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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I'll give it three stars for Rachel Swirsky, Caitlin R. Kiernan, William Browning Spencer, Kage Baker, and Patrick Rothfuss. Mike Resnick's story wasn't particularly dark, but it was interesting. The rest range from bland to really terrible.
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this short story collection eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
The cover drew me in and three things convinced me to read this book:
1. I love dark fantasy;
2. It is a Subterranean Press book and they do great work; and
3. This collection has 10 stories. I have only read 4 of the authors' other works but the P. Djèlí Clark story cliched it.
Out of the 10 stories I loved 5 of them, 3 were just okay, and I didn't like 2. I will try to give ye an idea of the bare bones and thoughts on the stories:
"Orderly Progression of Hearts" (Kat Howard)- This story was written in second person and didn't work for me at all. Ugh. Apparently me heart turned to stone then other things. Not a good start to this anthology.
"Cherry Street Tango, Sweatbox Waltz" (Caitlín R. Kiernan) - This story is about an assassin's gig gone wrong and the interrogation is going through. It took a moment to get settled into the style but I started to like it before it abruptly ended. Teaser tale that just wasn't long enough to be completely satisfying.
"Estate Sale" (Bentley Little) - A woman goes to a neighborhood estate sale only to get confused when she recognizes some of the items being sold. Light and kind of silly but fun.
"Twisted Hazel" (Stephen Gallagher) - I rather enjoyed this ghost story. It is very poignant and had a semisweet ending. I thought the atmosphere was nicely done.
"Death Comes for the Rich Man" (Robert McCammon) - A rich man hires a problem-solver to delay Death so he can speak with his estranged daughter one last time. The hired man has an usual night. I enjoyed this story even though I feel like I have already read a version of this tale before.
"At the Threshold of Your Bedchamber on the Fifth Night" (Sarah Gailey) - This certainly is the best story of the collection so far. A suitor comes to win a challenge - receive the hand of the beautiful princess if they can remain awake for five whole days and nights. And of course there is a twist. Lovely.
"Final Course" (C.J. Tudor) - This was first story that actually felt like dark fantasy. I loved it. It's the end of the world where darkness and monsters reign. Five old college friends gather at a manor in the country with hopes of survival. Then of course one goes missing. I love this author's work.
"Lamagica" (Ian R. MacLeod) - I liked the setting of this world and the characters and the quest for the missing brother. I did think that the story was too long and didn't love the ending. The first half was stronger than the second and I ended up not really liking it overall.
"Razor Pig" (Richard Kadrey) - Creepy dark carnival and a missing daughter. I wasn't expecting how this worked out but I rather liked it. Gruesome.
"Skin Magic" (P. Djèlí Clark) - A fantastic story but what an abrupt ending! Please make this into a full length novel.
I be very grateful to have a chance to read these stories and am glad I pushed through the beginning. While I didn't love every story, I do have a few new favourites. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Subterranean Press!
The cover drew me in and three things convinced me to read this book:
1. I love dark fantasy;
2. It is a Subterranean Press book and they do great work; and
3. This collection has 10 stories. I have only read 4 of the authors' other works but the P. Djèlí Clark story cliched it.
Out of the 10 stories I loved 5 of them, 3 were just okay, and I didn't like 2. I will try to give ye an idea of the bare bones and thoughts on the stories:
"Orderly Progression of Hearts" (Kat Howard)- This story was written in second person and didn't work for me at all. Ugh. Apparently me heart turned to stone then other things. Not a good start to this anthology.
"Cherry Street Tango, Sweatbox Waltz" (Caitlín R. Kiernan) - This story is about an assassin's gig gone wrong and the interrogation is going through. It took a moment to get settled into the style but I started to like it before it abruptly ended. Teaser tale that just wasn't long enough to be completely satisfying.
"Estate Sale" (Bentley Little) - A woman goes to a neighborhood estate sale only to get confused when she recognizes some of the items being sold. Light and kind of silly but fun.
"Twisted Hazel" (Stephen Gallagher) - I rather enjoyed this ghost story. It is very poignant and had a semisweet ending. I thought the atmosphere was nicely done.
"Death Comes for the Rich Man" (Robert McCammon) - A rich man hires a problem-solver to delay Death so he can speak with his estranged daughter one last time. The hired man has an usual night. I enjoyed this story even though I feel like I have already read a version of this tale before.
"At the Threshold of Your Bedchamber on the Fifth Night" (Sarah Gailey) - This certainly is the best story of the collection so far. A suitor comes to win a challenge - receive the hand of the beautiful princess if they can remain awake for five whole days and nights. And of course there is a twist. Lovely.
"Final Course" (C.J. Tudor) - This was first story that actually felt like dark fantasy. I loved it. It's the end of the world where darkness and monsters reign. Five old college friends gather at a manor in the country with hopes of survival. Then of course one goes missing. I love this author's work.
"Lamagica" (Ian R. MacLeod) - I liked the setting of this world and the characters and the quest for the missing brother. I did think that the story was too long and didn't love the ending. The first half was stronger than the second and I ended up not really liking it overall.
