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grmatthews's review
5.0
A great collection of short stories and essays on the nature of fantasy literature. There are some real gems amongst the pile of gold coins that rests beneath the dragon (on the cover). Some authors I knew and had read, some I had not - but I'll be on the look out for their books from now on.
eclipse777's review
3.0
Add on a extra star if you a budding writer as there's lots of tips for writers between the stories.
My favourite stories were Misericordia by Rene Sears, Sharag's Shark by Daniel Beazley and The Halfwyrd's Burden by Richard Ford
My favourite stories were Misericordia by Rene Sears, Sharag's Shark by Daniel Beazley and The Halfwyrd's Burden by Richard Ford
thiefofcamorr's review
4.0
This begins with a quite excellent introduction from Marc Aplin, creator of the website and forum Fantasy-Faction. He says how accidentally he fell into the speculative fiction genre - starting with Trudi Canavan (always nice to see how far an Australian author has reach) and where he went on from there. The trouble he had getting those around him interested in the same type of books (or reading at all), and how he, like so many of us, sought like-minded friends online. He had incredible fortune in how the website took off which in turn has brought excellent results, and also how this anthology itself came to be. I love that he notes that with all the entries they received for the anthology, it took them two years to read and decide, and create the book. Assisting in publishing as I am now - it really is hard, certainly not as easy as most people think (even when they probably wouldn't ever say it's easy)...
Aplin is the voice of us all. Those who read in order to escape, and that shouldn't be seen as a bad thing, as if these mortal lives are awful to be in. It's not like that at all, who doesn't want both? Who hasn't thought for a moment what it would be like to discover you have powers and get to do amazing things, go on an adventure, witness the incredible? Aplin's introduction gives this anthology heart, and shows why Fantasy Faction deserves the excellent run it's had, and hopefully, continues to have.
"Killing the Magic" by Richard Morgan
This anthology isn't just comprised of short stories, but contains articles as well. Morgan starts us off with an article on what things are killing the speculative fiction genre as a whole - things like trying to quantify each and every piece of writing, categorise it into sub-categories and tropes, and then also things such as not letting fiction be fiction and instead trying to rip apart why it could never happen like that, or how inaccurate a piece of clothing or weapon is for that particular placement.
It's certainly something to think on. It's probably something we've all been guilty of at one time or another, whether it's getting caught up in an internet debate or sitting on a panel at a convention, there's usually some hot topic on one time or another each year.
His closing line is to simply try and enjoy the ride, which, whether you agree or disagree with his piece, is probably something we could all take advice.
"The Dream-Taker's Apprentice" by Mark Lawrence
Emptor and his apprentice Ham travel the lands on orders from their employer, who has a particular thirst for dreams. They pay the simple folk for them with a gold coin, and each night set up a strange doorway which allows them to travel to a pool where they empty the dreams into (until then collected and carried in what seems like nothing else but a bag). They take replacement gold pieces from a coffer, then leave the strange world before anything can happen to them. Then they travel on again.
Ham was picked by Emptor for the fact the boy has never had a single dream in his life. Ham doesn't ask many questions, but as they come across land that looks vaguely familiar, he's told that this is where he came from, when he joined Emptor as a boy of 8. It's here we see that they're not the only dream takers, as they run into Ikol, who apparently patrols other parts of the land. He's there because he has something of Ham's, something that he took long before...
This is written with an easy and deliberate hand, with a satisfying ending. It's really quite lovely!
"The Unsung" by Jessalyn Heaton
Sisters Elvi and Astra are left in disgrace after their father leaves them, all because their mother couldn't birth him a son. The mother falls into a depression and doesn't leave her rooms for much, let alone her daughters. Striped of their titles and left in a remote estate which is cut off due to snow, they think their lives will be left to embroidery and not much else.
And that is how it is for quite some time, until a mysterious traveler arrives, with wounds that would only have come from a dragon. With purpose in their lives once more, the sisters decide to make a difference and do good, like their parents have not.
This is a simple tale that's well told, sad yet mighty and with and ending that's strong yet you wish it could have turned out differently.
"Historical Research for Fantasy Writers" by Anne Lyle
Like it says in the title, Lyle talks to us about writing historical fiction, and why one would like to do such a thing, or where they get their knowledge from, in order to build a decent world, geography and history. She also talks of how these days, people are getting too savvy to believe a novel if it's saying it's set in a certain time, but then mentions something that clearly wasn't possible or didn't make sense in the context.
