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jasmiinaf's review against another edition
4.0
More like 3,7, but because this is the best short story collection I've read in a while I'll give 4 stars. There was only one story I didn't like at all and that was Shadow Thieves from Glen Cook. But it was the only one.
tobyyy's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard for me to really know how to rate a book of short stories. First off, I don't read a whole lot of short story compilations, and second, this book was read over the course of... probably 2 years? although I hate to admit that. (I'm not much of a short story person, and although I enjoyed the majority of the stories in this collection, it's definitely easier to set aside a compilation of short stories without feeling like you're really interrupting anything, as compared to an actual full-length novel.)
I guess I'll run through the list of short stories/authors and rate them as I go:
1. Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris: 3/5 stars. Interesting enough - I liked Dahlia's character but honestly I'm a little bored now with the Sookie Stackhouse world. :(
2. The Bleeding Shadow - Joe R. Lansdale: 4/5. Again, interesting, and I liked some elements of this story a lot. The inclusion of music, as well as having a black detective involved during a time period where that wouldn't have been very common, were definitely selling points.
3. Hungry Heart - Simon R. Green: 5/5 stars. Any story that starts with a line like this wins:
4. Styx and Stones - Steven Saylor: 4/5 stars. Loved the setting of this story - Babylon somewhere between 92 and 90 B.C. Plus, humor!
5. Pain and Suffering - S.M. Stirling: I don't really remember this story, but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it...? If I'd hated it, I would've remembered that I think. It was rather unremarkable, but I probably enjoyed it because I enjoy Stirling's writing.
6. It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn: 3/5. Again, don't remember a lot but I do remember the ending, which was sweet.
7. The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden: 3/5. I never really understood who "the Lady" was that helped our protagonist; it was clear that he received supernatural help, but the hows and whys were underexplained (IMO).
8. Hellbender - Laurie R. King: 4/5 for creativity, 3/5 for actual enjoyment/clarity of the plot.
9. Shadow Thieves - Glen Cook: 4/5 stars for creativity AND enjoyment! Although there was still a little clarity lacking (or my memory is poor, either way...).
10. No Mystery, No Miracle - Melinda M. Snodgrass: 5/5. Humor, historical cross-overs, religious tie-ins that are interesting/funny/perturbing... win. :)
11. The Difference between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover: 4/5, similar to the previous story but not quite as enjoyable for me.
12. The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle: 5/5. Yay for proper 19th c. gentlewomen working for a Sherlock Holmes-type detective!
13. Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon: 4/5. Interesting, but felt like I was lacking background because I haven't read anything else of Gabaldon's (unless you could 65% or so of the first Outlander book...).
14. Beware the Snake - John Maddox Roberts: 3/5. I felt like I was missing something in the plot arc, but enjoyed the plot and the setting (ancient Rome).
15. In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs: 5/5. Patricia Briggs wins all the things. I haven't read anything by her that I've disliked yet. :)
16. The Adakian Eagle - Bradley Denton: 5/5. Goosebumps at the ending!!
~
So overall, I do recommend this, if you enjoy short story collections. There wasn't a single total dud in this collection; I did enjoy every story in some way, even if there were some stories that made me feel like I missed the crux of the mystery/problem being solved. Definitely a cool collection of interesting worlds and characters, though!
I guess I'll run through the list of short stories/authors and rate them as I go:
1. Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris: 3/5 stars. Interesting enough - I liked Dahlia's character but honestly I'm a little bored now with the Sookie Stackhouse world. :(
2. The Bleeding Shadow - Joe R. Lansdale: 4/5. Again, interesting, and I liked some elements of this story a lot. The inclusion of music, as well as having a black detective involved during a time period where that wouldn't have been very common, were definitely selling points.
3. Hungry Heart - Simon R. Green: 5/5 stars. Any story that starts with a line like this wins:
The city of London has a hidden heart; a dark and secret place where gods and monsters go fist-fighting through alleyways, where wonders and marvels are two a penny, where everything and everyone is up for sale, and all your dreams can come true.
4. Styx and Stones - Steven Saylor: 4/5 stars. Loved the setting of this story - Babylon somewhere between 92 and 90 B.C. Plus, humor!
5. Pain and Suffering - S.M. Stirling: I don't really remember this story, but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it...? If I'd hated it, I would've remembered that I think. It was rather unremarkable, but I probably enjoyed it because I enjoy Stirling's writing.
6. It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn: 3/5. Again, don't remember a lot but I do remember the ending, which was sweet.
7. The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden: 3/5. I never really understood who "the Lady" was that helped our protagonist; it was clear that he received supernatural help, but the hows and whys were underexplained (IMO).
8. Hellbender - Laurie R. King: 4/5 for creativity, 3/5 for actual enjoyment/clarity of the plot.
9. Shadow Thieves - Glen Cook: 4/5 stars for creativity AND enjoyment! Although there was still a little clarity lacking (or my memory is poor, either way...).