"Razor Pig" (Richard Kadrey) - Creepy dark carnival and a missing daughter. I wasn't expecting how this worked out but I rather liked it. Gruesome.
"Skin Magic" (P. Djèlí Clark) - A fantastic story but what an abrupt ending! Please make this into a full length novel.
I be very grateful to have a chance to read these stories and am glad I pushed through the beginning. While I didn't love every story, I do have a few new favourites. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Subterranean Press!
Alastair Baffles Emporium of Wonders — Mike Resnick
É a primeira vez que leio algo do Mike Resnick, nunca tinha ouvido falar dele antes de dar de cara com esse conto aleatoriamente. Ele é famoso pelos prêmios que ganhou, dezenas de indicações e vitórias no Hugo e no Nebula, dá para se dizer merecidamente.
É um conto fantástico bem escrito, simpático e cheio de sentimento. Não consigo não pensar que a fantasia e a ficção científica que surgia e papava prêmios há dez, vinte anos atrás era tão diferente das de hoje em dia. A narrativa corre por diversos temas: envelhecimento, memória, crença, desejo. Nessa história, dois garotos, Silver e Gold, se encontram na loja que dá título ao livro: O Empório das Maravilhas de Alastair Baffle. Eles testemunham truques baratos de mágica por alguns centavos e tornam-se amigos inseparáveis. Agora, velhos de noventa anos em um asilo, com os ossos estalando e órgãos falhando, decidem revisitar a loja uma última vez aquele lugar tão importante na vida deles (que está sempre mudando de endereço). A primeira parte do conto, relativamente longo, é a vida dos homens no asilo e a escapada para procurar pela loja.
Como era de se esperar, eles conseguem encontrá-la, e surpreendem-se quando Alastair, o mágico, parece não ter envelhecido nem um fio de cabelo desde a última visita — quase meio século atrás. Só pode ser um parente, pensam. Ele ainda performa seus truques por alguns centavos, mas os idosos não se impressionam tão fácil quanto quando eram crianças, então Alastair precisa recorrer a truques mais extraordinários. A partir daí, os dois velhos começam a ter reações diferentes sobre tudo que experimentam, e se dá início um embate entre a credulidade e a incredulidade, com ambos, os velhos amigos, seguindo caminhos diferentes.
Além do pacing agradável e o contraste entre a interação dos dois, o Alastair é um personagem incrível, memorável e com certeza um dos destaques da história. A inflexibilidade de um dos velhos perante aos acontecimentos é um pouco chata de se ler, mas é algo inerente a ele, trata-se de velhos de noventa anos, ranzinzas e presos num asilo.
O final não é surpreendente nem extremamente inspirado, mas é leve e casa perfeitamente com a atmosfera da história; não é excepcional, mas, ao mesmo tempo, é legal de ler e facilmente integraria qualquer antologia mais leve de fantasia. É uma boa apresentação do gênero.
“I already told you,” answered Baffle with a smug smile. “You live in a changing universe, Master Silver. You must never assume that all things change at the same pace.”
"Seriously, how did you pull that off?” I persisted.
“Seriously?” he repeated, arching an eyebrow and seeming to look right through me to some interior spot that nobody was ever supposed to see. “You take two well-meaning but unexceptional lives, stir in all the might-have-beens and never-weres, baste lightly with the optimism of youth, the cynicism of maturity, and the pessimism of age, add a soupaon of triumph and a cup of failure, heat the oven with vanished passion, sprinkle with just the tiniest pinch of wisdom, and there you have it.” He smiled, as if totally pleased with his explanation. “Works every time.”
É a primeira vez que leio algo do Mike Resnick, nunca tinha ouvido falar dele antes de dar de cara com esse conto aleatoriamente. Ele é famoso pelos prêmios que ganhou, dezenas de indicações e vitórias no Hugo e no Nebula, dá para se dizer merecidamente.
É um conto fantástico bem escrito, simpático e cheio de sentimento. Não consigo não pensar que a fantasia e a ficção científica que surgia e papava prêmios há dez, vinte anos atrás era tão diferente das de hoje em dia. A narrativa corre por diversos temas: envelhecimento, memória, crença, desejo. Nessa história, dois garotos, Silver e Gold, se encontram na loja que dá título ao livro: O Empório das Maravilhas de Alastair Baffle. Eles testemunham truques baratos de mágica por alguns centavos e tornam-se amigos inseparáveis. Agora, velhos de noventa anos em um asilo, com os ossos estalando e órgãos falhando, decidem revisitar a loja uma última vez aquele lugar tão importante na vida deles (que está sempre mudando de endereço). A primeira parte do conto, relativamente longo, é a vida dos homens no asilo e a escapada para procurar pela loja.