Lyle also goes into different levels of research, and when getting involved yourself may be necessary. It's a great piece for writers and how anyone and everyone can always make their writing better. Recommended reading!
"Honour Bound" by Jon Sprunk
Friends Lucas and Ossic have been pals since they were children, and are now grown and part of the Brotherhood, partners in arms. On a seemingly ordinary day they are monitoring the streets before they duck back to Lucas' home to visit his mother, only to discover terrible things have happened in the inner city which is now in chaos. Deaths of highly ranked people mean they are no longer safe, being part of old money themselves.
This leaves them with a difficult decision. Flee with their lives, or stay for their honour. Lucas has already lost his father the same way and is determined to do the same, but his mother and best friend want him to survive. Perhaps there's a third option...
This is a decent piece, as tales of honour are always interesting.
"Oasis" by Edmund Wells
A man, Cloyd, is bound to a demon in exchange for finding his wife. The demon likes to feed on young children, something Cloyd struggles with, but knows he must assist or else the demon will partake in his own flesh, and his wife will be lost forever. Cloyd doesn't bet on the next child being intelligent and full of judgement, determined that Cloyd should do the right thing.
This is another that leave you wondering what happens next, leaving the reader to create their own happy ending - or the type of ending he possibly deserves. Or also leaving it up to us to decide what in fact loyd does deserve.
"Creating Better Fantasy Economies" by Kameron Hurley
This one goes especially hand in hand with Lyle's piece, ways to ensure your writing is believable. It isn't enough to say it's a fantasy world and therefore anything is possible, it still takes structure and a certain level of balance to understand why the characters are doing what they're doing and what their limitations are, as well as that of the world itself.
This piece discusses things like what else should be notable changes in a world where women are accepted as frontline fighters - like they have equality on the battlefield but no where else? Also when the whole world seemingly speaks the one language. Or when everyone can seemingly read and write. And the list goes on.
This is such an invaluable piece to read to help you branch your world building out and give it depth and weight. And it's also fun, and alone with Lyle's piece, is of such help to help you figure out the history of your world. And in that, shaping the future.
"Misericordia" by Rene Sears
Marcus, apprentice to Maestro Abrazzo, a gifted automaton maker, answers the door one night (although he rather wouldn't, what with all the disease and violence around), to the secretary of the Grand Duke Ferdinand. He has come to request the Maestro build the Grand Duke another device for him, though this time, it must be able to fly.
'Impossible,' says the maestro, and from here we are hooked. He is offered two options, reward or excommunication and exile. These are desperate times.
This is a beautiful tale, well written, scenic and sad to read. Evocative, this is one of the harder pieces to quantify as you just want to read and enjoy it, and push it at others to read without spoiling it with a few words of summary.
"The House on the Old Cliffs" by Adrian Tchaikovsky
A carefully selected group of people who have specialised skills are called to assemble in an office and hear of a job offer that's on retainer - something that's not always common place to everyone in attendance. They have a mystery to solve, one that's complete with a scene where you want to yell at them 'Don't go in there!', as all the best horror stories go. One can only then pick who'll be the first to die.
This is a fun tale, one that is big on describing the characters and their quirks to us, so we feel that we know the characters even though we barely get to know them and they don't don't say much - working at each other, rather than with each other. This is an effective tale and certainly makes me glad I'm not there with them.
"Cazar el Muerto" by Myke Cole
Cesar turns up for work even after the death of his wife and young daughter, needing the distraction. Soon he's swept up in distractions that lead to an even bigger one - and that's really all I can say about the plot without giving too much away.
This piece is easy to visulise given the language, and effective in tone and pace. It's horrific and sad, and very, very readable.
"The Dealer" by Miah Sonnel
In this, like some of the other stories, things aren't always like they first seem. Mr Grossman owns a gift shop on the foreshore where he sells tacky souvenirs by day. At night it's a whole 'nother matter. My Grossman is a dealer - demons need someone to open the portal, humans need someone to act as intermediary in the deal, and then, well, the dealer needs to be paid by someone.
He's used to this life. One night, one that's seemingly like any other, someone appears at his door who appears for all intents and purposes to be a young ordinary boy. But ordinary boys don't stink of power, or have such strange eyes.
