Scan barcode
clairedigan's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
moonlit_shelves's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
leucocrystal's review
4.0
Fascinating concept for a collection, and a fun read for any fan of exercises with stretching bizarre ideas as far as the imagination might allow. With the episodic nature of the entries, coupled with the fantastic illustrations, I was reminded of the classic (original edition of) "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" trilogy. Dexter Palmer's entry for "D" is worth the price of admission alone, but I found myself smiling often throughout.
drewsof's review
4.0
Conceptually brilliant, Ann VanderMeer has curated a top-notch collection of some of the strangest creatures you've never heard of, described and codified by some of the best of the best in this weird world. Some entries are more successful than others - the ones that veer too far into the structurally-weird lose the playfulness of the prompt and are ultimately forgettable, while the ones that hew closest to the expected form tend to be the most memorable - but the whole thing is a delight for lovers of cryptozoology, the Weird, and short stories that aren't quite like any other shorts you've read. A must-have for any explorer, even the most ordinary ones.
More at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2015/12/21/the-bestiary/
(and get The Bestiary along with zounds of other awesome Weird stuff in this month's Storybundle, thru 12/31: www.storybundle.com/fiction)
More at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2015/12/21/the-bestiary/
(and get The Bestiary along with zounds of other awesome Weird stuff in this month's Storybundle, thru 12/31: www.storybundle.com/fiction)
competencefantasy's review
4.0
It has that rare "one more potato chip" quality that I long for in anthologies.
iceangel9's review
3.0
A bestiary is a collection of descriptions of animals, usually fantastical ones. Bestiaries trace their origins to Ancient Greece, but rose to popularity in the Middle Ages. VanderMeer has drawn together quite a collection of authors to create entries for this little volume. The beasts are indeed fantastical, some hilariously so, and the illustrations are beautifully drawn. A wonderful way to fill a couple of hours of your time.
More...