Como era de se esperar, eles conseguem encontrá-la, e surpreendem-se quando Alastair, o mágico, parece não ter envelhecido nem um fio de cabelo desde a última visita — quase meio século atrás. Só pode ser um parente, pensam. Ele ainda performa seus truques por alguns centavos, mas os idosos não se impressionam tão fácil quanto quando eram crianças, então Alastair precisa recorrer a truques mais extraordinários. A partir daí, os dois velhos começam a ter reações diferentes sobre tudo que experimentam, e se dá início um embate entre a credulidade e a incredulidade, com ambos, os velhos amigos, seguindo caminhos diferentes.
Além do pacing agradável e o contraste entre a interação dos dois, o Alastair é um personagem incrível, memorável e com certeza um dos destaques da história. A inflexibilidade de um dos velhos perante aos acontecimentos é um pouco chata de se ler, mas é algo inerente a ele, trata-se de velhos de noventa anos, ranzinzas e presos num asilo.
O final não é surpreendente nem extremamente inspirado, mas é leve e casa perfeitamente com a atmosfera da história; não é excepcional, mas, ao mesmo tempo, é legal de ler e facilmente integraria qualquer antologia mais leve de fantasia. É uma boa apresentação do gênero.
“I already told you,” answered Baffle with a smug smile. “You live in a changing universe, Master Silver. You must never assume that all things change at the same pace.”
Though a few of the authors were a bit too quick with the orientalism and child death for my tastes, the collection is, as a whole, very strong.
Personal favourites:
1. "Alastair Baffle's Emporium of Wonders," which focuses on two crotchety 90 year olds on a search for their boyhood magic shop,
2. "It Washed Up," a musical interlude starring a Something from the depths,
3. "Monstruous Embrace," a beautifully crafted love story between a handsome prince and the concept of ugliness itself,
4. "Penguins of the Apocalypse," an alcoholic divorcee's battle against a strange, blurry-faced man who'll do anything to free the penguins at the zoo,
5. "Caves of Mystery," in which a girl who can see ghosts meets a mysterious boy with a slashed throat, and
6. "Face," a fascinating meditation on law and culture in which a judge must choose whether a man of another species must return his daughter's face to her.
Definitely a good addition to any short story lover's collection!
Personal favourites:
1. "Alastair Baffle's Emporium of Wonders," which focuses on two crotchety 90 year olds on a search for their boyhood magic shop,
2. "It Washed Up," a musical interlude starring a Something from the depths,
3. "Monstruous Embrace," a beautifully crafted love story between a handsome prince and the concept of ugliness itself,
4. "Penguins of the Apocalypse," an alcoholic divorcee's battle against a strange, blurry-faced man who'll do anything to free the penguins at the zoo,
5. "Caves of Mystery," in which a girl who can see ghosts meets a mysterious boy with a slashed throat, and
6. "Face," a fascinating meditation on law and culture in which a judge must choose whether a man of another species must return his daughter's face to her.
Definitely a good addition to any short story lover's collection!
First of all, I think the book is misnamed. When I think fantasy, I think of dragons, magic, goblins, elves, and wizards. There was one story that had magic. Supernatural, sure, but not a fantasy.
No harm done because this was a great read. No story is much over thirty pages so it is easy to squeeze in some reading.
My three 5 star stories were Estate Sale by Bentley Little, Final Course by C. J. Tudor and Death comes for the Rich Man by Robert McCammon which is a Matthew Corbett short story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review
No harm done because this was a great read. No story is much over thirty pages so it is easy to squeeze in some reading.
My three 5 star stories were Estate Sale by Bentley Little, Final Course by C. J. Tudor and Death comes for the Rich Man by Robert McCammon which is a Matthew Corbett short story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This anthology gets a solid three stars from me because, for one reason or another, every story in it was simply average. Each of the stories managed to fall into either: Category A) generic story with okay writing or B) great story idea with so-so execution/writing. There was a decent amount of variety, despite the fact that the three most similar stories were pilled on top of each other. While there did not seem to be a cohesive idea of what "dark" is, you could argue that the anthology does a good job of providing many different definitions of the term. However, you could also argue that some of these stories are not really dark at all - just supernatural, or sad, or violent.
"Final Course" was easily my favorite of the stories, I just wish it hadn't wrapped up so quickly. The ending felt as if the author had suddenly realized he was out of time. If he had had time to make it a full novella, it would have been five stars.
I would recommend this anthology if it has authors you already like or you have liked previous installments of the series. Otherwise, there are stronger collections out there.
This anthology gets a solid three stars from me because, for one reason or another, every story in it was simply average. Each of the stories managed to fall into either: Category A) generic story with okay writing or B) great story idea with so-so execution/writing. There was a decent amount of variety, despite the fact that the three most similar stories were pilled on top of each other. While there did not seem to be a cohesive idea of what "dark" is, you could argue that the anthology does a good job of providing many different definitions of the term. However, you could also argue that some of these stories are not really dark at all - just supernatural, or sad, or violent.
"Final Course" was easily my favorite of the stories, I just wish it hadn't wrapped up so quickly. The ending felt as if the author had suddenly realized he was out of time. If he had had time to make it a full novella, it would have been five stars.
I would recommend this anthology if it has authors you already like or you have liked previous installments of the series. Otherwise, there are stronger collections out there.