This is a fun piece, familiar with the roles the characters play and yet delightful with the words and attitude. It gets pretty hefty but at least you know who you're cheering on. Mostly. Right?
"The Preservation and Evolution of Elves" by James Barclay
Here we have another non-fiction piece on - well, as it says on the label. The evolution of Elves. So integral to typical epic fantasy though Barclay also mentions where they were first seen, in Germanic folklore. They're often hard to deal with as they look down upon humans, but they often hold information that's integral to survival.
"Sharag’s Shank" by Daniel Beazley
Orc's are always dangerous, let alone when they're currently overtaken by bloodlust. When Bogrot comes across one he tempts it in with food, and from there on they're inseparable, despite hating each other. The orc sticks with him for the food, and Bogrot, a goblin, has his own reasons for keeping Gorag close.
This is a fun tale of adventure and two unlikely companions who do manage to keep each other out of trouble. This is one of the few tales in the anthologies that isn't led by human characters, and it's a good inclusion to read.
"The Halfwyrd’s Burden" by Richard Ford
Oban Halfwyrd makes his business in an awful, hard land. He joined the Wardens at a young age and is now getting on to be an old man, his hair turning to grey. In this tale he's hunting, as he's done on both man and monsters in the past, though when he catches up to his prey there is the question of who exactly is the monster here - if Oban himself is the one who has failed the innocent.
This piece has good action, and it's always a fun time when you're led to believe that your 'hero' certainly has failings of their own. This is probably one of my favourite pieces in the anthology.
"Advice I’d Give My Younger Self" by Mark Charan Newton
And here we have the last non-fiction piece. It's always an interesting question to ask writers what advice they'd give their younger selves - generally meaning before they got published, or were at least in their early years of publishing. This piece reinforces the general ideas out there - write, read widely, network... but then also goes into other areas, such as how to cope with bad reviews - something that people still need lessons in (there's always at least one mega cringe-worthy story of a writer getting abusive each year, isn't there?)
This is really aimed at those who are young in the game but it always good to refresh yourself, especially in times of stress when these core values may fall off the side for one reason or another.
"The Autumn Mist" by Michael J. Sullivan
This one has a killer hook, a man named Jack who's watching the clock trying to estimate when he will die.
Jack is in the geriatric wing of a hospital and has to put up with the unsympathetic and cynical, businesslike nurse Debbie. She doesn't seem to find it at all strange that a large number of people on the flood have all been dreaming of the sea. (I suppose it's nice she's asked, at least.)
This piece has all the fun cynicism of getting old and having to put up with young people humouring you - as if you know nothing because you're old, as if you haven't had two or three times the life experiences than the young clucking around you, (though I do think the Jeopardy bit is written wrong, where's the 'what is ...?' part?
Getting closer to the end of the anthology, this has a fitting placement.
"Overdue" by John Yeo Jr.
1985, and Jeff is unhappy. He's waiting for a postponed meeting to start with his grandmother's attorney, and though he isn't overly surprised there's been something left in her will to him, he can't think of what it could be, and he has other things on his mind. Amusing himself by thinking of stray story ideas, he counts along the minutes he has to wait.
It turns out to be something he can't decipher the significance of, and the attorney can't offer any ideas either. (And something I won't say here - mystery! Means you have to read to find out!)
The mystery is what drives this piece, which is good as poor Jeff's brother is a twat. It's really quite creepy, and also a very good way to leave this anthology. Especially with the reason why this piece comes after the previous, and how it ends. Really quite fitting.
~
It leads me to wonder how many anthologies I've read have included articles interspersed with short stories. Not many others, that's for sure. It's an interesting choice and certainly makes it easier to read as often I've needed to take a break in between short stories either to process them or give me a break (usually such emotion and/or crescendo where I almost need to have a bit of a lie down to recover!), but in these, having a bit of non-fiction discussion certainly gives that break while also making progress through the anthology.
One thing I did wish this anthology had were more stories by women. Many of the pieces were a bit samey, and the main characters were typically male also. Still, it was a good read and of quite high quality - not many places manage to pull off such talent with their first anthology.
Aplin is the voice of us all. Those who read in order to escape, and that shouldn't be seen as a bad thing, as if these mortal lives are awful to be in. It's not like that at all, who doesn't want both? Who hasn't thought for a moment what it would be like to discover you have powers and get to do amazing things, go on an adventure, witness the incredible? Aplin's introduction gives this anthology heart, and shows why Fantasy Faction deserves the excellent run it's had, and hopefully, continues to have.
