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A review by nancyotoole
Fantasy Magazine, October 2014: Women Destroy Fantasy! Special Issue by Cat Rambo
4.0
The October 2014 issue of Fantasy magazine brings the retired periodical back for a special issue in the "Women Destroy" series (see also Women Destroy Science Fiction and Women Destroy Horror, all which celebrate women's contributions to said genres). The result is a really strong collection of original and reprinted fiction, plus some insightful author interviews and nonfiction pieces. Only one of the short stories didn't work for me, but the rest were great. Here's a break down of my favorites three.
The Dryad's Shoe by T Kingfisher- I love fairy tale retellings and The Dryad's Shoe is a perfect example of why. Recasting Cinderella as a practical young women with a love for gardening and no interest in balls or princes at all, completely recreates the original tale. It was also the most fun story in the whole collection.
Miss Carstairs and the Merman by Delia Sherman- This story, about a woman naturalist who comes across a merman, reminded me a lot of Marie Brennan's Memoirs of Lady Trent Series. I found Miss Carstairs to be a very memorable protagonist and enjoyed reading about her studies with the mermaid, and the unique bond that formed between them as a result
The Abominable Child's Tale by Carol Emshwiller- A story of a young yeti-like creature whose mother vanishes. As a result, she decides to leave the forest for the first time, and the result feel heartbreaking, yet realistic at the same time.
I quite enjoyed this collection. Covering everything from fairy tales to superheroes, Women Destroy Fantasy is a worthwhile collection of stories and nonfiction.
The Dryad's Shoe by T Kingfisher- I love fairy tale retellings and The Dryad's Shoe is a perfect example of why. Recasting Cinderella as a practical young women with a love for gardening and no interest in balls or princes at all, completely recreates the original tale. It was also the most fun story in the whole collection.
Miss Carstairs and the Merman by Delia Sherman- This story, about a woman naturalist who comes across a merman, reminded me a lot of Marie Brennan's Memoirs of Lady Trent Series. I found Miss Carstairs to be a very memorable protagonist and enjoyed reading about her studies with the mermaid, and the unique bond that formed between them as a result
The Abominable Child's Tale by Carol Emshwiller- A story of a young yeti-like creature whose mother vanishes. As a result, she decides to leave the forest for the first time, and the result feel heartbreaking, yet realistic at the same time.
I quite enjoyed this collection. Covering everything from fairy tales to superheroes, Women Destroy Fantasy is a worthwhile collection of stories and nonfiction.