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aceinit's review
2.0
I decided after the profoundly disappointing and enormously frustrating experience that was GRRM’s “Dangerous Women” anthology that I would no longer trudge through collections on the grounds that I needed to give all the contributors a fair shot. Consider Tales of the Far West the first victim of that decision.
The premise was cool enough: a bunch of stories by a bunch of different authors, set in a world that is equal parts American Old West, and traditional Far East. Far West. Get it? Anyway... A series that’s equal parts wuxia and high noon shootouts should be fantastic, right? Throw in some steampunk because, well, steampunk is the Trend of the Moment, so people obviously love it. There’s no way westerns and kung fu and steampunk all at the same time could possibly be uninteresting, right?
I need to stop getting my hopes up in regards to these matters.
I will also admit to starting this one because of Scott Lynch’s inclusion. Andy Lynch’s story (a good 25% of the anthology on its own) is a solid ride. It did not, however, impress me in the way his Gentlemen Bastards novels have, or his incredibly fun Red Hats world. Lynch’s contribution here is good, but not great.
The other four or five stories following that I did read were somewhere between okay and good. But, again, not great. Certainly not memorable or, ultimately, anything I would recommend to a friend. And not enough of an incentive to journey through the remaining 60% or so of the anthology.
The premise was cool enough: a bunch of stories by a bunch of different authors, set in a world that is equal parts American Old West, and traditional Far East. Far West. Get it? Anyway... A series that’s equal parts wuxia and high noon shootouts should be fantastic, right? Throw in some steampunk because, well, steampunk is the Trend of the Moment, so people obviously love it. There’s no way westerns and kung fu and steampunk all at the same time could possibly be uninteresting, right?
I need to stop getting my hopes up in regards to these matters.
I will also admit to starting this one because of Scott Lynch’s inclusion. Andy Lynch’s story (a good 25% of the anthology on its own) is a solid ride. It did not, however, impress me in the way his Gentlemen Bastards novels have, or his incredibly fun Red Hats world. Lynch’s contribution here is good, but not great.
The other four or five stories following that I did read were somewhere between okay and good. But, again, not great. Certainly not memorable or, ultimately, anything I would recommend to a friend. And not enough of an incentive to journey through the remaining 60% or so of the anthology.
abigcoffeedragon's review
4.0
Good collection
This is one of the better collection of stories that I have read. Not all of them are great, but there were more hits than misses here.
This is one of the better collection of stories that I have read. Not all of them are great, but there were more hits than misses here.
banjax451's review
3.0
3.5 stars. A few exceptional stories, a few decent stories, a couple of meh entries and one or two that I didn't care for. Still, a fun read and recommended for wuxia and/or western fans.
rachaeladair's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ababoglo's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent short story collection! Every one of the stories is worthy attention. Nicely done!!
Very well executed 'shared world' created by multiple authors to bring to life an unusual but fascinating setting of weird west meets wuxia meets steampunk.
Very strongly recommended for the fans of Sanderson's new Mistborn cycle and if you enjoyed novels by John Hornor Jacobs.
Very well executed 'shared world' created by multiple authors to bring to life an unusual but fascinating setting of weird west meets wuxia meets steampunk.
Very strongly recommended for the fans of Sanderson's new Mistborn cycle and if you enjoyed novels by John Hornor Jacobs.
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
5.0
"He Built The Wall To Knock It Down" by Scott Lynch - 5/5 stars. Wonderful as always - opening lines were perfect Lynch and everyone's name was unexpected yet suitable. Good to see the female just walk away, too.
"In Stillness, Music" by Aaron Rosenberg - 4/5 stars. Really quite lovely, different to most things out there. It's always good to see a baddie who's sensible instead of so ruthless it's stupid.
"Riding The Thunderbird" by Chuck Wendig - No rating, as I had no idea why what happened, happened, or the point of the story.
"Purity of Purpose" by Gareth-Michael Skarka - 4/5 stars. Really quite awesome. So short and yet it conveyed feeling and intent, and it's always good to see experience trumping overall - so many times you see someone so young beating someone with experience, without enough reason why.
"Paper Lotus" by Tessa Gratton - 2/5 stars. Not my thing. I'm all for violence and sacrifice, but this didn't resonate with me, sadly. Needed more build-up for me to want to care.
"In the Name of the Empire" by Eddy Webb - 4/5 stars. Easy to visualise, entertaining and enjoyable all 'round.
"Errant Eagles" by Will Hindmarch - No rating, as I wasn't able to read through the fight scene (which was step, by step, by step) and beyond.
"Railroad Spikes" by Ari Marmell - 3/5 stars. Confusing start, but otherwise good and entertaining.
"The Fury Pact" by Matt Forbeck - 4/5 stars. Short, snappy, sad and believable.
"Seven Holes" by T.S. Luikart - 4/5 stars. Very good, well written, would have liked to see more.
"Local Legend" by Jason L. Blair - 4/5 stars. Entertaining and a good ending.
"Crippled Avengers" by Dave Gross - 3/5 Pretty decent.
Overall: An anthology based in the same world! It was excellent to see how they could tie in together - mentions of Twin Eagle Security mentioned in more than one story.
"In Stillness, Music" by Aaron Rosenberg - 4/5 stars. Really quite lovely, different to most things out there. It's always good to see a baddie who's sensible instead of so ruthless it's stupid.
"Riding The Thunderbird" by Chuck Wendig - No rating, as I had no idea why what happened, happened, or the point of the story.
"Purity of Purpose" by Gareth-Michael Skarka - 4/5 stars. Really quite awesome. So short and yet it conveyed feeling and intent, and it's always good to see experience trumping overall - so many times you see someone so young beating someone with experience, without enough reason why.
"Paper Lotus" by Tessa Gratton - 2/5 stars. Not my thing. I'm all for violence and sacrifice, but this didn't resonate with me, sadly. Needed more build-up for me to want to care.
"In the Name of the Empire" by Eddy Webb - 4/5 stars. Easy to visualise, entertaining and enjoyable all 'round.
"Errant Eagles" by Will Hindmarch - No rating, as I wasn't able to read through the fight scene (which was step, by step, by step) and beyond.
"Railroad Spikes" by Ari Marmell - 3/5 stars. Confusing start, but otherwise good and entertaining.
"The Fury Pact" by Matt Forbeck - 4/5 stars. Short, snappy, sad and believable.
"Seven Holes" by T.S. Luikart - 4/5 stars. Very good, well written, would have liked to see more.
"Local Legend" by Jason L. Blair - 4/5 stars. Entertaining and a good ending.
"Crippled Avengers" by Dave Gross - 3/5 Pretty decent.
Overall: An anthology based in the same world! It was excellent to see how they could tie in together - mentions of Twin Eagle Security mentioned in more than one story.
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