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badseedgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Welcome to Day 16 of my 2021 25 Days of Short Stories Christmas Advent Calendar. Each day I will be reading a short story from the collection of over 600 short stories and novellas available for free on Tor.com. This is a collection of horror, sci-fi and fantasy. I will be letting fate (and the random number generator) decide what I read each day**.
Day 1: [b:The Art of Space Travel|30532462|The Art of Space Travel|Nina Allan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558040356l/30532462._SY75_.jpg|50826910] by Nina Allan
Day 2: [b:These Deathless Bones|35506557|These Deathless Bones|Cassandra Khaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498282454l/35506557._SY75_.jpg|56914935] by Cassandra Khaw
Day 3: [b:Swift, Brutal Retaliation|13169837|Swift, Brutal Retaliation|Meghan McCarron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541922428l/13169837._SY75_.jpg|18349137] by Meghan McCarron> (Trigger warning: Emotional abuse of children and women)
Day 4: [b:Freeze Warning|18489609|Freeze Warning|Susan Krinard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379900239l/18489609._SX50_.jpg|26172761] by Susan Krinard
Day 5: [b:Daughter of Necessity|23301706|Daughter of Necessity|Marie Brennan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412347876l/23301706._SX50_.jpg|42376194] by Marie Brennan
Day 6: [b:The Girl in the High Tower|23257790|The Girl in the High Tower|Gennifer Albin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1411351413l/23257790._SX50_.jpg|42798995] by Genniger Albin
Day 7: [b:Come See the Living Dryad|37856081|Come See the Living Dryad|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558645604l/37856081._SY75_.jpg|55361917] by Theadora Goss
Day 8: [b:Black Friday|40230189|Black Friday|Alexander C. Irvine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532796086l/40230189._SY75_.jpg|62484577] by Alex Irvine
Day 9 [b:Up From Hell|31310480|Up From Hell|David Drake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470076505l/31310480._SX50_.jpg|51982538] by David Drake
Day 10: [b:The Tallest Doll in New York City|23491933|The Tallest Doll in New York City|Maria Dahvana Headley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415008589l/23491933._SX50_.jpg|40157621] by Maria Dahvana Headley
Day 11: [b:The Caretakers|28116629|The Caretakers|David Nickle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449497292l/28116629._SX50_.jpg|48126352] by David Nickle
Day 12: [b:Your Orisons May Be Recorded|28820958|Your Orisons May Be Recorded|Laurie Penny|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454333665l/28820958._SX50_.jpg|49038759] by Laurie Penny
Day 13: [b:Of Roses and Kings|53663516|Of Roses and Kings|Melissa Marr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590849056l/53663516._SY75_.jpg|81129060] by Melissa Marr
Day 14: [b:A Christmas Bun for Ulysses|56424594|A Christmas Bun for Ulysses (Moose Springs, Alaska #2.5)|Sarah Morgenthaler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609014790l/56424594._SX50_.jpg|87983073] by Sarah Morgenthaler**
Day 15: [b:Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|10397968|Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|Ken Scholes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328313233l/10397968._SX50_.jpg|15301868] by Ken Scholes
Day 16: The Library of Lost Things by Matthew Bright
Would you love to go to a library that housed all the lost writings of everyone who ever existed? If you are on this site and reading this review, you are probably as intrigued by the idea as I am. This was a wonderful premise for a novel and the set-up of the story lends itself to more stories about the library, but somehow when I finished reading this one, I felt that maybe it had said all it needed to say. I was a well written mystery and had a satisfying ending.
You can read The Library of Lost things for free here.
