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sophenomenal's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
bookaneer's review against another edition
2.0
Two stars are shared: one for the Dunk and Egg novella and another for the fact that my ebook copy doesn't have the two Tuf stories (weird...) . Anyway, Dreamsongs volume I was awesome so I have high expectations for this one. And boy, do I have my wish.
I seriously can't pick any novella that I could enjoy than The Hedge Knight. No wonder I took such a long time to finish this book. The other stories either boring or uninteresting or combination of both.
I seriously can't pick any novella that I could enjoy than The Hedge Knight. No wonder I took such a long time to finish this book. The other stories either boring or uninteresting or combination of both.
luana420's review
5.0
This is the good half of the collection! If you're a big GRRM fan who is low on cash, get this one, I'd say. The least good stories are the TV pitches, but they're relatively fast reads so you can get through them right quick.
This collection made me realize I'm a sucker for Martin's Federal Empire universe (that's what I'm calling it right now), a lovely collection of worlds with utterly diverse stories weaving them together (or not).
The Hedge Knight is an atypically earnest and upbeat story set in the Game of Thrones universe, so if its bleakness usually turns you off -- do not worry here, chaps!
The Skin Trade is a fun urban fantasy whodunit centered around a serial killer who targets werewolves. Martin says it's a shame he never did anything more with the world, but hey, a good story is a good story.
This collection made me realize I'm a sucker for Martin's Federal Empire universe (that's what I'm calling it right now), a lovely collection of worlds with utterly diverse stories weaving them together (or not).
The Hedge Knight is an atypically earnest and upbeat story set in the Game of Thrones universe, so if its bleakness usually turns you off -- do not worry here, chaps!
The Skin Trade is a fun urban fantasy whodunit centered around a serial killer who targets werewolves. Martin says it's a shame he never did anything more with the world, but hey, a good story is a good story.
thenthomwaslike's review against another edition
1.0
Only 2 good stories in the whole collection. Enormous waste of time
alexctelander's review against another edition
3.0
In this second and final volume of George R. R. Martin’s short works, readers are treated to his writings of the 1980’s leading up to the 90s when his career took off with the eventual success of his Song of Ice and Fire series. It is in this collection that we learn more of Martin’s dabbling into television and screenwriting, as well his exploits into the world of Dungeons & Dragons.
Divided into four parts, the first covers two stories involving Martin’s eccentric character Haviland Tuf, an animal seller, who is the last surviving member of the ancient and defunct Ecological Group. Tuf with his menagerie travel the universe in The Ark, a ship that is many miles in length. All stories involving Tuf were eventually collected and published in a book, Tuf Voyaging, which Martin recommends fans seek out to read more about the redoubtable Tuf, but they must seek the used and out-of-print stores to find a copy.
The second part covers Martin’s trip into screenwriting, specifically for TV shows. Two shows that Martin worked on were the 1980s incarnation of The Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast. Scripts for two episodes of The Twilight Zone: “The Road Less Traveled,” and “Doorways” are included here. While this was essentially the end for Martin’s involvement in TV, he is quick to point out that he learned greatly from it. It was just one of the stepping stones that led to the creation of his epic fantasy series, still some years away.
In the third section, Martin discusses the surprising success of the Wild Cards series, which began with role-playing games amongst a group of writers – including Martin – when he moved to Santa Fe. The worlds, ideas and set-ups created for the different games were the impetus for the Wild Cards series which is still doing very well and now has its own website at http://www.wildcardsbooks.com/.
In the fourth and final part, Martin leads up to the start of his epic series with some popular stories along the way, as well as including the novella The Hedge Knight set ten years before the start of the series. And for those hardcore fans, at the end there is an exhaustive and comprehensive listing of all George R. R. Martin’s works, should one feel the compunction to read absolutely everything the man has ever written.
While the completion and release date for the fifth Song of Ice and Fire book, A Dance With Dragons, is still a distant and unknown destination, the Dreamsongs series can lead one on tangents into Martin’s other writings, eventually bringing them full circle when A Dance With Dragons is eventually released.
Originally written on December 15th 2007 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and author interviews, go to Bookbanter.net
Divided into four parts, the first covers two stories involving Martin’s eccentric character Haviland Tuf, an animal seller, who is the last surviving member of the ancient and defunct Ecological Group. Tuf with his menagerie travel the universe in The Ark, a ship that is many miles in length. All stories involving Tuf were eventually collected and published in a book, Tuf Voyaging, which Martin recommends fans seek out to read more about the redoubtable Tuf, but they must seek the used and out-of-print stores to find a copy.
