Author:	Brian Aldiss
Copyright:	1960
Date Reviewed:	9/9/84
Rating:	7.5

Synopsis: "Galaxies Like Grains of Sand" is anthology of interrelated short stories tracing the development of mankind through 40 million years from the end of a devastating nuclear war to the end of the human race. There are stories about visitors from the future, genetics laws, robots that try to fend for themselves when the humans die, a new galactic war-economy culture, finding Earth again, a super-human mutation (self-aware cells) that is wiped out, and the true next race of man.

Review: Writing a future history series that takes place thousands and millions of years in the future and encompasses the entire galaxy is no easy task. Brian Aldiss makes a reasonable attempt. The stories are not very consistent and there are some outstanding technical flaws but overall the book is interesting. Aldiss deals with a variety of subjects which helps a lot. In many anthologies the same theme is repeated over and over again ("Galaxies Like Grains of Sand" does have a problem towards the end concerning man's death but its not really overdone). There are two specific problems I had. Aldiss treats the galaxy as a unit somehow integrated with man. When man leaves, the galaxy must follow. It's the same mistake that "Star Trek" made in putting a barrier around the galaxy. As I read in one "Star Trek" review book, putting a barrier around the galaxy is like putting one around a sneeze. Similarly, after 40 million years, man may be old but that's only .2% of the age of the galaxy which is no difference at all.