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A review by roseparis
The Best of Catherynne M. Valente, Volume One by Catherynne M. Valente
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
An eclectic box of wonders from one of the queens of speculative fiction. This collection spans Vaelente's career and includes stories that have been previously anthologied but are now hard to find, particularly those published in Ventriloquism which is out of print and not available as an e-book, as far as I am aware.
Stand out stories:
The Consultant- detective noir does fairytales.
The Difference between Love and Time- an absolute star of time travel romance fiction, totally original, packs an emotional punch without ever being trite or sentimental.
White Lines on a Green Field- Coyote and Rabbit in small town USA
The Lily and the Horn- gorgeously described, literally poisonous love affair
Badgirl, Deadman and the Wheel of Fortune- bleak Armless Maiden retelling
But honestly, for such a huge collection there are very few skips for me. The Vol 1 gives me hope that we might see a Vol 2 in the not-too-distant future, hopefully with some more rare or previously unpublished stories.
Stand out stories:
The Consultant- detective noir does fairytales.
The Difference between Love and Time- an absolute star of time travel romance fiction, totally original, packs an emotional punch without ever being trite or sentimental.
White Lines on a Green Field- Coyote and Rabbit in small town USA
The Lily and the Horn- gorgeously described, literally poisonous love affair
Badgirl, Deadman and the Wheel of Fortune- bleak Armless Maiden retelling
But honestly, for such a huge collection there are very few skips for me. The Vol 1 gives me hope that we might see a Vol 2 in the not-too-distant future, hopefully with some more rare or previously unpublished stories.