10. No Mystery, No Miracle - Melinda M. Snodgrass: 5/5. Humor, historical cross-overs, religious tie-ins that are interesting/funny/perturbing... win. :)
11. The Difference between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover: 4/5, similar to the previous story but not quite as enjoyable for me.
12. The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle: 5/5. Yay for proper 19th c. gentlewomen working for a Sherlock Holmes-type detective!
13. Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon: 4/5. Interesting, but felt like I was lacking background because I haven't read anything else of Gabaldon's (unless you could 65% or so of the first Outlander book...).
14. Beware the Snake - John Maddox Roberts: 3/5. I felt like I was missing something in the plot arc, but enjoyed the plot and the setting (ancient Rome).
15. In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs: 5/5. Patricia Briggs wins all the things. I haven't read anything by her that I've disliked yet. :)
16. The Adakian Eagle - Bradley Denton: 5/5. Goosebumps at the ending!!
~
So overall, I do recommend this, if you enjoy short story collections. There wasn't a single total dud in this collection; I did enjoy every story in some way, even if there were some stories that made me feel like I missed the crux of the mystery/problem being solved. Definitely a cool collection of interesting worlds and characters, though!
fallenstarr's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed some stories more than others. I've realized that fantasy can sometimes be difficult in short story form because there isn't always the space to world build, especially if the are utilizing a new approach to some of the traditional lore.
I found new authors to check out, which was my main hope in reading this collection.
I found new authors to check out, which was my main hope in reading this collection.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
Anthologies and me....maybe it depends on my mood as I listen/read one. Some stories are excellent, some good, some meh and skippable. Thankfully, George R R Martin has a good eye for stories. There was only one stinker and that might have just been me.
Two of my favorites were The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle and Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon. The first because it was a neat little homage for Sherlock Holmes and the second because I really like seeing Lord John on his own in a story without Jamie and Clare. Much as I love them, they'd get in the way of this sort of paranormal lean. I will go back and find the Lord John books Gabaldon has written.
There was a nice variety of narrators and they all did a splendid job.
I can definitely recommend this anthology.
Two of my favorites were The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle and Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon. The first because it was a neat little homage for Sherlock Holmes and the second because I really like seeing Lord John on his own in a story without Jamie and Clare. Much as I love them, they'd get in the way of this sort of paranormal lean. I will go back and find the Lord John books Gabaldon has written.
There was a nice variety of narrators and they all did a splendid job.
I can definitely recommend this anthology.
malus23's review
3.0
The top grouping of what I liked from here:
It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn
The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden
Hellbender - Laurie R. King
In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs
Secondary grouping:
The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover
The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle
Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris
It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn
The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden
Hellbender - Laurie R. King
In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs
Secondary grouping:
The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover
The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle
Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris
kimberly_b's review against another edition
4.0
Note: I only read the Diana Gabaldon story, Lord John and the Plague of Zombies, in this anthology. My rating only reflects my evaluation of that story. Also, I am not counting this toward my annual list of books read since I didn't read the entire collection.
Lord John and the Plague of Zombies is a fabulous short story. I thoroughly enjoy the Lord John novellas, including this one. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it--it grabbed me right from the beginning with the snake on the desk :-) 4 very solid stars!
Lord John and the Plague of Zombies is a fabulous short story. I thoroughly enjoy the Lord John novellas, including this one. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it--it grabbed me right from the beginning with the snake on the desk :-) 4 very solid stars!
spiffysarahruby's review against another edition
5.0
There seem to be a lot of comments regarding the source material for some of the short stories in this book, in that, if you haven't read the series' that the stories are from (if they do come from a series, many of the stories don't), then you'll be lost. That's just not true. I find that if I approach each story as a work all it on its own and just take what knowledge I'm given in the present text, I do just fine. Maybe that's why anthologies and I get along so well. :)
I know that's not the case for everybody, but I'd still encourage those who like mystery, noir, and maybe even a little kitschy science fiction/fantasy/horror thrown in to give this anthology a shot. I really enjoyed it. My favorite story was "Hungry Heart" by Joe R. Lansdale.
I know that's not the case for everybody, but I'd still encourage those who like mystery, noir, and maybe even a little kitschy science fiction/fantasy/horror thrown in to give this anthology a shot. I really enjoyed it. My favorite story was "Hungry Heart" by Joe R. Lansdale.
glitterbomb47's review
3.0
This collection of short stories was mostly decent, with a few standout gems, and a few complete flops.*
*Notably Charlaine Harris' contribution, which suffered greatly by immediately preceding two of the best stories.
*Notably Charlaine Harris' contribution, which suffered greatly by immediately preceding two of the best stories.
tamreel_stitches's review against another edition
2.0
I was hoping to find some new authors to read, but I was disappointed. None of these are very interesting, nor did I feel a strong desire to keep reading the individual stories. The others I do like that were listed, it had been so long since I read their books that I felt lost.