"Killing the Magic" by Richard Morgan
This anthology isn't just comprised of short stories, but contains articles as well. Morgan starts us off with an article on what things are killing the speculative fiction genre as a whole - things like trying to quantify each and every piece of writing, categorise it into sub-categories and tropes, and then also things such as not letting fiction be fiction and instead trying to rip apart why it could never happen like that, or how inaccurate a piece of clothing or weapon is for that particular placement.
It's certainly something to think on. It's probably something we've all been guilty of at one time or another, whether it's getting caught up in an internet debate or sitting on a panel at a convention, there's usually some hot topic on one time or another each year.
His closing line is to simply try and enjoy the ride, which, whether you agree or disagree with his piece, is probably something we could all take advice.
"The Dream-Taker's Apprentice" by Mark Lawrence
Emptor and his apprentice Ham travel the lands on orders from their employer, who has a particular thirst for dreams. They pay the simple folk for them with a gold coin, and each night set up a strange doorway which allows them to travel to a pool where they empty the dreams into (until then collected and carried in what seems like nothing else but a bag). They take replacement gold pieces from a coffer, then leave the strange world before anything can happen to them. Then they travel on again.
Ham was picked by Emptor for the fact the boy has never had a single dream in his life. Ham doesn't ask many questions, but as they come across land that looks vaguely familiar, he's told that this is where he came from, when he joined Emptor as a boy of 8. It's here we see that they're not the only dream takers, as they run into Ikol, who apparently patrols other parts of the land. He's there because he has something of Ham's, something that he took long before...
This is written with an easy and deliberate hand, with a satisfying ending. It's really quite lovely!
"The Unsung" by Jessalyn Heaton
Sisters Elvi and Astra are left in disgrace after their father leaves them, all because their mother couldn't birth him a son. The mother falls into a depression and doesn't leave her rooms for much, let alone her daughters. Striped of their titles and left in a remote estate which is cut off due to snow, they think their lives will be left to embroidery and not much else.
And that is how it is for quite some time, until a mysterious traveler arrives, with wounds that would only have come from a dragon. With purpose in their lives once more, the sisters decide to make a difference and do good, like their parents have not.
This is a simple tale that's well told, sad yet mighty and with and ending that's strong yet you wish it could have turned out differently.
"Historical Research for Fantasy Writers" by Anne Lyle
Like it says in the title, Lyle talks to us about writing historical fiction, and why one would like to do such a thing, or where they get their knowledge from, in order to build a decent world, geography and history. She also talks of how these days, people are getting too savvy to believe a novel if it's saying it's set in a certain time, but then mentions something that clearly wasn't possible or didn't make sense in the context.
Lyle also goes into different levels of research, and when getting involved yourself may be necessary. It's a great piece for writers and how anyone and everyone can always make their writing better. Recommended reading!
"Honour Bound" by Jon Sprunk
Friends Lucas and Ossic have been pals since they were children, and are now grown and part of the Brotherhood, partners in arms. On a seemingly ordinary day they are monitoring the streets before they duck back to Lucas' home to visit his mother, only to discover terrible things have happened in the inner city which is now in chaos. Deaths of highly ranked people mean they are no longer safe, being part of old money themselves.
This leaves them with a difficult decision. Flee with their lives, or stay for their honour. Lucas has already lost his father the same way and is determined to do the same, but his mother and best friend want him to survive. Perhaps there's a third option...
This is a decent piece, as tales of honour are always interesting.
"Oasis" by Edmund Wells
A man, Cloyd, is bound to a demon in exchange for finding his wife. The demon likes to feed on young children, something Cloyd struggles with, but knows he must assist or else the demon will partake in his own flesh, and his wife will be lost forever. Cloyd doesn't bet on the next child being intelligent and full of judgement, determined that Cloyd should do the right thing.
This is another that leave you wondering what happens next, leaving the reader to create their own happy ending - or the type of ending he possibly deserves. Or also leaving it up to us to decide what in fact loyd does deserve.
"Creating Better Fantasy Economies" by Kameron Hurley
This one goes especially hand in hand with Lyle's piece, ways to ensure your writing is believable. It isn't enough to say it's a fantasy world and therefore anything is possible, it still takes structure and a certain level of balance to understand why the characters are doing what they're doing and what their limitations are, as well as that of the world itself.
