Wandering Stars

by Tommy Orange
Wandering Stars cover
Good Books rating 3.38
Anthologies (Multi-author)
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 7
  • Added: 2025-08-02
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781580237758
  • Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
  • Published: 2014-02-11
  • Formats: 36
  • Reviews: 4

Wandering Stars is a groundbreaking anthology that brings together the best of Jewish science fiction and fantasy, offering a fresh and unmasked perspective on the Jewish People and their rich themes. This landmark collection is celebrated for its wit, cultural depth, and the seamless blend of humor and faith, making it a must-read for fans of speculative fiction. Featuring stories by renowned authors, Wandering Stars explores a variety of genres within science fiction and fantasy, all while highlighting the unique viewpoints and experiences of Jewish culture. From fantastical tales to thought-provoking sci-fi, this collection is a testament to the enduring appeal of Jewish storytelling.

Reviews
SF Site · Chris Donner · 2025-10-20
positive 4.00

The collection is praised for its unique title and the way it links Jewish themes with fantasy and science fiction. It is seen as a significant contribution to the genre.

Chris Donner appreciates the title of Wandering Stars for its clever linkage of Jewish themes with fantasy and science fiction. They see this anthology as a significant contribution to the genre, highlighting its unique perspective and the way it brings together diverse stories under a cohesive theme. The reviewer notes that the collection stands out for its cultural specificity and the way it enriches the broader landscape of science fiction and fantasy. They find the anthology to be both thought-provoking and enjoyable, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

Quick quotes

    The title of this collection neatly links a rich tradition of Jewish storytelling with the imaginative possibilities of science fiction and fantasy.

    Wandering Stars is a significant contribution to the genre, offering a unique perspective that enriches the broader landscape of science fiction and fantasy.

    The anthology stands out for its cultural specificity and the way it brings together diverse stories under a cohesive theme.

Contemporary Jewry · Joseph S. Drew · 2025-10-20
positive 4.50

The anthology is a landmark in Jewish science fiction and fantasy, offering a blend of myth and modern storytelling. It is a classic that continues to resonate with readers.

Joseph S. Drew highlights Wandering Stars as a landmark collection that brings together Jewish science fiction and fantasy in a way that hasn't been done before. They praise the anthology for its ability to blend myth and modern storytelling, creating a unique and enduring classic. The reviewer emphasizes the significance of this collection in the genre, noting its lasting impact and relevance. They appreciate the diversity of stories and the way they capture the essence of Jewish culture and imagination.

Quick quotes

    Wandering Stars is the landmark collection of Jewish science fiction and fantasy.

    The first of its kind, it is an established and enduring classic.

    The anthology captures the essence of Jewish culture and imagination in a unique and compelling way.

The Storygraph · 2025-10-20
mixed 3.00

The collection offers a distinctively Jewish perspective, with some stories standing out more than others. The overall quality is average, but the unique viewpoint makes it worthwhile.

This reviewer found that Wandering Stars offers a refreshing and distinctively Jewish perspective on fantasy and science fiction. While some stories resonated more strongly than others, the collection as a whole is pretty average. However, the unique cultural lens through which these stories are told makes it a valuable read. They appreciated the diversity of themes and the way the anthology captures the essence of Jewish storytelling, even if not every story was a standout.

Quick quotes

    Pretty average for any anthology; I liked some of the stories a lot but most didn't quite grab me.

    I liked that the perspective is so distinctly Jewish, and it's a refreshing change from the usual fantasy and science fiction fare.

    The anthology captures the essence of Jewish storytelling, making it a unique and worthwhile collection.

devontrevarrowflaherty.com · Unknown · 2024-04-16
disappointing 2.00

The reviewer did not enjoy 'Wandering Stars' by Tommy Orange, finding it a step back from his previous work. They criticized the book's confusing structure, lack of a compelling plot, and the author's use of multiple perspectives and grammatical errors. Despite the interesting characters and history, the reviewer felt the book was more like a collection of essays and lacked readability.

The reviewer expresses disappointment with 'Wandering Stars' by Tommy Orange, feeling it did not live up to the hype or the promise of his first book, 'There There'. They found the book's structure confusing and disjointed, with frequent shifts in chronology and perspective that did not enhance the story. The reviewer also criticized the use of grammatical errors, which they felt were not purposeful but rather confusing and detracting from the reading experience. Despite the interesting characters and historical context, the reviewer felt the book lacked a compelling plot and readable storytelling, making it feel more like a collection of essays than a cohesive novel. They also noted that the book's themes of addiction and trauma were not uniquely presented and could be found in other works they would recommend more highly.

Quick quotes

    The reviewer did not enjoy 'Wandering Stars' by Tommy Orange, finding it a step back from his previous work. They criticized the book's confusing structure, lack of a compelling plot, and the author's use of multiple perspectives and grammatical errors. Despite the interesting characters and history, the reviewer felt the book was more like a collection of essays and lacked readability.

    I’m not exactly saying that _Wandering Stars_ is a bad book, it’s just not what it’s made out to be before you even crack the spine.

    This is what I jotted down after I had read it, before I went to book club or looked online at other reviews: both the sentence and story structure are confusing. Lots of work and guessing (by the reader). Very jumpy. Present tense _and_ past. No time tags. Many confusing sentences; example: “But there he was possibly dying from what?” (p67); “The coats of paint up there were changing, seeming more than random forms, more and more like distinct shapes, and then like shadows from a life he’d once lived but couldn’t remember, or a life on its way, a future beyond what he would hope for if he could hope, or if hope was the right word for how drugs could feel when they were really starting to work” (p120).

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