The second part covers Martin’s trip into screenwriting, specifically for TV shows. Two shows that Martin worked on were the 1980s incarnation of The Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast. Scripts for two episodes of The Twilight Zone: “The Road Less Traveled,” and “Doorways” are included here. While this was essentially the end for Martin’s involvement in TV, he is quick to point out that he learned greatly from it. It was just one of the stepping stones that led to the creation of his epic fantasy series, still some years away.
In the third section, Martin discusses the surprising success of the Wild Cards series, which began with role-playing games amongst a group of writers – including Martin – when he moved to Santa Fe. The worlds, ideas and set-ups created for the different games were the impetus for the Wild Cards series which is still doing very well and now has its own website at http://www.wildcardsbooks.com/.
In the fourth and final part, Martin leads up to the start of his epic series with some popular stories along the way, as well as including the novella The Hedge Knight set ten years before the start of the series. And for those hardcore fans, at the end there is an exhaustive and comprehensive listing of all George R. R. Martin’s works, should one feel the compunction to read absolutely everything the man has ever written.
While the completion and release date for the fifth Song of Ice and Fire book, A Dance With Dragons, is still a distant and unknown destination, the Dreamsongs series can lead one on tangents into Martin’s other writings, eventually bringing them full circle when A Dance With Dragons is eventually released.
Originally written on December 15th 2007 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and author interviews, go to Bookbanter.net
solaniisrex's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of short stories is an excellent introduction to the mind of George RR Martin. Running the gamut from fantasy to science-fiction to horror there is something in there for everyone. I picked this up specifically for the stories "Nightflyers" and "The Sand Kings" but found so many more of interest. Most surprising of all was the incredible similarity between the story "The Hedge Knight" which takes place in Game of Thrones' Westeros and the 2001 film "A Knight's Tale".
magglett's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A Beast for Norn - 2/5
Guardians - 2/5
The Twilight Zone: "The Road Less Traveled" - 3/5
Doorways - 3/5
Shell Games - 2/5
From the Journal of Xavier Desmond - 2/5
(I almost DNF'd at this point lol)
Under Siege - 4/5
The Skin Trade - 4/5
Unsound Variations - 4/5
The Glass Flower - 2/5
The Hedge Knight - 5/5
Portraits of His Children - 4/5
Guardians - 2/5
The Twilight Zone: "The Road Less Traveled" - 3/5
Doorways - 3/5
Shell Games - 2/5
From the Journal of Xavier Desmond - 2/5
(I almost DNF'd at this point lol)
Under Siege - 4/5
The Skin Trade - 4/5
Unsound Variations - 4/5
The Glass Flower - 2/5
The Hedge Knight - 5/5
Portraits of His Children - 4/5
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The second in the two-part "Rretrospective" (obnoxious), this volume does not hold as many great quality stories but is still worth reading. This volume contains samples from his, in my opinion, b-team: Tuf, Wild Cards, and TV scripts among other things.
What redeems this volume, however is the last section "The Heart in Conflict," stories which are Martin at his easy best. "Skinchangers", "Portraits of His Children" and "Unsound Variations" are excellent examples of short fiction. This also includes his first "Dunk and Egg" story, which translated better as a graphic novelette than in purely written form.
I am a great fan of Martin, so I apologize if my tone is a bit negative but I can only think that this compilation is a celebration of Martin's past when I heartily believe his fans would like to be thinking of the future of his work, not more screen treatments and edited compilations.
What redeems this volume, however is the last section "The Heart in Conflict," stories which are Martin at his easy best. "Skinchangers", "Portraits of His Children" and "Unsound Variations" are excellent examples of short fiction. This also includes his first "Dunk and Egg" story, which translated better as a graphic novelette than in purely written form.
I am a great fan of Martin, so I apologize if my tone is a bit negative but I can only think that this compilation is a celebration of Martin's past when I heartily believe his fans would like to be thinking of the future of his work, not more screen treatments and edited compilations.
pamiam's review against another edition
4.0
I loved almost all the stories except for the last one. This book is definitely worth reading, and I enjoyed discovering so many exciting characters. I did not care for the way he would jump in to explain or set up some of the stories, but those parts are easy enough to breeze past. All in all, a very good read.