Across the Event Horizon
268 pages (trade paperback)
March 1, 2013 from NewCon Press
ISBN-10: 1907069518
ISBN-13: 978-1907069512
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Mercurio D Rivera first burst onto the scene with his poignant story of unrequited alien love, “Longing for Langalana.” Featured in Interzone, “Langalana” won the magazine’s readers’ poll for best story of that year and became the first of many pieces to earn honorable mention in Gardner Dozois’ Year’s Best anthology. Since then, Mercurio’s work has appeared regularly in Interzone, as well as such venues as Asimov’s, Nature, Black Static, and Solaris Rising 2. In 2011, his story “Tu Sufrimiento Shall Protect Us” was shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award and received honorable mention in Ellen Datlow’s Year’s Best Horror.
Across the Event Horizon contains the very best of Mercurio’s work to date; fourteen stories selected by the author himself, including “Langalana” and “Tu Sufrimiento”.
Introduction by science fiction veteran Terry Bisson.
Reviews
The Book Smugglers – Stefan Raets
“In this outstanding collection, Rivera mixes classic SF techniques and tropes with more modern thoughts and sensibilities. Often, he follows the familiar pattern of introducing one innovation/technology/evolution, then extrapolating an entire future from that starting point. What’s often surprising, even shocking, is the way Rivera adds layers of ambivalence and complexity to what initially often feel like single idea stories.”
Interzone – Matthew Dent
“Across the Event Horizon” treats us to fourteen stories, taking us on a journey across the universe and beyond. All of them have a profound basis in human (or non-human) relationships, and they have a unifying theme of questioning who we are and what our place in the universe is – on both as individuals and a species.
“This is an anthology to read and read again. Rivera is blessed with a sharp pen, and a sharper mind, and the themes and ideas which he chooses to explore are always thrilling, and handled with a deft and adventurous wit which is a pleasure to read.”
http://matthewsdent.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/across-the-event-horizon-by-mercurio-d-rivera-a-review/
SFCrowsnest (Patrick Mahon):
“I normally expect to find one or two stories that I don’t enjoy in any collection or anthology. Not so here. All fourteen stories had something interesting to offer. To me that seems like a rare achievement in itself.”
http://sfcrowsnest.org.uk/across-the-event-horizon-by-mercurio-d-riverabook-review/
Henry Gee
“Collections allow one to spot any underlying themes in an author’s work. The difficulties of communication – between people, between different species – seems to be Rivera’s central preoccupation. But no matter how dark these yarns get, there always seems to be space in Rivera’s fiction for lightness, hope, and plain old-fashioned fun (remember that?) even if it’s around the corner, or a few streets away. It’s this, I think, that elevates Rivera’s fiction from the ordinary and elevates it to the level of classic SF. Which this undoubtedly is. Kudos to Ian Whates and NewCon Press for pulling together this sparkling collection from one of SF’s rising stars.”
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/578766163
Abyss & Apex
“This is one of the best short story collections I have ever read. Ever.”
http://www.abyssapexzine.com/2013/06/3q2013-bookreviews
Warpcore SF – Ros Jackson
“There’s something quite classic about this collection of mostly science fiction stories. They read as though they could have been written 50 years ago, or 50 years in the future. This timelessness comes from their focus on an exploration of human nature, rather than the latest realistic advances in science and technology.
“Overall I was impressed by Across The Event Horizon. It’s fresh, inventive, and sometimes disturbing, because the author is always questioning things. If you’re after quirky science fiction that goes beyond the usual tropes and features interesting characters, I highly recommend this.”
http://www.warpcoresf.co.uk/across-the-event-horizon.php
The Eloquent Page:
“I’ll hold my hands up and admit that I’ve taken my time reading this collection, each story has been just such a delight to discover. I actively wanted to take as long as I could to enjoy this. In turns funny, poignant, thought provoking, dark and perceptive. Everyone science fiction fan should be reading this, every single one.
“I reckon it’s only a matter of time before Rivera’s writing is going to be massively popular, this collection is fantastic and acts as an ideal introduction to this author’s work. Fans of science fiction, especially in the short form, will lap this up. Highly recommended.”
http://www.theeloquentpage.co.uk/2013/06/12/across-the-event-horizon-by-mercurio-d-rivera/
The Stars My Destination – Jim Stewart
“In many ways Rivera’s stories hearken back to an earlier era of speculative fiction, an era more concerned with exploring ideas of what it means to be human than trying to actually predict what will happen. Many of his stories feature surprising twist endings that are worthy of a the best Twilight Zone episodes. These kinds of stories are something that speculative fiction needs more of, and I will be eagerly watching for future publications with works by Mercurio Rivera.”
http://jimnstewart.blogspot.com/2013/07/singularities-across-event-horizon-by.html
Karlos Laws
“Mercurio D. Rivera’s stories punch you in the stomach with a great idea, toy with your emotions, then leave you gasping for more.
“These stories may remind you of Ray Bradbury’s serious storytelling, Philip K. Dick’s sense of humor, and J.G. Ballard’s surreal and visceral imagery. They’ve been widely anthologized for a reason — they’ll leave you wanting more.”
http://www.karloslaws.com/review-across-the-event-horizon/
Adrian Tchaikovsky:
“Superb, imaginative and very thought-provoking.”
http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/872
Horror Novels Review (Paula Limbaugh)
So many other good stories are included in this collection, a bit sci-fi, a bit horror all of them written to be savored. I do hope you enjoy reading this as much as I have.
4 out of 5 stars.
http://horrornovelreviews.com/tag/across-the-event-horizon/
The Book Smugglers (NK Jemisin)
Rivera’s stories alternately fascinate me and scare the bejeezus out of me by turns… This collection of his best stories also contains some of his most mindblowing hard science fiction, including tales of the Wergen — an alien race which has a disturbing biological reaction to humankind, and which triggers an ethically disturbing response from us in turn. But there’s more here than that: stories which make me think, and shiver, and which I can’t get out of my head. Which of course is why I want to share them with you.
http://thebooksmugglers.com/2013/12/smugglivus-2013-guest-author-n-k-jemisin.html
