because I was reading it late at night and was already quite spooked. The same goes for "Dark Were The Tunnels" - I could vividly picture the post-apocalyptic Earth humans and almost hear the title theme music playing. "Run to Starlight" was just okay. I understand it wasn't solely about football games, but I just can't seem to get interested in anything related to sports. "Override" was really neat, with the concept of "corpse handlers" being a disturbing yet captivating fictional career. "The Second Kind of Loneliness" and the first "Mistfall" stories were enjoyable, but I wasn't overly satisfied with their endings. Overall, I really liked most of the stories and would definitely read this collection again if I have the opportunity. 4.5

Book 37/50 for my personal 2015 reading challenge: "A popular author's first book."

I took WAY too long to finish this book. The idea of reading Martin in another literary theme excited me, but I admit that out of all the stories in this book, only ONE appealed to me.

"That other kind of loneliness" is an extremely tragic and sad story. The entire human psyche is revealed in the protagonist's diary entries. When he speaks of the two kinds of "loneliness," it is a whirlpool of emotions. Any person who knows the bitter taste of isolation in order to find oneself will empathize with the text. It is a rollercoaster of emotions with an ending that may be a bit repetitive, but that doesn't detract from the depth of the entire narrative. It was worth reading this book to discover that little gem of a story.

I was initially drawn to the promise of exploring Martin's work in a different literary vein. However, as I delved into the book, I found that most of the stories failed to capture my interest. It wasn't until I reached "That other kind of loneliness" that I finally felt a connection.

The story's exploration of the human condition and the different manifestations of loneliness was both poignant and thought-provoking. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery through his experiences of isolation was beautifully portrayed, and I found myself completely immersed in his world.

Despite the somewhat repetitive ending, the overall narrative was engaging and filled with powerful emotions. It made me reflect on my own experiences of loneliness and the importance of finding meaning and connection in life.

In conclusion, while this book may not have been a complete success for me, it was still worth reading for the sake of "That other kind of loneliness." It is a story that will stay with me for a long time and serve as a reminder of the power of literature to touch our hearts and souls.