This piece discusses things like what else should be notable changes in a world where women are accepted as frontline fighters - like they have equality on the battlefield but no where else? Also when the whole world seemingly speaks the one language. Or when everyone can seemingly read and write. And the list goes on.
This is such an invaluable piece to read to help you branch your world building out and give it depth and weight. And it's also fun, and alone with Lyle's piece, is of such help to help you figure out the history of your world. And in that, shaping the future.
"Misericordia" by Rene Sears
Marcus, apprentice to Maestro Abrazzo, a gifted automaton maker, answers the door one night (although he rather wouldn't, what with all the disease and violence around), to the secretary of the Grand Duke Ferdinand. He has come to request the Maestro build the Grand Duke another device for him, though this time, it must be able to fly.
'Impossible,' says the maestro, and from here we are hooked. He is offered two options, reward or excommunication and exile. These are desperate times.
This is a beautiful tale, well written, scenic and sad to read. Evocative, this is one of the harder pieces to quantify as you just want to read and enjoy it, and push it at others to read without spoiling it with a few words of summary.
"The House on the Old Cliffs" by Adrian Tchaikovsky
A carefully selected group of people who have specialised skills are called to assemble in an office and hear of a job offer that's on retainer - something that's not always common place to everyone in attendance. They have a mystery to solve, one that's complete with a scene where you want to yell at them 'Don't go in there!', as all the best horror stories go. One can only then pick who'll be the first to die.
This is a fun tale, one that is big on describing the characters and their quirks to us, so we feel that we know the characters even though we barely get to know them and they don't don't say much - working at each other, rather than with each other. This is an effective tale and certainly makes me glad I'm not there with them.
"Cazar el Muerto" by Myke Cole
Cesar turns up for work even after the death of his wife and young daughter, needing the distraction. Soon he's swept up in distractions that lead to an even bigger one - and that's really all I can say about the plot without giving too much away.
This piece is easy to visulise given the language, and effective in tone and pace. It's horrific and sad, and very, very readable.
"The Dealer" by Miah Sonnel
In this, like some of the other stories, things aren't always like they first seem. Mr Grossman owns a gift shop on the foreshore where he sells tacky souvenirs by day. At night it's a whole 'nother matter. My Grossman is a dealer - demons need someone to open the portal, humans need someone to act as intermediary in the deal, and then, well, the dealer needs to be paid by someone.
He's used to this life. One night, one that's seemingly like any other, someone appears at his door who appears for all intents and purposes to be a young ordinary boy. But ordinary boys don't stink of power, or have such strange eyes.
This is a fun piece, familiar with the roles the characters play and yet delightful with the words and attitude. It gets pretty hefty but at least you know who you're cheering on. Mostly. Right?
"The Preservation and Evolution of Elves" by James Barclay
Here we have another non-fiction piece on - well, as it says on the label. The evolution of Elves. So integral to typical epic fantasy though Barclay also mentions where they were first seen, in Germanic folklore. They're often hard to deal with as they look down upon humans, but they often hold information that's integral to survival.
"Sharag’s Shank" by Daniel Beazley
Orc's are always dangerous, let alone when they're currently overtaken by bloodlust. When Bogrot comes across one he tempts it in with food, and from there on they're inseparable, despite hating each other. The orc sticks with him for the food, and Bogrot, a goblin, has his own reasons for keeping Gorag close.
This is a fun tale of adventure and two unlikely companions who do manage to keep each other out of trouble. This is one of the few tales in the anthologies that isn't led by human characters, and it's a good inclusion to read.
"The Halfwyrd’s Burden" by Richard Ford
Oban Halfwyrd makes his business in an awful, hard land. He joined the Wardens at a young age and is now getting on to be an old man, his hair turning to grey. In this tale he's hunting, as he's done on both man and monsters in the past, though when he catches up to his prey there is the question of who exactly is the monster here - if Oban himself is the one who has failed the innocent.
This piece has good action, and it's always a fun time when you're led to believe that your 'hero' certainly has failings of their own. This is probably one of my favourite pieces in the anthology.
