Reviews

Excalibur by Brad Strickland, Jane Yolen, Ardath Mayhar, Richard Lee Byers, Randy Miller, Edward F. Kramer, Mercedes Lackey, Judith Tarr, Terry Tappouni, T. Winter-Damon, Lawrence Schimel, Brad Linaweaver, Marion Zimmer Bradley, J.M. Morgan, Diana L. Paxson, Nancy Holder, Charles de Lint, Daniel H. Scheltema, Eric Van Lustbader, Gary Gygax, Darrell Schweitzer, Richard Gilliam, Susan Dexter, Peter Crowther, Bill Fawcett, Joe Haldeman, Susan Shwartz, Esther M. Friesner, Martin H. Greenberg, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Diana Gabaldon, Owl Goingback, Jody Lynn Nye

audryt's review

2.0

Anthologies are usually hit and miss, but this one was mostly misses, and some of them unbelievably so. There were stories that had zero relevance to the theme, no matter what relevance the author may have thought they had, and others that were simply poorly written -- too cartoonish, making fun of Arthurian legends in a way that just didn't work, or too vague and grandiose without any true depth or real mysteries at their hearts. There was verse spread throughout; most of it just made me want to read classic poems that knew their craft better. The handful of stories that were worth reading did the subject matter justice, and thank god, because they saved me from thinking my time was completely wasted on this poorly compiled collection.

On a secondary note, the e-book edition is nearly a disaster. Chunks of text are missing from the Charles de Lint story, and typos riddle many stories. How embarrassing for those who were responsible for putting this edition together. Skip the e-book version entirely, if you bother with the collection at all.

tribefan33's review

adventurous

5.0