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kathydavie's review
5.0
A short story on tor.com with a dystopian flavor and revolving around a green circus.
My Take
This was cute and cry-worthy with McGuire creating a dystopian world obsessed with maintaining the environment — even Billie has a right to vote! It was clever all the inventions McGuire came up with that allowed the carnival to continue to perform, merging the old-fashioned with the very high-tech. I’d like one of those tents, although I think I’d be more careful than Cousin Mae.
McGuire kept the old-fashioned going with the sociopathic Davo’s patriarchal demands and underhanded maneuverings.
For all that it’s short, McGuire created an entire story with lots of show.
The Story
Ansley loves the freedom of the circus — it’s about the only place where Billie fits as well. The only downside is Davo, the newest Big Man, and the need to prove it.
The Characters
Ansley is in charge of the animals, especially Billie, a genework Indricothere, a 9-ton land mammal and a precursor to the rhinoceros. Her grazing license is as a firebreak. Uncle Ren helped Ansley acquire Billie as a baby.
The Big Men, the men in charge of deciding where and how the circus will move, the ones making the money decisions, are Cousin Davo, Seresa, and Marcus. Marcus is in demand in most of the sites where they perform for his awesome weed while Seresa and his people are amazing musical performers. Davo, well, Davo wants to own everything and everyone, even if they do refuse to marry him.
Cousin Carrie keeps the Ferris wheel turning; Cousin Bay has delusions of grandeur.
Angelo Freeman is Ansley's grandfather; Davo's father had been his eldest son. Grandmamma is sick with one of those engineered diseases. The Bone Yard seems to be the retirement community for circus people.
The Cover & Title
The cover is a splotchy oil in bright colors of Billie towing a balloon through the trees.
The title is too true for this circus is a blend of "Midway Relics and Dying Breeds".
My Take
This was cute and cry-worthy with McGuire creating a dystopian world obsessed with maintaining the environment — even Billie has a right to vote! It was clever all the inventions McGuire came up with that allowed the carnival to continue to perform, merging the old-fashioned with the very high-tech. I’d like one of those tents, although I think I’d be more careful than Cousin Mae.
McGuire kept the old-fashioned going with the sociopathic Davo’s patriarchal demands and underhanded maneuverings.
For all that it’s short, McGuire created an entire story with lots of show.
The Story
Ansley loves the freedom of the circus — it’s about the only place where Billie fits as well. The only downside is Davo, the newest Big Man, and the need to prove it.
The Characters
Ansley is in charge of the animals, especially Billie, a genework Indricothere, a 9-ton land mammal and a precursor to the rhinoceros. Her grazing license is as a firebreak. Uncle Ren helped Ansley acquire Billie as a baby.
The Big Men, the men in charge of deciding where and how the circus will move, the ones making the money decisions, are Cousin Davo, Seresa, and Marcus. Marcus is in demand in most of the sites where they perform for his awesome weed while Seresa and his people are amazing musical performers. Davo, well, Davo wants to own everything and everyone, even if they do refuse to marry him.
Cousin Carrie keeps the Ferris wheel turning; Cousin Bay has delusions of grandeur.
Angelo Freeman is Ansley's grandfather; Davo's father had been his eldest son. Grandmamma is sick with one of those engineered diseases. The Bone Yard seems to be the retirement community for circus people.
The Cover & Title
The cover is a splotchy oil in bright colors of Billie towing a balloon through the trees.
The title is too true for this circus is a blend of "Midway Relics and Dying Breeds".
crochetchrisie's review against another edition
Audiobook. Super short story but it actually felt like a proper story which is always appreciated. Honestly Seanan McGuire could write something on a cocktail napkin and I'd read it.
shelbymarie32's review
4.0
It's better to go in to short stories like this a bit blind. Or at least I think so.
The first half of this story I was a little confused but as I got acclimated with this world it started to make sense. Because I was confused for the first half of they story a took longer for me to really connect with the main character. The story is pretty simple and honestly I wish this was a short novel instead of a short story. I definitely would've liked more. But as it is it's quite good. The writing is great as always coming from this author.
I recommend this story. I recommend reading any short story really. It's a great way to sample an author if you haven't read from them or to read between books.
The first half of this story I was a little confused but as I got acclimated with this world it started to make sense. Because I was confused for the first half of they story a took longer for me to really connect with the main character. The story is pretty simple and honestly I wish this was a short novel instead of a short story. I definitely would've liked more. But as it is it's quite good. The writing is great as always coming from this author.
I recommend this story. I recommend reading any short story really. It's a great way to sample an author if you haven't read from them or to read between books.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
4.0
Midway Relics and Dying Breeds is one of several Seanan McGuire short stories that are available to read for free (love it). It's a standalone science fiction tale, so anyone can jump right in and enjoy it.
This is the tale of one (large) family and their bio-engineered carnival. More accurately, it is the story of their conflicts, struggles, and determination to hold onto what they love the most. While the setting may not be based in reality, this tale's core will feel very human and resonate with readers.
I enjoyed Midway Relics and Dying Breeds. First, the world and premise are fascinating – I would love more! Second, our protagonist's struggles are very real and human, despite the out-of-this-world setting. Seanan McGuire is so talented at making fantastical yet relatable characters; I love it.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
This is the tale of one (large) family and their bio-engineered carnival. More accurately, it is the story of their conflicts, struggles, and determination to hold onto what they love the most. While the setting may not be based in reality, this tale's core will feel very human and resonate with readers.