"Advice I’d Give My Younger Self" by Mark Charan Newton
And here we have the last non-fiction piece. It's always an interesting question to ask writers what advice they'd give their younger selves - generally meaning before they got published, or were at least in their early years of publishing. This piece reinforces the general ideas out there - write, read widely, network... but then also goes into other areas, such as how to cope with bad reviews - something that people still need lessons in (there's always at least one mega cringe-worthy story of a writer getting abusive each year, isn't there?)
This is really aimed at those who are young in the game but it always good to refresh yourself, especially in times of stress when these core values may fall off the side for one reason or another.
"The Autumn Mist" by Michael J. Sullivan
This one has a killer hook, a man named Jack who's watching the clock trying to estimate when he will die.
Jack is in the geriatric wing of a hospital and has to put up with the unsympathetic and cynical, businesslike nurse Debbie. She doesn't seem to find it at all strange that a large number of people on the flood have all been dreaming of the sea. (I suppose it's nice she's asked, at least.)
This piece has all the fun cynicism of getting old and having to put up with young people humouring you - as if you know nothing because you're old, as if you haven't had two or three times the life experiences than the young clucking around you, (though I do think the Jeopardy bit is written wrong, where's the 'what is ...?' part?
Getting closer to the end of the anthology, this has a fitting placement.
"Overdue" by John Yeo Jr.
1985, and Jeff is unhappy. He's waiting for a postponed meeting to start with his grandmother's attorney, and though he isn't overly surprised there's been something left in her will to him, he can't think of what it could be, and he has other things on his mind. Amusing himself by thinking of stray story ideas, he counts along the minutes he has to wait.
It turns out to be something he can't decipher the significance of, and the attorney can't offer any ideas either. (And something I won't say here - mystery! Means you have to read to find out!)
The mystery is what drives this piece, which is good as poor Jeff's brother is a twat. It's really quite creepy, and also a very good way to leave this anthology. Especially with the reason why this piece comes after the previous, and how it ends. Really quite fitting.
~
It leads me to wonder how many anthologies I've read have included articles interspersed with short stories. Not many others, that's for sure. It's an interesting choice and certainly makes it easier to read as often I've needed to take a break in between short stories either to process them or give me a break (usually such emotion and/or crescendo where I almost need to have a bit of a lie down to recover!), but in these, having a bit of non-fiction discussion certainly gives that break while also making progress through the anthology.
One thing I did wish this anthology had were more stories by women. Many of the pieces were a bit samey, and the main characters were typically male also. Still, it was a good read and of quite high quality - not many places manage to pull off such talent with their first anthology.
tomunro's review
5.0
I missed the chance to pick up a hard copy of Fantasy Faction's anthology back in 2013 at the second Grim Gathering, when Marc Aplin was giving them out to those organised enough to have ordered copies. So I leapt at the chance when it appeared in kindle form, so convenient for a holiday read.
I had understood that the anthology was born out of a desire, a need even, to support the fast growing fantasy-faction website. That faint whiff of the charitable about its birth might give a buyer pause for thought. It might stay the purchasing hand, baulking at a book suspected of being a means for fantasy-faction friends and family to show their support, rather than being a damn good read in its own right. However, to think like that is to do this book a profound injustice.
It took a long time for the team to put together because they had nearly 1700 submissions of which less than 20 made it into the final anthology. All submissions were evaluated with the same rigorous attention to detail which characterises the popular and expanding website. When you take any stack of submissions and cream off the top 1% you're bound to have something that bears up well in the harshly competitive world of fantasy fiction.
There are of course the heavy hitters in the piece, the authors who have already carved out a deserved public name for themselves. We have stories from Mark Lawrence, Myke Cole and Michael J Sullivan, each just as good as you would expect from writers of such skill and talent. These are not throw-away scribbles to do a friend a favour, but carefully crafted and captivating tales that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of those authors' collected works.
However, the other contributors with less illustrious credentials, nonetheless stand toe to toe with the big names and punch out quality prose that does not suffer one wit in the comparison. There are works of stunning imagination and brilliant style here which make this an eminently worthwhile purchase, even without the alluring trio of Lawrence, Cole and Sullivan to draw out your cash.
There is a great variety in the stories. There is comedy and tragedy, there is futuristic and medieval, there is demonic horror and epic fantasy. So much so that diversity is the most singular defining feature of the anthology. The risk is always that such a broad spectrum cannot appeal equally to everyone and there were stories that worked better for me than others, but there were enough that really appealed to be worthy of the purchase price alone, while those that did not quite hit the same high mark nonetheless entertained and kept me turning pages to the end.
