Damn You, Entropy! is a collection of science fiction quotes, edited by Guy P. Harrison. It was published in June 2024 by Globe Pequot/Prometheus. A review copy of the text was provided. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Blurb:
Science fiction has hosted some of the greatest minds and most innovative thinkers in human history. From H.G. Wells to Octavia Butler, Star Trek to Star Wars, in books, on television, and at the movies, science fiction has shaped our future, pushed the limits of human imagination, and guided us within ourselves to examine universal truths of life. In this smartly curated book, author Guy P. Harrison collects 1,001 of the most influential and transformative quotations spanning four centuries of sci-fi, such as:
- “Better to make a good future than predict a bad one.”―Isaac Asimov, Prelude to Foundation, 1988 novel
- “Hope clouds observation.”―Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965 novel
- “No amount of money ever bought a second of time.”―Avengers: Endgame, 2019 film, written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Whether you are a Dr. Who superfan, a diehard sci-fi reader, or an outer space film buff—or are simply curious about the cosmos—Damn You, Entropy! is an essential addition to every science fiction fan’s library.
Review:
Damn You, Entropy! is a treasure trove of science fiction quotes that spans the vast expanse of time and imagination. With over 1,001 thought-provoking snippets, it’s like stargazing through a literary telescope. But, alas, there’s a black hole in this constellation: the absence of commentary to make this any more than a curio.
Let’s start with the good points. This book is eminently quoteable. There are some great, insightful, and well-curated quotes within this book. From Asimov’s cerebral musings to the warp-speed wit of Douglas Adams, this anthology covers it all. Whether you seek warp drives or existential ponderings, you’ll find your orbit here.
The book is also well-structured. Not only is it organised by topic, but we also get a sense of chronology. We can chart the evolution is sci[fi, from early authors like Jules Verne and his Victorian visions, through to people like N.K. Jemisin and her Afrofuturism. It’s like flipping through the pages of a cosmic history book.
Ultimately, it’s just interesting, and some quotes really hit home like meteor showers; brief but brilliant. They ignite curiosity, spark debate, and remind us that imagination is our most potent means of travel.
That said, the book is ultimately a little flat for me. The void between quotes is vast. Where are the footnotes? The context? The author’s commentary? Without these, we’re lost in space, floating without coordinates. This is the real failing of this book for me. I want to enter into a debate. I want to explore the timeline of how sci-fi has developed. I want a line drawn between authors who have inspired authors who have inspired authors.
Damn You, Entropy! is a cosmic kaleidoscope, but it yearns for a celestial guide. If you seek raw inspiration, dive in, and the book is good for what it is. But bring your own star map, because sometimes, even entropy needs a nudge.
This makes the book tricky to rate. I want to say 2 out of 5, but am I rating this against a metric that the author never attempted to meet? Is this fair? It certainly succeeds at what it intends to do. That should count for something.
Rating: 3/5
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