I enjoyed Midway Relics and Dying Breeds. First, the world and premise are fascinating – I would love more! Second, our protagonist's struggles are very real and human, despite the out-of-this-world setting. Seanan McGuire is so talented at making fantastical yet relatable characters; I love it.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
roadtripreader's review
4.0
Future tech is so fascinating. I especially love the imagining of what tech will look like in 20 or 30 or 100 years.
In this future where Environmentalists (they're dubbed Greenies)run the world, people have adapted technology to basically be earth-friendly or as mindful as possible. But that's just one interesting aspect of Seanan McGuire's future world and its tech. The second is the absolute decimation of the money system and a reversion back to battering. And I guess that is the sum of this book - equal parts futuristic and equal parts traditional.
The story follows a traveling carnival, the Midway, as it moves from town to town performing for apples and eggs and services. Yes, this happens. I dunno, I am am still deeply embedded in a money society, so of course I found that to be unique and quite frankly hilarious. Way to add layers to a future world. The tech used to move through forests and jungles (regrown now that the Greenies rule) is really quite possible in our time, with the exception of the tent. I loved reading about the balloons carrying equipment, the little cubes holding tents, the video streaming calls (which honestly is less future and more present) and countless other wonders. All of that amazing tech and right beside it is a story about patriarchy, misogyny, abuse of power by men and in particular one cantankerous, psychopathic man who was spurnedby the main character and as a result is the major conflict in this book. The man is all kinds of toxic and doesn't deserve to live in such a glorious future (save for the bartering).
My favorite character was Billie. A humungous, ginormous prehistoric rhino who spends her day walking and eating. Living the dream.
In this future where Environmentalists (they're dubbed Greenies)run the world, people have adapted technology to basically be earth-friendly or as mindful as possible. But that's just one interesting aspect of Seanan McGuire's future world and its tech. The second is the absolute decimation of the money system and a reversion back to battering. And I guess that is the sum of this book - equal parts futuristic and equal parts traditional.
The story follows a traveling carnival, the Midway, as it moves from town to town performing for apples and eggs and services. Yes, this happens. I dunno, I am am still deeply embedded in a money society, so of course I found that to be unique and quite frankly hilarious. Way to add layers to a future world. The tech used to move through forests and jungles (regrown now that the Greenies rule) is really quite possible in our time, with the exception of the tent. I loved reading about the balloons carrying equipment, the little cubes holding tents, the video streaming calls (which honestly is less future and more present) and countless other wonders. All of that amazing tech and right beside it is a story about patriarchy, misogyny, abuse of power by men and in particular one cantankerous, psychopathic man who was spurnedby the main character and as a result is the major conflict in this book. The man is all kinds of toxic and doesn't deserve to live in such a glorious future (save for the bartering).
My favorite character was Billie. A humungous, ginormous prehistoric rhino who spends her day walking and eating. Living the dream.
gabrielavmarques's review
4.0
We create the past in the things that we choose to remember about it. We turn everything into stories, and those stories matter because we say that they do. It’s all a wheel, and ours are the hands that turn it.
As cliché as it might sound, Seanan truly has a way with words. She has this beautiful and yet simple writing that offers stunning quotes and gets to your core.
A was a bit overwhelmed with the worldbuilding at first, it is a bit annoying when you don't quite get what is going on for more than half of the story. However, Seanan's world and creativity gets to you by the end.
As cliché as it might sound, Seanan truly has a way with words. She has this beautiful and yet simple writing that offers stunning quotes and gets to your core.
A was a bit overwhelmed with the worldbuilding at first, it is a bit annoying when you don't quite get what is going on for more than half of the story. However, Seanan's world and creativity gets to you by the end.
lamusadelils's review
4.0
Sentí una curiosa nostalgia por el presente, visto desde la perspectiva de alguien en un mundo completamente distinto.
slc333's review against another edition
2.0
While world building is important when creating a story I would say that in such a short story (40 pages) it is was not well done here. You have roughly 25+ pages of story giving to world building with only 15 or so given to the introduction of and interaction with characters.
catwhisperer's review against another edition
5.0
Tight world-building, believable characters, ancient beasts and a circus- what more could you want from a short story?
librosconte's review against another edition
3.0
Me re gustó el aspecto de distopía social muy centrada en lo ecológico y con este relato, Any way the wind blows y Persephone, Seanan McGuire me deja la impresión de que podría hacer una historia larga, puramente distópica, y le saldría muy bien. No solo eso sino que daría miedo. Pero lamentablemente, si bien el mundo me resultó muy bien construido, la historia del carnaval no me terminó de cerrar del todo.
No creo que sea de las mejores historias cortas de McGuire, aunque creo que es una de las mejores puntuadas 😅 Tal vez soy la opinión no popular o simplemente no era el momento correcto para leer este cuento.
Aun así, le doy tres estrellitas porque ese futuro distópico me dejó con ganas de saber más y por la aparición del indricoterino.
No creo que sea de las mejores historias cortas de McGuire, aunque creo que es una de las mejores puntuadas 😅 Tal vez soy la opinión no popular o simplemente no era el momento correcto para leer este cuento.
Aun así, le doy tres estrellitas porque ese futuro distópico me dejó con ganas de saber más y por la aparición del indricoterino.