If I were to pick out my favourites to rank right up there with Lawrence's "The Dream Taker's Apprentice," Cole's "Cazar el Muerto" and Sullivan's "The Autumn Mist" then it would be these.
Oasis by Edmund Wells -
There are echoes of Steven King's The Gunslinger, in that it features a gunslinger in a post-apocalyptic desert, held in thrall to demons and a slave to his own frail hope. The story grew on me, much as the central relationship grew and developed. A cynical grizzled protagonist kept alive by a tenuous promise of the future, while his own heart grows cold and dead. And an innocent who holds up as only the innocent can a mirror to show the man what he has become. The two of them are given an authentic voice that makes the scenario and their dilemma credible and engrossing
Misericordia by Rene Sears -
Like Oasis, this story is carried by the voice of its narrator, an Italian apprentice in a town gripped by plague. The story is a little odd in some ways, driven by and featuring feats of imagination, a power of clockwork that had me thinking of Lawrence's the Liar's Key which I had finished the previous day. But it is so beautifully written, spare but evocative prose, I felt as though I were in Italy (well actually I was at the time - but that's beside the point.)
The House on the Old Cliffs by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
A disparate collection of desperate investigators are unleashed on a mysterious disappearance by a lawyer working for clients who care little about the quarry's fate and more for their own unspecified interests. Despite the entertaining conflict within the team, there is still that moment when they approach the ghostly house on the clifftop when the reader is tempted to shout "Don't go in the house!" But they do and things go in various permutations of pear shaped. Again, the story is sustained by credible narration from a night club bouncer who knows his strengths and weaknesses and tells the tale with a few wistful teasing hints at the benefit of hindsight.
The Dealer by Miah Sonnel.
We have read of humans making deals with demons and devils, trading an eternity of damnation in the afterlife, for a moment of material fortune in the present. But Sonnel takes that thought one step further, if there are deals then there must be dealers, middle-men who broker the trade, and so we meet Mr Grossman. By day a purveyor of sea-side bric-a-brac, by night an inhuman trader in demonic pacts. There is again such a deliciously dreadful credibility to the voice of Mr Grossman that the story is not just carried but soars on the charm of his smooth heartless villainy.
Sprinkled through the stories are articles of advice and guidance to would-be writers. All of them illuminating digressions, sorbets to cleanse the palette, before diving into another varied course of enticing fantasy fiction.
Marc Aplin's own introduction is interesting, you might call it birth of a fantasy reader, telling how the cover (yes covers sell books!) of Trudi Canavan's "The Magician's Guild" drew him in and on into the world of fantasy until, in the desire to discuss and share his newly discovered passion, fantasy-faction was born. Marc would be an atypical fantasy reader, save only that I don't think there are typical fantasy readers, anymore than there are typical people. Still, there aren't many other mixed-martial-arts champions stalking the fantasy-blogs and steering so magnificent a website as fantasy-faction.
The other article that particularly pricked my interest, purely on personal preference, was James Barclay's article on the Preservation and Evolution of Elves. This is not least because I like elves in exactly the haughty, superior but also flawed mode which he describes. "A race that will not just knee you in the groin but kill you with a certain splendour... We need elves." Also, the observation, so true now I reflect on it, that Mr Spock is an elf in all but name (haughty, superior, powerful - hell you hardly even need the pointy ears!).
So, magnificent testament as this anthology is to the website that is fantasy-faction, it is also an incredibly powerful collection of writing in its own right.
I had understood that the anthology was born out of a desire, a need even, to support the fast growing fantasy-faction website. That faint whiff of the charitable about its birth might give a buyer pause for thought. It might stay the purchasing hand, baulking at a book suspected of being a means for fantasy-faction friends and family to show their support, rather than being a damn good read in its own right. However, to think like that is to do this book a profound injustice.
It took a long time for the team to put together because they had nearly 1700 submissions of which less than 20 made it into the final anthology. All submissions were evaluated with the same rigorous attention to detail which characterises the popular and expanding website. When you take any stack of submissions and cream off the top 1% you're bound to have something that bears up well in the harshly competitive world of fantasy fiction.