Day 1: [b:The Art of Space Travel|30532462|The Art of Space Travel|Nina Allan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558040356l/30532462._SY75_.jpg|50826910] by Nina Allan
Day 2: [b:These Deathless Bones|35506557|These Deathless Bones|Cassandra Khaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498282454l/35506557._SY75_.jpg|56914935] by Cassandra Khaw
Day 3: [b:Swift, Brutal Retaliation|13169837|Swift, Brutal Retaliation|Meghan McCarron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541922428l/13169837._SY75_.jpg|18349137] by Meghan McCarron> (Trigger warning: Emotional abuse of children and women)
Day 4: [b:Freeze Warning|18489609|Freeze Warning|Susan Krinard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1379900239l/18489609._SX50_.jpg|26172761] by Susan Krinard
Day 5: [b:Daughter of Necessity|23301706|Daughter of Necessity|Marie Brennan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412347876l/23301706._SX50_.jpg|42376194] by Marie Brennan
Day 6: [b:The Girl in the High Tower|23257790|The Girl in the High Tower|Gennifer Albin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1411351413l/23257790._SX50_.jpg|42798995] by Genniger Albin
Day 7: [b:Come See the Living Dryad|37856081|Come See the Living Dryad|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558645604l/37856081._SY75_.jpg|55361917] by Theadora Goss
Day 8: [b:Black Friday|40230189|Black Friday|Alexander C. Irvine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532796086l/40230189._SY75_.jpg|62484577] by Alex Irvine
Day 9 [b:Up From Hell|31310480|Up From Hell|David Drake|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470076505l/31310480._SX50_.jpg|51982538] by David Drake
Day 10: [b:The Tallest Doll in New York City|23491933|The Tallest Doll in New York City|Maria Dahvana Headley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415008589l/23491933._SX50_.jpg|40157621] by Maria Dahvana Headley
Day 11: [b:The Caretakers|28116629|The Caretakers|David Nickle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449497292l/28116629._SX50_.jpg|48126352] by David Nickle
Day 12: [b:Your Orisons May Be Recorded|28820958|Your Orisons May Be Recorded|Laurie Penny|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454333665l/28820958._SX50_.jpg|49038759] by Laurie Penny
Day 13: [b:Of Roses and Kings|53663516|Of Roses and Kings|Melissa Marr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590849056l/53663516._SY75_.jpg|81129060] by Melissa Marr
Day 14: [b:A Christmas Bun for Ulysses|56424594|A Christmas Bun for Ulysses (Moose Springs, Alaska #2.5)|Sarah Morgenthaler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609014790l/56424594._SX50_.jpg|87983073] by Sarah Morgenthaler**
Day 15: [b:Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|10397968|Making My Entrance Again With My Usual Flair|Ken Scholes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328313233l/10397968._SX50_.jpg|15301868] by Ken Scholes
Day 16: The Library of Lost Things by Matthew Bright
Would you love to go to a library that housed all the lost writings of everyone who ever existed? If you are on this site and reading this review, you are probably as intrigued by the idea as I am. This was a wonderful premise for a novel and the set-up of the story lends itself to more stories about the library, but somehow when I finished reading this one, I felt that maybe it had said all it needed to say. I was a well written mystery and had a satisfying ending.
You can read The Library of Lost things for free here.
annieb123's review against another edition
5.0
This was a bizarre little morality play/fable. The language is the undisputed star of the piece. It's quite short, only 28 pages. It's the perfect length for a tea and 2 biscuits interlude.
The language is just so lush and vibrant and full of exuberance that it's *swoon* worthy.
Four stars, loved it!
The language is just so lush and vibrant and full of exuberance that it's *swoon* worthy.
Four stars, loved it!
verlkonig's review against another edition
4.0
That half written novel about dragons you wrote aged 12? That's in the library of lost things. Probably filed under Pre-teen: Abandoned in Transition to Teen, or some such thing.
This is the crux of this imaginative short - all the unwritten, lost, abandoned, and burned books go to the library. Don't read them though.
Our hero gets a job filing the lost books. There are some super friendly but creepy sounding collectors, whose job it is to collect lost works; there are a lot of mice who have learned a few complex words; and there's the librarian, who is like the most nightmarish teacher you ever had combined with the stereotypical librarian who is insanely knowledgeable but utterly merciless if you dare to treat the books incorrectly.
The characters and settings are great fun, even if I wasn't entirely convinced with the plot. But overall its a creative story with some really great ideas, even if I wasn't keen on the end.
This is the crux of this imaginative short - all the unwritten, lost, abandoned, and burned books go to the library. Don't read them though.
Our hero gets a job filing the lost books. There are some super friendly but creepy sounding collectors, whose job it is to collect lost works; there are a lot of mice who have learned a few complex words; and there's the librarian, who is like the most nightmarish teacher you ever had combined with the stereotypical librarian who is insanely knowledgeable but utterly merciless if you dare to treat the books incorrectly.
The characters and settings are great fun, even if I wasn't entirely convinced with the plot. But overall its a creative story with some really great ideas, even if I wasn't keen on the end.
thejunoverse444's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
interesting but vague worldbuilding, which isn't something i usually mind but i did a little bit this time. still fun though
heresthepencil's review against another edition
4.0
rep: mlm (bi?) mc & li
absolutely love this concept
absolutely love this concept
leannj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
aeon_'s review
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
meagan01's review
5.0
This gave me warehouse 13 vibes which is great because I loved that show.
If the author ever decides to write a full length version of this I will be first in line to buy it.
If the author ever decides to write a full length version of this I will be first in line to buy it.