Without proper exposition it just reads as a month python sketch, interesting none the less.

Merged review:

"The First Contact with the Gorgonids" 2 this one feels really out of place for me in the context of the rest of the book and just Ursula's work. She writes these alien cultures so distant to our own with so much humanity, I don't understand how these people feel like set dressing to me.
I'm going to seek out some more of her real world fiction.

"Newton's Sleep" 4 my favourite , wanted more if anything really interesting ideas just not a great ending , very out of character for Ursula, even when I don't love a book of hers the ending still usually feels like a perfect fit.

"The Ascent of the North Face" 2 not enough exposition to understand who our explorers are or what they are.

"The Rock That Changed Things" 5 interesting idea simply explained.

"The Kerastion" 3 just fine.

"The Shobies' Story" 3.5 outside of getting to see the cultures we've come accustomed to interact and come together to form this sweet ship family its it's really just a bit explanation for the latter two stories.

"Dancing to Ganam" 5 the anomalous perception works better in this one I think.

"Another Story" or "A Fisherman of the Inland sea" 4.5 brilliant but we really don't get an explanation and that kills me.


I'd say that all but the first story are worth a read including the introduction.