There are of course the heavy hitters in the piece, the authors who have already carved out a deserved public name for themselves. We have stories from Mark Lawrence, Myke Cole and Michael J Sullivan, each just as good as you would expect from writers of such skill and talent. These are not throw-away scribbles to do a friend a favour, but carefully crafted and captivating tales that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of those authors' collected works.
However, the other contributors with less illustrious credentials, nonetheless stand toe to toe with the big names and punch out quality prose that does not suffer one wit in the comparison. There are works of stunning imagination and brilliant style here which make this an eminently worthwhile purchase, even without the alluring trio of Lawrence, Cole and Sullivan to draw out your cash.
There is a great variety in the stories. There is comedy and tragedy, there is futuristic and medieval, there is demonic horror and epic fantasy. So much so that diversity is the most singular defining feature of the anthology. The risk is always that such a broad spectrum cannot appeal equally to everyone and there were stories that worked better for me than others, but there were enough that really appealed to be worthy of the purchase price alone, while those that did not quite hit the same high mark nonetheless entertained and kept me turning pages to the end.
If I were to pick out my favourites to rank right up there with Lawrence's "The Dream Taker's Apprentice," Cole's "Cazar el Muerto" and Sullivan's "The Autumn Mist" then it would be these.
Oasis by Edmund Wells -
There are echoes of Steven King's The Gunslinger, in that it features a gunslinger in a post-apocalyptic desert, held in thrall to demons and a slave to his own frail hope. The story grew on me, much as the central relationship grew and developed. A cynical grizzled protagonist kept alive by a tenuous promise of the future, while his own heart grows cold and dead. And an innocent who holds up as only the innocent can a mirror to show the man what he has become. The two of them are given an authentic voice that makes the scenario and their dilemma credible and engrossing
Misericordia by Rene Sears -
Like Oasis, this story is carried by the voice of its narrator, an Italian apprentice in a town gripped by plague. The story is a little odd in some ways, driven by and featuring feats of imagination, a power of clockwork that had me thinking of Lawrence's the Liar's Key which I had finished the previous day. But it is so beautifully written, spare but evocative prose, I felt as though I were in Italy (well actually I was at the time - but that's beside the point.)
The House on the Old Cliffs by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
A disparate collection of desperate investigators are unleashed on a mysterious disappearance by a lawyer working for clients who care little about the quarry's fate and more for their own unspecified interests. Despite the entertaining conflict within the team, there is still that moment when they approach the ghostly house on the clifftop when the reader is tempted to shout "Don't go in the house!" But they do and things go in various permutations of pear shaped. Again, the story is sustained by credible narration from a night club bouncer who knows his strengths and weaknesses and tells the tale with a few wistful teasing hints at the benefit of hindsight.
The Dealer by Miah Sonnel.
We have read of humans making deals with demons and devils, trading an eternity of damnation in the afterlife, for a moment of material fortune in the present. But Sonnel takes that thought one step further, if there are deals then there must be dealers, middle-men who broker the trade, and so we meet Mr Grossman. By day a purveyor of sea-side bric-a-brac, by night an inhuman trader in demonic pacts. There is again such a deliciously dreadful credibility to the voice of Mr Grossman that the story is not just carried but soars on the charm of his smooth heartless villainy.
Sprinkled through the stories are articles of advice and guidance to would-be writers. All of them illuminating digressions, sorbets to cleanse the palette, before diving into another varied course of enticing fantasy fiction.
Marc Aplin's own introduction is interesting, you might call it birth of a fantasy reader, telling how the cover (yes covers sell books!) of Trudi Canavan's "The Magician's Guild" drew him in and on into the world of fantasy until, in the desire to discuss and share his newly discovered passion, fantasy-faction was born. Marc would be an atypical fantasy reader, save only that I don't think there are typical fantasy readers, anymore than there are typical people. Still, there aren't many other mixed-martial-arts champions stalking the fantasy-blogs and steering so magnificent a website as fantasy-faction.
The other article that particularly pricked my interest, purely on personal preference, was James Barclay's article on the Preservation and Evolution of Elves. This is not least because I like elves in exactly the haughty, superior but also flawed mode which he describes. "A race that will not just knee you in the groin but kill you with a certain splendour... We need elves." Also, the observation, so true now I reflect on it, that Mr Spock is an elf in all but name (haughty, superior, powerful - hell you hardly even need the pointy ears!).
So, magnificent testament as this anthology is to the website that is fantasy-faction, it is also an incredibly powerful collection of writing in its own right.
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