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aksel_dadswell's review against another edition
4.0
An incredible collection that takes weird fiction to new, beautiful, unexpected heights. You can never predict how a Michael Griffin story will end; there's always a subversion of expectation, and it's wonderful to experience. A standout for me was "Diamond Dust", which has echoes of Ligotti but also happily treads its own ground, getting right under the skin and culminating with what, at this point, is clearly Griffin’s trademark heartbreaking, beautiful imagery.
The collection’s final entry, the novella "The Black Vein Runs Deep" is just incredible. Technically it’s slow-moving, but it never feels like it. It’s so immersive, and being carried by its easy current is the most pleasurable experience as we follow the main characters’ relationship blossom in the most honest and real way. His use of the supernatural, like a lot of the stories in this collection, combines physical dislocation and danger with a big slice of metaphysical, dreamlike weirdness.
Griffin’s ability to graft some seriously genius character work with endlessly inventive and original genre elements is astounding, and what makes this collection so enjoyable. Every story here was absolutely thrilling to read, and I can’t recommend Griffin’s work enough – as you can tell from this gushing, embarrassingly adjective-laden review.
The collection’s final entry, the novella "The Black Vein Runs Deep" is just incredible. Technically it’s slow-moving, but it never feels like it. It’s so immersive, and being carried by its easy current is the most pleasurable experience as we follow the main characters’ relationship blossom in the most honest and real way. His use of the supernatural, like a lot of the stories in this collection, combines physical dislocation and danger with a big slice of metaphysical, dreamlike weirdness.
Griffin’s ability to graft some seriously genius character work with endlessly inventive and original genre elements is astounding, and what makes this collection so enjoyable. Every story here was absolutely thrilling to read, and I can’t recommend Griffin’s work enough – as you can tell from this gushing, embarrassingly adjective-laden review.
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